Winter 2019 • Vol. 8/No. 1
Developing a Golf Course Nutrient Management Plan Preview the Northeastern PA Turf Conference & Trade Show
Vol. 8 / No. 1 • Winter 2019
Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 99 Boalsburg, PA 16827-0550 Phone: (814) 237-0767 Fax: (814) 414-3303 info@paturf.org www.paturf.org Publisher: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. • Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
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Pennsylvania Turfgrass Editor John Kaminski, Ph.D. Penn State • jek156@psu.edu Pennsylvania Turfgrass Associate Editors Maria Landschoot maria.landschoot3@gmail.com Heather Welch Penn State • hgw1@psu.edu President Chase Rogan GCSAA Field Staff • Mid-Atlantic Region Allison Park, PA (614) 241-3037 Vice President Tom Fisher Wildwood Golf Club • Allison Park, PA (412) 518-8384
18 Features
Departments
8 Upcoming Event
6 President’s Update
Program for the Northeastern PA 6 Penn State Turf Team Turf Conference & Trade Show
10 Cover Story
Developing a Golf Course Nutrient Management Plan
14 Between the Lines
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Waddington/Harper Turfgrass Scholarship Winners
16 Research Summaries Updates on Research by Penn State’s Turf Team
4 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
Secretary-Treasurer Rick Catalogna Walker Supply, Inc. (412) 897-0480 Past President Pete Ramsey Messiah College • Mechanicsburg, PA (717) 577-5401 Directors
18 Penn State News
Tom Bettle Penn State University
18 Advertiser Index
Tanner Delvalle Penn State University
19 Calendar of Events
Dan Douglas Reading Fightin Phils Elliott Dowling USGA Agronomist, Northeast Region Nick Huttie Muhlenberg College Shawn Kister Longwood Gardens Tim Wilk Scotch Valley Country Club Matt Wolf Penn State University
Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass
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President’s Update
Penn State Turf Team
Surviving the Setbacks
Jeffrey A. Borger Senior Instructor in Turfgrass Weed Management 814-865-3005 • jborger@psu.edu
Michael A. Fidanza, Ph.D. Professor of Plant & Soil Science 610-396-6330 • maf100@psu.edu
David R. Huff, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Genetics 814-863-9805 • drh15@psu.edu
I
hope that everyone had the opportunity to kick back and relax with family over the holidays. Santa Claus reported that the number one Christmas request from turf managers was for 2018 to be over! Look on the bright side; we broke many records last year, so it is almost statistically impossible for us to ever experience a worse year. Many supers with more tenure than me rated it the toughest year they had ever seen. It is hard not to make knee jerk changes to our programs because of this past year, but I think we should take some of the data from 2018 and throw it out. August 15th is always an ‘out of the woods’ date for us, but this year it was October 12th. It was only an extra two months of member complaints about playability, clients asking why their lawns melted and coaches whining about their practice fields. A friend told me that one of his members complained to him about the condition of the bunkers while the course was still flooded. Really? Are you not from this area? Our club now offers white water rafting to its members. It’s difficult not to laugh or just explode on people. It did start some conversations for me about improving our infrastructure, but no pipe is in the ground yet. There’s no doubt that last year was a setback, but it sounds like most of us survived it. For me, it begs the question of how to survive the setbacks. This year some well-timed growth regulator apps, better nutrient management and raising mowing height got me through. I mowed playing surfaces higher than ever in my career and it made all the difference through the storms of the summer. One thing made the biggest difference though, my attitude. It typically stinks, and I’m sick of it. Having a positive attitude is a choice and requires work, which I finally decided to focus on. I know the weather can be impossible at times, but I think sometimes we are happier being unhappy. I know I can get a lot of work done when I’m mad, but it takes a toll on me and everyone around me. A colleague with a similar condition asked, ‘Why do we feel like we have to be in a bad situation to be the most effective?’ We all know we are willing to do whatever it takes for a positive outcome. I had a coach that used to tell us ‘the victory is in the struggle’. He would say it after you experienced some severe personal adversity. Maybe it’s finally sinking in. It could be worse; I could be staring at a spreadsheet in a cubicle. I would be kicking out a window to escape! It would be nice to see more people take personal responsibility for their situations and attitudes. We are surrounded by people with genuine hardships that would benefit from encouragement from us. It takes less than 10 seconds to send a ‘how are you?’ text to anyone in your contacts. Just don’t do it while driving! Turns out, people are like plants, they respond more to the light than the darkness.
