It’s time for me to own it. 

Thomas A. Nikolai, Ph.D. 

I don’t recall the exact location or date, but sometime around the dawn of the 21^st century I was attending an open discussion among prominent turfgrass scientists when Dr. Karl Danneberger of The Ohio State University sarcastically asked, “I just want to know who the hell is telling superintendents to roll their greens”?  I don’t think anyone expected an answer when a graduate student stood up and confessed “That would be me”.  It was a stunning declaration considering two other universities concluded lightweight rolling was only useful to increase green speed on a short term basis and therefore recommended it only be used for special occasions such as tournaments. 

I was confident recommending rolling on a frequent basis because I had performed the most continuous lightweight rolling research to date.  Consistent results of MTF funded rolling research include decreased dollar spot, localized dry spot, and weeds with no increases in compaction or bruising of leaf tissue.  Results from other MTF sponsored research include that rolling can replace mowing during periods of the year to relief traffic stress which can and lead to possible economic savings all while maintaining customer satisfaction.   

Due in part to those studies I was nicknamed the “Dr. of Green Speed” and I have traveled the globe and spread the word about rolling putting greens.  As I have travelled the world there has been one nagging question I get about frequent lightweight rolling which has been, “How do I stop my rolling program from injuring my collars”?  I have always respectfully poo-pooed the problem, however, it recently occurred to me that I caused this problem.  Given my enlightenment it is time for me to own this and do the best I can to solve this nagging condition of worn collars on putting surfaces. 

Step one was to determine how big the problem of worn collars is in Michigan by releasing a survey with the assistance of Adam Ikamas and Carey Mitchelson.  The average results of the survey are listed below.  These results do not solve the problem, but they do provide an indication of how wide spread the problem may be and provided me enough data to sort out common practices that may exacerbate the dilemma of collars.  This will lead to further analysis of this survey and a future study at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center.  155 people responded to this survey and I trust everyone will find the results interesting at this point.  With that said, I want to thank the Michigan Turfgrass Association for their support.

Questions asked and the most popular responses are offered below. 

The bench setting height of cut for my greens are:(155 responses)

.110 - .120 = 29.7%

.120 - .130 = 28.4%

.100 - .110 = 20.6%

.090 - .100 =   9.7%

I certainly made a small error on the HOC surveys by making the ranges cross over at the extremes, that is, .120 has a possibility of 2 options.  My bad, but I think the results are still interesting and may assist in the worn collar issue.

The bench setting height of cut for my tees are:(154 responses) 

.350 - .400 = 24.7%

.450 - .500 = 23.4%

.400 - .450 = 20.8%

.300 - .350 = 16.9%

The bench setting for my green collars are: (155 responses)

.450 - .500 = 24.5%

.350 - .400 = 21.9%

.400 - .450 = 20.0%

.300 - .350 = 15.5%

The bench setting for my fairway mowers are:(155 responses)

.450 - .500 = 36.1%

.400 - .450 = 23.2%

      > .500 = 16.8%

.350 - .400 = 14.2%

For the majority of the year my greens are mowed with a:(153 responses)

Triplex 77.1%

Walk-behind 21.6%

Which best describes your putting green rolling frequency?(155 responses)

Rolled 1 – 3 times per week42.6%

Rolled 4 – 5 times per week25.2%

Rolled 6 – 7 times per week23.2% 

Never rolled  4.5%

By the way, due to over 20 years of lightweight rolling research at MSU I recommend a frequency 3 times per week to no more than 2 times per day.   

The roller type I use on most often on my putting surface is:(149 responses)

Sidewinder64.4%

Vibratory16.8%

Weighted triplex rollers  9.4%

Sidewinder & vibratory  3.4%

Pull behind  2.7%

Fairway roller  0.7%

If you use a sidewinder roller how do you change directions? (105 responses)

On the collar 41.0%

On the surrounds 26.7%

On the green23.8%

Rotate*  5.7%

*Comments provided about rotation included:

*Rotate changing direction on green or surrounds/never the collar.

*Rotate on the greens and collars.

*Rotate on collar, surrounds, and green and come to complete stop on greens. 

