119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 1

Volume • 63 No. 4
July • August 2001

The Newsletter of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation

OSU Turfgrass Research Field Day

Learn about the latest turfgrass research at OSU by attending
the annual turfgrass research field day, August 15th.
See Page 6 for details

Inside:
2001 OTF Board of Directors
See page 4

OTF Golf Tournament

Update & Registration Form
See pages 6–7

OTF Research Facility News

See pages 9–11
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 2

Sponsored By:
The Newsletter of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation

July • August 2001

TurfNews distributes useful and timely advice,

information and research from Ohio’s most
knowledgeable experts and professionals to
OTF members and those in the turfgrass industry.
Vol. 63 • No. 4 • 2001
TurfNews is produced by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation,
PO Box 3388, Zanesville, Ohio 43702–3388,
1–888–OTF–3445 and is available to all members.
www.ohioturfgrass.org
OTF Calendar of Events 2001
OTF/OSU Turfgrass Research Field Day
August 15, 2001—OTF Research & Education Facility
OTF Golf Tournament
October 1, 2001—Country Clubs of Fox Meadow, Medina
2001 OTF Conference & Show
December 3–6, 2001
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio
For more information or to register for OTF events, please contact
the OTF office at 888-683-3445 or visit www.ohioturfgrass.org.
Related Events
Ohio Lawn Care Association Diagnostic Field Day
August 16—OTF Research & Education Facility
Call 800-510-5296
Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association Fall Field Day
September 11—OSU Intramural Complex
Call: 419-885-1982 or 740-452-4541
Inside:
Message From The
2001 OTF President . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
OTF 2001 Board of Directors . . . . . . . 4
OTF Field Days & Golf News . . . . . . 6–8
News From The
OTF Research Facility. . . . . . . . . . 9–11
OSU International Office Graduate Student Story
Turf The World Over . . . . . . . . . 12–15
Sports Turf Tips
Turfgrass Seed Selection . . . . . . . 16–19
New Growth and Technology
Part 2.
Characterization of Sands . . . . . 20–23
New Growth and Technology
The Influence of Turfgrass
on Pesticide Fate . . . . . . . . . . . . 24–29
New Growth and Technology
Competitive Aspects of
Annual Bluegrass In Ohio . . . . . 30–32
Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Message from the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . 34

Corporate Sponsor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 2

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 3
Message From
The President
M ore than half the
year has past, and final-
ly the weather is heat-
ing up. The wet, cool
spring has caused its
own set of problems for
turf in this part of the
country. It seems that in
recent years the weath-
er goes from early spring to mid summer in two to
three days.
We are fortunate to have The OSU Turfgrass
Science Team as an information source. A tremen-
dous amount of research is done at the OTF
Research Center. As a member of OTF, one of
your benefits is our annual Field Day. This year’s
field day will be on August 15. Please come out to
see where your OTF money is invested. The Ohio
State Turfgrass Science Team and staff will be there
proudly displaying their research projects.
If you have not been to the field day the last
few years, its time to come back and take a new
look at the Turfgrass Research Center. New chemi-
cals are coming to the market and the field day is
the perfect time to get that disease or turf question
answered.
Everyone in the turfgrass industry is invited to
OTF Field Day August 15 and bring your staff to
enjoy a day with your peers.
Sincerely,
Len Dunaway
2001 OTF President
Internationally-Known
Sports Turf Expert to
Speak at OTF
D r. Richard Gibbs,
Scientific Services Manager,
joined the New Zealand
Sports Turf Institute in
December 1991 as the
newly-formed Scientific
Officer responsible for over-
seeing development of the
Institute’s construction,
research, analytical, higher
level turf training and sports
Dr. Richard Gibbs surface performance-testing
role. Previously Richard worked under contract as a
research officer for the UK Sports Council working with
Dr. Bill Adams of the University College of Wales,
Aberystwyth. While working with the UK Sports Council,
he was involved in the evaluation of cost-effective sports
turf provision under the recently introduced
Compulsory Competitive Tendering Framework for local
authorities. Following completion of that contract, he
was then employed as a senior lecturer in sports turf
management at Lancashire College of Horticulture and
Agriculture (Myerscough College), a position he left to
emigrate to New Zealand.
Richard is now the Scientific Services Manager at the
Institute. His present research and professional special-
ties include sports turf drainage systems and techniques,
playing quality performance characteristics of natural
and artificial sports surfaces, artificial sport surface evalu-
ation and performance, cost-effective sports turf mainte-
nance systems, and extra-mural turf management train-
ing. He is also an honorary lecturer at Massey University
and contributes to their turf training and research program.
He is co-author of ‘Natural Turf for Sport and
Amenity: Science and Practice’ (CAB International) and
has produced over 100 popular articles and 27 scientific
papers on turf management and construction. He is well
known overseas having presented talks and seminars in
South Africa, UK, Malaysia, USA, Canada, Australia and
Japan. Projects that Richard has worked on in New
Zealand include Gulf Harbour, Formosa, Kauri Cliffs
and Clearwater golf resorts as well as the recently com-
pleted WestpacTrust Stadium in Wellington. In 1998 he
was involved in the development of bowling and cricket
facilities for the Commonwealth Games in Kuala
Lumpur.
Richard has a first class honors BSc degree in agricul-
tural chemistry from Leeds University, UK and a PhD in
Soil Science from Lincoln University, Christchurch, New
Zealand. He first went to New Zealand on a
Commonwealth Scholarship between 1982 and 1986.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 3
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 4

Your 2001 OTF Board Of Directors

Pictured left to right: Dr. John Street, Mark Jordan, Mark Grunkemeyer, Todd Voss,
Mark Heinlein, George Furrer, Boyd Montgomery, Hank Chafin, Kevin Thompson,
Dr. Chuck Darrah, Len Dunaway, Glen Pottenger, Randy Tischer, Mark Rawlins,
and Lin Ropp. Not shown: John Mowat.

Keynote Address to Feature

Popular Green Industry Speaker
T he OTF Program mentality; how to find out what your customers really
want; what works in other organizations; how to motivate
Development
Committee is pleased to your team members; and more.
announce that Mark Mark is the author of “In the Company of
Mayberry, The Mayberry Entrepreneurs.” His book expounds on the dramatic
Group, Atlanta, GA, will concept for building an entrepreneurial organization.
be featured as this year’s It’s a strategy that has proven successful for organizations
Keynote Speaker. around the world.
Mark is an interna- His clients include H & R Block, Quaker Oats, Dun
tional speaker and & Bradstreet, Holiday Inn, Mattel Toys, Ace Hardware,
author. He coaches and Pizza Hut, among many others.
Mark Mayberry companies, helping Mark’s Keynote address at the Ohio Nursery &
them create entrepreneurial teams throughout their Landscape Association’s “CENTS” show was standing
organizations. He is an active member of the room only (room set for 800!). He is a regular contribut-
National Speakers Association. ing author in the ONLA Buckeye Magazine and the
Mark delivers his dynamic and innovative Ohio Lawn Care Association newsletter. He has also been
programs for associations and corporations in a wide the Keynote speaker for the Texas Association of
variety of industries. He not only makes learning Nurserymen, Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape
fun, he inspires his audiences to return to their Association, Landscape Ontario, Iowa Nursery &
workplace and immediately implement his Landscape Association, and the ProGreen Expo.
revolutionary strategies. Mark Mayberry will give you information you can
Mark will teach you how to overcome the resis- immediately put to work in your workplace. Plan now to
tance to change in your organization; how to get join us for his presentation Tuesday, December 4, 9:00
past the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” am at the Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 4
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 5

Announcing Ohio Lawn Care Association’s

7th Annual Diagnostic Seminar
A s the days are getting longer and warmer, and as
summer is quickly moving in, so is the 7th Annual
Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA) Diagnostic
Seminar. This yearly hands-on event will be held on
Thursday, August 16, 2001 at the Ohio Turfgrass
Research and Education Facility.
Last year’s Seminar attracted green industry profes-
sionals across the board, boosting attendance to
record levels. OLCA attributes this record-breaking
attendance to the high quality of educational pro-
gramming and the potential for networking with
industry peers at the Seminar.
This year’s sessions promise to be just as informa-
tive and beneficial to the green industry professionals
who attend. Be sure to mark your calendar for this
day-long event being offered in collaboration with the
OSU/OTF Turfgrass Research Field Day on
Wednesday, August 15.
Through programs like the Summer Diagnostic
Seminar, the Ohio Lawn Care Association is commit-
ted to promoting and protecting the Lawn Care
Industry in Ohio.
To receive additional information about
OLCA, contact P.J. Lindquist at PO Box
3388, Zanesville, OH USA 43702-3388;
Phone 800-510-5296; Fax 740-452-2552,
www.ohiolawncare.org

OSTMA Announces Fall Field Day

And 4th Annual Meeting
T he Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association is com-
mitted to “Enhancing, promoting, and improving the
quality of sports turf facilities in Ohio.” We hope that
our members as well as any individual responsible for
taking care of athletic grounds, i.e. coach, field main-
tenance worker, parks and recreation workers, col-
leges and universities, and professional prospective
members will join us at the Fall Field Day and 2001
Annual Meeting. We would also like to encourage
those individuals to bring your boss and management
along with you to these events so they can get an
understanding of just how important you are to the
success of the sports fields.
• September 11—OSTMA will hold its 4th annual
Fall Field Day at The Ohio State University
Intramural Complex. The day will feature speakers
and equipment vendors displaying their equip-
ment and allowing participants to demonstrate the
equipment they choose.
• December 5—OSTMA 4th Annual Meeting and
awards breakfast held in conjunction with the
Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show in Columbus.
This event will honor those turf professionals that
really provide top quality athletic fields in Ohio as
well as deserving students and members that are
awarded OSTMA Scholarships.

For more information, please contact OSTMA at 740-452-4541 (Phone),

740-452-2552 (Fax) or www.glstma.org.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 5

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OTF Field Day & Golf News
OSU Turfgrass Research
Field Day August 15
T he 2001 Ohio State University/OTF Turfgrass
Research Field Day will be held Wednesday, August 15
at the OTF Research & Education Facility, The Ohio
State University west campus, Columbus. Everyone
involved in turfgrass management is encouraged to
attend this valuable annual event. The Field Day is a
great chance to learn about the turfgrass research
currently being conducted at OSU, to meet with OSU
faculty, network with your industry peers, and visit the
turfgrass research facility—built and paid for with
OTF funds.
In an exciting new collaborative effort, the Ohio
Turfgrass Foundation, and the Ohio Lawn Care
Association (OLCA) have planned their respective
turfgrass field days to co-exist—offering specific
information for those in attendance.
The annual OTF/OSU Turfgrass Research Field
Day will be held August 15 and will follow a similar
format as in past years. This is a great chance to view
the results and learn about research on active
turfgrass and ornamental studies conducted by
OSU researchers.
The OLCA Diagnostic Field Day will follow on
Thursday, August 16. The OLCA Diagnostic Seminar
is limited to the first 200 registrants.
Both Field Days provide an excellent opportunity
to learn from many of the country’s best in turfgrass
research and education and tour the OTF Research
& Education Facility.
For information, contact the
OTF office at 888-683-3445
or visit the OTF website at
www.ohioturfgrass.org.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 6
OTF’s Second Golf
Tournament Planned For:
The Country Clubs of Fox Meadow
To increase its turfgrass research support,
the OTF Golf Tournament Committee offered
two tournaments this year—the first held
July 9 at the City of Blue Ash Golf Course in
Cincinnati, and the second planned for
October 1 at The Country Clubs of Fox
Meadow in Medina, OH (Cleveland area).
The Country Clubs of Fox Meadow is a beau-
tiful, 563-acre course on an upscale real
estate development opened for play in 1995.
OTF will play the Meadows Course—one of
two 18-hole courses at Fox Meadow. Tim
Cunningham is the Superintendent at Fox
Meadow.
OTF used to organize two tournaments each
year. “By holding two tournaments, we can
feature more of Ohio’s finer golf courses to
our members, while making it easier for
those who are unable to attend due to
geographical limitations”, adds Chafin.
“Two tournaments allows OTF to raise more
money for research—and it also allows us to
give out bigger cash prizes.”
Registration information will soon be mailed
to all OTF members, or can be found on
page 7 of this newsletter. Reduced rates are
offered to companies that sponsored the
Blue Ash tournament and also want to
sponsor the Fox Meadows tournament.
The registration form and general informa-
tion are also available on the OTF website at
www.ohioturfgrass.org. Sign up early as
space is limited to the first 144 golfers.
Call 888-683-3445 for more information.
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 7

Use this Form to Register for

The Country Clubs of Fox Meadow on October 1
Join other turfgrass professionals on Monday, October 1, The Country
Clubs of Fox Meadow, Medina, OH for the Annual OTF Golf Tournament.
The tournament is limited to the first 144 golfers (36 foursomes).
Reservations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. For your
best chance at having space confirmed, complete the reservation form,
include your registration fees, and mail or fax them to us today.

