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 From the News Desk...Courses in Oregon, Washington battle winter damageCold weather throughout December in parts of the Pacific Northwest is being blamed for an uncommon occurrence there – winter kill on golf courses. “It should be stated that nothing could have been done to avoid the injury that is being observed,” Rob Golembiewski, Ph.D., turfgrass specialist at Oregon State University said in a memo he prepared for that state’ superintendents association. Compounding the problem for golf courses in western Oregon and southwestern Washington was a late September outbreak of pythium that stretched from Portland to Seattle and has been called by some the worst they’d seen in this area. The pythium outbreak, combined with a mild autumn and sudden December cold snap left Poa annua greens at golf courses in Oregon and Washington in a weakened state heading into winter and interrupted the photosynthesis process ultimately inhibiting the turf’s ability to naturally harden off for the cold months ahead. Thus the turf was much more susceptible to freezing and winter damage, said Golembiewski, who has fielded pleas for help from numerous courses throughout the area. Golembiewski began managing OSU’s turfgrass program last year after Tom Cook retired. Temperatures in the Portland area dipped to an average low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit throughout December with a low of 7 degrees recorded on Dec. 17, according to the National Weather Service. In Seattle, the lowest temperature of the year, 6 degrees, was recorded Dec. 8, 9 and 10. The affected greens will recover, but they will need time and golfers will need patience, said Golembiewski. “It’s a test for a lot of guys, but we have a lot of tools and information to battle this,” Phil Lagao, CGCS at Black Butte Ranch Golf Club in Sisters, Ore., and the state’s chapter president said. “And hopefully, we’ll come out better than when we went into it.” In the meantime, he suggests implementing temporary greens to eliminate traffic and pulling samples to examine the extent of the damage. Only then, he said, will superintendents be able to determine the proper course of action at their respective courses. |
In other news... Bayer consolidates professional, consumer divisions Jacqueline Applegate to oversee both segments; Josh Weeks to retire in November. Posted: 09/09/2010 Read more » July heat keeps many golfers at home Rounds played at private clubs, daily fee facilities drops 5 percent. Posted: 09/08/2010 Read more » 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 » Complete news index » |
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