The PGR program on my greens is best described as applied: (153 responses) 

Every 2-weeks39.2%

Based upon GDD20.3%

Every week19.0%

Once a year at most  8.5%

Every 28-30 days  5.9%

When I apply a PGR on my putting greens I: (152 responses)

Also spray the collars88.8%

Try to avoid spraying the collars  7.9%

The most worn collars on my course that surround my putting greens show:

No visible impact from my putting green rolling program48.7%

Very little thinning from my putting green rolling program34.7%

Some wear damage from my putting green maintenance program  8.7%

Noticeable thinning from my putting green rolling program   4.7%

Show a lot of damage from my putting green rolling program  0.7%

The PGR I use the most often on my putting greens throughout the year include: (191 selections as many choose more than one option)

Primo Maxx (includes generic Trinexapac ethyl)59.6%

Proxy 10.4%

Trimmit  7.3%

Anuew    6.3%

Legacy    6.3%

Cutless    4.2%

My golf facility is best characterized as:(154 responses)

Private41.6%

Public32.5%

Semi Private13.6%

Resort  7.1%

Municipal  5.8%

Again, thank you all for the tremendous response.  As I make time to statistically analyze the data for interactions I will get the data out through the MTF and MiGCSA. 

Two new video updates have been loaded to the Michigan State University Turfgrass Science YouTube channel.

Dr. Joe Vargas discusses Michrodochium patch on golf courses and leaf spot occurring on home lawns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isEyX0_NHek&t=12s

Dr. Jeff Andresen provides the weekly weather forecast - cool and dry conditions remain in the short term forecast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kWAF4C6nLM

Join the MSU Turf Team for our weekly webinar at 1 pm EST. This week weather forecast from Dr. Jeff Andresen and comment on current conditions from MSU Turf Team.

When: Starting Apr 21, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: MSU Turf Team Update 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: 
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Password: 989266

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Thank you

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

Cold soil temperatures should extend timing for crabgrass preemergence herbicide applications.

Kevin Frank, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences - April 16, 2020

Cold soil temperatures following a light snowfall on April 15, 2020. Photo by Kevin Frank, MSU.

The cold temperatures and even snow showers in many parts of Michigan this last week have really slowed down turfgrass growth and provided additional time for making crabgrass preemergence applications. According to GDDTracker, almost the entire Lower Peninsula is now in the optimum application window for crabgrass preemergence herbicides. Southern areas of the state are almost past the optimum application window but with the cold temperatures this week, soil temperatures have declined significantly. Soil temperatures at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center in East Lansing, Michigan, have declined from a high of 57 degrees Fahrenheit on April 8, 2020, to a high of 45 on April 15.

Growing degree day accumulation for East Lansing, Michigan, through April 15, 2020.

The growing degree day (GDD) model attempts to predict the optimum application timing for when the 0-2 inch depth soil temperature is consistently between 50-55 F. Applications in this soil temperature range provide adequate time for the preemergence herbicide to be applied and watered in before crabgrass germination. However, remember 80% percent of germination will occur when soil temperatures at the 0- to 2-inch depth are consistently between 60 and 70 F. For preemergence herbicides to be effective, they need to be applied before the soils reach this optimum temperature range.

Although GDD accumulation is indicating many areas of the state may be past the optimum application timing soon, with soil temperatures now lagging behind early spring GDD accumulation, we should have more time to apply preemergence herbicides and still achieve acceptable crabgrass control.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Join the MSU Turf Team for our weekly webinar at 1 pm EST. This week Dr. Jeff Andresen will provide a weather update, GCSAA President John Fulling from Kalamazoo CC will provide an update from GCSAA and then we will have a panel of superintendents from around the state discuss current maintenance operations. Superintendent panelists will include: John Fulling, Rob Steger, Steve Hammon, Doug Ware, Gene Davis and  MiGCSA Executive Director Adam Ikamas.

You are invited to weekly Zoom webinars. 