Highlights of the day include:

• 18 holes of golf at the beautiful • Team Individual and door prizes
The Country Clubs of Fox Meadow • Hole-in-one contests
• Individual gifts for each golfer • Putting contest
• Shotgun scramble beginning at 11:00 a.m. • Social time following golf with
• Box lunch a buffet dinner and awards
presentations

Deadline For Reservations: Friday, September 21, 2001

(Reservations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.)

Registration Form
Member #
Sponsorships
Please check one:
Name
Hole Sponsor–$160
Address
Bronze Sponsor–$250 • Sponsor the Beverage Cart
Silver Sponsor–$500 • Sponsor the Lunch City State Zip

Gold Sponsor–$750 • Sponsor the Awards Dinner Phone ( )

OTF Member Yes No

I am registering as a single golfer @ $125.
I am registering more than one golfer @ $125 each.
(List names of golfers below.)
Make Checks Payable to: I am registering as a foursome @$500.
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (list organization and names of golfers below.)

Check Discover MasterCard Visa Organization

Card # 1. Hdcp
Expiration Date Amount $
2. Hdcp
Cardholder’s Name (print)
3. Hdcp
Signature
4. Hdcp
For Office Use Only: (combined team handicap must be 40 or more)

Date Rcvd Amt $ Mail or Fax with payment to:

OTF Golf Tournament–Ohio Turfgrass Foundation
Ck # Ackd PO Box 3388
Zanesville, OH 43702–3388
Fax: (740) 452-2552
Please contact Kevin Thompson at 888-683-3445, ext 3151 or •A map and directions will be sent with confirmations.
email at kthompson@offinger.com with any questions.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 7

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 8

2001 OTF Scholarship

Applications Accepted
OTF is committed to improving turfgrass through
research and education. One of the best ways to foster
this commitment is by providing scholarships to students
pursuing green industry studies. Last year, OTF provided
over $22,000 in scholarships, and with the establishment
of the Ohio Turfgrass Research Trust and the Ronald D
Baker, Sr. Memorial Scholarship (see article May/June
2001 TurfNews), this amount is certain to grow.
To solicit qualified candidates in the past, OTF sent
letters and scholarship applications in May to the turf-
grass programs at several Ohio colleges. In addition,
OTF members are asked to recommend any of their stu-
dent summer employees who they feel would be quali-
fied. In September, an application will be mailed to all
OTF members. OTF scholarship information and
applications are also available on the OTF website
at www.ohioturfgrass.org.
With this broad access base, OTF’s scholarship com-
mittee is certain to see an increase in applicants, making
the task of choosing scholarship recipients more diffi-
cult, but ensuring that OTF’s awards go to the best and
brightest students in the green industry.
WANTED
Items for OTF Auction.
For more information on OTF’s scholarship
program, contact Kevin Thompson at
888-683-3445.
G ene Probasco, chairman of the Auction
Committee, holds an OTF tournament flag auto-
graphed by Patty Berg. Patty Berg was one of the
Call For Nominations founders of the Ladies Professional Golfers
Association and was the organizations first president.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association award-
In September, all OTF members will receive forms
ed Patty Berg the Old Tom Morris Award in 1986.
in the mail for nominating this year’s recipients of
The Patty Berg autograph will be one of many
“Professional of the Year” and “Professional Excellence”
items to be sold at this years auction, which will be
awards.
held Wednesday December 5, 2001. The auction will
Nominees for “Professional of the Year” be during the OTF Conference and Show held in
awards are judged on the following attributes: Columbus, December 3–6, 2001.
• Fellowship—willingness to share knowledge with and Last year the auction netted over $15,000.00.
help train fellow turf personnel. The goal this year is $25,000.00.
• Inventive Ingenuity—leadership in developing new Now is the time to start collecting items for the
ideas and trends in turfgrass management. auction. Many of our OTF people have contact with
• Membership and activity in turf related and other various sports and famous persons this time of year.
civic organizations. Ask for that autograph or memorabilia when attend-
• Length of dedicated service to the turf industry ing a sports exhibition or during casual conversation.
Last year five autographed items raised $700.00.
Professional Excellence awards are based upon simi- Other items needed for the auction are turf prod-
lar criteria, and are awarded to those deserving special ucts and equipment, athletic event tickets, fishing and
recognition for significant contributions to the turfgrass hunting trips, condo rentals, clothing, old publica-
industry. Awards and scholarships will be presented at tions and antique items, used equipment, golf clubs
the Annual Awards Banquet, December 5, at the Ohio and sports equipment, golf outings, seed and sod,
Turfgrass Conference & Show. books, and anything else you want to donate. You
Do you know anyone who deserves recognition for donate it, we’ll sell it.
contributions to turf management? Contact Kevin Thompson, OTF Executive
Director, 888-683-3445 ext. 3151 for additional
Watch your mail in September for details. information.
Or you may contact Kevin Thompson
at 888-683-3445, ext. 3151, before Gene Probasco
November 1, to request a nomination form. Ohio Turfgrass Research Trust Inc.
Chairman, Auction Committee
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 8
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 9

From the Manager’s Desk

News From The OTF Research Facility

Jill A. Taylor
Program Coordinator
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research
& Educational Facility

Mike Sloma of Columbus Century Rain Aid poses with reps from
Hunter Industries with OTF/OSU plaque recognizing the donation
of new Hunter irrigation system and controllers to the OTF
Research and Education Facility.

T he past few months have been very exciting at the
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) Research and
Education Facility, with planning and installation of a
Hunter state-of-the-art, in-ground irrigation system.
The original PVC system for the research area was
installed in 1967–68. Due to the many main line
repairs over the years, and the need for a different
design, discussion began a year ago to draw up a plan
for a new system.
The new design provides for 40 research blocks,
each independently watered and controlled. Two out-
door pedestal controllers are programmable for a vari-
ety of watering schedules.
The installation of the system was performed by
Rain One Irrigations Systems, Columbus, Ohio.
Except for the closed pipe trenches, visitors to the
facility will not notice a change until some reseeding
has taken place over time to provide uniformly seeded
blocks. Areas that were formerly unwatered alleys are
now watered and will be converted to research.
The new system is made possible with a concerted
effort by industry and OSU. Total donation of parts
and service from Hunter Golf, Century Rain Aid,
Lasco, Harco and Rain One Irrigation Systems
exceeds $40,0000, supported by funds contributed by
the OSU turfgrass faculty in Horticulture and Crop
Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology and Natural
Resources.
We would like to especially thank Mr. Glen
Pottenger of the OTF Board for setting the wheels in
motion for this project.

The installation crew from Lane One of Columbus poses with their
truck. The company made a substantial donation of labor for the
project. Left to right: Gustavo Mendez, Ramon Villasenor, Rob
Clark, and Jerry Schmidt (foreman). Not pictured: Tom Roth and
Chip Mason.
Mike Sloma, Century Rain Aid, completes wiring on one of two
outdoor Hunter controllers that operator 132 Hunter G-75
valve-in-head sprinklers.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 9
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 10

News From The OTF Research Facility

Loan Equipment
Program Thrives
As you walk through the equipment bay of the
OTF Research and Education Facility, you may be
impressed by all the equipment we have. You would be
surprised to learn we don’t OWN most of them!
Our industry is strong with equipment donations
and loans. Since OSU began a turfgrass research pro-
gram in the 1960’s, and with the completion of the
new building in 1996, our equipment base has grown.
Here is a report at press time of the current ongoing
donations of equipment and the local companies that
provide them:

• Toro/Century Equipment
Toro 1000 single reel greensmower
Rain One installs the system in March 2001.
Toro GM 3100 Triplex Greensmower
Toro Workman utility vehicle
Toro Groundsmaster Front Line Mower

The installation began in March and completed in • Turfco/Textron/E-Z-Go

mid-April. A plaque recognizing these donations is dis- Cushman utility vehicle
played in the main hallway of the OTF building. Ransomes Front Line Mower
Another plaque in the hallway recognizes donors Turfco SP 1530 topdresser
to the new research building grounds since 1996. Jacobsen Triking Triplex Reel mower
Donations of trees, mulch, fertilizer, sod, stone, seed Jacobsen Greensking VI Triplex reel mower
and plant materials, as well as a complete lawn irriga- Ryan GA-30 riding aerifier
tion system around the building, were gratefully
accepted from the following companies: • John Deere/Xenia Power
John Deere 2653 Triplex Reel mower
• Buckeye Tree Farm Gator 4 x 2 utility vehicle
• Century Equipment/Toro John Deere 220A single reel greensmower
• Eastside Nursery
• Walker Manufacturing/Mainline
• Green Velvet Sod Farms North America
• Kurtz Brothers Walker MT Rider mower with Grass
• Lang Stone Collection System
Pro Industries Bed Shaper
• Medalist America Rock Solid PLUGR
• United Horticultural Supply
• LESCO
• Wolf Creek Company/Rainbird
LESCO Commercial rotary mower
with foot sulky

• SISIS
SISIS Auto Rotorake
SISIS Twinplay variable pressure frame with
6 foot brush, and 6 foot springtine
grooming rake
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 10
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 11

Jake Eilenseld, a student employee from

Lucas, Ohio checks the grounds with a John
Deere Gator

Bryan Bradley, a student employee from

Blue Rock, Ohio mows with a Toro front-
line rotary mower.

