GOLF COURSE NEWS

What’s wrong with the grass in our fairways?

Well, , , , Actually, , , ,Nothing

So - nothing’s wrong but I can’t find anything to hit off of – as in grass!

There will be soon  - all we need is warm nights to make our grass grow.

I’ve played other area courses that the grass has already established – what’s up with that?

Our fairway grass is Bermuda. The courses you played probably had another type of grass; most likely Zoysia.  Bermuda grass was established on our fairways many years ago.  Likewise our irrigation system was designed to facilitate the growth of our Bermuda grass.  Both grass types above are considered “warm season” grasses.  Southern Missouri is on the northern edge of the zone considered ideal for warm season grasses.  Likewise, it is on the southern edge of the zone considered ideal for “cool season” grasses. Superintendents consider this transition zone the “zone from “*%#%.”

What conditions are ideal for Bermuda and why does it come in earlier some years?

Consider the last question first.  Some years our Bermuda establishes in late April or early May.  The sole basis of this is warm weather – particularly in the nighttime. Bermuda is very tolerant of heat. This allows the grass to flourish aggressively in July and August.  Likewise cool and wet  “conditions” retard growth.  We all know what this spring has been like.

 So why don’t we start a program of seeding/sprigging/sodding Zoysia if it usually establishes earlier?

This question is asked every year that our fairways come up late in the spring.  First, as mentioned before, our irrigation system is not designed to water some areas more or less than others.  This is important in the growth of Zoysia.  Second, it is not really feasible to maintain two grass types in the same fairway.  Bermuda grass has unique fertilizer and chemical needs – maintenance of Zoysia grass requires different types of chemicals and fertilizers.  These maintenance requirements essentially exclude sprigging or seeding into existing Bermuda grass.  Any aggressive effort to this end could result in significant areas of virtually no grass if neither grass-type succeeds.

I’ve played courses in the south that over-seed in the winter with cool-season grasses.  Why don’t we consider this as a means of having a playable surface in the winter?

The best answer to this would be to consider this current run of rain and cool weather. Areas that might be flourishing now because of over-seeding in the fall would seriously delay the growth of our Bermuda – the result of which would be the cool season grass dying when temperatures rise, and the Bermuda not coming in at all – large areas of dirt.

What could the membership do to help our fairways?

Well first, each spring pray that Mother Nature grants Twin Oaks Country Club very warm nights in April and early May.  Beyond that, those members riding in carts should stay on the cart paths.  Carts dramatically “beat down” the grass left over from the summer.  This is evident on most of our fairways and especially evident on par threes that don’t allow cart traffic and have dormant grass left to hit off of in late winter and early spring.

Superintendent

Tye Heidbreder - GCSAA