Pete Ramsey
2017–2018 PTC President 6 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
Brad Jakubowski Instructor of Plant Science 814-865-7118 • brj8@psu.edu
John E. Kaminski, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Science 814-865-3007 • jek156@psu.edu
Peter J. Landschoot, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Science 814-863-1017 • pjl1@psu.edu
Ben McGraw, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Turfgrass Entomology 814-865-1138 • bam53@psu.edu
Andrew S. McNitt, Ph.D. Professor of Soil Science 814-863-1368 • asm4@psu.edu
Max Schlossberg, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Turfgrass Nutrition / Soil Fertility 814-863-1015 • mjs38@psu.edu
Al J. Turgeon, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Management aturgeon@psu.edu
Wakar Uddin, Ph.D. Professor of Plant Pathology 814-863-4498 • wxu2@psu.edu
Lancaster Country Club • Lancaster, PA • Hole #3
Golf Course Desi G ners Office – (724) 438-1727 • Ron Forse – (412) 855-8130 • Jim Nagle – (717) 575-0598 1224 National Pike – Suite A • P.O. Box 154 • Hopwood, PA 15445 1900 Saxon Drive • New Smryna Beach, FL 32169
Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass
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Upcoming Event
Northeastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference and Trade Show (NETS) January 31, 2019 The Woodlands Inn & Resort • Wilkes Barre, PA • www.thewoodlandsresort.com Educational Program
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration and exhibits
Afternoon Session I General Session
Morning Session I General Session
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Lawns and Grounds Brad Park, Rutgers University
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Spotted Lantern Fly: Basic Biology, the Concern, Management Options and How the Regulations Apply to Turf Managers Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State University
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Backpack Sprayer Basics and Calibration Methods Tracey Harpster, Penn State University
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. BREAK visit with exhibitors
PDA credits in this session: Core – 2 credits, PC – 2 credits, Categories 7, 18, 23 – 2 credits
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PDA Update Chris Santore, PA Department of Agriculture
Morning Session II Golf Session
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Controlling Summer Annual Weeds on High Traffic Sports Fields and Grounds Brad Park, Rutgers University
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Best Management Practices for Anthracnose: What We Have Learned from 18 Years of Research Bruce Clarke, Rutgers University
PDA credits in this session: Core – 1 credit, PC – 4 credits, Categories 5, 6, 7, 10, 22 – 2 credits, and Categories 18, 23 – 4 credits
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. BREAK visit with exhibitors
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. LUNCH
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. USGA – Year in Review Elliott Dowling, United States Golf Association
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Turf Insect Year-in-Review: Insecticide Failures and Extreme Environmental Conditions Ben McGraw, Penn State University PDA credits in this session: Core – 2 credits, PC – 5 credits, Categories 7, 18, 23 – 5 credits 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. LUNCH
Afternoon Session II Golf Session 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. New Fungicides on the Horizon for Golf Courses Bruce Clarke, Rutgers University 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Managing Golf Course Ponds and Lakes Bryan Swistock, Penn State University PDA credits in this session: PC – 2 credits, Categories 7, 9 – 2 credits and Categories 18, 23 – 4 credits
For more information or to register, please visit www.paturf.org or email info@paturf.org or telephone 814-237-0767.
8 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass
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Cover Story
Developing a
Golf Course Nutrient Management Plan By Pete Landschoot, Ph.D., Professor of Turfgrass Science
S
uperintendents generally do a good job of monitoring the nutrient status of turfgrass and soil on their golf courses. However, keeping track of nutrient requirements and fertilizer programs on large properties with different turfgrass species, management regimes, soil types, and microenvironments can be challenging. A nutrient management plan (NMP) can help organize all or most of this information into a single document that can be shared with staff members at your facility. It can also demonstrate to club members, neighbors, and community organizations that you are taking an environmentally responsible approach to turfgrass fertilization. A golf course NMP is a document that helps superintendents keep track of the nutrient status of soils and turfgrasses and provides a strategy for meeting the nutrient requirements of turfgrasses through proper application timing and amounts of fertilizer. Nutrient management plans can be relatively simple or complex depending on the goals of your golf course operation. The basic components of a NMP are: 10 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
1. A brief description of the topography, geology, and soil types on the golf course, and a map delineating soil types on the property. 2. An inventory of turfgrass species and management regimes, including maps designating greens, tees, fairways, roughs, and environmentally sensitive areas that may require different fertilization programs. 3. A summary of soil test procedures, results, and recommendations for the different management areas of your course, as well as a narrative of your nitrogen fertilization program, including rates, sources, and application timings. 4. A means of recording fertilizer application dates, product names, analyses, sources of nitrogen, rates, and total amounts used. This article gives an example of a NMP that was developed for a golf course in central Pennsylvania. The plan has been simplified due to space limitations, but it provides a stepwise approach to implementing the basic components of a NMP.
