Greg Evans: 3 Beliefs in Producing a Successful Putting Surface

In this video from the 2012 GCSAI Conference this past week in Killenard Ireland, Greg Evans MG lays out his 3 beliefs of what is necessary to produce a successful putting surface:

1. Single Grass Species - Pick a parent monoculture and put a maintenance plan together to maximize its potential. Whether that's Fescue, Bent or perennial Poa, to get the best out of each species you must focus on each one individually.
2. Maintain a Balanced Program - Too little is as bad as too much in my view. Also, consistency of height of cut is crucial so that the grass plant grows in a happy environment. Chopping and changing building up to the big tournament is no good!
3. Sward Density - Without doubt the key to producing good surfaces. However you do it, you must maintain high sward density to get the best out of your surfaces.

Be sure to check out Greg's Blog and follow him on Twitter.

The Importance of Buffer Strips along Golf Course Waterways

Golf course superintendents have got to be some of the most knowledgeable, well-rounded individuals I know. When you think about all the subjects they’re expected to be proficient in, it’s really mind-blowing. I have a lot of respect for this profession. Not only do they need to know the ins and outs of the game, but they pretty much need to be landscape architects, mechanics, entomologists, gardeners, chemists, agronomists, botanists, soil scientists, arborists, wildlife managers, biologists, turfgrass specialists, plant pathologists, economists, weather forecasters, hydrologists, reclamationists, and even the occasional public relations professional. What’s more, they’re expected to be all of these things on top of keeping their players happy and coming back for more. If this list seems overwhelming, well, I’m sorry but I’m about to suggest one more. A wetland scientist. Golf course superintendents will need a good understanding of riparian sciences and knowledge of how to properly manage and maintain the health and quality of their ponds, streams, rivers and lakes if they are to succeed in the future of sustainable golf course management.

Weston GC, Toronto, Ontario - Project of Out on a Limb

Sustainability and Project Management

Irrigation, bunkers, stream restoration, construction of small buildings, bridges, wash pads or tee's - there is no shortage to the type of projects happening on a golf course at any given time. This requires a sound project management strategy.

The project management definition as per the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK, Project Management Institute's flagship publication) is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements”. What if one of your project goals or requirements was to integrate sustainability? Would you understand how?

For some insight I've contacted Sven Riemer, a Director at Stratos, a sustainability consulting firm in Ottawa Canada. Sven leads the Public Sector Management Practice and specializes in strategic project management, performance measurement and reporting strategies. After the short interview I've included a presentation of Sven's illustrating the process he uses of integrating sustainability in to the project management process.

Top 5 Dirty Videos

Understanding how soils work plays an important part in choosing plant materials, cultural methods, and interpreting what is happening below your feet. Here are five videos covering the basics...

#5 - Soil Texture

#4 - Soil pH

 

#3 - Soil Carbon Sequstration

#2 - Soil Biology

#1 - Water Movement in Soil

Video: Getting - and keeping - the bugs out

Last year at the 2011 Cornell Landscape Webinar Series: Getting Your Turf on the Right Track, sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sustainable Landscapes-Horticulture Program Work Team, Cornell University Assistant Professor & Turfgrass Entomologist Dan Peck, Ph.D., discussed the early-season scouting and intervention strategies for Invasive Crane Flies, Annual Bluegrass Weevil, Chinch Bugs and White Grubs.

Video: James Baird Interview

James Baird, a turfgrass specialist at the University of California, Riverside, talks about cool- and warm-season grasses, their carbon sequestering abilities, and how these grasses respond to water. In this interview, he also offers homeowners some lawn-care advice.

Organic Golf Course Management in Utah

Utah State University has identified Utah to be a perfect model to explore the use of organic management strategies on golf courses because of its diverse climates and landscapes that reflect those throughout the Intermountain Western US. As a means to increase awareness to golf course managers and superintendents about unnecessary pesticide use and provide alternative management tactics for golf courses in these landscapes, the USU Extension and the Center for Resource Management present the online training module "Organic Golf Course Management in Utah".

The creation of these training videos (powerpoints turned into videos) was to help superintendents make the transition to an organic management program. The USU presentations were funded by an EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program grant and include the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Variety Selection
3. Irrigation Management
4. Soils
5. Insects
6. Diseases
7. Weeds
8. Conclusion - Sustainable Management