THE DYE PRESERVE Jupiter, Florida Visit Date: January 13, 2016 Present: Mr. Joe Webster, Golf Course Owner Mr. Jim Kilgore, Golf Course Superintendent Mr. Matt Doyle, Head Golf Professional Mr. Steve Kammerer, Director, Southeast Region, USGA Green Section Mr. Todd Lowe, Agronomist, USGA Green Section Agronomist United States Golf Association Todd Lowe, Agronomist Green Section Southeast Region 127 Naomi Place Rotonda West, Florida, 33947 (941) 828-2625 Fax (941) 828-2629 tlowe@usga.org USGA Green Section Mission: The USGA Green Section develops and disseminates sustainable management practices that produce better playing conditions for better golf. Course Consulting Service Report Page 1
inches of rainfall # days of rainfall As a not-for-profit agency that is free from commercial connections, the USGA Course Consulting Service (CCS) is uniquely able to provide the impartial guidance your facility needs to make informed decisions. Backed by the largest private turfgrass research program in the world and equipped with scientific tools, USGA agronomists are trained to thoroughly identify key issues and offer site specific recommendations. Having no financial interest in any products or services, we operate with autonomy, so that the interests of the individual golf course are our first and only priority. It was a pleasure visiting The Dye Preserve on behalf of the USGA Green Section. The most important topic discussed on all of my visits over the past several weeks has been El Niño and the negative impacts it has had on golf courses. According to weather data from West Palm Beach, it has rained 32 of the past 43-days. The 30-year average for December and early January in West Palm is 12-days. This increase in rainfall and the fact that The Dye Preserve exists in a low-lying area has created soft conditions on each of the playing surfaces. Increased golf cart restrictions, mud on the ball, plugged lies and less ball roll in fairways have been common topics discussed on most of my visit lately, including The Dye Preserve. 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Figure 1: December 1 thru Jan. 13, Historical vs. Current Weather data for West Palm Beach, FL* 12 days 4.9" 20 days 2.47" 30-year average Dec 1, 2014 -Jan 13, 2015 total rainfall (inches) 32 days 9.72" Dec 1, 2015 - Jan 13, 2016 35 30 25 20 15 10 Number rainy days (out of 43 total days) 5 0 *Amount and days of rainfall for West Palm Beach over the past 43-days. Data compiled from weatherbase.com and wunderground.com. Course Consulting Service Report Page 2
It must be understood that the current conditioning of the golf course is no reflection of the maintenance programs in place by Mr. Kilgore or his staff. After reviewing the agronomic programs at The Dye Preserve, I feel that sound maintenance practices are in place. This is simply an issue that all golf courses in our region are dealing with at this moment. For months now, meteorologists have been predicting a strong El Niño, worse than the one we experienced in 1997, which was a particularly troublesome year for golf courses in our region. Extended cool, wet and cloudy conditions took a toll on putting greens at several facilities that year. So far, El Niño has mostly impacted playing conditions, but I am seeing initial symptoms of turf stress on putting greens at several facilities and am cautioning all golf courses to proceed carefully over the next several weeks until we receive adequate sunlight and soil drying. Several topics were discussed during the visit and the most important of these included: Continuing the soil cultivation programs that took place on putting greens this past summer Increasing potassium rates on greens to supply at least a 1N:1K ratio and preferably a 1N:2K ratio Regularly venting putting greens with small solid tines over the winter play season to improve bermudagrass rooting Reducing collar elevation, particularly in runoff areas Locating and cleaning putting green drain lines and determining whether outfalls are functioning properly Evaluating Cammo" sand for masking ball marks The benefits of sand topdressing for fairways, especially putting green approaches This report is a summary of the observations that were made during the visit. Links to other articles are also included with this report and serve as additional resources concerning the topics discussed. GREENS Observations: The putting greens at The Dye Preserve were in appropriate condition for the time of year and the stresses that are taking place. Softer and slower putting greens are occurring at many facilities in our region due to the prolonged wet and cloudy weather we have received over the past six weeks. Thin areas were observed on a few locations, due to some previous turf stress, but these were already patched with new grass from the nursery green. Rootzone samples revealed good dilution of thatch and Course Consulting Service Report Page 3
organic matter, but also that the turfgrass roots are struggling, and this is significantly increasing the size of ball marks. El Niño: The prolonged wet and cloudy conditions brought on by a strong El Niño this winter are causing problems on putting greens in our region. Saturated soils create softer playing conditions. Moisture probes are used on a regular basis at The Dye Preserve and have been consistently between 20% to 40% for the past two weeks. Normally, the goal is to maintain soil moisture at less than 15% but this has been an impossible task due to the prolonged rainfall. The shallow root system at The Dye Preserve has become even more compromised with the reduced sunlight that has occurred from continual cloudy weather. This has made the putting greens even softer and more susceptible to ball mark damage. The mowing height was raised from 0.1252 to 0.135-inch to increase leaf surface area. Turfgrass leaves are like mini solar panels that convert sunlight into energy, and larger solar panels create more energy and deeper bermudagrass roots. I recommend maintaining higher mowing heights until we receive adequate sunlight and the turf responds favorably. Longer leaves also cause putting speeds to decrease, but playing conditions should be sacrificed at this time to protect turf health. Ball Marks: Putting greens in our region receive more ball marks throughout the peak winter play season than in other times of the year. However, they are usually a problem towards early spring, following months of increased play. Wet conditions coupled with shallower roots are causing considerable turf damage at The Dye Preserve from ball marks at this time. Mr. Kilgore has been applying Nitamin soil amendment to help mask the off-types and improve recovery. Nitamin is a lighter green material that does not mask blemishes very well. Instead, I recommend camo " sand sold by Golf Agronomics. This is a darker green material that better matches the color of turf and masks ball marks. Ball marks are usually problematic in early spring but are an issue at The Dye Preserve at this time. Fertilization: Shallow roots are oftentimes associated with low mowing heights, but 0.125-inch is not an excessively low height for ultradwarf bermudagrasses like TifEagle. Course Consulting Service Report Page 4
