Quail Hollow greens issue - Thanks

[Carl Johnson]

Saw the greens in person today, opening round.  They are terrible - very slow, too - but the players are stoic and the show is going on.

[Matthew Rose]

12 and 13 look especially bad on television.

Definitely a factor.... saw a couple of very short putts missed (18" or even less), but it was nice to see the players diplomatic about it.

[Matt Day]

We started to convert our old Pencross greens to G2 about four years ago. After doing four greens we stopped and have gone back to Pencross.

It doesn't seem to handle the hot weather and humidity (unusual for Perth) as well as the Pencross, pictures of Quail Hollow are similar to how our G2 greens can look. On a high volume course with small greens this creates wear issues as we are limited in pin positions

The only greens we did any returfing on in the past 12 months are all G2

[Tommy Williamsen]

Phil Mickelson was pretty classy in an interview.  He mentioned that this was a class event and did everything well.  "I am going to give them a pass on the greens.  Stuff happens."   It is nice to know that they can live with conditions many of us have to.

[Carl Johnson]

Well, we'll probably never know the "real" story, if anyone does.  However, thanks to all of you that offered your thoughts on the matter.  I learned about bacteria wilt (a/k/a bac wilt) [for more, see this 1 hr. video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYX1Mm2OFU ] and segregation, and a new word "etiolation," and what it means.  Also, I was reminded to come back to stress as the root (no pun intended) of all greens evil.  For me it's been a good education.

Carl

[Greg Tallman]

Just another reason to retire to or spend significant time in Cabo. No such "pick your poison" issues here with a growing season that is almost 365 days per year.

Spend some time in the mountains come August & Spetember the return for the remaining 10 or so moths of perfect conditions.

[Kalen Braley]

I know this is an old thread, but didn't want to start a new one.  I have a question for the grass guys...

I'm curious what they have going on at Quail Hollow now.  From watching the coverage, the grass is two distinct shades of green.  A darker green for fairway and rough, and then at 20-25 yards short of each green a very noticeable line runs perpendicular across the width of the fairway, where the extended apron and green is a much lighter shade with a yellow tint. Is this due to using two different grasses, or is the grass just noticeably lighter when cut shorter?

Thanks!

[Anthony_Nysse]

I know this is an old thread, but didn't want to start a new one.  I have a question for the grass guys...

I'm curious what they have going on at Quail Hollow now.  From watching the coverage, the grass is two distinct shades of green.  A darker green for fairway and rough, and then at 20-25 yards short of each green a very noticeable line runs perpendicular across the width of the fairway, where the extended apron and green is a much lighter shade with a yellow tint. Is this due to using two different grasses, or is the grass just noticeably lighter when cut shorter?

Thanks!

5.04 Wells Fargo (PGA TOUR) (gcsaa.org)


The approaches are Tifgrand overseed with triv.

[Kalen Braley]

I know this is an old thread, but didn't want to start a new one.  I have a question for the grass guys...

I'm curious what they have going on at Quail Hollow now.  From watching the coverage, the grass is two distinct shades of green.  A darker green for fairway and rough, and then at 20-25 yards short of each green a very noticeable line runs perpendicular across the width of the fairway, where the extended apron and green is a much lighter shade with a yellow tint. Is this due to using two different grasses, or is the grass just noticeably lighter when cut shorter?

Thanks!

5.04 Wells Fargo (PGA TOUR) (gcsaa.org)

The approaches are Tifgrand overseed with triv.

Anthony,

Thanks for posting that.  Interesting it was over seeded with a strain of Poa, which in general seems to be an undesired grass.  I'm guessing the hot & humid summers ensure it doesn't stick around?

[Anthony_Nysse]

I know this is an old thread, but didn't want to start a new one.  I have a question for the grass guys...

I'm curious what they have going on at Quail Hollow now.  From watching the coverage, the grass is two distinct shades of green.  A darker green for fairway and rough, and then at 20-25 yards short of each green a very noticeable line runs perpendicular across the width of the fairway, where the extended apron and green is a much lighter shade with a yellow tint. Is this due to using two different grasses, or is the grass just noticeably lighter when cut shorter?

Thanks!

5.04 Wells Fargo (PGA TOUR) (gcsaa.org)

The approaches are Tifgrand overseed with triv.

Anthony,

Thanks for posting that.  Interesting it was over seeded with a strain of Poa, which in general seems to be an undesired grass.  I'm guessing the hot & humid summers ensure it doesn't stick around?

Poa Triv is probably the most commonly used seed for overseeding greens & fine turf. Its small seed works into the greens better & it's fine texture results in a nice putting surface. Some courses will add a small % of bentgrass to their overseed, also. It's generally pretty easy to weaken the overseed with low rates of the herbicides allowing the base grass to overtake it.  Ryegrass blends are generally used for fairways. Triv will die out over the hot summer.

[Carl Johnson]

I'd forgotten about this thread which I set off about 10 years ago.  I spent too much time at Quail Hollow on Friday, May 5, and whatever the grass, it all seemed good to me this year. (Good for the tournament.)  I didn't try to count, but more putts than usual seemed to be coming up short, which I attributed to the pros' fear of the green speeds.  I don't think anyone could complain about the conditions, however.