Brad Novotny, a student employee from

Baltimore, Maryland operates a Ransomes
frontline rotary mower.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 11

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 12
OSU International Office
Graduate Student Story
Turf The
Turf The World
Word Over
Over
By David Goldie
Australian Internship Student
Reprinted with permission of Australian Turfgrass Management
Volume 3.1 (February–March 2001)
I
needed a change—something to
inspire me to follow this trade for
the rest of my career. I am just
about to complete the experience
of a lifetime that has seen me work-
ing in my profession of turf man-
agement for 14 months in America and Britain.
The Ohio State University International
Intern Program offers Turfgrass Internships to
single 17–27 year old greenkeepers. It handles
your placement, health insurance, visas and
accommodation. The program has interns
currently training at Augusta National, Pebble
Beach, Pine Valley and Shinnecock, to name just
a few. Twelve—18 months work training is
offered in the US with the option of six months
turfgrass studies at The Ohio State University.
They assist you during your entire stay in
America and have helped many in obtaining
good jobs following their return to Australia.
My first eight months were spent in a hot,
humid region of the U.S, at Harbour Town Golf
Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
There are 33 championship golf courses on this
exclusive 20mile long island, and the grasses are
C4 predominant. Our staff comprised of nine
African Americans, four non-English speaking
Mexicans and five white Americans. On my sec-
ond day, I was asked to train the Mexican’s to
mow greens with a pedestrian greens mower. It is
amazing how quickly you can learn a new lan-
guage, when you have no alternative.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 12
My introduction to South Carolina weather
was Hurricane Floyd and although it missed us
by 600km, the damage left behind took three
weeks to clean up. Generally though, the weather
is very forgiving for growing turf and frequently,
hot weather is followed by heavy rains.
The most interesting operation I was involved
in at Harbour Town was the overseeding of the
entire course that is performed in mid autumn
each year. In America, “Green is Good” and dor-
mant burmudagrass/couch just doesn’t cut it.
Depending on the state of the balance sheet
some courses would oversow only greens, others
greens and tees and some fairways as well. In the
middle of winter the cool season grasses provide
an astounding contrast between the oversown
areas and the white, dormant couch in the
rough. Due mainly to the annual PGA tourna-
ment held in April and the 40,000 players a year
paying US$220 a round, Harbour Town over-
seeds ‘ wall to wall’ at a cost of US$30,000.
We used ‘Cypress’ and ‘Stardust’ Poa trivialis
at 3.9kg/100m2 followed up with small percent-
ages of chewings fescue and seaside bent to over-
seed greens. Due to its deep color, varieties of
perennial rye at 4.53kg/100m2 were chosen for
the fairways. The rates seemed amazingly high to
me but I later learned that the superintendents
deliberately used such high rates to crowd the
plant, thus maintaining it at a juvenile stage
throughout the growing season. Then, come
transition time in mid-spring, the ryegrass is not
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 13

Although taken for granted by the locals, the most

‘unique’ aspect of Harbour Town was the wildlife. The
diversity was incredible and it was not uncommon to
skip cutting particular areas due to the presence of 4m
long alligators. There are small ponds on every hole of
the course and the ‘gators’ found the connecting
pipework an efficient way of moving between lairs.
Dolphins would swim within 30m of the 18th green
and pelicans were forever fishing in the estuary in
front of the 17th tee. I saw an eagle take a squirrel out
of a pine tree one day, then a fish from the Atlantic
the next and families of deer darted about the course
at dawn and dusk. The only wildlife that has an
adverse effect on the course is the moles. They can
deep-rooted and clumpy and the couchgrass is
burrow through a fairway as fast as you could walk
more easily able to re-establish. Some superinten-
across it.
dents used even higher rates. One course near
Working the MCI, Heritage of Golf, PGA tourna-
Orlando, Fla., used 80% Perennial Rye and 20%
ment was an invaluable experience. Everything was
Poa trivialis on greens at 12.2kg/100m2 and Haig
presented trimmed, true, striped and green for CBS
Point G.C on Defauskie Island used perennial
television. Azalea flowerbeds were planted everywhere
rye for overseeding fairways at 8.50kg/100m2!
and many tons of pine straw bales were spread. During
Much of the fertilization or pesticide applica-
the tournament I worked alongside the PGA officials
tions at Harbour Town was performed by con-
cutting pin positions and moving tee markers. There
tractors that ran 20-ton trucks fitted with large
were no second chances when cutting the cup and the
spreaders and turf tires. A lot of dust and four
8ft tall pins had to be dead straight for the players and
hours later every inch of turf on the property,
television.
bar the greens had been sprayed. I don’t think
My involvement with the Ohio State International
the quality of the job was great, but the job was
Intern Program also enabled me to attend a two-day
done fast, with success and there was no disrup-
turfgrass workshop in Titisville, Fla., and I also visited
tion to play.
the The Ohio State University. Whilst in America, I
Although their upkeep was tedious and
took the opportunity to attend the Annual GCSAA
never-ending, the pine trees and pine straw beds
Turfgrass Conference in New Orleans and I was fortu-
provided a beautiful border, and enhanced the
nate enough to visit the very private Pine Valley G.C,
shape of each hole. The greens, fairways and tees
NJ, Southward Ho Country Club and Long Island, NY.
needed to be blown, or vacuumed free of pine
Above all else these experiences have shown me how
needles daily. Green sand was used to repair div-
turf management has grown into a highly respected
ots and the course’s appearance was generally
profession in America.
kept at a high standard every day of the week.
It was with great regret that I finally had to sell my
The “Augusta Syndrome” is a common American
beloved V8 black Cadillac before setting off on a new
phrase used when discussing the trend that golf
adventure. When I arrived at the ‘Old’ Course, St
courses must always be lush, golfer friendly and
Andrews, Scotland for the final six months of my trip,
immaculate in every way and it was fair to say
I was thrown straight into the boiling pot of the
that Harbour Town had a fair dose of it.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 13

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 14
Millennium Open preparations. Eddie Adam’s green-
keeping staff were working long hours and five years
of preparation was culminating in an exciting finish.
I could not have chosen a course more opposite in
every detail to my placement in America. St Andrews
is all about tradition. The pioneering ‘Old Tom
Morris’ in the late 1800’s developed many of the turf
management techniques used at St Andrews today.
Current Superintendent, Eddie Adams has a world of
modern turf machinery and technology at his finger-
tips, yet he is very particular about his use of it. At St
Andrews, the playability of the turf is the main priori-
ty. This is in direct contrast to America, where the aes-
thetic appeal is so vital that playability may be jeopar-
dized for it.
The turfgrass on the entire links is as god intend-
ed. The hollows are green and the mounds brown.
Television and books do not come close to recreating
reality here. There are countless features that are far
more severe than I ever imagined. The ‘valley of sin’
at the front of the 18th green, and ‘hell bunker’ hid-
den in the center of the 14th fairway are nothing
short of awesome. Eddie Adams speculates he has 50
varieties of grasses that make up the mix of indige-
nous fescue and bentgrasses. The fescue is particularly
encouraged and Poa annua is eradicated very effec-
tively using cultural methods. The putting surfaces
were never sown or sprigged and they haven’t been
replaced since play started there in the 16th century.
The 2000 Open preparation was extremely inter-
esting. We prepared the ‘Old’ to have a strong links
appeal so fairways were running and the greens were
firm. Some parts of the fairways were actually running
at 9.5 to 10 on the stimpmeter one afternoon! No fer-
tilizer was used, greens were never rolled, striping was
avoided, and the automatic watering system was
almost completely ignored. Yet, the course looked bril-
liant for the Open. Although, a links course is not as
low-maintenance as most presume, there is a definite
art in it’s maintenance and managing the turf can be
likened to walking a tight rope. It’s starved appear-
ance keeps it close to senescence, yet an eye drop of
nitrogen would result in unwanted rapid growth. The
daily works program is dependent completely on the
current turf condition, the day’s weather and the
future forecast. If Eddie Adams were ever to leave his
post, the wrong replacement could very quickly
destroy the precious appeal of St Andrews.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 14
The staff for the Open comprised the 12 full time
staff from the ‘Old’, as well as 2 interns from America,
two from Australia and 41 staff from the sister courses
in St Andrews. These include the New, Jubilee,
Strathtyrum, Eden and the Balgove. All are positioned
on the southern side of the river Eden and over-
looked by the town of St Andrews. The entire staff is
very talented, and required virtually no direction as
they had all worked on the ‘Old’ during preparations
for the annual Alfred Dunhill Cup.
If you think you are competent behind a pedestri-
an mower, think again. The total area of the greens on
the ‘Old’ is 35,000m2, 8.75 acres! The largest double
green is 6500m2 and requires two sprinkler heads on
its’ surface to get adequate coverage and takes a
pedestrian mower 11/2 hrs to cut. Because growth is so
minimal, greens are not dark in color and there is
rarely a good dew, determining where you have
already cut is near impossible. At times the unlucky
greenkeeper has to hold a straight line for up to
100m. Those chosen to pedestrian mow for tourna-
ment preparation were cutting daily for four months,
and their skills and standard of work were exceptional.
Using the traditional art of ‘revetting’, all 112
bunkers on the ‘Old’ course were completely rebuilt
for the Open. They are by far the toughest bunkers I
have ever seen. During the Open, many professionals
were forced to hit sand irons out of fairway bunkers
and often were required to come out backwards from
some devastating greenside bunkers. I am sure that
Tiger’s low score was due in part to the fact he was the
only player to not enter even one bunker for the
entire tournament.
At 5:00am on the Wednesday of tournament week,
the Royal and Ancient contacted Eddie Adams to tell
him that players had been complaining that the
bunkers were too difficult to play from when their
balls did not roll back from the walls and therefore
they needed to be reshaped. There was no panic;
Eddie calmly asked his chief bunker man how long it
would take for one person to put more concave into a
bunker. He then proceeded to instruct 45 of his staff
to drop what they were doing, collect shovels and
wheelbarrows and then sectioned them to particular
bunkers for reshaping. All staff understood exactly
what was required and after just two hours and min-
utes before the start of play every bunker on the
course had been reshaped.
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 15
The Open was much larger than I ever expected.
There was seating for 21,000 and 230,000 spectators
hampered for a glimpse of the action during the
week. It was an amazing sight on the final day seeing
so many people surging towards the home end to get
a glimpse of Tiger. Our reward for the long hours
worked in the previous week was first hit-off time on
Monday morning. We played from the championship
tees and to Sundays pin placements. If it wasn’t for the
massive tournament hangover I may have even
remembered that day.
It is amazing the damage that so many peoples feet
can do to a golf course over a week. Relieving com-
paction, repairing irrigation and restoring damaged
turf was high on the list of priorities following the
Open.
The Links Trust is currently installing a $7million
Toro ‘site pro’ irrigation system to the 6 golf courses
(600 acres in total). For the first time the entire links
will be covered by one centralized system. The valve-
in-head Toro 690 series sprinklers have been installed
at the Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove courses. The
‘Old’, ‘New’ and Jubilee will have joined the system by
spring 2001. This will bring the total number of heads
to over 4,000. To assist in the planning of the project a
global positioning system (GPS) survey was carried out
to pin point every feature on the links. The new
flowtronex pump station will pump out 150L/second
through 120km of polyethylene pipework from the
3,405m3-storage tank. It will take eight hours to irri-
gate each of the five courses except the Old Course.
Eddie requires to irrigate his course in less time than
that so the system has been designed to irrigate the
‘Old’ inside four hours. Since the heads can be
turned on individually and there will be many more of
them Eddie says he will “actually be able to irrigate
less not more”.
In St Andrews the townsfolk live, breathe and sleep
golf. There are five golf shops on the street I lived on!
At 5:30am there are already up to 30 golfers waiting at
the starters hut for the chance that their name will be
chosen out of the ballot to play the ‘Old’. Tee times
are booked a year in advance and the course is con-
stantly full. However, on Sundays the course is closed
and the locals have free reign of the fairways to walk
the dog or have a picnic. This is where golf began,
and it is refreshing to see so many people respecting
and enjoying the game for what it is.
There is a lot that can be learned from how golf
courses are managed overseas. Quite often the end
result will be the same, but the techniques and man-
agement styles are hugely different from what we are
taught in Australia. We have a mixture of all turf and
golf course types and our professionalism and turf
quality is second to none.
This trip is something I will always remember and
the skills, knowledge and contacts I have made along
the way will be invaluable in my career as a turf man-
ager. I now look ahead with a refreshed enthusiasm
and a yearning to succeed. I recommend working
overseas to any young turf manager who can live and
travel alone, and be prepared to listen, watch and
work hard.
For anyone interested in internships
please contact Michael O’Keeffe
at mokeeffe@pop.service.ohio-state.edu
Or tel: 614-292-7720
The turfgrass on the entire links is
as God intended. The hollows are
green and the mounds brown.
Television and books do not come
close to recreating reality here.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2000 • Page 15
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 16

