Developing a spray program can be a daunting experience for a golf course superintendent. Putting together a program that accounts for various types of pests on different turf types throughout the golf course that change with the seasons can be a lot to absorb for anyone. It doesn't have to be that way, says one former superintendent who speaks from a great deal of experience.
"Spray programs, fungicides, fertility, herbicides, insecticides, greens, tees, fairways, approaches and roughs: All of a sudden it can get very overwhelming," said Eric Greytok. "It doesn't have to be that way. You can simplify it."
In his 15 years as a superintendent, Greytok was the youngest host greenkeeper for not just one but two U.S. Open Championships at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000 and again at Winged Foot Golf Club in 2006. Now the national sales director for Macro-Sorb Technologies and SMS Additive Solutions, he also has worked at places like Merion, Congressional and Riviera. In that time, he's had a lot of success stories, and a lot of failures, he said to a group of assistant superintendents gathered recently at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California.
When developing a spray program, Greytok says it pays to think like a journalist and ask the five W's.
"You have to know the who, what, where, when and why for everything you are going to treat, whether it's an insect, fungus or weed. You really have to become informed about what you're going to do, why you're going to do it and how you're going to do it," Greytok said. "The No. 1 thing to do in my opinion is to learn everything you can about the target. You have to understand the cause of what you are treating."
During his days as a superintendent, Greytok said he would use a pair of 4-foot-by-8-foot dry-erase boards to would label each area of the golf course, noting historical issues or challenges for each. He then shared the information to his assistants and interns to research.
"The No. 1 thing in my opinion is to learn everything you can about that target. Understand the cause," he said.
"We'd sit down and hash it out. We researched each area and decided what we needed to do with insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. Then we broke down each area for winter, spring, summer and fall."
If the same turf-related problem historically recurs in the same area "you need to delve into why it is happening, organize your information and come up with a game plan," he said. Often, that game plan might include cultural practices that help alleviate some of these problems without the need for chemical applications.
"Sometimes when applying a pesticide, you are seeing the end result of something because of something else," he said. "You need to go back and ask, Why am I seeing anthracnose? Why am I seeing salt build up?' You need to start asking yourself those questions to stop it from happening. Applying pesticides are just the result of not fixing the cause of the problem."
Greytok suggests keeping detailed records and, in the case of a job change, examining records of predecessors, discussing conditions with other staff members and other departments from throughout the operation such as the golf pro.
"You have to understand what you are trying to control and what causes these issues. You need to know what causes Pythium blight, you need to understand rapid blight," he said.
"Look at USGA reports, consultant reports, historical records and ask why it happened. Was it a board that wouldn't let the superintendent aerate, or didn't like topdressing? If it's something like that, then you might have to change the culture to take care of the problems you have."
He suggests testing all new products on a nursery or practice green before turning them lose on the golf course.
"The worst feeling in the world is pulling something off the shelf, knowing nothing about it and having to trust it," he said. "But that happens, and it will happen to you. But if you can test things prior to that you will sleep a lot better. It's not a good feeling when you go to bed thinking I hope it's all right in the morning.'
"If you understand the mode of action, what you are trying to control, when you're trying to control it, you'll save yourself a headache, you'll save yourself some money and you'll save yourself some sleep."
If something didn't work, further investigation was warranted. He recalled a time when he couldn't coax more than three days of Pythium control from a popular fungicide. Further tests revealed pH levels of 10. After adding a buffer that cut those levels nearly in half, he was able to extend coverage to about a week.
"Fungicides are really sensitive to pH," he noted. "If the pH in your water is too high, you might only get five days or less of control."
"I should have checked the water first."
I thought the Bermuda was dormant enough. It wasn't. Coming out of winter, it wasn't so pretty, but it was the best thing I learned."
Timing is equally important, particularly on the West Coast and throughout much of the Sun Belt that have a year-round golf season and where there might be multiple preventive and curative herbicide apps throughout the year.
He's learned some lessons the hard way, including applying a liquid herbicide to offseason Bermuda that was still actively growing.
"I thought the Bermuda was dormant enough. It wasn't," he said. "Coming out of winter, it wasn't so pretty, but it was the best thing I learned."
During his years as a superintendent, Greytok called in chits when developing his spray programs.
"Contact your pathologist, call in chemical company reps and salesmen, call the person who sold the product and ask what people are mixing with it. Don't be afraid to ask questions, because it's your ass at the end of the day," he said. "Make sure you know where you're putting it and why."
He also used chemical reps, members of academia, consultants and even fellow superintendents to help him write his spray program.
"It doesn't mean you have to use any of them," he said. "But let them help you. You don't have to do it all yourself."