Another peculiar observation was the shallow depth of the organic layer of the putting greens at The Dye Preserve. We accumulate organic matter at a rate of nearly 0.5-inch per year on South Florida putting greens. The Dye Preserve greens were regrassed more than 13-years ago and I would expect to see an organic layer of around 6-inches. The organic layer at The Dye Preserve is only 3-inches deep. A shallow organic layer is actually a benefit for the putting greens at this time, as it should help reduce soil saturation, but I feel that it is indicative of reduced fertilization that has taken place since the putting greens were regrassed. Lean fertilization programs, especially those with soluble liquid nitrogen, help maintain faster putting speeds throughout the year but can also keep the turf anemic and less thrifty. Nitrogen (N) is generally applied at a rate of 6 to 10 lbs/1000² per year. It was mentioned that it was felt adequate nitrogen is being applied, based on this recommendation. However, adding some supplemental nitrogen, as temperatures increase, should help improve turf growth and recovery throughout the year. Perhaps more importantly, potassium (K) fertilization may need to be increased, as it was mentioned that a lower than recommended ratio of nitrogen to potassium is applied on a regular basis. Potassium is an important plant nutrient that is highly leachable, and we have found improved turf growth in our region takes place with potassium at a ratio of 1N:2K. So, if nitrogen is applied annually at a rate of 8 lbs/1000 ft², potassium should be applied annually at a rate of 16 lbs/1000 ft². The product MKP provides readilyavailable potassium that can be sprayed on a regular basis. Core Aeration: Core aeration is one of the most important cultural practices in our region for maintaining healthy putting greens. A historically non-aggressive aeration program has been implemented on The Dye Preserve putting greens until this past summer. Each previous summer, putting greens were aerated several times with small (0.25-inch) diameter tines. Aeration with larger tines and two DryJect sand injections were implemented this past summer and I feel that they have diluted the organic layer considerably. It was mentioned that it was difficult to aerate in August with larger tines, but Organic layer in the rootzone profile at The Dye Preserve, with DryJect sand channel. that the putting surfaces heaved from lack of roots. If additional aeration is needed, then perhaps double aeration practices should be considered in the early summer (see Double Aeration Doesn't Mean Double Trouble). Course Consulting Service Report Page 5
Drain Lines: It was mentioned that the integrity of the drain lines may be questionable and should be evaluated and cleaned. The company Innovative Drain Technologies is being considered for evaluating putting green drainage and I feel this would be an excellent service to consider at this time. Innovative Drain Technologies can locate drainage cleanouts and outfalls and can evaluate their efficacy as well as clean the mainlines with a high-pressure nozzle. Oftentimes, it is discovered that putting green drain lines no longer function properly as the outfalls become crushed or simply deadend into native soil. Tree roots can also create blockages in the outfalls and cypress trees can actually crush drain lines. I feel that this service is worthwhile in simply locating these important components (see Trust But Verify). Trees: Trees are important features on golf courses, as they add certain environmental and architectural qualities. Trees can also be a stress factor for turf, as they compete for sunlight, water and nutrients. It was mentioned that some areas, like the back left of #2, are being addressed by removing several problematic pines. Tree thinning may be difficult in other areas and I recommend reducing other stresses like golfer traffic. Elevated Collars: Putting green collars become elevated over time from years of sand topdressing. Most golf courses do not core aerate collars enough to keep up with sand accumulation and collars simply become elevated over time. Elevated collars are also referred to as sand dams, as they dam up water that normally flows off of a putting green. This causes the green perimeter to remain saturated, thus reducing oxygen uptake and encouraging black layer. Elevated collars can also exert more mechanical stress from perimeter mowing, as the incline forces more downward pressure on the inside turn of the mowing unit. Turf thinning and bare areas can result from either stress alone or from a combination of these factors. Elevated collar reducing surface water flow, increasing soil saturation and causing turf decline. I recommend that putting green collar elevation be reduced, so that water flows from putting greens into the adjacent rough area. This can be done through a series of aggressive core aeration practices over several summers, or in less time from collar stripping with a sod cutter (see Strip Em Bare). I first saw collar stripping a few years ago at Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples but have recommended it to several other Course Consulting Service Report Page 6
facilities since that time. In every instance, I have seen an immediate reduction in collar elevation and excellent turf quality in perimeters and collars. Some collars may require more aggressive shaping to reduce elevation and improve surface water flow. TEES, FAIRWAYS AND ROUGHS Prolonged wet and cloudy weather is causing increased plugged lies and mud" on the ball. In the game of golf, wetter equates to softer conditions and undiluted organic matter is like a sponge in that it retains water. However, it can be diluted with sand through summertime topdressing programs. Fairway sand topdressing is an expensive practice. Like many golf courses that I visit throughout the region, putting green approaches at The Dye Preserve are especially soft from organic matter buildup. If firmer approaches are desirable, then I recommend sand topdressing during the summer months. Perhaps Mr. Doyle could assist in determining how far the approach extends and where these practices should take place on each hole. Undiluted organic matter causes more mud balls and plugged lies in approaches but can be improved with sand topdressing. CLOSING STATEMENTS Thank you for the opportunity to visit and discuss your golf course maintenance operation as part of the USGA Green Section s Course Consulting Service. In addition to this visit and report, please do not hesitate to contact our office at any time during the year with further questions to take full advantage of our service. Sincerely, Todd Lowe USGA Agronomist tl:krw Course Consulting Service Report Page 7