In the wake of a successful year culminating with a strong education conference and trade show, the Carolinas GCSA is donating more than $150,000 to research projects at Clemson and North Carolina State universities.
The 1,800-member chapter awarded $165,000 grants to three projects using money raised in the Rounds 4 Research annual online auction of golf rounds.
To date, the Carolinas GCSA has donated more than $565,000 to research projects at both universities.
The first of two projects being funded at Clemson focuses on the rising incidence of off-types in ultradwarf putting greens. Different turf types within putting produce different responses to ball traffic, and respond differently to maintenance practices. Researchers at Clemson hope to discover ways to help superintendents better manage these mutations without negatively affecting the predominant turf type.
The second project at Clemson delves into a potential relationship between mini-ring and nematodes. The research could lead to more effective and economical management strategies for both problems for superintendents.
At North Carolina State, researchers are embarking on a three-year study to understand the effectiveness of inputs. Researchers want to learn how soil properties that affect organisms as well as previous applications influence pesticide efficacy. Research in cropping systems has shown that repeated use of certain products can lead to pesticide resistance. This project will be one of the first to explore that phenomenon in a golf setting.
This year's Rounds 4 Research auction, which includes thousands of rounds up for bid at various golf facilities nationwide, runs April 25-May 1.
