The research projects funded by the USGA break down into five categories:
Integrated Turfgrass Management

 The golf course superintendent and staff work diligently to provide the best playing conditions possible; however, proper course management today also requires conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Seventeen studies funded at $944,819 over four years (2005 through 2008) are underway to evaluate reduced pesticide use, increase our understanding of plant disease and insect pests, provide better plant resistance to both pest and climatic stresses, and improve the overall management techniques for new and improved turf cultivars.

Physiology, Genetics and Breeding

 The Nobel Prize-winning chemist Robert F. Curl of Rice University spoke for many of his colleagues in science when he proclaimed that the 20th century was "the century of physics and chemistry. But it is clear that the next century will be the century of biology." Twenty investigations funded at $1,474,551 over four years are ushering biotechnology into turfgrass species used for golf. This initial effort, along with conventional plant breeding improvements in bentgrass and bermudagrass, will enable scientists to reduce pesticide use in the long term. The USGA continues to collect and evaluate other promising grass species, such as seashore paspalum and inland saltgrass, which will allow poor quality water to be used for turfgrass irrigation in coastal and desert climates.

Golf Course Construction

 For putting green turf to provide a fast surface and remain healthy, it must have adequate aeration, fertility and moisture, while resisting compaction from foot and vehicle traffic. Over the last eight years, the USGA has funded research to better understand the physical, chemical and biological nature of sand-based root zones, as well as factors that affect the behavior of sands and sand mixes. Six studies will be funded at $310,304 over the four years to wrap up remaining questions about how putting green root zones change over a period of ten years, and completing adjustments to the laboratory testing method that is used to determine water infiltration properties of the sand root zone. New projects will evaluate the use of geotextiles and subsurface drainage systems, as well as subsurface irrigation technology to reduce construction costs and conserve water.

Environmental Impact

 Significant strides in understanding what happens to pesticides and fertilizers applied to golf courses were achieved through the efforts of USGA-sponsored research. Today, the Green Section is sought after by government organizations to help provide guidance on policies concerning the registration and regulation of pesticides. The USGA is actively providing information through a nation-wide surface runoff study to help shape the future of pesticide modeling efforts. In the meantime, efforts continue to evaluate entire golf course watersheds for their effects on water quality. Nine studies funded at $575,535 over the four years address important environmental fate issues.

Outreach

 The USGA is involved in a wide range of activities that affects the management of golf courses in the future. The Green Section worked closely with the Council for the Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) panel that conducted the 2006 conference on "Water Quality and Quantity Issues for Turfgrasses in Urban Agriculture." The USGA assisted in the development of the Turfgrass Research Initiative, a long-term funding request to the US Congress for increasing the efforts of the USDA Agricultural Research Services in turfgrass research. The current request has six outlined program activities for a funding total of $32 million. From 2002 through 2006, the US Congress has appropriated more than $3 million for research on important turfgrass problems. The Green Section funds small studies at the suggestion of its agronomists to solve regional turfgrass problems on golf courses. The USGA also works closely with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Turfgrass Producers International, and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program on two or three studies each year.

Integrated Turfgrass Management - 17 Projects at $944,819 over four years (2005 through 2008)
Project Title University
Optimatization of foliar nitrogen nutrition to improve turf performance under shade or mowing stress University of Illinois
Correlation and calibration of the Illinois soil nitrogen test for use as a nitrogen fertility management tool Ohio State University
Developing best management practices for bermudagrass control in zoysiagrass fairways University of Tennessee
Evaluating management practices for influences on Anthracnose severity of annual bluegrass putting green turf Rutgers University
Infection and colonization of bermudagrass by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, the causal agent of spring dead spot of bermudagrass Oklahoma State University
Silicon amendment: a component of integrated gray leaf spot management strategy Pennsylvania State University
Rooting and carbohydrate metabolism in creeping bentgrass putting green turf in response to summer irrigation and aerification management University of Maryland
Relative pathogenicity and fungicide sensitivity in isolates of Rhizoctonia and other fungal pathogens for seashore paspalum and zoysiagrass cultivars in Florida University of Florida
An integrated approach for controlling spring dead spot of bermudagrass Mississippi State University
Accurate identification and gene expression in relation to virulence of Rhizoctonia isolates infecting turfgrasses U.S. Dept of Agriculture-ARS
Sustainable white grub management with Steinernema n. sp.: a new highly white grub-pathogenic and -specific nematode. Rutgers University
Biologically-based management of white grubs, cutworms, and mound-building ants on golf courses University of Kentucky
Biological and biorational management options for the annual bluegrass weevil on golf courses. Rutgers University
Interpreting and forecasting phenology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. Cornell University
Season-long control of black cutworms on golf courses with a naturally-occurring baculovirus University of Kentucky
Natural enemies and site characteristics affecting distribution and abundance of native and invasive white grubs on golf courses University of Kentucky
Mole cricket detection of insecticide University of Florida