Sports Turf Tips

Turfgrass Seed Selection
John R. Street and Pamela J. Sherratt
The Ohio State University • Department of Horticulture & Crop Science

S election of the proper turfgrass species is one of the

most important decisions to be made when establishing
a playing surface suitable for athletics. Since the field is
meant to be permanent, it is important to select a grass
species adapted to the area and to the intended level of
management.
The most important criterion when selecting grass
species for athletics fields can be summarized as:
• Ability to tolerate heavy traffic/wear and to rejuve-
nate or “fill-in” any worn areas quickly.
• Quick seedling germination and establishment
(Table 1).
• Good color and density
• Drought, heat, and cold stress tolerance
• Moderate mowing height tolerance within species
• Pest, disease and weed resistance
In Ohio, only a few species of grass are useful for
athletics fields. Each grass species has relative advan-
tages & disadvantages based upon the above criteria.
In essence, no grass species is perfect!
The recommended species are:
1. Kentucky bluegrass
2. Perennial ryegrass
3. Tall fescue.
Less common species, such as Supine bluegrass
(Poa supina), have been used in athletics situations with
degrees of success and may be used more frequently in
the future. Poa supina does not have the level of heat
and drought tolerance of the latter three species but
does exhibit good shade and traffic tolerance.

Table 1:
Species Selection Guidelines for Sports Fields
Time Available Between
Seed & Play Grass Blend/mix % Weight Seed Rate
9 Months + Kentucky bluegrass 100% 1-2lbs/1000sq ft
9 Months+ Tall fescue 90%
Kentucky bluegrass 10% 4-6lbs/1000sq ft
6 Months + Kentucky bluegrass* 80%
Perennial ryegrass 20% 2-3lbs/1000sq ft
6 Months + Tall fescue 80%
Perennial ryegrass 20% 5-6lbs/1000sq ft
3 Months + Kentucky bluegrass 50%
Perennial ryegrass 50% 3-4lbs/1000sq ft
Over-seeding Perennial ryegrass 50-100% 6-8lb/1000sq ft
(during season) Kentucky bluegrass up to 50% During Season
* Mixtures containing more than 20% perennial ryegrass may result in predominantly perennial ryegrass stands.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 16

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 17
Choosing Seed Varieties
There are many cultivars/varieties of seed commer-
cially available within the industry. Check out the
“National Turfgrass Evaluation Program” (NTEP) on-line
to get some ideas at www.ntep.org (Table 2)
The NTEP program was designed to develop and
coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties
and promising selection in the United States and Canada.
Trials are conducted at 25–30 locations in the USA and
Canada and data is collected and collaborated on an
annual basis. Trials include turfgrass quality, wear toler-
ance, disease resistance, establishment rates etc. This
information is available through annual progress reports
and on-line.
Getting the Most From New Seedings
Once you have chosen seed varieties it is important to
undertake the best management practices, such as good
seed-bed preparation and consequent irrigation (see
previous newsletter May–June 2001 pages 14-18 for an
in-depth look at summer seeding). Following these guide-
lines will ensure healthy seedling growth but may not
prevent invasion from weeds.
Weed competition plays an important role in the fail-
ure of seedings. Annual grasses, especially crabgrass and
summer annual broadleaf weeds grow rapidly and can
Figure 1:
A new study initiated summer
2000 by Drs. Gardner and
Street will evaluate color/quali-
ty response of Kentucky blue-
grass cultivars to differing
application rates of fertilizer.
Moderate green varieties are:
• Coventry
• Chateau
• Unique
Dark green cultivars are:
• Moonlight
• Midnight
• Blacksburg
quickly dominate and overtake a seedling stand within
weeks. Unfortunately, it is difficult to control summer
weeds because few herbicides are labeled as safe to
use in newly seeded turf. There are some preemergence
and postemergence herbicide tools that will help
reduce weed competition with reasonable margins
of safety.
Tupersan (siduron) is the only safe preemergence
herbicide to use at the time of seeding or during the
establishment period. Dimension is labeled for pre/post
annual grassy weeds control in newly seeded or sodded
turf after the turf has established well. All other pre-
emergence herbicides are injurious to young seedlings.
Drive, a relatively new postemergence crabgrass her-
bicide, is an interesting tool for summer seeding. It can
safely be used in seedling turf if delayed until 30 days
after seedling emergence. Drive also provides some con-
trol or suppression of a variety of broadleaf weeds. It is
more efficacious and safer than other postemergence
annual grass options. It is also the best option on very
mature crabgrass (July and August)
We hope that you have found “The Sports Turf Tips”
informative. Our aim is to provide you with articles on
athletic field related subjects and to strengthen our rela-
tionship with the Sports turf industry. If you have any
questions, or would like to suggest subject matter for
future tips, please contact us.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 17
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 18

Table 2:
Mean Turfgrass Quality and Wear Tolerance Ratings of
Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass & Tall fescue
Cultivators Commercially Available in the USA in 2001

Tall Fescue Cultivar Ratings (1999 Progress Report)

Quality Wear Tolerance
Cultivar Names Rating Seed Producer Cultivar Names Ratings Seed Producer
Rembrandt 6.5 Lebanon Turf Products, Inc. Mustang II 7.0 Pickseed West, Inc.
Millennium 6.5 Rutgers University Watchdog 6.9 Pickseed West, Inc.
Pick RT-95 6.5 Pickseed West, Inc. Bonsai 2000 6.8 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Plantation 6.5 Pennington Seed Company Tracer 6.7 Barenbrug Research
Masterpiece 6.5 Lebanon Turf Products, Inc. Brandy 6.7 Jacklin Seed
Scorpio 6.4 AgriBioTech, Inc. Pick-RT-95 6.7 Pickseed West, Inc
Coyote 6.3 AgriBioTech, Inc. Southern Choice 6.7 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Crossfire II 6.3 Pickseed West, Inc. Bandana 6.6 Pennington Seed, Inc.
Shenandoah II 6.3 AgriBioTech, Inc. Masterpiece 6.6 Lebanon Turf Products, Inc.
Jaguar 3 6.3 Standard Entry Barrera 6.6 Barenbrug Research
Watchdog 6.2 Pickseed West, Inc. Shenandoah 6.6 Standard Entry
Olympic Gold 6.2 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. Shortstop II 6.6 Pickseed West, Inc.
Tar Heel 6.2 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. Wolfpack 6.5 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc.
Wolfpack 6.2 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. Coyote 6.5 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Rebel Sentry 6.2 AgriBioTech, Inc. Plantation 6.5 Pennington Seed Company
Gazelle 6.2 AgriBioTech, Inc. Wyatt 6.5 The Scotts Company
Arid 3 6.1 Jacklin Seed Jaguar 3 6.5 Standard Entry
Brandy 6.1 Jacklin Seed Tar Heel 6.5 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc.
Durana 6.1 Penninton Seed Company Bulldawg 6.5 Pickseed West, Inc.
Bonsai 2000 6.1 Turf Mechanics, Inc Scorpio 6.5 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Bravo 6.1 LESCO, Inc. Barrington 6.4 Barenbrug Research
Coronado 6.0 Turf-Seed, Inc. Bonsai 6.4 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Southern Choice 6.0 AgriBioTech, Inc. Falcon II 6.4 Standard Entry
Wyatt 6.0 The Scotts Company Aztec II 6.4 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Anthem II 6.0 Turf Mechanics, Inc. Conhise II 6.4 Ampac Seed Company
Genesis 6.0 AgriBioTech, Inc. Crossfire II 6.3 Pickseed West, Inc.
Barrera 6.0 Barenburg Research Genesis 6.3 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Empress 6.0 AgriBioTech, Inc. Pixie E+ 6.3 Jacklin Seed
Red coat 6.0 Mountain View Seeds Coronado 6.3 Turf-Seed, Inc.
Mustang II 6.0 Pickseed West, Inc. Rebel Sentry 6.3 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Rebel 2000 6.0 AgriBio Tech, Inc. Arabia 6.3 Simplot Turf & Horticulture
Barrington 6.0 Barenburg Research Duster 6.3 Pennington Seed Company
Chapel Hill 6.0 Mountain View Seeds Kitty Hawk S.S.T. 6.2 Smith Seed Services
Wildfire 6.0 Jenks Seeds Connection Arizona 6.1 Pickseed West, Inc.
Apache II 6.0 Turf-Seed, Inc. Empress 6.1 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Reserve 6.0 Advanta Seeds West, Inc. Gazelle 6.1 AgriBioTech, Inc.
Pixie E+ 6.0 Jacklin Seed Red Coat 6.1 Mountain View Seeds
Bandana 6.0 Pennington Seed Inc. Regiment 6.1 Seed Research of Oregon
Aztec II 6.0 Turf Merchants, Inc. Sunpro 6.1 Pickseed West, Inc.
TF6 6.0 Barenburg USA Apache II 6.1 Turf-Seed, Inc.
Tracer 6.0 Barenburg Research Bravo 6.1 LESCO, Inc.
Coronado Gold 6.0 Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. LSD 1.4
LSD (0.05) 0.2

NOTE: To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one entry’s mean from We look forward to seeing you
another entry’s mean. Statistical differences occur when this value is larger than the corre- at the OSU Turfgrass Research
sponding LSD Value (LSD 0.05)
Field Day August 15th.
Average quality ratings on a scale o 1-9, 9=ideal. Wear Tolerance ratings 1-9, 9=Most tolerant.
For more information about the NTEP trials, go online at: www.ntep.org. Dr. John R. Street
Poa supina seed is produced by AgriBioTech, Inc. street.1@osu.edu
Source: NTEP Progrees & Final Reports. Pam J. Sherratt
sherratt.1@osu.edu

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 18 Phone: (614) 292-6297

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 19

Perennial Ryegrass Cultivar Ratings (2000 Progress Report)

