golf

Water repellency of turf can lead to localized dry spots and can cause waste of irrigation water.  Not only that, it also can cause the turf to repel other products, such as pesticides, that after application need to reach the root zone of turfgrasses to be effective.  Wetting agents are surfactants used to increase water penetration.

The University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Team has partnered with the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) to perform on-site research determined by the members themselves. As part of this project, we conducted a study at TPC Twin Cities, Fox Hollow Golf Club, and The Wilderness at Fortune Bay. We examined the following research question: Is there is any benefit to late season application of plant growth regulators?

Paclobutrazol, prohexadione calcium, and trinexapac‐ethyl (TE) are plant growth regulators (PGRs) that inhibit the synthesis of the plant growth hormone gibberellin.  They can be used on golf greens to inhibit annual bluegrass (Poa annua) growth or to increase the plant health of desirable turfgrasses.

These products are not normally applied late in the season. We partnered with several MGCSA members to examine how various turfgrass species respond to fall applications and whether there is any benefit to late season application.

Research questions

The University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Team has partnered with the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) to perform on-site research determined by the members themselves. As part of this project, we conducted a study at the Stillwater Country Club in 2017. We examined the following research question: How well would turfgrass species other than creeping bentgrass work under wet and shaded condition on a Par 3 tee box?

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) is a stolon-forming cool season grass commonly used on golf courses.  It has good shade tolerance, but if shaded, it will also need good drainage to thrive.  One of our MGCSA-member partners recently experienced what can happen when creeping bentgrass grows in shady and poor drainage conditions.

The University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Team has partnered with the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) to perform on-site research determined by the members themselves. As part of this project, we conducted a study at the Rush Creek Golf Club in 2017. We examined the following research question: Will early spring paclobutrazol applications eliminate annual bluegrass?

Paclobutrazol is a plant growth regulator used to inhibit annual bluegrass (Poa annua) growth.  This suppression makes the desirable turfgrasses more competitive, allowing them to crowd out the weedy annual bluegrass.

When warm February weather occurs in Minnesota, it can cause damage to annual bluegrass.  We partnered with a MGCSA member to investigate whether warm February temperatures, in combination with an application of paclobutrazol, would give us the opportunity to push annual bluegrass over the edge and eliminate it from putting surfaces.

Research questions

The University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Team has partnered with the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) to perform on-site research determined by the members themselves. As part of this project, we conducted a study at the Medina Country Club and the Les Bolstad Golf Course in 2017. We examined the following research question: Will installing covers during a February warm-up reduce the risk of injury to annual bluegrass due to deacclimation?

Plants that overwinter undergo physiological changes to acclimate to cold temperatures, allowing them to survive until spring.  However, when warm temperatures occur in winter, cold hardiness gained through acclimation can be lost, a process called deacclimation. 

By Parker Anderson