Developing an NMP for Lost Creek Golf Club
In 2017, Penn State faculty worked with Mr. Tom Troutman, superintendent of Lost Creek Golf Club, to develop a NMP as part of a Chesapeake Bay Program-funded watershed improvement project. The primary purpose of this project was to monitor nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer inputs and to stabilize eroding stream banks along Lost Creek. The grant also provided an opportunity to develop an example of a basic NMP for other golf courses in Pennsylvania. Lost Creek Golf Club is located in Juniata County, just north of Rt. 35 in Oakland Mills. The property is approximately 150 acres and is surrounded by dairy farms and some wooded areas. A unique feature of the golf course is Lost Creek, a Class A trout stream, which enters the northeast corner of the course, then proceeds south through a wooded area before cutting through mostly open areas on the southern portion golf course. Lost Creek is an important part of the golf course, creating interest, strategy, and impacting play
Figure 1. Lost Creek Golf Club and surrounding landscape in early spring (left). Google Earth satellite image of Lost Creek Golf Club property (right). Figure 2. Soil map with unit symbols for Lost Creek Golf Course. Map generated by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Online Web Soil Survey.
Table 1. Specific soil types on Lost Creek Golf Course. Depth to Permeability bedrock (inches/hour) (inches)
Available water capacity (inches water/inch soil)
Soil reaction (pH)
48–60
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
High (0.14–0.22); high water table
Very strongly to strongly acid unless limed
Brinkerton silt loam, 0–3% slope
45–65
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
High (0.18–0.24); water table
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
KIB
Klinesville shaly silt loam, 3–8% slopes
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
KIC
Klinesville shaly silt loam, 8–15% slopes
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
KID
Klinesville shaly silt loam, 15–25% slopes
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
Ty
Tyler silt Loam
60
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
Moderate (0.18–0.22)
Extremely to strongly acid unless limed
Symbol
Soil map unit names
At
Atkins silt loam
BrA
Source: USDA Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Juniata and Mifflin Counties Pennsylvania.
on about a third of the holes on the course. Lost Creek floods on occasion, and, during periods of peak flow, some stream bank erosion occurs.
Step 1. Description and mapping of topography, geology, and soils
The first step in developing an NMP is to describe and map topography, geology, and soil types on your golf course. Knowledge of land and soil features can help you identify environmentally
sensitive sites and delineate areas on the course that may need different types and amounts of fertilizer. Soil survey manuals are a good source of information on topography, geology, and soil types. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers free internet access to soil survey information and map generation at Web Soil Survey https://websoilsurvey. sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm. Generating a soil map of your golf course takes a little practice, but the Web Soil Survey website provides
directions which are relatively easy to follow. Fig. 2 shows a soil map of Lost Creek Golf Club generated with tools on the Web Soil Survey website. Lines surrounding soil type symbols delineate the different soil types on the course. Symbols within the lines correspond to soil types described in the soil survey manual (Table 1). According to the Soil Survey of Juniata and Mifflin Counties, Lost Creek Golf Club has six main soil types: some with high water tables and strong acidity and some with low water holding Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 11
Step 3. Soil & water test results and fertilizer recommendations
Figure 3. Map of different management areas for three holes on Lost Creek Golf Course. Areas outlined in red are greens, tees are outlined in blue, fairways are outlined yellow, and areas outside of outlined areas are rough. Map was generated using features in Google Earth.
Figure 4. Grid pattern for collecting 12 subsamples of soil from a putting green.
capacity that contain shale and are welldrained. Soils with high water tables along Lost Creek are prone to flooding; thus, phosphorus and nitrogen should only be applied when the threat of flooding is low, if at all. Timing of applications on well-drained soils at higher elevations is generally more flexible.