Quality Wear Tolerance
Cultivar Names Rating Seed Producer Cultivar Names Ratings Seed Producer
Applaud 6.4 Pennington Seed Company Pizzazz 5.4 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Charisimatic 6.3 Lebanon Seaboard Corp. Applaud 5.3 Pennington Ceed Company
Pizzazz 6.2 Turf Merchants, Inc. Pick RC2 5.3 Pickseed West, Inc.
Seville II 6.2 Pickseed West, Inc. Charismatic 5.3 Lebanon Seaboard Corp.
All Star2 6.2 Cebeco International Seeds Seville II 5.2 Pickseed West, Inc.
Amazing 6.1 Ampac Seed Company All Star2 5.1 Cebeco International Seeds
Gator 3 6.1 Cebeco International Seeds Promise 5.1 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Jet 6.1 Pennington Seed Co. Exacta 5.1 Lebanon Seaboard Corp.
Exacta 6.1 Lebanon Seaboard Corp. Pennant II 5.0 ProSeeds Marketing, Inc.
Churchill 6.1 Lebanon Seaboard Corp. Paragon 5.0 Turf Merchants, Inc.
Stella 6.1 Mountain View Seeds, Ltd. Churchill 5.0 Lebanon Seaboard Corp.
Fiesta 3 6.1 Pickseed West, Inc. Amazing 5.0 Ampac Seed Company
Premier II 6.0 Barenbrug USA, Inc. Fiesta 3 5.0 Pickseed West, Inc.
SR 4500 6.0 Seed Research of Oregon Radiant 5.0 ProSeeds Marketing, Inc.
Affirmed 6.0 Lebanon Seaboard Corp. Divine 4.9 The Scotts Company
Pick RC2 6.0 Pickseed West, Inc. Charger II 4.9 Turf-Seed, Inc.
Radiant 6.0 ProSeeds Marketing, Inc Gator 3 4.9 Cabeco International Seeds
Nexus 6.0 Smith Seed Services Nexus 4.9 Smith Seed Services
Promise 6.0 Turf Merchants, Inc. Pacesetter 4.9 LESCO, Inc.
Paragon 6.0 Turf Merchants, Inc. Premier 4.9 Standard Entry
Barlennium 5.9 Barenbrug USA, Inc. Cathedral II 4.8 ProSeeds Marketing, Inc.
Pacesetter 5.9 LESCO, Inc. Brightstar II 4.8 Turf-Seed, Inc.
Pennant II 5.9 ProSeeds Marketing, Inc. Affirmed 4.8 Lebanon Seaboard Corp.
Brightstar II 5.9 Turf-Seed, Inc. Jet 4.8 Pennington Seed Company
Wilmington 5.9 LESCO, Inc. Palmer III 4.8 Standard Entry
Majesty 5.9 The Scotts Company Racer 4.8 Roberts Seed Company
Elkin 5.9 Jenks Seed Connection Stellar 4.8 Mountain View Seeds, Ltd.
LSD (0.05) 0.2 Secretariat 4.8 Grassland West Company
Calypso II 4.8 Roberts Seed Company
LSD (0.05) 0.5

High Input Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Ratings (1999 Progress Report)

Quality Wear Tolerance
Cultivar Names Rating Seed Producer Cultivar Names Ratings Seed Producer
Midnight 6.4 Standard Entry Serene 6.7 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed
Liberator 6.3 AgriBio Tech Company Inc. Coventry 6.3 The Scotts Company
Brilliant 6.3 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed Kenblue 6.3 Standard Entry
Total Eclipse 6.2 AgriBio Tech Company Inc. America 6.0 Pickseed West, Inc.
Princeton 6.2 AgriBio Tech Company Inc. Champagne 6.0 Lebanon Turf Products
Nuglade 6.2 Jacklin Seed Company Rugby II 6.0 Medalist America
Impact 6.2 Jacklin Seed Company Sidekick 6.0 Ampac Seed Company
Award 6.2 Jacklin Seed Company Bluechip 5.7 Medalist America
Showcase 6.2 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed Classic 5.7 Jacklin Seed Company
North Star 6.2 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed Nustar 5.7 Jacklin Seed Company
Odyssey 6.2 AgriBio Tech Company Inc. Odyssey 5.7 AgriBio Tech Company, Inc.
Unique 6.1 Turf-Seed Inc. Unique 5.7 Turf-Seed, Inc.
Apollo 6.1 AgriBio Tech Company Inc. Brilliant 5.3 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed
Rugby II 6.1 Medalist America Chateau 5.3 Fine Lawn Research Inc.
America 6.1 Pickseed West, Inc. Compact 5.3 DLF/Trifolium
Blacksburg 6.0 Turf-Seed Inc. Jewel 5.3 Jacklin Seed Company
Blackstone 6.0 C.R.Funk-Rutgers University Nuglade 5.3 Jacklin Seed Company
Moonlight 6.0 Pure-Seed Testing & Turf-Seed Seabring 5.3 Olsen-Fennell Seeds, Inc.
Arcadia 5.9 Jacklin Seed Company LSD 1.7
Jefferson 5.9 Johnathan Green & Sons
Eclipse 5.9 Jacklin Seed Company
Glade 5.9 Standard Entry
Quantum Leap 5.8 Roberts Seed Company
Champagne 5.8 Lebanon Turf Products
Nustar 5.8 Jacklin Seed Company
Wildwood 5.8 LESCO, Inc.
Chicago 5.8 National Seed Co.
Absolute 5.8 Medalist America
LSD (0.05) 0.2

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New Growth and Technology

Part 2.
Characterization of Sands
and Amendments
By Dr. Ed McCoy
The Ohio State University, OARDC. Wooster
School of Natural Resources

Organic Materials

O
rganic materials are generally distribution of the mix such that additional available water
characterized as either native peats or is retained in the mix.
composts. Within each of these Finally, organic materials can modify the saturated
categories exist products that are of a hydraulic conductivity (or permeability) of root zone sand.
higher or lower quality as a soil In general, fine textured organic materials when added to
amendment. Generally, any material relatively coarse textured sand will serve to decrease the sat-
having organic matter contents exceeding 25 to 30% by urated conductivity. Alternatively, addition of a coarse tex-
weight can be used as an organic material in soil blend- tured organic material may increase the permeability of a
ing. Higher expectation situations, however, such as root finer-textured sand (although in many cases, no effect of
zone blending for high traffic turf, generally require use permeability due to organic matter addition is observed).
of higher quality organic amendments. These higher
expectation applications often demand higher organic
matter contents of the organic amendment. Classification of Organic Materials
Organic materials are primarily used in root zone
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM
mixes to increase water and nutrient retention. A nutri-
D 2607-69) has a classification scheme for horticultural
ent retention property of a material is determined by its
peats. Accordingly, horticultural peats should exceed 75%
CEC. Sands have very low CEC values. Organic materials,
organic matter by weight. In addition, those materials called
on the other hand, have high CEC values as shown in
sphagnum peat shall contain 67% of visible fibers from
the table below. It is important to remember, however,
sphagnum moss, those called hypnum peat shall contain
that organic matter sources vary widely in their CEC val-
50% of visible fiber from hypnum moss, and those called
ues and generally only small quantities (by weight) of an
reed-sedge peat shall have 50% of visible fibers from reeds
organic material is incorporated into a root zone mix.
and sedges. If few recognizable plant fibers are present, the
With regard to water retention, while organic materials
material is referred to as peat humus. Finally, muck (or
can retain water many times in excess of their weight,
organic) soils having 25 to 75% organic matter by weight
generally, this water is held within tiny pores within the
are called a variety of names such as muck peat, bog peat, etc.
organic matter itself and is unavailable to the plant. Peats
Composts are also commonly used as an organic matter
mixed with sand, however, tend to modify the pore size
source for root zone mixes. Composts are the products of a

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wide range of composting processes. Composts can
vary widely depending on the feedstocks going into
the composting process and the process itself. Also,
composts can vary from batch to batch. Different types
of composts include:
• sewage sludge (biosolids) compost
• leaf compost
• yardwaste compost
• composted rice hulls
• composted fir or pine bark
• composted sawdust
• composted animal waste
• mushroom compost
• composted municipal solid waste
The most commonly employed composts for
use in golf and sports turf root zones are biosolids
compost, and in some parts of the country, composted
rice hulls and composted fir or pine bark.
Important Characteristics
of Organic Materials
Organic matter content is the most important charac-
teristic of an organic material for consideration of use in
a root zone mix. Organic matter content is typically
determined by ‘loss on ignition.’ This is the percent
weight loss of a sample after ashing in a muffle furnace
at 440°C. Organic matter content values exceeding 85%
by wt. for a native peat generally correspond with a high-
er quality material. Composts have been successfully
used in high expectation applications when the compost
material has organic matter content as low as 65% by wt.
Fiber content reflects the texture of an organic mate-
rial and is defined as the percent of the organic material
retained on a 0.15-mm (100-mesh) sieve. For native peat
sources, fiber content is used as an index of the resis-
tance of the peat to decomposition. Peat particles or
fibers larger than 0.15 mm are thought to somewhat
resist decomposition whereas fibers smaller than 0.15 are
thought to be more easily degraded. Fiber content is also
an index of texture for native peats where coarse tex-
tured materials have larger fiber contents and fine tex-

Properties of Various Organic Materials

Material Organic Fiber EC CEC pH
% wt. %wt. DS m-1 cmol kg-1
Native Peats
Light Sphagnum 96.9 71.8 0.3 163 3.9
Dark Sphagnum 88.3 43.8 0.5 151 4.3
Dakota Reed-Sedge 86.3 47.3 178 6.5
Michigan Reed-Sedge 69.4 34.2 0.3 118 5.1
Peat Humus 34.6 6.9 86 4.8
Composts
Yard Waste Compost 39.8 18.1 1.1 77 8.9
Leaf Compost 54.0 26.1 1.5 112 8.6
Biosolids Compost 68.3 50.5 4.4 52 8.6
Mushroom Compost 55.1 23.2 8.5 86 8.8
Peat+Compost
Composted Peat 80.1 65.4 59 7.7
Black Humus 66.7 53.1 65 7.4

