[The Gazette]

A report released this week from the United States Golf Association links El Niño, tree coverage limiting sunlight and aging infrastructure as some factors contributing to worsening golf course conditions in The Villages. The visit from Chris Neff, a consulting agronomist with USGA, comes amid a string of executive golf course closures due to renovation

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[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by The Gazette

A report released this week from the United States Golf Association links El Niño, tree coverage limiting sunlight and aging infrastructure as some factors contributing to worsening golf course conditions in The Villages. The visit from Chris Neff, a consulting agronomist with USGA, comes amid a string of executive golf course closures due to renovation

More...

Oh Boy!
Under 10 handicaps can go first on this one!

[tophcfa]

I read the whole report. The first thing that came to mind is that the consultant is telling the party that paid him exactly what his client wanted to hear.

[dewilson58]

I disagree with Neff.






(I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night)

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I disagree with Neff.






(I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night)

Is this the same firm that did the Deflategate report?

[thelegges]

Really can’t comment on right or wrong diagnosis, grass keeping, shade of trees, and old infrastructure wasn’t in any premed classes.
Since my education was to keep humans well, I have to hope a person who actually studied dirt, would have insight on problems, and offer constructive recommendations.
If intention was just to say what management wanted to hear, my hope is consultant was Free, otherwise why waste time and resources.

Besides I can kill any plant, tree or bush in under 30 days. Weeds however continue to thrive without any encouragement.

[Shipping up to Boston]

You do realize a Agronomist basically studies plants, how they can be grown, modified etc. Basically what a local farmer could’ve done as a courtesy for his/her ‘neighbors’!

[BrianL99]

How many people here, have ever hired a Consultant and expected to the Consultant to publicly disagree with the official position?

There was no way the consultant was going to say: "You guys are a doing a crappy job of maintaining your golf courses and you all should be fired". Without saying it in words, I think the District has already conceded they haven't done a great job of maintaining the courses and have found themselves behind the curve.

I think we're going to see an entirely new attitude towards maintaining the Executive Courses, over the next year or two. It takes time to stop the current momentum and revamp the process. We are dealing with government and change comes slowly.

As for the report, my opinion is ...

"Trees" are the bane of golf courses. Roots and canopies do more to prevent grass from growing, than El Nino ever thought of.

If you don't properly maintain your greens, your organic layer increases every year and eventually you choke off the grass ... it just won't grow. I have never seen a green in TV get a deep core aeration. It may happen, but I've never seen it. #1 problem with greens.

There's too much traffic on the golf courses. Shocking news.

The "Landscapers" aren't held accountable. More shocking news.

We need a long-term plan, with identifiable goals and performance standards. Yep

We need to convert to newer strains of Bermuda. Already in progress.

We need to review our contracts and improve them. Even Mitch admitted that, at a PWAC meeting.

Traqmatz is a pretty cool product, but at $4/sq. ft., it's fairly costly.

It became abundantly clear that the District got the message, when they came up with the El Nino story and then brought in the USGA. We can all complain that it's too little too late, but at this point, things can only improve.

Now I'm about to put on my Flak Jacket.

In my opinion, we cannot sustain the Executive Golf courses, unless they are operated 100%, "Cart Path Only". You can not like it. You can disagree with it. You can say it's unfair. It's a fact. If you want reasonable conditions year round, get rid of the carts.

The truth is, if you can't walk the few steps it requires to play an Executive Course, without driving on the fairway, you really need to choose another sport. Your days as a golfer are behind you. I understand the MickyLee Pitch & Putt has plenty of Tee Times available.

If I were TV King for a Day, I'd pick out 5-10 Executive Golf courses and make them completely "walking only".

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

How many people here, have ever hired a Consultant and expected to the Consultant to publicly disagree with the official position?

There was no way the consultant was going to say: "You guys are a doing a crappy job of maintaining your golf courses and you all should be fired". Without saying it in words, I think the District has already conceded they've done a fairly lousy job of maintaining the courses and have now found themselves behind the curve.

I think we're going to see an entirely new attitude towards maintaining the Executive Courses, over the next year or two. It takes time to stop the current momentum and revamp the process. We are dealing with government and change comes slowly.

As for the report, my opinion is ...

"Trees" are the bane of golf courses. Roots and canopies do more to prevent grass from growing, than El Nino ever thought of.

If you don't properly maintain your greens, your organic layer increases every year and eventually you choke off the grass ... it just won't grow. I have never seen a green in TV get a deep core aeration. It may happen, but I've never seen it. #1 problem with greens.

There's too much traffic on the golf courses. Shocking news.

The "Landscapers" aren't held accountable. More shocking news.

We need a long-term plan, with identifiable goals and performance standards. Yep

We need to convert to newer strains of Bermuda. Already in progress.

We need to review our contracts and improve them. Even Mitch admitted that, at a PWAC meeting.

Traqmatz is a pretty cool product, but at $4/sq. ft., it's fairly costly.

It became abundantly clear that the District got the message, when they came up with the El Nino story and then brought in the USGA. We can all complain that it's too little too late, but at this point, things can only improve.

