Carolinas Golf Association. Cohairie Golf Club

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1 Carolinas Golf Association Cohairie Golf Club AGRONOMY REPORT Bill Anderson, CGCS Agronomist Carolinas Golf Association Date of Visit: September 20, 2017 The Carolinas Golf Association is an educational organization founded in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with 685 member clubs represented by over 150,000 individuals. With its rich legacy, championship traditions and commitment to the future of the game, the CGA has been a steward of golf in the Carolinas for over one hundred years. The activities and services of the Carolinas Golf Association are governed by an Executive Committee consisting of Carolinas golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service.

2 Carolinas Golf Association To: Randy Folger, Golf Course Superintendent of Coharie Country Club Fr: Bill Anderson, CGCS Carolinas Golf Association Agronomist Re: Site visit on September 20, 2017 Dear Randy, On behalf of the Carolinas Golf Association, we thank you for the opportunity to assist in your golf course maintenance and overall improvement program. I would like to say thank you to President Randy Barefoot, General Manager Richard Kimble, Green Committee Members Brandon Williams and Tracy Pope, and you for the return visit and great hospitality. Our site visit consisted of a morning tour of numerous golf holes with stops to discuss issues the group wished to address. It was everyone's desire to continue with the recent improvements and expand the continual improvements to the course in several areas listed below. Golf Course Topics of Interest: 1. Fairway and Rough weed control 2. Tree and Stump Removal 3. Leveling of Tees 4. Special needs on fairways 2 & 3 5. Fire ants 6. Mole Crickets 7. Staffing 8. Conclusion 2

3 1. Fairway and Rough Weed Control The cost saving decision of last winter to use Barricade pre emergent herbicide as opposed to the more expensive Ronstar allowed a significant amount of late season break through of weeds predominately Goosegrass. This should not be viewed as unexpected weed progression. The residual control of Barricade will not last throughout the summer, with a single February application. Cohairie Country Club m After the development of the weed pressure this summer, Randy applied the correct post emergent treatment of MSMA plus Sencore. Budget allowed only the one application, as opposed to the label recommended and necessary, second application. This is unfortunate, as poor, to no weed control was the outcome. With a small crew and limited equipment, using a contract spreader to apply the correct products, at the correct time, is your best approach. Weed control is basically a several part process with a liquid application of Round up in late winter (in February, above 60 degrees F) for winter weeds. A granular application of Ronstar, a pre-emergent, for upcoming summer weeds at about the same time. Then enhance this weed control program with spot spraying for any break through with two follow up post emergent applications during the summer months as needed. I continue to recommend the following program, as I did in our last report of February 2017: Herbicide Program I suggest you consider the following for next fall as your herbicide program. This is a pre/post fall spray program that was developed by Dr. Bert McCarty of Clemson University: 2 qts Simazine/acre 8 oz. 2,4-D/acre 4 oz. Dicamba/acre 1/2 oz. MSM/acre This program costs $25.00/per application. Timing is late October-early November and has worked well at many courses. This will give you good control and should save you a few dollars. You still follow up with Round-up in February mixed with Barricade or Ronstar for summer weed control. If Barricade is used, a second follow up treatment will be required for season long control. Both of these products can be applied dry with a fertilizer carrier and contract spreading which is now my best recommendation. 3

4 On the day of my visit the decision to apply Barricade in the next few days had been made as the product for future winter weed control. This should work well for the Poa annua, but will be limited on any existing broad leaf weeds. I would still like to see the above program used in the future. And switch to a more aggressive Ronstar program for summer weeds. 2. Tree and Stump Removal The recent aggressive tree removal of hundreds of trees is outstanding, and is already paying large dividends in better turf and a more strategic playing course. On almost every visit in the greater Carolinas, I recommend tree removal for the benefit of the turf and the golfer. No club has done a better job in attacking this issue than Coharie Country Club. The Club, BOD and Staff should all be commended in this progress. Keep going. The results will only continue to show in better turf, and a better course. I do recommend the purchase of a mid size stump grinder, to get all stumps below grade. This would serve the club well over the next few years as more trees are removed. 4

