Research Updates
RETIRED GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT JOINS PENN STATE’S TURF TEAM By Michael Fidanza, Ph.D., Professor of Plant and Soil Science, Berks Campus, Pennsylvania State University, Reading, PA M. John Nairn is the newest member of Penn State’s “turf team.” Although a retired golf course superintendent, he comes out of retirement for two days a week to help “Dr. Mike” at the 30-acre Valentine East facility at the Berks Campus. His duties include mowing the fairway height creeping bentgrass, mowing other turf areas, fixing equipment that always seems to break-down after students use it, and repairing irrigation. He also maintains the tees, fairway, rough, and green of the 440yard, par 4 hole. Designed by golf course architect Jim Nagle of Forse Design, and shaped by Greg Nolan and Gary Nolan,
News from PTC
John Nairn on a mower.
again John also pitched it to help build the golf hole, known as “Lion’s Paw.” John’s grandfather was from Scotland, settled in Berks County, and introduced the famous Aryshire cow to America. Although John’s background was in dairy production, with his Scottish heritage, he found his way to golf and graduated from Penn State’s turf certificate program in 1976. He fondly remembers Dr. Duich would smoke a cigarette in class, inhale for what seemed like five minutes, then calmly share turf wisdom as he exhaled. As the superintendent at Willow Hollow GC, John was instrumental in many of the early grey leaf spot fungicide trials conducted there. John, welcome back to Penn State!
BERMUDAGRASS / KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS MIXTURES FOR SPORTS TURF By Tanner Delvalle, Pete Landschoot, Ph.D., and Mike Fidanza, Ph.D. Mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass and cold-tolerant bermudagrass, sometimes referred to as “bluemuda,” have received interest from turf managers in the transition zone as a means of maintaining green turf in cold weather without overseeding. Preliminary research at several universities has demonstrated improved green color retention, traffic tolerance, and recovery from wear of bermudagrass/Kentucky bluegrass mixtures vs. bermudagrass alone. Although mixtures of cold-tolerant bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass appear to have potential for success in the transition zone, questions remain about performance in northern areas of the Mid-Atlantic region. Field studies were initiated during June 2020 at two locations in Pennsylvania: the Center for the Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment at Penn State Berks Campus and the Valentine Turfgrass Research Center in University Park. The objectives of this research are to 1) develop methods of establishment and 18 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Fall 2020
management of cold-tolerant bermudagrass/Kentucky bluegrass mixtures, 2) determine the fluctuations of bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass turf cover throughout the growing season and when subjected to simulated football-type wear, and 3) examine winter survival and injury of cold-tolerant bermudagrass in Pennsylvania. Establishment studies using Tahoma-31 bermudagrass (donated by Tuckahoe Turf Farms) and HGT Kentucky bluegrass are showing positive results with respect to bermudagrass establishment in plots of Kentucky bluegrass.
ALUMNI UPDATES Seth Burchill (BS ’18) has joined the field staff of SoFi Stadium (home of the LA Rams and LA Chargers). Colby Murray (BS ‘19) is now Assistant Groundskeeper with the Univ. of Houston. Justin Taylor (BS ’19) has joined the field staff of Levi Stadium (home of the San Francisco 49ers). Cooper Gulley (BS ’20) has joined the Lucas Oil Stadium field staff (home of the Indianapolis Colts).
CONFERENCE UPDATE In the interest of the health and safety of our members, the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council Board has cancelled the Winter 2021 Conferences. However, the latest field research results continue to be compiled, and updating of management guidelines remain underway. The PTC Conference Educational Programs, featuring seminars and workshops from Green Industry experts nationwide, will be presented in remote/virtual format throughout the months of January, February, and March, 2021.
Please visit paturf.org and psuturf.com for updated program and registration information.
