Green Section Question: Our golf course superintendent wants to spend about $1,000 on a fancy soil probe to measure soil moisture. Is this expense worth it? Can’t he just water the grass when it is about to wilt? (Skeptical in Pa.) Answer : It’s a worthwhile investment for many different reasons. For one t

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Pat Gross, USGA Q: Please help settle a debate at our club. Is the proper term “Green Committee” or “Greens Committee?” Some contend that the term “Green Committee” is outdated and refers more to environmental issues, recycling, carbon foot-print, and other such issues. Which is proper? (Arizona) A: History i

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USGA For some reason, our golf course staff does not want golf carts to be used on our hybrid bermudagrass fairways during January, February and March. I know of no other course in our region that has this guideline, and a large majority of our golfers disagree with it. What do you say?   This is a case where t

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Bud White, director, USGA Green Section Mid-Continent Region The drought of 2011 has been a record-breaker in nearly all areas of the lower and central Midwest. Superintendents are directing their attention to the long term consequences of these extreme environmental factors to evaluate and prepare for 2012.

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David A. Oatis, director, Northeast Region Between the rains in the East and the drought in the South, cart paths have never been more important to courses. Now is the time to plan for improving your path system. As a Green Section agronomist who sees more than 100 golf courses each year, I believe that the

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Course Care Question: During the recent Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) conference and show several of my fellow superintendents from the Midwest were discussing the possibility of an abnormally hot, dry summer season. Can the USGA point me in the direction of a credible source of long-

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Why do golf courses close for overseeding in the desert southwest, while Florida courses do not? Is there a way to avoid closing the golf course for overseeding in the southwest? (Arizona)   In the desert southwest, bermudagrass goes dormant for 6-10 weeks, typically from mid-December through the end

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We have a problem with heaving soils on our golf course.   In late winter the surfaces of fairways and greens are severely heaved. The surfaces eventually settle as the frost leaves the ground and we roll the surfaces. Unfortunately, we lose a significant number of sprinkler heads during the process. Is there anyting that can be done to reduce the damage?

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We're starting to get concerned about how long the snow is hanging around on our golf course greens. What should be our top priorities? Snow cover is not necessarily a bad thing, but several factors need to be evaluated.   The following actions should be considered as we enter the final stretch of the winter s

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Our golf course is very concerned about recent reports of a possible water shortage. What can we do to prepare for such a situation? Water shortages are an unfortunate reality for many courses, and not just those located in the

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We've had a problem with a few of our greens over the last couple of years, and our superintendent has recommended removing trees to improve sunlight penetration. Does this make sense, and how much could it possibly help? The trees

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Some members of our Green Committee want us to change hole locations on a daily basis. We have not done this in the past because we receive a low volume of play during the week. Should we be changing holes

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How deep should sand be installed in a bunker? Is there a way to determine an appropriate depth? It is important to realize that the sand in a bunker is not at a consistent depth throughout the entire bunker area.

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