When: Starting Apr 14, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Every week on Tue, until May 19, 2020, 6 occurrence(s)

Apr 14, 2020 1:00 PM
Apr 21, 2020 1:00 PM
Apr 28, 2020 1:00 PM
May 5, 2020  1:00 PM
May 12, 2020 1:00 PM
May 19, 2020 1:00 PM

Put on your calendar for future dates:

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/v5Yqc-6rrzgpN_zpbzASV__UQ35CsXcmiQ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuuqqT8tGdWWs1-Ca7cqW9r_bOHmkl9xsLNfhj7WNR9sVzKlY8FRCrFyGemB
Topic: MSU Turf Team Update 

To join the April 14 1:00 Webinar - Please click link below:

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Use Password: 989266

Also - Other Devices:

Or iPhone one-tap : 
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US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 
Webinar ID: 227 473 133
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Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323: 35.8.14.49
Meeting ID: 227 473 133
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Thank you

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

New information regarding golf on the Q&A page regarding Executive Order 2020-42 FAQs .

Q: Are golf courses allowed to stay open? 

A: No. While EO 2020-42 contemplates outdoor activity, opening a golf course to the public does not fall under the designation of critical infrastructure. Consequently, a golf course may not designate employees as critical infrastructure workers and authorize them come to work for that purpose. Golf courses may designate workers whose in-person presence is strictly necessary to conduct minimum basic operations, such as ensuring security.  Minimum basic operations do not include serving the public. Under the order, all work must be carried out remotely to the greatest extent possible, and any in-person work that is permitted must be done in accordance with the mitigation measures required under section 10 of the order. 

Section 10

10. Businesses, operations, and government agencies that continue in-person work must adhere to sound social distancing practices and measures, which include but are not limited to:

1. Developing a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan, consistent with recommendations in Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, developed by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and available here. Such plan must be available at company headquarters or the worksite.
    

1. Restricting the number of workers present on premises to no more than is strictly necessary to perform the business’s, operation’s, or government agency’s critical infrastructure functions or its minimum basic operations.

1. Promoting remote work to the fullest extent possible.

1. Keeping workers and patrons who are on premises at least six feet from one another to the maximum extent possible.

1. Increasing standards of facility cleaning and disinfection to limit worker and patron exposure to COVID-19, as well as adopting protocols to clean and disinfect in the event of a positive COVID-19 case in the workplace.

1. Adopting policies to prevent workers from entering the premises if they display respiratory symptoms or have had contact with a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

1. Any other social distancing practices and mitigation measures recommended by the CDC.

Full Executive Order 2020-42 (COVID-19)

April 6, 2020

How Cutting Height Effects Top-Growth Dr. Thomas A. Nikolai & Dr. Kevin Frank Essential maintenance for a golf course could be defined as anything normally performed on a regular basis that maintains long term turfgrass health. If we didn’t consider it essential maintenance, then it is unlikely it would be performed as it would simply cost money without any significant value in improving turf quality or performance.   Putting Green Height of Cut Study Over the years there have been several height-of-cut (HOC) studies performed at Michigan State University.  In 2013 we initiated a bentgrass putting green HOC study. Clipping weights are presented in Table 1. There were 3 HOC in the study and the results showed the lowest HOC always had  the highest clipping weight (i.e. the lower the cutting height the more top-growth). The differences in clipping weights were especially greater in May than the summer months. If you can only mow your putting greens 3-4 times per week raising the HOC should reduce top-growth and reduce the likelihood of scalping resulting from reduced mowing frequency.   Table 1. 2013 Putting Green height of cut (HOC) study. Clippings weights in grams.

Lawn or Golf Course Rough Height of Cut Study In 2019 a lawn care or golf course rough HOC study was initiated on a Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine leaf fescue mixture. HOC was 2, 2.5, and 3-inches. Clipping weights  are presented in Table 2. Once again, the lowest HOC always produced the highest clipping weight.   Take Home Summary These two studies show that raising mowing heights whether it’s for putting greens or higher cut turf such as lawns or golf course roughs will result in less top-growth between mowing.  Photo 1. Height of cut study funded by the MTF in 2019, will continue in 2020 and 2021.

Table 2. 2019 Lawn mixture height of cut (HOC) study results from 2019.  Clipping weights in grams.

As a reminder Dr. Kevin Frank will be hosting a webinar, Tuesday at 1pm.  Click the banner below for information.

Next Tuesday, April 7th at 1:00 pm EDT the MSU Turf Team along with Dr. Jeff Andresen, State Climatologist for Michigan with MSU Department of Geography with support from the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, will be hosting a live webinar to discuss the upcoming weather forecast and priorities for Superintendents who will be doing minimal maintenance during the closures of golf courses in Michigan. To make sure they are covering current topics they have asked for our members to submit questions for them to review and discuss during this meeting. Please take a minute to answer this one question survey with what you would like to know. 

