And for my 100th post!
Adrian,
Could you tell us what IS the best surface is and why?
Eric,
I knew someone would question that last line.....
"They maintain their poa greens at the highest level. Which has nothing to do with budget."
This is what it come downs to.
I either know personally what alot of these clubs do or I have / had friends that work there, so Im generally familiar with their level of management practices. Ive also woked at numerous major tournaments. So its interesting to see the different levels of management from course to course.
Let me start with what DOESNT impress me.
1. Supers that allow the greens to be overwatered just to avoid any signs of stress. If a super has poa greens and the staff is gone at 3 on a hot day, the greens are being overwatered. Greens need to be syringed, not watered. Mist them lightly and frequently throughout the day. Only watering with a volume of water on the localized dry / hot spots. If staff and budgeting is an issue then the assistant and super, who are on salary, should be out there doing it. No cost to the club.
2. Supers that really dont have a fertilization program. When asked they say they go out with some generic and cheap NPK source. 20-20-20 or a 10-10-10. With Iron. That is putting absolutely no thought into a program. AND I SEE IT ALOT!!! I would bet the bank that their soil reports arent showing completely equal deficiencies in NPK. They are all needed at different rates at different times throughout the year. And like I said before, ITS RARE A SUPER IS THINKING ABOUT AUXINS, GIBBERILINS AND CYTOKYNINS. To most, products engineered with these are called snake oils. How is it a snake oil when these are naturally occurring substances in the grass plant? They are beneficial beyond belief!!
3. Supers that dont pay attention to the cultivation & grooming of their greens. Got alot of thatch and organic matter? Then think about changing the tine size and spacing on the aerifier!!! Dont keep doing what youre doing because "thats how its always been done". Are the greens puffy and bumpy? Then get them on a tighter verticutting and topdressing program. They could also be overfertilized. All the Nitrogen being put down in the summertime isnt necessarry and puffing up the grass plant. Again, look at the fert. This is also at no additional cost to the club.
When I made that comment about the top 100 clubs that host championships with poa greens I meant it. But let me also say that their are tons of other courses that arent on the top 100 with humble budgets that also get it done. And thats because they have an intelligent super that cares enough and can think outside the box and gets it done one way or another.
But my whole point with that comment is that you could walk into any operation at those clubs I mentioned, which also includes numerous others, and you can just tell that "they get it".
1. They are very specific and careful how greens get handwatered. They dont just throw some chump out there and say "water these".
2. The fert programs are very meticulous and thought out and cover all facets of the plants nutrition both foliarly and in the soil.
3. The cultivation and grooming program is scheduled like clockwork.
Operations like these achieve great greens through sound and aggressive agronomics. Doesnt matter if its poa, bent or bermuda. Managing a green correctly doesnt equate to alot more money.