Physiology, Breeding and Genetics - 20 Projects at $1,474,551 over four years (2005 through 2008)
Project Title University
Breeding and evaluation of Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and bentgrass for turf Rutgers University
QTL mapping of resistance to gray leaf spot in Lolium University of Wisconsin
A bentgrass breeding consortium to support the golf industry - Michigan Michigan State University
Cultivar development and extreme temperature tolerance of greens-type Poa annua Pennsylvania State University
Identification of the colonial bentgrass contribution to dollar spot resistance in colonial x creeping interspecific hybrids Rutgers University
Development and application of molecular markers linked to heat tolerance in Agrostis species Rutgers University
Molecular approaches to understanding stress tolerance in perennial ryegrass Iowa State University
Bentgrass breeding consortium: molecular breeding for dollar spot and snow mold resistances U.S. Dept of Agriculture-ARS, Madison
Confirmation of QTL markers for dollar spot resistance in creeping bentgrass Cook College, Rutgers University
Evaluation of perennial ryegrass, creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for salt tolerance Cook College, Rutgers University
Evaluation and development of Poa germplasm for salt tolerance Utah State University
Breeding and evaluation of turf bermudagrass varieties Oklahoma State University
Discovery of stress-responsive Cynodon genes by cDNA sequences & expression profiles University of Georgia
Breeding of seashore paspalum for recreational turf use University of Georgia
Accelerated discovery of Cynodon genes and DNA markers by cDNA sequencing University of Georgia
Production and maintenance of triploid interspecific bermudagrass hybrids for QTL analysis University of Georgia
Development of seeded turf-type saltgrass variety Colorado State University
Multiple stress tolerance, seed dormancy breaking, and establishment of seeded saltgrass Colorado State University
Buffalograss breeding and genetics University of Nebraska
Resistant turfgrasses for improved cinch bug management on golf courses University of Nebraska



Golf Course Construction - 6 projects at $310,304 over four years (2005 through 2008)
Project Title University
Soil physical characterization of aging golf greens University of Nebraska
Longer term assessment of the effects of greens construction systems and irrigation systems on greens performance, turf quality and water conservation. New Mexico State University
Assessing the maturation of putting green root zone mixes under two microenvironments Rutgers University
Improving procedures for testing putting green materials North Dakota State Univ.
Water movement in golf course putting green rootzones. Purdue University
A comparison of water drainage and storage in putting greens built using airfield systems and USGA methods of construction Texas A&M University



Environmental Impact - 9 Projects at $575,535 over four years (2005 through 2008)
Project Title University
Water quality monitoring from an intensively managed watershed scale turf system in Duluth, MN U.S. Dept of Agriculture-ARS
Nitrogen fate in a 10 Year Old Kentucky bluegrass turf Michigan State University
Pesticide runoff in turfgrass environment: effects of plot size and grass species University of Maryland
Pesticide runoff in turfgrass environment: effects of plot size and grass species Mississippi State University
Managing pesticide exposure from treated turf University of Massachusetts
Nutrient and pesticide runoff from golf course fairways caused by simulated and natural rainfall Oklahoma State
Pesticide runoff in turfgrass environment: effects of plot size and grass species USDA-ARS
A critical review of water quality impacts by golf courses: update and trends GCSAA
Managing reduce risk pesticide exposure from treated turf University of Massachusetts



Outreach - 14 Projects at $252,058 over four years (2005 through 2008)
Project Title University
National Turfgrass Research Initiative National Turfgrass Federation
NTEP On-Site Overseeding Trial National Turfgrass Evaluation Program
Comparative Irrigation Requirements of 30 Cultivars of Kentucky Bluegrasses Under a Large Rainout Facility in the Transition Zone. Turfgrass Producers International and Kansas State University
Environmental Characteristics of Golf Course Pesticides: A Comparison Resource GCSAA
Water Quality and Quantity Issues for Turfgrasses in Urban Landscapes Council on Agriculture Science and Technology
Evaluating new Poa annua cultivars under warmer growing conditions California State Polytechnic University
Response of Three Bermudagrass Genotypes to Mowing Height and Growth Regulators University of Georgia
Ash Content and Its Affect on Plugging the Upper Profile of Putting Greens Pennsylvania State University
Defining Optimal and Deficient Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens in California University of California
USGA Dynamic Speed Chart Protocol Michigan State University
Assessing the usefulness of water and soil conditioning products to improve turfgrass quality and reduce irrigation water use in the Southwest New Mexico State University
Evaluation of Newer Products for Selective Control of Moss on Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens Chicago District Golf Association
Dollar Spot Severity as Influenced by Nozzle Type and Fungicide Mode of Activity University of Connecticut