Step 2. Inventory of turfgrass species and management regimes
The next step in NPM development is to make a list of the different turfgrass species on the property and specify how the turf is used and managed. At Lost Creek Golf Club, putting greens are a mixture of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass, whereas fairways, tees, and roughs are composed primarily of 12 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
perennial ryegrass. Nutrient requirements vary for the different species and management areas. Putting greens are mowed daily or every other day at a height of 0.135 inches, and clippings are collected and removed from the site. Greens are aerated once per year using a core aerator equipped with hollow tines. The tees at Lost Creek Golf Club are mowed at a height of 0.5 inches three times per week, and fairways are mowed at 0.75 inches three times per week during the golfing season. Clippings are not collected and are returned to the turf. The divot repair soil mixture contains some phosphorus to aid in fast establishment of new seedlings. Rough areas are mowed at a height of 2.25 inches once per week with clippings returned to the turf.
Perhaps the most important part of a NMP is testing soil for pH and nutrient content. Monitoring water quality of any streams, ponds, or lakes that border or reside on the property is also important and can demonstrate that your fertilizer program is not contributing to degradation of surface waters. However, not everyone has the resources or expertise to monitor water for nutrients, so this information may not be included in some plans. Soil Testing: Prior to 2017, the last time soils were tested at Lost Creek Golf Club was in 2011; thus, a new set of soil tests were needed to determine pH and nutrient concentrations of greens, tees, fairways, and roughs. In April of 2017, soil samples were collected from greens, tees, fairways, and selected rough areas prior to any fertilizer being applied. Twelve subsamples were collected in a grid pattern from each green, tee, and fairway using a 1-inch diameter soil sampling tube inserted 4 inches into the soil (Fig. 4). The 12 subsamples from each sampling area were placed in a bucket, broken apart, and thoroughly mixed prior to placing in the sample container. Samples were analyzed at Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Lab (AASL) for pH and nutrients. Soil tests results and recommendations from AASL were recorded on spreadsheets for all greens, tees, fairways, and certain rough areas. Table 2 shows an example of soil test data from 17 perennial ryegrass fairways at Lost Creek golf course (hole #9 does not have a fairway). Soil test results revealed acidic soils on most fairways, with pH values ranging from 5.44 to 6.03. All fairways received lime recommendations ranging from 50 to 90 lbs/1000 ft2. Soil-test phosphorus values in fairways range from 28 to 83 ppm Mehlich-3 P, and recommendations were for no phosphorus in 11 fairways and 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 lbs phosphate fertilizer/1000 ft2 for the remaining six fairways. Soil potassium concentrations range from 86 to 189 ppm Mehlich-3 K. Four fairways received no potash recommendation, whereas 13 fairways received recommendations of 1, 2 or 3 lbs of potash fertilizer/1000 ft2. Treating fairways
individually with only the recommended amounts of lime, phosphorus, and potassium can save money and reduce the chances of applying excessive nutrients. Soils test results and recommendations for greens, tees, and rough areas on the course are not included in this article. In most cases, pH and concentrations of phosphorus and potassium were in the acceptable range for greens and tees. Soils in rough areas were generally acidic and low in phosphorous. Nitrogen recommendations: Soil tests are not reliable for making nitrogen recommendations in turf; thus, general recommendations are based on the primary turfgrass species present in the stand and how the turf is used. Annual applications of nitrogen for putting greens, tees, fairways, and rough areas can range from 2.0 to 4.0 lbs/ 1000 ft2 per year in Pennsylvania. This range is fairly wide because of differences in the age of turf, mowing frequency/clipping removal, soil root zone composition, rainfall and irrigation amounts, expectations of golfers, and other factors. Given that the greens at Lost Creek Golf Club are mature and in good condition, nitrogen in the low range (2.0 to 2.5 lbs nitrogen/1000 ft2) was suggested as an annual rate. Annual nitrogen rates for fairways in poorly drained and flood-prone areas should be in the low range (about 2.0 lbs nitrogen/ 1000 ft2 per year or less), and fertilizer should not be applied during periods when the risk of flooding is high. Nitrogen rates for fairways in elevated areas can be slightly higher and should be applied during spring and late summer/early fall. Little to no nitrogen is recommended for rough areas in the poorly drained areas along Lost Creek, unless new turf is established. At Lost Creek Golf Club, financial limitations, wet soils, and environmentally sensitive areas along Lost Creek dictate fewer nitrogen and phosphorus
Nutrient management plans are not required for golf courses in Pennsylvania, but they are mandatory in Virginia, Wisconsin, and some other states. Proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would allow for greater flexibility of fertilizer programs if a NMP and soil testing program is in place. For additional information on developing NMPs see:
applications and lower rates than commonly used for most Pennsylvania golf courses.
