 |
|
||||||||||
 From the News Desk...Harding Park greens on mend after fertilizer mishapby Bradley S. KleinDaily-fee golfers might feel they’ve been burnt because of the temporary closure of five greens at San Francisco’s municipal layout, Harding Park. But it’s actually the putting surfaces that got singed, thanks to an accidental over-application of regularly scheduled fertilizer on July 21. By all accounts the greens are already well on their way towards recovery, and by the time of the Presidents Cup, Oct. 8-11 there will be little if any indication of damage. Day-to-day golf operations at Harding Park are overseen by KemperSports, but golf course maintenance is under the purview of the city’s Recreation and Park Department. According to superintendent Wayne Kappelman, two crews headed out last month to apply fertilizer, and the staff assigned to the odd-numbered greens mistakenly applied too much. The five most severely affected greens – Nos. 1, 3, 7, 11 and 13 – were roped off, seeded with bentgrass, and allowed to grow longer than the other greens that were kept in play. “I’m not worried about the Presidents Cup,” Kappelman said. “But I do feel bad about our everyday players right now.” The rested greens are now growing back, with plans to reopen them by mid-August so that the staff can resume its normal regimen of verticutting and grooming and get the putting surfaces up to full tournament speed in time for the Presidents Cup. Harding Park general manager/director of golf Rodney Wilson said that while he was concerned with resolving the issue as soon as possible, he also knew it’s not unusual. “If you’re in the business long enough,” he said, “something like this is going to happen.” |
In other news... Study examines spring pre-stress fertility programs Research finds no correlation between biostimulant applications before spring core cultivation and recovery. Posted: 09/02/2010 Read more » Aquatrols, TurfNet present Water Week The series of five Webinars is aimed at helping superintendents manage water and soils more efficiently. Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » News and people briefs Registration opens soon for Irrigation Show, Briggs & Stratton elects new chairman, FMC taps new director for professional solutions division Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » GCSAA selects firm in search for new CEO Kansas City-based company will open search process for Mark Woodward's successor in October. Posted: 08/31/2010 Read more » Water foul! Research shows that droppings from non-migratory geese on turf can result in nitrogen runoff into adjacent bodies of water. Posted: 08/26/2010 Read more » Complete news index » |
|
 |
 — The TurfNet Media Network: TurfNet.com, TurfNet TV, TurfNet Monthly, TurfNet University — Connecting golf course superintendents worldwide, since 1994. © 1994-2010, Turnstile Publishing Company. All rights reserved. |
 |