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 21

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 22
tured materials have smaller fiber contents. Typically,
however, there is a close correspondence between
fiber content and organic matter content. This is par-
ticularly true for native peat sources (excluding com-
posts) where higher organic matter content materials
correspondingly have higher fiber contents.
Fiber content can also provide an index for the
effect of blending a peat with sand on the permeabili-
ty of the mix. For example, a sand sample consisting
entirely of medium sized particles will have a D50
value of 0.375 mm. We also know that close packing of
0.375-mm particles will yield pores up to 0.15 mm
diameter. A peat with a larger fiber content would,
thus, have fibers that could not fit within this pore
space. This would tend to force the individual sand
grains apart, opening up the mix, and increasing the
permeability relative to that of the sand alone. A peat
with a small fiber content would have fibers that could
easily fit within 0.15 mm pores and would serve to
occlude the pores in the mix. Consequently, the per-
meability of the mix may be less than that of the sand
alone. Whereas this phenomenon is generally
observed for native peat mixed with sand, it is not gen-
erally true for composts. Also, subsequent decomposi-
tion of the peat following root zone installation may
result in this response as being relatively short lived.
The cation exchange capacity (CEC) reflects the
nutrient retention properties of the organic material.
Since organic materials are added to root zone for
their nutrient retention properties, it would be desir-
able to select a high CEC organic for use in the root
zone mix. Organic materials do, however, have selec-
tivity for divalent cations (Ca and Mg). Thus, monova-
lent cations (K and NH4) are not retained as well by
the cation exchange sites of these organic materials.
Assessment of degree of decomposition of an
organic material ranges from qualitative, visual ratings
to various chemical measurements. Light colored
materials having many visible plant fibers are generally
less decomposed while dark colored materials with few
visible fibers are more decomposed. A scale, called the
Von Post Scale is used to visually rank native peats.
Other measures of decomposition include measure-
ment of the C:N ratio. High values tend to result from
less decomposed organics and vice versa. Absorbance
of a solution extract from the organic material is also
used to assess the degree of humification or decompo-
sition. For the most part, degree of decomposition is
not an important consideration in selecting a native
peat for use in a root zone mix.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 22
Many native (horticultural) peats tend to have a low
pH. This can serve to reduce the final pH of a root zone
mix. Alternatively, composts tend to have higher pHs
and this as well can serve to increase the pH of a root
zone mix.
Excessive soluble salts are often injurious to plants.
Some organic materials (principally composts) may have
excessive soluble salt levels. Soluble salt levels greater
than 2.0 dSm-1 (1 dSm-1 = 1 mmho cm-1) are considered
injurious to plants. This factor can be diluted out in mix-
ing with sand and through leaching so it is again not of
primary concern.
Internally Porous Inorganic
Amendments (IPIAs)
A wide variety of inorganic amendments exhibit
water and nutrient retention properties similar to peats
and composts. The water retention properties typically
arise from pores within individual amendment particles.
Thus these amendments are called internally porous
inorganic amendments (IPIAs). Nutrient retention
results form the mineralogy of the inorganic material
and treatment during its manufacture. These materials
are commonly formed of calcined clay (also called
porous ceramics), diatomaceous earth deposits and zeo-
lite rock. The materials are subsequently crushed or oth-
erwise graded to provide the appropriately sized individ-
ual particles for root zone blending. Particle size ranges
of some commercially available products are shown
below. AXIS is composed of calcined diatomaceous
earth, PROFILE is a porous ceramic, and ECOLITE is a
zeolite mineral. Inorganic amendments such as vermi-
culite and perlite that are commonly used for horticul-
tural mixes are inappropriate for high traffic soils
because the amendment particles frequently crush
under foot traffic stress and become useless. The more
appropriate inorganic amendments for high traffic root
zones resist crushing, chemical weathering, and are pre-
dominately medium to very coarse sized particles.
IPIAs are shown to increase the water holding capaci-
ty of high sand content root zone mixes. That is, since
these mineral particles contain small, internal pores, this
added porosity increases the capacity of a sandy mix to
retain water after drainage has occurred. The extent to
which turf roots can extract this internally retained
water depends on the pore sizes within the amendment
material. Following irrigation and excess water drainage,
plant roots will extract water from progressively smaller
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 23
pore sizes within the soil. At some point during this
sequence, the turf will begin to exhibit drought stress
symptoms due to the difficulty in removing the tightly
held water from the smaller pore sizes. Subsequently,
the turf will permanently wilt simply because the
smallest pores hold water so tightly the turf is unable
to tap this resource.
Obviously, turf wilting rarely occurs on putting
greens because irrigation is applied prior to the onset
of drought stress. Frequent irrigation results in turf
water uptake from only the larger pore sizes in soil.
Consequently, much of the water retained within
IPIAs may be left unused. Extending the interval
Particle Size Distributions of Several IPIA Products
<.05 .05-.15
Particle Size Class (USGA)
Product silt+clay v. fine
AXIS Fine 0.1 0.6
AXIS XT-1 0 0
PROFILE 0 0.3
Zeolite† 0 0.8
†
Measurement performed by independent lab on unspecified zeolite mineral product.
currently have mean pore diameter estimates for any
zeolite product, these mean pore sizes are thought to
be smaller still.
Aside from the water retention issues, IPIAs may
assist in nutrient retention of high sand content root
zones due to their mineralogy. Natural Zeolite is an
aluminosilicate mineral with a very high cation
exchange capacity reported to range from 110 to 190
cmol kg-1. Calcined clays and porous ceramics are
commonly composed of 2:1, montmorillonite and
illite clays that in their native form exhibit moderate
to high cation exchange capacities. The calcining
process converting these clays to stable, sand-sized
minerals, however, significantly reduces their CEC.
Values measured for PROFILE yield a mean of 9.1
cmol kg-1. Calcined diatomaceous earth, on the other
hand, is composed of hydrated silica, lacks significant
isomorphic substitution and as expected exhibits neg-
ligible surface charge. Nevertheless, exchange capacity
between irrigation events results in water extraction
from progressively smaller pore sizes and an increased
uptake of water held within the internal porosity of the
amendment particles. Thus, to gain a drought avoidance
benefit from IPIAs, an irrigation protocol must be estab-
lished to force the product to work.
Using this logic, those IPIAs having larger diameter
internal pores would allow a greater proportion of the
held water to be used by the turf prior to the appear-
ance of drought stress. Estimates of the mean pore
diameter within several of these commercially available
products are as follows: 6µm for AXIS fine, 4.6µm for
AXIS XT-1, and 2.2µm for PROFILE. While I do not
Particle Dameter, mm
.15-.25 .25-.5 .5-1 1-2 >2
Fine medium Coarse v. coarse gravel
0.6 17.9 51.3 29.5 0
0 0 15.2 84.7 0
0.8 32.0 66.7 1 0
0.3 22.0 63.3 13.6 0
values for AXIS range from 5 to 6 cmol kg-1 about
twice that reported for sand soils. Even though CEC
values for IPIA products are low relative to some
native peat, typical use of these amendments result in
a much higher mass of inorganic amendment materi-
als in a root zone as compared with peat.
Consequently, these inorganic amendments may serve
as a replacement for peat with regard to nutrient
holding properties of a high sand content root zone.
In addition to total exchange capacity, IPIAs can
potentially influence turf fertility via differential selec-
tivity for cations held on the exchange sites. Native soil
constituents exhibit varying degrees of selectivity for
adsorption of polyvalent over monovalent cations with
organic matter exhibiting an increased polyvalent
selectivity over, for example, montmorillonite clay.
Thus, sand amended with PROFILE or ECOLITE
show a reduced leaching of K and NH4 (monovalent
cations) than sand amended with sphagnum peat.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 23
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 24

New Growth and Technology

The Influence of Turfgrass

on Pesticide Fate
By Dr. David Gardner
The Ohio State University
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science

When it comes to the potential to cause environmental contamina-

tion, not all pesticides are created equally. Even with the differences
in pesticide chemistry, management practices still have a large
influence not only on the effectiveness of the pesticide, but also the
potential for that pesticide to leach or to persist in the environment.
In the May/June 2001 issue of OTF TurfNews, Dr. of pesticides applied to turfgrass (Lickfeldt and
David Shetlar reported on the control of white grubs Branham, 1995; Dell et al., 1994). Retention of
with several insecticides, including halofenozide pesticides by thatch may result in reduced mobility of
(MACH 2). I have conducted research with pesticides applied to turfgrass (Smith and Bridges,
halofenozide that focused on its leaching potential 1996; Stahnke et al., 1991). Some pesticides dissipate
and rate of degradation (the results could also be more quickly in thatch compared to soil (Gardner et
used to explain its effectiveness in controlling soil al., 2000; Gold et al., 1988; Hurto et al., 1979).
borne larvae). The results that I found were unexpect- Mefanoxam (Subdue Maxx®) is a newly released,
ed, and I am currently conducting follow-up research resolved isomer of metalaxyl. It is a fungicide for the
to help explain those original results. I hope to pub- control of certain diseases in turfgrass and other
lish something about this by the end of the year that crops. It has high water solubility and does not bind
could help to explain some of the variability in control tightly to soil organic carbon, indicating the potential
being observed with this product. In the meantime, for considerable leaching through the turfgrass-soil
however, I would like to focus on Dr. Shetlar’s com- profile. Metalaxyl has a variable half-life, ranging from
ment on the role of thatch in determining the effec- 7-160 days (Balogh and Anderson, 1992).
tiveness (and possible environmental contamination Propiconazole (Banner Maxx®) is a triazole fungicide
potential) of pesticides applied to turf. Not so much used to control several pathogens. Propiconazole has
the thatch itself, but rather how a pesticide’s chemistry a lower water solubility of 110 mg/L and is moderately
effects how it behaves when in contact with thatch. bound to organic matter, indicating the potential for
Turfgrass is a unique system in that, except at some leaching through the turfgrass-soil profile.
establishment, pesticides are applied directly to the Propiconazole is persistent, with a half-life of 109-120
plant material and thatch, a layer of dead and living days (Balogh and Anderson, 1992).
stems and roots between the green vegetation and soil Our objectives were to investigate the effect of sur-
surface. Movement of turf-applied pesticides into the face organic matter and irrigation practices on the
soil is attenuated by the high organic carbon content mobility and persistence of mefanoxam and propi-
of turfgrass thatch (Branham, 1994; Branham and conazole. Since the pesticides have different chemical
Wehner, 1985). Laboratory studies show that turfgrass and physical properties we also attempted to deter-
leaves and thatch strongly sorb organic compounds mine if the effect of thatch can be generalized or is
and thus should have a significant impact on the fate more compound-specific.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 24