Step 4. Record keeping
Most golf course superintendents keep careful records of fertilizer applications on their golf course and these can be inserted into the NMP. Records of fertilizer applications typically include dates, product names and analyses, sources of nitrogen (slow versus quick release), rates, and total amounts used. An example of a fertilizer application spreadsheet for putting greens is provided in Table 3. Record keeping is helpful for tracking fertilizer applications to different areas of the course, and from one year to the next.
“Turfgrass nutrient planning” by D. Soldat, Univ. Wisconsin Coop. Ext., https://learningstore.uwex.edu/ Assets/pdfs/A3876.pdf. Examples of NMPs for Virginia golf courses can be found at: http:// www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/ document/nmtmsc-example-golf-npm. pdf and https://cdn.cybergolf.com/ images/373/Sample-NMP-Report.pdf
Conclusion
Other aspects of golf course NMPs not included in this article are procedures for operating and calibrating fertilizer application equipment, containing and cleaning up fertilizer spills, disposal of unused and/or damaged fertilizer products, storage, and monitoring of water resources on the property.
Funding for nutrient management plan development and stream bank restoration at Lost Creek Golf Club was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Program’s Small Watershed Grants. 7
Table 2. Lost Creek Golf Club soil test results for ryegrass fairways; April 2017.
Fairways #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 # 10 # 11 # 12 # 13 # 14 # 15 # 16 # 17 # 18 §
pH 5.59 5.8 6.03 5.63 5.88 5.44 5.67 5.56 6.03 5.87 5.74 5.8 5.65 5.66 5.56 5.6 5.86
Lime recommendation (lbs lime/1000 ft2) 70 50 70 70 70 70 90 90 50 70 90 50 50 90 70 70 70
Mehlich-3 P§ (ppm) 48 32 51 46 82 83 54 39 48 42 34 32 28 60 51 45 38
P recommendation (lbs P2O5/1000 ft2) NONE 1.5 NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE 1.0 NONE NONE 1.5 1.5 2.0 NONE NONE NONE 1.0
Mehlich-3 K (ppm) 189 139 158 131 165 176 175 150 161 114 132 120 86 183 153 149 147
K recommendation (lbs K2O/1000 ft2) NONE 1 1 1 1 NONE NONE 1 1 2 1 2 3 NONE 1 1 1
ehlich-3 P and Mehlich-3 K = Amount of phosphorus and potassium, respectively, extracted M from a soil sample using the Mehlich-3 extraction solution. This extractant provides an estimate of phosphorus and potassium that is available to turfgrass plants.
Table 3. Fertilizer application record sheet Lost Creek Golf Club Management area: Putting greens, tees, and fairways Supervisor/applicator: Tom Troutman Application Date
Fertilizer Brand & Product Name
Formulation & Particle Size (SGN)
Early May, 2017
Andersons Contec DG, 100% MuTech HiVis. 40 lb bag
Granular SGN 75
Analysis %N 13
%P2O5 0
%K2O 26
Nitrogen Source(s) & percentages 1.95% urea 6.50% WSN 4.55% WIN (K source = KSO4)
Rate: lbs/1000 ft2 N 0.3
P2O5 0
K2O 0.6
Total Product Used lbs/1000 ft2 Greens & tees treated (~7 acres); ~704 lbs of 13-0-26 applied
Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 13
Between the Lines
Between the Lines Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Waddington/Harper Turfgrass Scholarship Winners
K
yle Patterson still recalls his feeling upon winning the Waddington/Harper Turfgrass Scholarship in 2014: “To see that somebody else thought I had a chance to be successful meant more to me than any sort of monetary contribution!” Since 2001, KAFMO has been recognizing outstanding students of sports turf management with a scholarship named in honor of Dr. Donald Waddington and in memory of Dr. John Harper, two pillars of the Penn State turf program. The scholarships are awarded to advance students’ educational potential in the science of turfgrass management. We caught up with Kyle and three other Waddington/Harper Scholarship recipients to find out where their careers have taken them since graduation, and what impact the scholarship had.
