USGA agronomists located throughout the country each visit more than 130 courses annually. Their experience helps golf course staff and officials produce the best golf turf possible within each course’s budget. Utilizing a wealth of information and offering an impartial yet concerned perspective, our course-care experts will answer your questions regarding turfgrass growth, ecologically sound land management and the conservation and protection of natural resources on golf courses.
Latest Articles
Posted: 5/16/2013 9:17:06 AM
While most golfers understand that core aerating greens is necessary,
ever wonder why it is performed at different times of the year depending on
where you live? ...
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Posted: 4/16/2013 9:06:08 AM
The benefits of rolling
are well documented and it is a common practice on putting greens at most golf
facilities, but how much is too much? ...
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Posted: 3/11/2013 1:34:31 PM
Overwhelmed with so many ball
mark repair tools available? The solution to properly repairing ball marks is
easier than you think. ...
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Posted: 12/27/2012 10:22:14 AM
Ever wonder why golf facilities delay play until turf is no longer covered in frost? Read on to better understand (and appreciate) how frost delays serve to protect the condition and playability of the course. ...
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Posted: 11/26/2012 8:55:28 AM
Ty McClellan, Manager, Green Section Education
Grain on putting greens is mentioned frequently when watching golf on TV and it always creates plenty of discussion within our membership. What should we be doing so it is not a problem at our golf course?
In all likelihood your golf course is already being maint ...
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Posted: 10/16/2012 11:41:59 AM
USGA Green Section
In recent years our superintendent has restricted carts to paths following heavy rainfall. This year we are in a drought and, again, we have been occasionally restricted to cart paths. Is there a reason why (or when) we are restricted to cart paths? (Nebraska)
One of the most difficult deci ...
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Posted: 8/29/2012 9:15:49 AM
USGA
What is the difference between cool-season and warm-season grasses? Extreme summer heat and the current drought have prompted discussions about replacement turfgrass options on our fairways. (Kentucky)
The
difference between cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses comes down to basic
plant physiolo ...
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Posted: 7/11/2012 8:54:44 AM
USGA
What exactly do fans near putting greens accomplish? Several golf courses I have played recently are using them, but they only seem to run in the summer. (Missouri)
Fans are often
used to cool the turfgrass canopy on putting greens, typically cool-season
species such as creeping bentgrass and Poa ...
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Posted: 6/12/2012 12:45:07 PM
Experts Explain: Manual Watering Of A Course
I have always wondered why putting greens are occasionally watered by hand? I don’t usually notice except during the summer. (Washington)
There are a
couple reasons for which you may see maintenance personnel watering greens by
hand during your round of ...
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Posted: 5/20/2012 9:22:49 PM
USGA Green Section
Every year questions arise on where to place bunker rakes and never has our course been able to reach a consensus. Should rakes be positioned inside or outside bunkers?
There is no rule on bunker rake placement and both are common. The USGA recommends placing rakes outside the bunker and par ...
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Posted: 4/23/2012 5:13:16 PM
USGA Green Section
It has been years since I have seen our golf course this busy this early in the spring. Are there any concerns with such an early start to the golfing season?
Golf facilities across much of the U.S. have experienced a boon in play and enjoyed early season revenues given the unseasonably warm ...
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Posted: 4/7/2012 7:20:56 PM
USGA Green Section
As the new Green Committee Chairman I am already feeling the pressure to identify ways to cut costs on the golf course, both now and into the future. Is there any guidance that can be provided for this ongoing concern? (Colorado)
Our agronomists field many questions each year on this very t ...
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Posted: 2/21/2012 8:31:45 AM
USGA Green Section A few years ago our golf course installed a synthetic tee at the back of the practice facility so that golfers could use it throughout the winter months. Playability from the synthetic surface is actually better than most of us anticipated, but with temperatures being so warm and frosts limited ...
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Posted: 1/18/2012 12:29:42 PM
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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Posted: 1/3/2012 9:39:58 AM
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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Posted: 11/7/2011 11:40:47 AM
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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Posted: 10/19/2011 9:47:47 AM
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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Posted: 9/22/2011 7:16:33 PM
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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Posted: 8/16/2011 3:18:08 PM
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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Posted: 1/4/2011 9:30:57 AM
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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Posted: 1/4/2011 9:07:12 AM
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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Posted: 3/9/2010 3:08:58 PM
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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Posted: 5/27/2009 1:56:32 PM
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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Posted: 5/27/2009 1:55:51 PM
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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Posted: 5/27/2009 1:55:12 PM
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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Posted: 5/27/2009 1:52:47 PM
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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