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 25
Field Study
Field experiments were conducted in ‘Penneagle’
and ‘Seaside II’ creeping bentgrass turf in 1999 at the
University of Illinois Landscape Horticulture Research
Center in Urbana, Illinois.
Bare soil plots were prepared by stripping the sod
from the plot with a sod-cutter.
Sampling cylinders were constructed of 20-cm-diam.
schedule 40 polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe cut into 30 cm
lengths and beveled at one end to ease insertion into the
soil. Sampling cylinders were inserted into each plot on
11 June 1999 using a hydraulic press (Alden Enterprises,
Okemos, MI) attached to a tractor (Figure 1).
Mefanoxam (Subdue Maxx®) and Propiconazole
(Banner Maxx®) were applied to the plots on June 14,
1999 at 1540 at their maximum label rates. The pesti-
cides were applied with a backpack sprayer equipped
with a TEEJET 8006E. Irrigation (0.4 cm) was applied to
the plots immediately after treatment. The plots were
divided into two irrigation regimes. The “low” irrigation
plots were watered only as necessary to replace 80% of
estimated evapotranspiration. The “high” irrigation plots
were irrigated with 1 cm of water 5 times per week. By
studies end, the “high” irrigation plots received twice as
much water as the “low” irrigation plots.
Figure 1. Sampling cylinders were
inserted into each plot on June
11, 1999 using a hydralic press
(Alden Enterprises, Okemos, MI)
attached to a tractor.
Sampling and Analysis of Pesticides
Sampling cylinders were removed from three
replicate blocks of each level of turf organic matter
2 hours after treatment (HAT) and 4, 8, 16, 32, and
64 days after treatment (DAT). Verdure and thatch
were separated from the cores that had turfgrass. The
soil cores were partitioned into 0 to 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 5, 5
to 15, and 15 to 30-cm soil depth sections (Figure 2).
Samples or sub-samples were weighed, placed in glass
mason jars with aluminum foil-capped lids, and stored
at -20°C until residue analysis.
Pesticides were extracted from soil, verdure, and
thatch and analyzed on a high pressure liquid chro-
matograph. The amount of mefanoxam or propicona-
zole remaining in each soil profile was estimated from
data on the concentration of pesticide present in a
soil core section and the mass of the core section.
Results and Discussion
Dissipation of mefanoxam was rapid, regardless of
the amount of surface organic matter present or
amount of irrigation applied (Figure 3). The calculat-
ed half-life (t1/2) in turfgrass was 6 days under high irri-
Figure 2. Verdure and thatch were sep-
arated from the cores that had turf-
grass. The soil cores were partitioned
into 0 to 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 5, 5 to 15, and
15 to 30-cm soil depth sections.
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 26
Figure 3. Total mefanoxam residue in verdure, thatch, and soil as a
function of sampling time in 1999.
100
Percentage Remaining
90
80
70
60 * Turf, High
50
40
30 *
20
10 * *
0
0 16
Days After Treatment
gation and 5 days under low irrigation. The calculated
t1/2 in bare soil was 8 days under high irrigation and 7
days under low irrigation.
There was rapid vertical movement of mefanoxam
through the soil profile, regardless of surface organic
matter content or irrigation regime. Irrigation regime
did not affect the distribution of mefanoxam in the
soil on any sampling date. Differences in the distribu-
tion of mefanoxam residues in the soil layers due to
surface organic matter cover were observed at 2 HAT
and 4, 8, and 16 DAT, but not at 32 or 64 DAT.
Most of the mefanoxam was found in the thatch
on plots containing turfgrass or in the 0-1 cm soil
layer on bare soil plots at 0 and 4 DAT (Figure 4). By
8 DAT, however, the majority of mefanoxam applied
to the turf plots was found in soil. Residues were
found in the 15 to 30 cm soil depth at 4, 8, 16, 32, and
64 DAT, regardless of surface organic matter or irriga-
tion applied. However, due to rapid dissipation, the
total amount of mefanoxam recovered on any date in
the 1 to 3, 3 to 5, 5 to 15, and 15 to 30 cm soil sections
did not exceed 15% of the total amount applied
The t1/2 of propiconazole varied due to surface
organic matter cover (Figure 5). The calculated t1/2 in
turfgrass was 12 days under high irrigation and 15
days under low irrigation. The calculated t1/2 in bare
soil was 29 days under high irrigation and 29 days
under low irrigation.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 26
Soil, Low
* Turf Low
Soil, High
*
32 48 64
There were differences in the distribution of propi-
conazole in the soil layers due to organic matter cover on
all sampling days. There was little vertical movement of
propiconazole in the soil (Figure 6). When propicona-
zole was applied to turf, at least 95% of the residues were
recovered from the verdure and thatch on all sampling
dates. At least 87% of propiconazole residues applied to
bare soil were recovered from the 0 to 1 cm soil layer.
Small amounts of propiconazole were found in the 1
to 3, 3 to 5, and 5 to 15 cm soil layers when applied to
bare soil. Propiconazole applied to turfgrass was detected
in trace amounts in the 1 to 3 and 3 to 5 cm soil layers 16
DAT. No propiconazole applied to turfgrass was found
below 0 to 1 cm in soil on any other sampling date.
Other avenues of pesticide fate include runoff,
volatilization, and photodegradation. Our study was
conducted on plots with little slope, which minimized the
possibility for runoff losses. Volatilization can be a signifi-
cant mode of loss of mefanoxam (Petrovic et al., 1996).
However, volatilization of propiconazole is of minor sig-
nificance (Balogh and Anderson, 1992).
The results of this study illustrate how chemical prop-
erties are important in determining if irrigation practices
or turfgrass cover affect soil mobility and dissipation of
pesticides. Many of the insecticides of the 1980’s were less
effective because they were bound too tightly to the
thatch to reach soil borne insects. The newer insecticides
on the market, including halofenozide, have different
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 27

Figure 4. Distribution of mefanoxam residues among verdure, thatch,

and different soil depths over time in 1999.

Verdure

Thatch
Soil Depth (cm)

0-1

1-3

3-5

5-15

15-30
0 DAT 4 DAT 8 DAT
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Verdure
Turf, High
Soil, High
Thatch Turf Low
Soil, Low
Soil Depth (cm)

0-1

1-3

3-5

5-15

15-30
16 DAT 32 DAT 64 DAT
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1
Mefanoxam Remaining (mg)

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 27

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 28

Figure 5. Total propiconazole residue in verdure, thatch, and soil as a

function of sampling time in 1999.

100
Percentage Remaining

90 * Soil, Low
80 * * Turf Low
70 Soil, High
Turf, High
60

50

40 *
30

20 *
10

0
*
0 16 32 48 64
Days After Treatment

properties that allow them to more effectively reach
the target pests. What happens with halofenozide after
application will be the focus of a future article.
This study also indicated that post-treatment irriga-
tion practices may not be as important in determining
the soil mobility of pesticides as is soil moisture at
application time or large precipitation events.
However, more study of this is necessary before mak-
ing recommendations either to increase pesticide
effectiveness (primarily with insecticides for white
grub), or to reduce environmental contamination
potential.
Dell, C. J., C. S. Throssell, M. Bischoff, and R. F. Turco.
1994. Estimation of sorption coefficients for fungicides in soil
and turfgrass thatch. J. Environ. Qual. 23:92-96.
Gardner, D. S., B. E. Branham, and D. W. Lickfeldt.
2000. Effect of turfgrass on soil mobility and dissipation of
cyproconazole. In press. In Crop Sci.
Gold, A. J., T. G. Morton, W. M. Sullivan, and J.
McClory. 1988. Leaching of 2,4-D and dicamba from home
lawns. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 37:121-129.
Hurto, K. A. and A. J. Turgeon, and M. A. Cole. 1979.
Degradation of Benefin and DCPA in thatch and soil from a

Soil Depth (cm)

Financial support for this research was provided by the
United States Golf Association, Far Hills, NJ.
Literature Cited
Balogh, J. C., and J. L. Anderson. 1992. Environmental
impacts of turfgrass pesticides. In J.C. Balogh and W. J.
Walker (ed.) Golf course management and
construction:Environmental issues. Lewis Publ., Boca
Raton, FL.
Branham, B. E. 1994. Herbicide fate in turf. p. 109-151.
In A.J. Turgeon, (ed.) Turf weeds and their control.
American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science
Society of America, Madison, WI.
Branham, B. E., and D. J. Wehner. 1985. The fate of
diazinon applied to thatched turf. Agron.J. 77:101-104.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) turf. Weed Science.
27:154-157.
Lickfeldt, D. W. and B. E. Branham. 1995. Sorption of
nonionic organic compounds by Kentucky bluegrass leaves
and thatch. J. Environ. Qual. 24:980-985.
Petrovic, A. M., W. C. Barrett, I. Larsson-Kovach, C. M.
Reid, and D. L. Lisk. 1996. The influence of peat amend-
ment and turf density on downward migration of metalaxyl
fungicide in creeping bentgrass sand lysimeters. Chemosphere.
33(11):2335-2340.
SAS Institute. 1990. SAS/STAT user’s guide. Vol. 2. 4th
ed. SAS Institute, Cary, NC.
Stahnke, G. K., P. J. Shea, D. R. Tupy, and R. N.
Stougaard, 1991. Pendimethalin dissipation in Kentucky
bluegrass turf. Weed Sci. 39:97-103.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 28

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 29

Figure 6. Distribution of propiconazole residues among verdure, thatch,

and different soil depths over time in 1999.

Verdure

Thatch
Soil Depth (cm)

0-1

1-3

3-5

5-15

15-30
0 DAT 4 DAT 8 DAT
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

Verdure
Turf, High
Soil, High
Thatch Turf Low
Soil, Low
Soil Depth (cm)

0-1

1-3

3-5

5-15

15-30
16 DAT 32 DAT 64 DAT
0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2
Propiconazole Remaining (mg)
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 29
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 30
New Growth and Technology
Competitive Aspects of
Annual Bluegrass In Ohio
Michael J. McGuan and T. Karl Danneberger
The Ohio State University
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
A nnual bluegrass is one of the most widely cultivated
turfgrass species in the state of Ohio. Rarely is it inten-
tionally established on golf greens, but it is extremely
invasive and competes very well against creeping bent-
grass. In fact, not only does annual bluegrass show up
on Ohio’s noxious weed list, but it also makes the list
of the top ten noxious weeds worldwide. Its success
comes from the evolution of different survival strate-
gies. Among these is the tremendous amount of
genetic variation that annual bluegrass possesses.
Within a particular green, several annual or perennial
genotypes may exist. Annual bluegrass survives and
produces seed at mowing heights less than an eighth
of an inch. The production of seed creates a persistent
and viable seedbank in the soil, allowing the
population to continually regenerate itself. Added
together, this makes annual bluegrass nearly
impossible to eradicate.
Golf greens in the northern United States and
transition zone are, to some degree, a mixture of
annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass, and Ohio is
no exception. Annual bluegrass is not without its
redeeming qualities. As stated earlier, the species has
the ability to tolerate extremely low mowing heights.
In addition, annual bluegrass tolerates and even
thrives in compacted soils, which many golf greens suf-
fer from in the summer due to extensive traffic from
players and equipment. When annual bluegrass is not
producing seedheads, it has the ability to provide an
extremely high quality putting surface due to its high
shoot density and uniform, upright growth habit. It is
also well adapted to areas where creeping bentgrass is
not, such as moist, shaded environments.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 30
Annual bluegrass, however, is highly susceptible to
heat, drought, and low temperature stress, due in
large part to its shallow root system. During summer
stress annual bluegrass does not easily recuperate
vegetatively. Annual bluegrass is a profuse seedhead
producer, and can produce seed even at low mowing
heights, which can be very disruptive to the putting
surface. Because of the adaptability of annual blue-
grass to putting green conditions, most superinten-
dents are left with two options: promoting a healthy
mixture of the two species or the cost- and time-
consuming option of physically removing annual
bluegrass from greens.
Annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass coexist
on greens as a dynamic ecosystem, meaning that dis-
tinct population fluctuations define the makeup of
the green at any point in time. These fluctuations are
influenced by biological processes inherent in both
species as well as by environmental conditions. In
turn, the biological processes and environmental con-
ditions help to determine each species’ competitive
ability, or how efficiently the species uses its resources.
Research has concluded that the growth of annual
bluegrass was the controlling factor in determining
the relative percentages of annual bluegrass and
creeping bentgrass on greens throughout the growing
season. A summertime increase in the creeping bent-
grass population was due to its ability to capitalize on
resources that became available as the annual blue-
grass went into decline. Likewise, a decrease in creep-
ing bentgrass in the late summer, as the annual blue-
grass population recovered through the production of
new tillers and seedlings, was due to a reduced ability
of the creeping bentgrass to compete with annual
bluegrass for those resources.
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 31
Annual Bluegrass
Competitive Study
Until now, research dealing with the competitive
ability of annual bluegrass was done on only one golf
course, or in climactic regions where annual bluegrass
is extremely well adapted. Thus, these studies have
only looked at annual bluegrass in its native environ-
ment. So far, no research has looked at how competi-
tive different stands of annual bluegrass are out of
their native environment. At the Ohio State University,
we have established a study from which we will be
assessing the competitive ability of annual bluegrass
from two locations within Ohio, namely Cleveland
and Cincinnati. More specifically we will be trying to
see if location has an effect on competitive ability. We
will also be looking at any possible population effect,
or whether the annual bluegrass samples originating
from Cincinnati are more competitive than those
from Cleveland regardless of the location. Finally, we
will be studying any possible interaction between
population and location.
Figure 2: Newly installed
samples showing annual
bluegrass surrounded by
creeping bentgrass.
Figure 1: Sample plots
were established in the
spring of 2000 near the
edge of the greens to
avoid interference with
daily hole locations.
This study was established in the spring of 2000 at two
locations in Ohio: The Country Club in Cleveland and
Camargo Club in Cincinnati. At each location we pulled 72
four-inch plugs of solid annual bluegrass, and put each one
into a four-inch PVC pipe. Thirty-six of those plugs were
then re-established into one of three greens at the same
golf course, and the other 36 were transported across the
state to the other location and again were established into
one of three pre-selected greens. Each plug of annual blue-
grass was put into the center of an eight-inch plug of ‘L-93’
creeping bentgrass in order to provide equal starting condi-
tions for taking measurements. Competitive ability of each
sample of annual bluegrass is determined by comparing
the average spread of each plug, which is done by measur-
ing the diameter of each plug on a monthly basis through-
out the growing season.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 31
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Preliminary Findings
After evaluating the data from the 2000 grow-
ing season, preliminary results show a roughly two
month “acclimation period” that occurred in the
plugs that were transported across the state. That is to
say that the plugs from Cleveland that were being
grown in Cincinnati did not perform as well as those
from Cincinnati grown in Cincinnati for the first cou-
ple of months of the study. The opposite was also true:
plugs from Cincinnati grown in Cleveland did not per-
form as well as those from Cleveland grown in
Cleveland, at least not for the first couple of months
of the growing season. After the acclimation period
both sets of plugs performed the same. This study will
be continued throughout the 2001 growing season,
and the data will be evaluated at the completion of
the project.
In light of this, most annual bluegrass studies to
date have either been performed at one location, or
in a location that is very favorable for the growth of
annual bluegrass. From a research standpoint, we are
fortunate to have a somewhat favorable climate for
annual bluegrass in northern Ohio and an unfavor-
able climate in southern Ohio. This study will allow us
to assess the competitive ability of annual bluegrass
under different environmental conditions within the
same state. The results, in turn, will help determine
whether annual bluegrass management recommenda-
tions should be made on a state or local basis.
About the author: Michael McGuan is currently
earning a Masters of Science degree under Dr. T. Karl
Danneberger at the Ohio State University. He studied as
an undergraduate at John Carroll University in
Cleveland, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in
biology, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree in
agriculture at the Ohio State University.

