Tour-Like

Like many sports golf can be a game of inches. Golf and golf course maintenance are very alike in this way. A win at a Major tournament can come down to coming up short by an inch or stroking it perfectly. Similarly the maintenance of the course is also a game of inches. Many would not believe the difference inches make in the presentation and playability of a golf course. We see examples of this everyday in the height of cut of the rough, fairways, and greens. How many inches of rainfall also greatly affects the presentations for many courses as well as the playability.

The months of May and June at Swope have been very blessed compared to the hand mother nature handed us this time last year. We have been able to make many improvements to the course in the last few months which is not going unnoticed among our clientele. Common complements we are receiving are that the conditions are the best they have seen them while playing here. Our greens are getting a reputation for being very fast and healthy, two things not usually associated with one another. Rough is much cleaner than previous years and is playing true. Maintenance to our ageing bunkers took priority this May with close to 100 tons of sand added to bunkers to increase playability.

April Showers or Lack there of

Ask any Superintendent in the area and they will tell you the months of April and Early May are some of their favorite times for greenkeeping in Kansas City. This is no different here at Swope Memorial as we greatly look forward to the green up that  comes with the warmer weather and ample amounts of precipitation. However as many have noticed in the past several seasons the weather in Kansas City is becoming less and less predictable. Entering May we are already in pre drought conditions and have have several High temperatures in the 80's which is over 15 degrees above average.

There are however good and bad sides to this ever changing weather. Here at Swope Memorial our zoysia fairways and tee's have greened up earlier than expected and are regenerating quicker which will help combat the high number of rounds played each day. The lower amounts of precipitation combined with leading turf management practices have allowed us to increase our greens speed which has certainly not gone unnoticed by our patrons. Who have suggested the greens are faster than they have ever seen them!

With that all said we are looking forward to a great season at Swope, and will continue to fight the good fight as superintends no matter what he weather throws our way.

Zoysia clean-up 2023

     Over the past several years we have applied a combination of non-selective post-emergent herbicide as well as pre-emergent herbicide during the dormancy period of the zoysia. For years this process worked well. What we have found recently, however, is that we have developed resistant Poa Annua that is unaffected by even the highest rates of this herbicide.  

This is an example of how the herbicide was not controlling all of the undesirable turf this past year.

 

Without getting good control of the poa over the winter, the zoysia goes into the season with unwanted competition and is weakened in areas. 

    This year we have completely changed our approach with all new chemistries. Instead of the post-emergent glyphosate (roundup), we have switched to a different, stronger non-selective glufosinate (finale). In addition to this change, we have switched our pre-emergent herbicide to a much more effective combination product that utilizes Imazaquin, Prodiamine, and Simazine.

So far, the very early activity of the new combination seems to be exceptionally effective.

We look forward to seeing how well we can clean the zoysia up this year to have healthy, and aesthetically pleasing fairways and tees. 

Seed Corn Beetles

 

Seed Corn Beetles on Greens

 

Tiny mounds of sand on putting surface     

                                         

Seed Corn Beetles are the culprit!

 

We have had several golf patrons inquire about those pesky little mounds that seem to appear from late morning to mid-afternoon on several of our putting greens at Swope Memorial.  This annoyance to a true putt is caused by a new little nuisance called the Seed Corn Beetle. 

 

Despite their name, corn seeds are not the primary food source for seed corn beetles. Rather, they feed on other things they find in the soil including other insects. They are also highly attracted to lights at night. There are two generations per year, typically occurring in May/June and again in August (Purdue University Entomology Dept.).

 

These critters do not feed upon turf.  They burrow into the greens which causes the mounds of sand that appear and become noticeable throughout the day.  For the dew sweepers who play early, their presence is barely noticed as the greenmowers have picked up the sand as we cut the closely mown turf.  But the little bugs get busy after that!

 

We have thrown the proverbial kitchen sink in the form of several different insecticides in an effort to control the pests.  As a new problem to turf, entomologists are currently working toward a solution that we hope can resolve this issue.  Rest assured; we are diligently working on a viable solution!

 

Josh Linn, GC Supt.

Spring Aerification

 Spring at Swope

(Aerification on #10)

The season is almost upon us, again. It was a mild winter, but a winter none the less. Now that average temperatures are starting to rise, our greens were ready for their bi-annual aerification. This process relieves compaction in our greens, creates ventilation to our root zone, and promotes new healthy growth of our green's turf.

(Aerification on #10)

Aerification is one of our largest projects each year, however this year we were faced with another huge issue. Our main valve to the course, located on 9's fairway, broke as we were shutting down the system in December. We expect these repairs to be difficult, but nothing prepared us for the rats nest of issues that came with this problem. After 4 days of digging, a rented jackhammer attachment, and two sore backs, the valve was succesfully replaced and the course was able to charge up our irrigation system.

(Exposing the pipe and valve fitting.)

(Josh experiencing some delirium while chipping out a concrete patio that held the old valve in place.)

(Removed concrete and existing pipe along with broken valve.)

(Putting the finishing touches on the repair.)

Besides our two massive projects, we also were able to paint and put out our enter/exit signs on the course, paint and install our ball washers, and repaired a handful of cart path pot holes. 

(Josh repairing hole on #5.)

We look forward to seeing you all on the course this season, and remember...

FIX YOUR DIVOTS!