Now I'm about to put on my Flak Jacket.

In my opinion, we cannot sustain the Executive Golf courses, unless they are operated 100%, "Cart Path Only". You can not like it. You can disagree with it. You can say it's unfair. It's a fact. If you want reasonable conditions year round, get rid of the carts.

The truth is, if you can't walk the few steps it requires to play an Executive Course, without driving on the fairway, you really need to choose another sport. Your days as a golfer are behind you. I understand the MickyLee Pitch & Putt has plenty of Tee Times available.

If I were TV King for a Day, I'd pick out 5-10 Executive Golf courses and make them completely "walking only".

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Wonder if some of those ‘findings’ were derived from a cursory check of the numerous threads on this forum. Basically an informal poll using this medium as the QB. El Niño seems to be a safe word for many ‘consultants’!

[firefighter4u]

well I read today that we are heading in to a La Niña, so I'm guessing everything we be hunky dory this time next year!

[UpNorth]

Trees? Where? There aren't any trees on those 4 executive courses that shade the greens, tees or fairways.

[Stu from NYC]

Wonder why no criticism directed at landscapers? They are not a privileged class.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

Wonder if some of those ‘findings’ were derived from a cursory check of the numerous threads on this forum. Basically an informal poll using this medium as the QB. El Niño seems to be a safe word for many ‘consultants’!

The El Nino thing has some modicum of substance. I'm far from an expert on Bermuda grass (or anything, for that matter), but as I understand Bermuda, it needs it's Vitamin D. Apparently if it doesn't get 8-10 house of sunshine a day, the stuff just won't grow.

We did have a pretty good stretch of weather, without much sun and warmth.

[MrChip72]

I know some people on here like to label things as fictional just because they don't fully understand them, but the El Nino thing isn't just something that the golf people in TV made up out of thin air. It's been widely reported all over Florida this year:

El Nino wallops South Florida - GCMOnline.com

More links here plus a webinar hosted by a University of Florida turf specialist:

Current Challenges | GCSAA

Even 8 years ago it was identified as a cause of poor golf conditions by the USGA:

https://www.usga.org/course-care/reg...f-courses.html

I'm not saying that the only reason was El Nino, that's obvious. But it likely had to do with putting these poorly managed courses over the tipping point at this exact time.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by MrChip72

I know some people on here like to label things as fictional just because they don't fully understand them, but the El Nino thing isn't just something that the golf people in TV made up out of thin air. It's been widely reported all over Florida this year:

El Nino wallops South Florida - GCMOnline.com

More links here plus a webinar hosted by a University of Florida turf specialist:

Current Challenges | GCSAA

Even 8 years ago it was identified as a cause of poor golf conditions by the USGA:

https://www.usga.org/course-care/reg...f-courses.html

I'm not saying that the only reason was El Nino, that's obvious. But it likely had to do with putting these poorly managed courses over the tipping point at this exact time.

These are the bullets from the USGA 2016 El Niño report. Not passing judgment....just asking the active TV golfers if you believe any of the below was followed this past winter?

2016

How can you protect your golf course?

Ultimately, we need drier weather and more sunlight. A few tips to consider for improving turf health and playability at your facility include:

1. Monitor soil moisture and reduce overhead irrigation – Many facilities have not applied irrigation since before Christmas 2015, yet root zones remain saturated due to the increased rainfall. Keep track of your soil moisture and reduce irrigation as much as possible at this time. Spend the extra money and purchase a dependable soil moisture meter that measures volumetric water content.

2. Increase mowing heights on greens – Do not stress your greens by mowing low. Sacrifice a little bit of playability for turf health and be more tolerant of slightly slower conditions. Turfgrass leaves are like miniature solar panels. Therefore, providing greater leaf area by increasing mowing heights will allow turf to create more energy through photosynthesis, promoting turf health and deeper roots.

3. Vent greens regularly with solid-tine aeration – Venting with small, “pencil” tines – e.g., 0.25-inch diameter solid tines – is recommended on a monthly basis during normal winter months. Some facilities are venting greens as frequently as every two weeks. Venting improves rooting by relieving soil compaction and increasing soil oxygen.

4. Use plant protectants – Fungicides are being applied at many facilities to reduce disease and improve turf growth. Leaf spot and Pythium diseases have been among the most common pathogens on golf courses over the past few weeks.

5. Manage golfer traffic – Ropes and stakes often are used to reduce cart traffic stress and are particularly helpful during the winter. Also, more courses than normal have adopted “cart path only” policies during the past month because of saturated soil conditions.

6. Implement a fairway topdressing program – “Mud balls” are a common problem when fairway soils remain saturated and are caused, in part, by an undiluted surface layer of organic matter. This thick, spongy layer causes more plugged lies and increases the occurrence of mud – i.e., organic matter – on balls. While fairway topdressing is costly, it certainly improves playability – especially surface firmness – and helps reduce the occurrence of “mud balls” in fairways with excessive organic matter.

Source: Todd Lowe (tlowe@usga.org) and Steve Kammerer (skammerer@usga.org)