Scholarship Impact
Ryan Radcliffe (Penn State 2001), Ben Polimer (Delaware Valley College 2004), Julie Adamski (Penn State 2012), and Kyle Patterson (Penn State 2014) all felt the impact of the scholarship in
different ways. For Ryan Radcliffe, supervisor of grounds for the Middlesex Vocational School system, and Julie Adamski, Managing Director for NGAG, tuition assistance was a boon. Adamski adds that it also opened doors for meeting industry professionals. “As a college student it was great to be able to talk to those who have had experience and learn from them,” she recalls. Kyle Patterson, Campus Turf Manager at Towson University, remembers that winning the Waddington/Harper Scholarship was a huge confidence boost. “I used that confidence as a jumping off point post-graduation,” he says. Ben Polimer, who works for the town of Weston, MA, says that the scholarship introduced him to the Sports Turf Chapters of STMA. “Did I know at that point how involved I would become in both my local chapter, NESTMA and STMA? No way!” Polimer is currently the President of NESTMA and received two national awards from STMA in 2014 and 2015.
Why Turf Management?
When asked what originally attracted them to turf management, the two common denominators were sports and the outdoors. Radcliffe recalls that at a very young age he knew he wanted to be a groundskeeper. “I remember watching sporting events on TV not so much for the game but how the fields looked.” Through high school, Polimer worked for his dad taking care of a little
Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization 1451 Peter’s Mountain Road Dauphin, PA 17018-9504 www.KAFMO.org Email: KAFMO@aol.com 14 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
league complex in his hometown of Sharon, MA. Patterson wanted to be involved in sports and “upon realizing that the participating side wasn’t going to get me there, I had to find a different avenue.” Adamski loved sports and science and “didn’t want to be in an office all day, every day… being around sports has been a bonus.”
No Two Careers Alike
So what does a turf management career look like after graduation? As it turns out, no two career paths are alike. Polimer has been Field and Grounds Manager for the town of Weston, MA since January 2016. He is responsible for all green space in town: sports turf, lawns, and landscapes around school and municipal buildings. He is also responsible for site work for the school department and project manager for any outdoor projects in town. His favorite thing about the job is the confidence the citizens have in him to make their green space as nice as possible. Adamski manages the Natural Grass Advisory Group (NGAG), a field testing, education, and advisory company. She says the athlete is the number one priority for any sport and the one thing that has a direct impact on any athlete is the field. She loves being able to make a difference in field safety and performance. Radcliffe is kept busy with 160 acres to maintain for the five schools in the Middlesex Vocational School system. He is particularly proud of their baseball
Contact: Linda Kulp, Executive Secretary Phone: 717-497-4154 kulp1451@gmail.com
Contact: Dan Douglas, President Phone: 610-375-8469 x 212 KAFMO@aol.com
fields, which host the state championship games. Patterson, who has been at Towson University just over 6 months now, oversees all outdoor athletics facilities (baseball, softball, two grass soccer fields, FieldTurf stadium, a multipurpose field and an in-progress field hockey facility.) Having recently made the jump into college athletics, he says he “absolutely loves trying to juggle the chaos of nine teams using the outdoor facilities throughout the year.” His favorite part of coming to Towson has been the culture. “It’s exciting to see what you can do when the people around you want to see you be successful and are pushing you to be better.”
