Our region has already experienced two days of frost and several nights of low soil temperatures that have caused bermudagrass and seashore paspalum to lose color. As John Foy reported in the previous Florida Regional Update, weather predictions for this winter are for colder and drier conditions than usual, and so far these predictions are accurate.
Bermudagrass generally goes completely dormant in North Florida during the winter months, but most of our region remains warm enough to experience some turfgrass growth and a light green color. Temperature has the greatest impact on turf quality on Florida golf courses, as lower soil temperature causes decreased growth and color, while warmer temperatures encourage turf growth. Read the rest of this update.
North-Central Region - Carbon Copy
by Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist
Yogi Berra said "it's d�j� vu all over again" and that appears to be what we are experiencing across the upper Midwest this December with respect to weather conditions conducive to winter injury. The coldest day of last winter (single digits) occurred during mid December and several nights this December have already dipped well below zero.
Courses fortunate enough to have deep snow cover prior to the onset of frigid temperatures will have less to worry about versus courses in the Milwaukee area where only a dusting of snow was present to insulate the turf. To make matters worse, nearly an inch of rain preceded a rapid 20 degree drop in temperature that defined the first classic "thaw-freeze" event of the winter. Read the rest of this update.
Mid-Atlantic Region - Reflections from 2010 - Thoughts for 2011
by Stanley J. Zontek, director
It's the time of the year when all of us take a few minutes to reflect on the past year, although many of us wait until 2010 is officially over to begin thinking about next year. Several thoughts come to mind as we are in that transition period. Read the rest of this update.
Southeast Region - Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Green Conversion - Q&A
by Chris Hartwiger, agronomist, and Patrick O'Brien, director
The winter months are a good time to reflect on topics, trends, and discussions from the previous season. Ultradwarf bermudagrasses continue to be the major story in the SE Region with on-going conversions from bentgrass to an ultradwarf. In this article, we will review some common questions or comments we receive. Read the rest of this update.
Northwest Region I - Walking 'Round in Winter Wonderland
by Derf Soller, agronomist
Or maybe not. Throughout the vast Northwest Region some golf course superintendents are enjoying winter conditions on their courses and others aren't quite so lucky. Lucky, you say? The majority of golf courses in the Rocky Mountains actually look forward to a good snow cover to help protect the turf from the harsh conditions of the winter months.
The return trip from the 57th Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association Conference & Trade Show took me from a warm and dry front range through greater-than-normal amounts of early season snow in the high country. While skiers are happy, many of the superintendents and their staffs again were busy charging-up irrigation systems to irrigate dry, exposed turf. And I left Denver wishing I had snow tires on my vehicle. Read the rest of this update.
Northwest Region II - The 12 Days of Christmas - Golf Course Superintendent Version
by Larry Gilhuly, director
On the first day of Christmas my players gave to me
Unrealistic expectations green to tee.
On the second day of Christmas my players gave to me
Too many ball marks
with unrealistic expectations green to tee.
On the third day of Christmas my players gave to me
Three broken rakes,
Too many ball marks
with unrealistic expectations green to tee.
Read the rest of this update.