Click Here for the Survey

Click Here for the Meeting Link
Important you will need a password for this webinar it is: 989266

Reduced maintenance on athletic fields and lawns due to novel coronavirus Turfgrass management considerations for athletic fields and home lawns during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order. Kevin Frank, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences - March 30, 2020 At Governor Whitmer’s news conference on March 26, 2020, she stated that landscape services are not included as a business necessary to sustain or protect life. I’m honestly not sure if athletic field maintenance also falls under this prevue, but my best guess would be that it does. Proceeding under the premise that both athletic field and lawn care maintenance are to cease through the April 13 “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, the following is important to consider when maintenance does resume. Although it’s been an early spring to this point, Mother Nature is still somewhat on our side. My only turf observations now are limited to my lawn, lawns on my daily walk and pictures on social media. At least in mid-Michigan, lawns and athletic fields have not required mowing yet. My expectation would be that although top-growth will certainly begin to accelerate, growth will not spiral out of control in the next couple weeks. When mowing does resume, consideration may need to be given to mowing at a higher than standard mowing height and slowly decreasing it over time to prevent any scalping injury that would set the turf back. Obviously, homeowners may still mow their lawns, so these comments are directed at professional management of lawns and athletic fields. Many might have questions about crabgrass preemergence herbicide applications at this time. Using GDD Tracker, most mid- to southern portions Michigan are quickly approaching the optimum application window for preventative herbicides. The optimum application window stretches from 250 to 500 growing degree days (GDD) using a base 32 temperature. East Lansing, Michigan, for example has accumulated 190 GDD through March 26 and is forecast to reach the optimum application window on March 30. Although we’ll hit the optimum application window next week, it’s likely we’ll stay there for at least two weeks if not longer. Even if we’re outside of the optimum timing when business resumes, you still have options. Herbicides that contain the active ingredient dithiopyr (Dimension) are effective up to the two-leaf stage of crabgrass, which even this year probably wouldn’t occur until early May. I discussed this issue with Dave Gardner from the Ohio State University. He indicated that in the numerous trials he’s conducted over the years, as long as crabgrass is not visible in the stand, all the typical preemergence herbicides are still generally effective and possibly a better option than relying solely on postemergence control. For athletic fields that may not typically apply a preemergence herbicide due to spring seeding, keep in mind the herbicides Mesotrione (Tenacity) and topramezone (Pylex) can be good choices in certain situations. Both of these products can be applied on the same day of seeding Kentucky bluegrass for crabgrass control during establishment, but be careful and read the label about applications on other cool-season turf species. We are all clearly in unprecedented times as this is the time of year when turf management is usually busy with activity preparing turf for the coming season. Stay safe, we’ll get through this and I’m confident we’ll be able to get the turf back in top condition sooner rather than later.   This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Dear {Contact_First_Name} {Contact_Last_Name}, Yesterday evening, March 26th, the Michigan Golf Alliance was informed of the new stance regarding golf on the Q&A page regarding Executive Order 2020-21 by the Governors Deputy Director of Public Affairs. Q: Are golf courses allowed to stay open? A: No. While EO 2020-21 contemplates outdoor activity, opening a golf course to the public does not fall under the designation of critical infrastructure. Consequently, a golf course may not designate employees as critical infrastructure employees and authorize them come to work However please still refer to section 4b. For purposes of this order, workers who are necessary to conduct minimum basic operations are those whose in-person presence is strictly necessary to allow the business or operation to maintain the value of inventory and equipment, care for animals, ensure security, process transactions (including payroll and employee benefits), or facilitate the ability of other workers to work remotely. Businesses and operations must determine which of their workers are necessary to conduct minimum basic operations and inform such workers of that designation. Businesses and operations must make such designations in writing, whether by electronic message, public website, or other appropriate means. Such designations, however, may be made orally until March 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. The Alliance has submitted this letter regarding maintenance to the Governors office. It is still up to each facility to interpret Executive Order 2020-21 as it applies to their business and to consult with local authorities.    HERE IS TEMPLATE LANGUAGE FOR DESIGNATED ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL