USGA agronomist takes a close look at local courses
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Periodically, a professional from the U. S. Golf Association's Green Section visits with members of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association's golf department to advise them on proper maintenance practices and assess overall turf quality.
Charles "Bud "White, USGA agronomist, spent two days last week evaluating the association's eight golf courses. He summarized his findings at a POA luncheon May 6 in Riordan Hall.
Silt left by flooding that occurred on the courses over the past couple of months may cause a few issues with weeds, but White commended the POA golf maintenance workers for their recovery efforts.
"Flood damage is incredibly tough to deal with. They've done a great job getting it all cleaned up, and that's not easy," he said.
However, the weather throughout early spring has not been conducive to Bermuda grass growth, and it has caused less desirable grasses, such as Poa annua, to grow in unwanted areas, like on the greens, he said.
Bella Vista is not the only area affected by severe weather. Many other courses in the South are seeing similar problems, White said.
With the notable increase in fuel, seed and fertilizer costs over the past year, delaying overseeding of the fairways this year may prove to be beneficial, according to White.
Overseeding is a process of adding a layer of rye seed over the top of dormant grass to help the turf in a number of ways, including protecting it from damage during winter months. A cycle where overseeding is restricted every third year has shown some promise and is something to consider, White said.
"Fuel and fertilizer costs have gone up over 40 percent in the past 12 months," he said. "You really, as a club, have to decide whether or not to overseed this year."
A more aggressive core aeration process was also recommended by White.
"It's a must," he said.
Core aeration places numerous small holes in the greens to increase water and air infiltration to help the grass, but it also temporarily unsettles the surface, causing some golfers to complain, White said. The association currently spaces aeration holes about 3 inches apart. Adding more holes by cutting the spacing to 2 inches apart is what White recommends, POA Golf Director Mike Shea said.
Regrettably, the sensitive timing of the procedure requires maintenance crews to disturb the greens right when the grass begins to grow, and golfers get excited, White said.
A new irrigation system for the golf courses and reconstructing the greens on the Scotsdale course are two projects that also need some consideration, White said.
"Any golf course irrigation system that is 19 to 20 years old is just totally outdated," he said.
During a question-and-answer segment, golf committee member Al Yanik quieted the crowd of about 15 POA officials for more than a moment when he suggested White meet with the association's general manager, Tommy Bailey, before leaving town to discuss the soon-to-be-vacant golf director position.
Shea, who announced in April that he will be leaving the role to pursue a position with The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas, will serve his last day with the association on May 31.
White, who currently serves as an advisor for approximately 150 courses in five states, sounded a bit caught off guard, but he responded by saying he would be open to a meeting with Bailey.
White will complete a full report on the status of Bella Vista's golf courses. The report should be available within the next month or so on the POA's Web site, www. bellavistapoa. com / golf.
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