Figure 3: Competitive
ability is measured
monthly using a
compass, ruler, and
protractor to deter-
mine the degree of
spread in the annual
bluegrass plots.

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 32

119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 33
Member
Spotlight     
The Campus Life
OTF member Phil Williams was born to the green
industry. His father had a landscaping business in
which Williams contributed along with other family
members. “Back then, a landscaping business
meant lawn, tree and shrub planting and mainte-
nance. Nowadays it encompasses so much more,
but it provided me with a solid foundation neces-
sary for a green industry professional.”
After graduation in 1962, Williams began his formal career
as the greens keeper for the College of Wooster Golf Course.
Eight years later, he was promoted to director of Campus
Grounds for the college, a position he has developed and
holds today. Williams and his staff operate four departments:
• The Campus Grounds Department staff of seven maintains
300 acres and 100 campus buildings.
• The Athletic Fields Department staff of two maintains all
the playing fields and turf.
• The College of Wooster Golf Course staff of three keeps
the course operational.
• The Horticulture Department—which is a new depart-
ment that was implemented this spring—maintains the
campus grounds, trees, plants and landscape drawings.
A superintendent leads each department and Williams
directs all departments. “Two factors enable me to manage my
time in this position: Having superintendents who manage the
daily details of each department and belonging to organiza-
tions like OTF that provide me with the latest in research,
products and methods to ensure currency,” he explains.
As director, one of Williams’ most fulfilling projects has
been the Tree Endowment Fund. The 50-acre main campus of
the college is set in an old oak forest of approximately 2700
trees. In 1987, the College received a grant from an anony-
mous foundation to establish an endowment fund to support
a tree conservation maintenance and replacement program.
As part of a small campus group lead by then-president Henry
Jefferson Copeland, Williams helped carry out the mission to
maintain campus trees.
As director, Williams has also implemented a proven
internship program at the College of Wooster. “We hire stu-
dents in vocational training programs from the local high
schools. They work for us for three-four years. During their
“For the first time in our
industry’s history, we have
the means to timely
information. I can look up
the Federal Government’s
labels on chemicals
in the click of a mouse.”
Phil Williams
Director of Grounds
College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio
college careers, we hire them for another three-four years,
so when they graduate they have eight years of experience
to offer future employers. In addition, they help us round
out our staff. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved,”
he says.
The internship program is in keeping with Williams’
belief in the importance of practical education and experi-
ence, particularly in the athletic field specialty. “Although
golf courses and campus grounds are important, educating
staff in athletic and playing field maintenance is becoming
more essential. We try to train our interns in field safety,
preparation and construction,” he says.
And what about Williams’ own education through the
years? “I find all the new developments so encouraging. I am
always learning,” he says. For example, Williams believes that
sales consultants are now an actual resource. “It used to be
that a sales rep would call on you with the ‘insecticide du
jour.’ Now, chemical companies are hiring former industry
professionals who have field experience and who can ‘talk
turkey’ with you about products and methods.”
Williams is also excited about developments in pesticides.
“We are moving from poisons to environmentally friendly
solutions,” he says. At the college we conduct summer soc-
cer, baseball, softball and tennis camps for kids. We need to
maintain our turf, but we need to protect children from toxins.”
Finally, Williams cannot say enough about the Internet.
“For the first time in our industry’s history, we have the
means to timely information. I can look up the Federal
Government’s labels on chemicals in the click of a mouse.
We can also share and promote our projects on web sites.”
Currently, Williams’ staff is working on the campus renova-
tion of brick sidewalks. The new Memorial Walk is soon to
be completed and open to foot traffic. “Our alumni and
donors can see the progress and results of the project they
are helping to support by visiting the college’s web site
(www.wooster.edu).” Williams welcomes all OTF members
to visit their web site.
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 33
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 34
Message From Your
Executive Director
Planning to Think Strategically
More commonly you hear it called Strategic Planning. I pre-
fer to call it “Planning to Think Strategically” because this is
really what a group does (or should do) when it sequesters itself
for a couple days to plan for its future. All organizations,
whether for-profit, or not-for-profit, should plan to think strate-
gically on a regular basis. Every five years used to be the rule of
thumb. But times have changed, and the climate in which we
work has changed. Technology has altered the way we do
things and the speed at which decisions are made. Today, many
organizations plan strategically every three years—some do it
every year.
OTF last held a strategic planning session in 1996.
Therefore, it is time once again to gather the board of directors
and key industry leaders together to plan strategically for OTF’s
future—which it plans to do this fall.
A lot has happened since 1996. Most of the OTF trustees
were not on the Board of Directors in 1996. OTF was managed
by a different company in 1996. The Ohio Turfgrass Research
Trust did not exist. The Internet was just catching on (how
many green industry dot.coms existed in 1996?). A global
marketplace has affected OTF’s annual conference and show—
creating new threats and opportunities.
The OTF Board of Directors recently made an important
decision by making a commitment to OTF’s future. This fall,
for two days, your volunteer leaders will be asked to plan strate-
gically for OTF’s future. One of the most forward-thinking
facilitators and lecturers in the country, Steve Miller, The
Adventure LLC, will be on hand to challenge and motivate
your volunteer leaders.
Steve Miller has a unique approach to this process. He
specializes in working with associations that derive a large
percentage of its annual revenue from trade shows. He helps
strong trade shows (like OTF) get stronger, or he can help
struggling trade shows get turned around. He has worked
with the National Housewares Manufacturers, the Society of
Automotive Engineers, and Food Marketing Institute, all
leaders in their industry.
Planning to think strategically will solidify OTF’s future.
I look forward to sharing more with you as we continue this
important, exciting process.
Cordially,
Kevin Thompson
OTF Executive Director
OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 34
Royal Troon, Scotland
Golf Scotland
OTF is in the preliminary planning stages
of an OTF sponsored “study–tour” to
Scotland in late summer or fall 2002. The
“study-tour” of course would include site
visits to several of Scotland’s most popu-
lar golf courses. With the assistance of
Dr. Martyn Jones, Head of the Turfgrass
Academy at Myerscough College, tours
with superintendents of many of the
courses to be played will be arranged.
“We have spoken with a travel agent and
developed an exciting preliminary itiner-
ary,” informed Kevin Thompson, OTF
Executive Director. “Right now, the trip
includes seven nights accommodations
at mansions or castles, and tee times at
Royal Troon, Carnoustie, St. Andrews,
and Kingsbarn Golf Courses, along with
admission to the British Golf Museum.”
Additional golf may be added. A spouse or
non-golfer program will also be available
that includes sightseeing, historic tours,
shopping, etc.
“We will officially announce the dates,
times, and costs in the next newsletter,
and will include this information on the
website at www.ohioturfgrass.org.,” con-
tinued Thompson. “We must have at least
20 participants to make it successful.
If it proves to be popular, we may do
something like this every year or two.”
OTF organized a similar type trip in
1974—which proved to be very popular.
If you are interested in learning more
about the Golf Scotland Study–Tour,
please contact Kevin Thompson at
888-683-3445, ext. 3151 or by email
at kthompson@offinger.com.
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 35

OTF Corporate Sponsor

OTF TurfNews • Vol 63 • No. 4 • 2001 • Page 35
119162 7/20/01 7:42 PM Page 36

PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
COLUMBUS, OH
PERMIT #3825

PO Box 3388
Zanesville, OH 43702–3388
888–OTF–3445
Fax (740) 452–2552

OTF Board of Trustees 2001 OTF Officers OSU Turfgrass

Trustees President Science Team
Term Expires 2002 Len Dunaway
Dr. Michael J. Boehm
Xenia Power Equipment
Dr. Chuck Darrah The Ohio State University
CLC LABS President Elect Dept. Plant Pathology
Mark Heinlein
Hank Chafin Dr. Karl Danneberger
The Motz Group
Chafin Enterprises The Ohio State University
Vice President Dept. Hort. & Crop Science
Glen Pottenger John Mowat
Green Velvet Sod Farms Mr. Michael Fulton
Century Equipment
The Ohio State University
Trustees Treasurer Agricultural Technical Institute
Term Expires 2003 George Furrer
Dr. David Gardner
Lesco, Inc.
Mark Grunkemeyer The Ohio State University
Buckeye EcoCare Immediate Past President Dept. Hort. & Crop Science
Randy Tischer
Mark Jordan Dr. Parwinder Grewal
Green Velvet Sod Farms
Westfield Companies Country Club OARDC/OSU
Director of Education Dept. Entomology
Mark Rawlins
Dr. John R. Street
Longaberger Golf Club Dr. Ed McCoy
The Ohio State University
OARDC
Trustees Executive Director School of Natural Resources
Term Expires 2004 Kevin Thompson
Mr. Joseph W. Rimelspach (Chairman)
Boyd Montgomery OTF/Offinger Management Co.
The Ohio State University
Sylvania Recreation Dept. Plant Pathology
Lin Ropp Dr. Dave Shetlar
UHS The Ohio State University
Todd Voss Dept. Entomology
Double Eagle Golf Club Dr. John R. Street
The Ohio State University
Dept. Hort. & Crop Science
Dr. Daniel Voltz
The Ohio State University
Agricultural Technical Institute
Mr. David A. Willoughby
The Ohio State University
Agricultural Technical Institute