5 3. Leveling of Tees Surface smoothness and the levelness of golf tees is a desirable characteristic for all tee boxes. A smooth surface ensures a level and balanced stance during the execution of the tee shot, necessary for delivery of the golf club, along the desired path to hit a long and straight shot. Unfortunately, unlevel tees are all too common and occur at all clubs. Blame goes to high use, divots, topdressing, climate and the wear of time. There are several approaches to correct these issues, that are dependent on how un-level the tees are. At times, using a laser level box blade and heavy topdressing will be enough. Other times, stripping off the sod, and releveling the surface prior to resodding will be necessary. I believe Coharie has some tee repairs fitting both requirements. I suggest you contact JD Downey, President of Golf Course Services, Inc. at and discuss costs and options to leveling your tees. JD s company does all types of golf course improvements and has experience with tee leveling. 5

6 4. Special needs on fairway 2 & 3 These two areas of these two fairways still show chronic weakness and gaps in complete turf coverage. Continue your efforts, see 1-4 below to regain a positive grow in here. During my first visit in 2014 numerous areas showed similar damage, but since have recovered or have been resodded, and the symptoms have disappeared. This to could be a lingering effect from the what was believed to be a residual herbicide issue. I suggest you continue eliminating possible causes of this turf damage. 1. Soil test for both macro and minor soil nutrient levels, apply a test strip of a complete fertilizer with micros and view for any positive response. 2. Nematode test, but also apply a test strip of Indemnify nematicide to see if any response 3. Check all irrigation for coverage and control 4. In the future, apply activated charcoal, till and resod. See the 2014 report for more details. 6

7 5. Fire ants From the 2017 Clemson University Pest Control Guidelines written by Dr. Bert McCarthy (see attached doc) Ants (nuisance ants and red imported fire ants): A large number of ant mounds can interfere with the play on the greens. RIFA is also a medical concern because of their stings. Monitoring: The small mounds made by the nuisance ants on the greens and the large mounds made by the RIFA along the periphery are the tell-tale signs. Treatment: Most ants can be treated by one of the three methods: individual mound treatment, broadcast granules of baits or longresidual toxicants, and a combination of the two methods. I suggest you include funds in next years budget for a broadcast bait treatment around greens, tees and any club house areas where people gather. Having small containers of baits carried with grounds staff, and treating mounds as they appear, also goes a long way if you commit to treating them as they appear. 7

8 6. Mole Crickets From the 2017 Clemson University Pest Control Guidelines written by Dr. Bert McCarthy (see attached doc) Mole cricket: Tawny and southern mole crickets create tunnels and expose the grass roots to desiccation. Adult flight occurs in April to June. Egg hatch occurs from June through July. Monitoring: Check for tunnels. Soap flush (1-2 fl oz lemon scented detergent per gallon water) in areas large numbers of tunnels can capture the mole crickets and determine body sizes. Treatment: Treatment of young nymphs in June and July is more effective than treatment of adults in spring and larger nymphs in the fall. When contact insecticides are used, irrigate after application can help to push the insecticides into the soil. With amount of damage we viewed, and the lateness of the season, I suggest no treatment now and budget as much as possible for treatment around greens and tees, along with spot treatment of fairways next year. 8

9 7. Staffing Coharie Country Club has a very small staff, and not many layers of necessary technicians to do the basic maintenance tasks on a accurate and timely basis. With only Randy capable of doing ALL mechanical work, pesticide applications, irrigation repairs it is impossible to meet all course needs on a required daily basis. If possible, the club should consider filling the technician positions of the mechanic and a spray technician. Filling these two positions, and the addition of an intern next summer would be a tremendous step forward in a comprehensive agronomic program with predictable results. 9

10 CONCLUSION It was a pleasure to visit Coharie Country Club and spend the day with you. I hope you find the report useful as you improve the care and conditions on your course. Again, please call me at if you have any questions. I hope to return soon, as I look forward to a continuing working arrangement with your club. Sincerely, Bill Anderson Bill Anderson, CGCS Agronomist Carolinas Golf Association bill.anderson@carolinasgolf.org The use of brand names or service providers does not imply endorsement of the products/providers or criticism of similar ones not mentioned, but are used herein for convenience only. Mention of a proprietary product or service provider does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the consultant. 10