Tips from the Pros
Anyone considering a career in turfgrass may appreciate tips from the pros’ personal experience. Radcliffe says that in addition to studying turfgrass, the most beneficial thing is on-the-job training. “If it’s on a golf course or a professional field, they will learn a vast amount that they will use for a lifetime. While at Penn State I worked on the Beaver Stadium grounds crew and four summers with the Reading Phillies. Combining book knowledge with the real-life application of working on the fields will make a great professional.” Polimer urges students to look to the non-golf part of the business, pointing out that sports turf is a growing industry with great people. He also recommends getting involved in professional organizations like KAFMO and NESTMA. Patterson’s advice to current students is to pick the road you want to travel, whether it be golf, sports turf, or landscape and work at as many levels of that road as you can before you get out of school. The bright lights of professional sports aren’t for everybody, he cautions. “You can be really good at what you do in a different scene. That may be minor league baseball, a parks and rec setting, or college athletics. Find your niche and be the best turf manager you can be.” Students currently enrolled in an approved turfgrass program at an accredited college or university who have completed a substantial portion of the requirements needed for graduation are encouraged to apply for a Waddington/Harper Turfgrass Scholarship in 2019. For details, please visit http:// www.kafmo.org/scholarships.htm. 7
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Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 15
Research Summaries
High humid condition at turf canopy: A major mediating factor for infection, colonization, and conidiation process in gray leaf spot pathosystem
G
ray leaf spot, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae Couch, is a serious disease of perennial ryegrass turf, causing extensive damage to ryegrass fairways in various regions of the United States. Environmental conditions are important determinants in gray leaf spot epidemic development in perennial ryegrass fairways. The disease usually first develops in higher cut turf, particularly the rough where prolonged leaf wetness often remains for an extended period of time. Three environmental components, temperature, leaf wetness duration, and relative humidity (RH) govern gray leaf spot development in a uniquely interactive fashion. The effects of temperature and free leaf moisture have been previously documented; however, the effects of RH, particularly the infection process have not been well understood. In our study on the effects of relative humidity (88, 92, 96, and 100% RH), the RH threshold for successful infection by the pathogen was at 92% or higher under moderately warm condition (82°F). The advancement of infection on the leaf tissue was further examined with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged pathogen strain. No appressorium formation was found when the inoculum was incubated at
88% RH or below. The GFP-tagged straining provided a rapid procedure to quantitatively compare the fungal colonization from colonized leaf tissue at different relative humidity. The fluorescence intensity data showed that the level of fungal pathogen biomass was greatest at the highest level of humidity (RH 100%) and there was no fluorescence intensity observed at 88% RH or below. The conidiation (production of fungal spores) occurred at 96% RH with the most abundant spore production occurring 8 days after inoculation. Reduced spore production was associated with decreased RH, and no spore production occurred at RH 92% or lower. Our study indicates that infection and production of spores by the gray leaf spot pathogen on perennial ryegrass host required different thresholds of RH which were 92 and 96%, respectively. This study reveals the importance of the presence of highly humid conditions for disease epidemic development and secondary infection process in gray leaf spot pathosystem. Research Summary submitted by Dr. Wakar Uddin, Professor, and Dr. Yinfei Li, former Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology and Environ. Microbiology, Penn State University
Advancement of GFP-labeled gray leaf spot pathogen in perennial ryegrass leaf tissue, from intact conidium to germinating conidium with appressorium to full invasive mycelial mass (left to right)
Update from
Center for Sports Surface Research
At
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research, our research continues to focus on maximizing both the safety and playability of natural and synthetic turf playing fields. After a harsh winter including 19 straight days with low temperatures in the single digits, our warm season grass plots experienced some winter kill but bounced back nicely during the wet summer. Our warm season research plots include three bermudagrass cultivars (Patriot, Northbridge, and Latitude 36) and one zoysiagrass cultivar (Zeon). These plots allow us to test traction and other surface characteristics on grasses used in the south in addition to our Kentucky bluegrass plots. We are also currently involved in a turf traction study that included taking our traction tester ‘Pennfoot’ on the road to various fields in the northeast this summer. Our research findings continue to point to the importance of cleat selection as aggressive cleat patterns typically produce higher torque and injury risk on both synthetic and natural turf. We continue to evaluate and compare test methods for measuring surface hardness. Guides for measuring and managing surface hardness along with other useful information can be found in the ‘Resources’ area of our website – ssrc.psu.edu. Research Summary submitted by Tom Serensits, Manager, Center for Sports Surface Research, Penn State University
16 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
Entomology Lab News
In
my spring update, I mentioned how the 2017 growing was challenging and how excessive rainfall allowed turfgrass insect populations (e.g. annual bluegrass weevils (ABW), white grubs, and crane flies) to increase in number, to go undetected or untreated. I could not have forecasted how much more challenging 2018 would be in terms of insect management. ABW populations were some of the highest we have seen in a long time. Large rainfall events around the key
larvicide applications in the 1st generation (mid- to late-May timings) affected control of many of our go-to products. This likely contributed to denser populations going into the summer and surprisingly, a fair amount of damage occurring late into September and October. The damage caused by white grubs, especially northern masked chafers and Japanese beetles, also hit epic levels. I cannot recall a season where there was more direct (root feeding) damage in September and October.
