Golf Green Failures

After a few months of keeping on top of my goal of twice weekly blogging, I must admit I cannot keep that goal during this busy time of year for us. Not quite busy in the field yet, but will be in a few weeks. As I contemplated a topic for this blog, and then realized I don’t have any pics of failing golf greens I found this pick of my local pasture golf club, which they affectionately call their greens the “browns”. These browns are typically in pretty rough condition early in the year, but once July rolls around they certainly firm up and are a joy to play.

I recently received an email from a potential client asking if XGD golf greens are failing at high end clubs, why should I consider that option? Of course, I took that opinion personally at first but it got me to thinking it isn’t just a handful of XGD golf greens are failing, but all types are failing be they USGA, California, modified, or XGD golf greens. My general feeling is that if you have old basic, pushup soil greens without internal subsurface drainage, and some without proper sunlight or air movement, and predominantly poa annua grass on them then you really don’t stand a fighting chance.

As I have stated before on here, XGD Systems http://www.greensdrainage.com/ is not a panacea for your greens issues. But our internal greens drainage combined with some additional morning sun and improved air movement should get you through most tough environmental conditions, although perhaps the summer of 2010 you may want some extra insurance for those modified XGD pushups? A hot topic this summer has been the option of converting poa golf greens to the new bentgrass varieties. Recent successes with this option, in combination with an XGD golf greens internal drainage installation include Saucon Valley CC in PA, site of the 09 Women’s Open on it’s Old Course, as well as Westmoor CC in WI, as they have seemingly been able to get through the summer of 2010 relatively unscathed.

In conclusion, a common thread I have thread I have also heard from XGD clients is that in fairly normal years they are just not spraying as much (although not this year). In the future, are you going to be able to put down as many chemicals? North of the American border, this is fast becoming reality as regulators have already been bearing down on golf club chemical useage. As most turfgrass diseases are rooted in excessive moisture conditions, how can it not be advantageous to install XGD and reduce the gravitational groundwater choking off your turf plants?

Hang in there, hopefully about 2-3 weeks away from Mother Nature providing some weather relief.

Out, Poor Old Dirt & Grass Farmer