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Andrew Hardy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New grasses in the future?
« Reply #25 on: March 07, 2015, 09:15:33 AM »
Ego isn't going to keep you in business.

Why not? It works for Donald Trump.

Ha, true. Some would argue it really isn't working. *Insert waterfall here*

Andrew Hardy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New grasses in the future?
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2015, 09:17:52 AM »


Don,

Until the weekly telecasts of the PGA Tour events start deemphasizing lush green conditions, I don't see local clubs heading in the other direction.

While knowledgeable members would agree with you, the majority of members want to play the product they see the PGA Tour Pros playing every week.

For a while, announcers were extolling the virtues of F&F and "brown", but that movement, if it was one, seems to have faded away.

I had hoped that Pinehurst would initiate a trend toward F&F vis a vis brownish/yellowish/greenish playing surfaces.

I'm hoping that the PGA Tour event courses are less than lush and green on the screen.

Time will tell.



Don't know if I would hold golfers accountable for the lush green conditions. Owners have to take a piece of the blame here. GCI magazine was at a sustainable golf event in Ohio with a room full of owners. Even after the presentation focusing on lowering water use and "browning" their turf. The owners in the room via a raised hand poll didn't lift a single hand when asked if they were considering "less water and going brown". I believe the culprit of this issue and something like green fees is quite simply ego. Ego isn't going to keep you in business.

Andrew,

    Going Brown in Ohio would mean going out of business.  It is what the market wants.  Changing minds is going to be an uphill battle.  There are grass strands that use less water and still remain green. 

Agreed. Same for us in Ontario on both accounts. Difficulty changing minds seems to be a recurring theme in golf

John Percival

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New grasses in the future?
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2015, 10:52:42 AM »
One of the USA's great ironies is that those who travel to GB/I come home and rave about the experience and NEVER, NEVER bitch about the turf. Yet, they then tackle their greens super and ask why their skulled 5 iron didn't spin back on number ___.

The knuckleheads don't realize that f&f will create more distance for them than any new driver.

Now to be fair, courses need to allow more running access to greens to help reduce water and firm things up, but that's another thread.


SL_Solow

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New grasses in the future? New
« Reply #28 on: March 07, 2015, 07:10:18 PM »
Perhaps we can move in smaller increments.  Brown can be extreme for those used to green.  A move to olive may be achievable.  Incidentally, not all grass is the same as dormant Bermuda.  each super has to decide when his grass needs water to survive.  Type of grass, root depth, soil conditions, predicted weather and other factors all must be considered.  As in most of our topics, one size does not fit all.  However in the US, it is almost universally true that we have historically used too much water.  Most supers I know are moving in the proper direction.  They need help from their owners/committees.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2015, 05:26:30 PM by SL_Solow »

Lyndell Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New grasses in the future?
« Reply #29 on: March 10, 2015, 12:32:20 AM »
Pete we actually have some courses trying Diamond Zoysia on greens in South Carolina. From what I've seen its a smooth surface with minimal imputs.Good shade tolerance and decent cold tolerance.