We continue to work on finding cultural controls for these pests as well as earthworms. A long-term study was initiated this spring at the Valentine Research Center to examine the effect of saponin and acidifying fertilizers, fungicides, and sand topdressing on cast reductions, pH reduction, and thatch dilution. Research Summary submitted by Ben McGraw, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Turfgrass Entomology
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Actual sequence in same location November: Season ended with less than 10% of turf cover.
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Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 17
Penn State News
Advertiser Index
PTC Names Graduate Fellowships for Three PSU Turfgrass Icons
O
ne prepared golf courses for major tournaments, including the Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, over his 38 years as a golf course superintendent. One followed in his mentor’s footsteps, serving as golf course superintendent for several professional tournaments at some of the country’s best-known courses. One is a highly accomplished Penn State faculty member who advises the National Football League on ways to make its fields safer for players. In addition to being nationally recognized figures in their fields, Paul Latshaw, Matthew Shaffer and Andrew McNitt have something else in common: They are all alumni of Penn State turfgrass programs. To honor their contributions to the turfgrass and sports surface industries, the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council recently established three graduate fellowships in the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Plant Science. The council took advantage of the recently concluded Graduate Scholarship Matching Program, an initiative of “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” the University’s current $1.6 billion fundraising campaign. The council’s three gifts of $200,000 were doubled through the match, resulting in a $1.2 million influx of funds for the turfgrass science program. The Paul R. Latshaw Turfgrass Graduate Fellowship, the Matthew G. Shaffer Turfgrass Graduate Fellowship and the Andrew S. McNitt Turfgrass Graduate Fellowship for Improvement of Sports Turf Surfaces will help attract and retain high-achieving, creative and innovative advanced-degree candidates who will conduct research on topics such as plant disease, insect threats, soils, fertilizers, water management, creating safer sports fields and much more. 7
Alumni Updates
Gale O. Hultquist (2-year, ‘78) recently retired from Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg, New York. David M. McGhee (2-year, ’63) is now retired. Randy Scott (2-year, ‘72) is now retired, but is still doing consulting for two clubs around Montreal. He spends his free time cycling in both Canada and the USA. 7
We’re excited to welcome the
2-year program Class of 2020 to Penn State! Left to Right: David Kostenbauder, Daniel Allison, Paul Baich, Kevan McDonald, Brennen MacDougall, Cody Sander, Levar Brown, Jack Whitney, Jeremy Eggeman, Spencer Hoffman, Vikas Panday, Kyle Weloth. 7
18 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2019
Aer-Core, Inc.............................................. 9 www.aer-core.com
Beam Clay............................................... 19 www.BEAMCLAY.com • www.PARTAC.com
Coombs Sod Farms................................ 15 www.coombsfarms.com
Covermaster, Inc....................................... 5 www.covermaster.com
CoverSports USA.................................... 17
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East Coast Sod & Seed.......................... 19 www.eastcoastsod.com
Fisher & Son Company, Inc...................... 3 www.fisherandson.com
FM Brown’s & Sons................................. 19 www.fmbrown.com
Forse Design Incorporated....................... 7 George E. Ley Co.................................... 19
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Mitchell Products...................................... 9 www.mitchellsand.com
Pennsylvania State University.............Inside Front Cover www.psu.edu
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............... 7 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Quest Products Corp............... Back Cover www.questproducts.us
Seedway.................................................. 15 www.seedway.com
Shreiner Tree Care................................... 19 www.shreinertreecare.com
Smith Seed Services............................... 15 www.smithseed.com
Tomlinson Bomberger............................. 19 www.mytombom.com
Walker Supply, Inc..................................... 5
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The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Pennsylvania Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or PTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Copyright © 2018 by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council. Pennsylvania Turfgrass, is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to PTC members. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Pennsylvania Turfgrass, allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to the PTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
Calendar of Events
January 16, 2019
Eastern Pennsylvania Golf, Lawn, Landscape and Sports Turf Conference and Trade Show Shady Maple Conference Center East Earl, PA
January 31, 2019
Northeastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference and Trade Show (NETS) The Woodlands Inn & Resort Wilkes Barre, PA
February 22, 2019
KAFMO/PRPS Athletic Field Conference and Trade Show *New location and date* Shady Maple Conference Center East Earl, PA
November 19–21, 2019 Golf Turf Conference Nittany Lion Inn
Digital Marketplace Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
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• Trenching • Stream Bank Stabilization • Drainage on Existing Greens
For information, go to www.ShreinerTreeCare.com or call (610) 265-6004
Winter 2019 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 19
