re: Ask the Superintendent

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This is a continuation from another thread, I’m curious which herbicides are labeled for golf greens?

Also, is MSMA still the basic standard herbicide for Bermuda? Is there something better/different that’s being used?

Have you or any other sups in the area reached out the the universities working on the herbicide resistant poa problem

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Chappy, there are a few different herbicides labeled for Golf greens, but to answer you correcctly, i would need to know what weed or issue you are trying to control. For Poa on Bermuda there is monument, Revolver, Kerb, Xonerate, Katana, Bensumac, Certainty, Poa Cure. Issue is that Poa is showing resistance to all of them. some of those are all in the same class of chemistry, and if one doesn't work, the other will not also.

MSMA is labeled for golf courses and has a minumium use label. I personally haven't used it in 2-3 years. I am more specific with my pre and post weed control. lots of great options out there if you know what weed you are fighting.

and yes many of the Supereintendents nation wide, and lots of the local guys are working with univeristies, and chemical manufactorors for weed research, especially Poa and goose grass control. most of us attend continueing education seminars and do webinars to keep up to date on the newest methods being used.

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Question, it seems that there is a higher invasion of Poa into greens this year than I remember in the past, any thoughts on that and is it just lazy maintenance by the courses themselves.

Another question, I have heard that certain grasses like Mini Verde prevents invasive grasses on greens because it's thatch is to close and thick. Is that correct ?

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higher invasion of Poa is due to the chemical resistance and chemicals that we use to have in our arsenal have been taken away. its not due to lack of maintenace.

i have had mini verde at 3 courses and it has Poa also. its not due to the density of the thatch, its the density of the turf that helps control weeds. But Mini Verde gets weeds also. Thatch is bad, we do a lot of maintence to control thatch. Aerification, verti-cutting and top dressing with sand is all to control thatch accumilation

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You and your boys need to quit punching the greens right when they get prime. Never fails

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not going to happen buddy. Gotta punch them to keep them happy and good. gotta let them breath and get sand in the holes to perk water down deep into the root zone. Unfortunalty we like to punch when they are growing and happy, not when its 100* out and the turf is stressed out. I'm punching this May, June, September and then again in July and August with solid tines that are small just to let them breath

Please dont use the blue/green paint to paint the greens in the winter. Nobody cares if the greens are brown in the winter and nobody wants blue paint on their wedges, putters, balls and hands. Thanks

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So you punch in peak season and charge peak rates? Makes sense to make the course less playable and more expensive

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I think you are missing the point. we punch greens when we have the best chance of healing them back up quickly. Punching greens is a neccessary evil, and doesn't heal as well to early in the season, or too late in the season. the cooler the temperatures the longer it takes to recover. everywhere I work, We discount our rates for the days immediatly following the aerification up to 10 days at times. Also, know that scheduling is usuaslly worked around tournament schedules and peak play, so we get it in when we can. I like to follow holiday weekends like Memorial day (tuesday), Fourth of July weekend, and Labor Day. Believe me, we hate punching too. Its a long couple of days, and its a lot of fricken work. it seems that equipment loves to break during aerification.

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Please dont use the blue/green paint to paint the greens in the winter. Nobody cares if the greens are brown in the winter and nobody wants blue paint on their wedges, putters, balls and hands. Thanks

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Painting the greens has many plus sides to plant health and isn't just about the look of the green. darker colors attract heat, the darker the green, the bit warmer it stays and sooner to green up. Blue dye is used to help spray greens as a tracker dye and reduce overspray, misses and waste. Chemicals and fertilizer are expensive and we don't want to screw up the application. and according to this group, if greens are brown in the winter, it is persumed dead, just saying.

Great info baw!

Can you go to copper mill and teach them some stuff? Lots of people seem to be unhappy with them lately on this board

This needs a sticky!

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Can you go to copper mill and teach them some stuff? Lots of people seem to be unhappy with them lately on this board

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Guys, I’m not going to comment on what other courses may be doing or not doing. There are so many factors that affect course conditions and money is #1. I know that superintendent as I know most in Louisiana, south Mississippi and to Houston. Most of these guys know what needs to be done, but may not have the resources to get it done. I was in that situation before, and it was the most stressed I had ever been. We want to provide our members and guest with the best playing conditions possible, but resources dictate the ability to get it done

What is the average cost of maintaining a bunker?