Naperville Country Club Green Department

Sunshine Course Hosts iTurf Expo: We String and Sign Turf Research Plots, Dollar Spot Ebbs, and Tim tells of a Multi-State Evaluation

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -

As I write, today is Friday, but it's not just any Friday. At 4 am it quietly became fall when most of us were still alseep and it was dark out. It means our summer season is offically over and our golf courses now have a look that is not just green. For example, I've begun to notice yellows, oranges and even occasional hints of red quietly arriving on deciduous tree branches (as fall begins I like to watch maples and honeylocusts). It means the landscape is about to wrap up this growing season. On Sunshine Course we wrapped up our year of turfgrass research by hosting an event called the iTurf Expo for the Illinios Turfgrass Foundation. Thanks to Chris Painter and Niki Munroe, Sunshine Course had become a green gem of paradise and it sparkled as guest speakers arrived from Wisconsin (Dr. Jim Kerns), Indiana (Dr. Aaron Patton) and Missouri (Dr. Lee Miller). They would complement speakers from across Illinois. Let me tell you that story...

Illinois is a state with a shape different than where I grew up - Kansas. North to south, Illinois is longer than wide and that has significance as we enjoy more than one zone of plant adaptation. That is why we feel a turfgrass research field day in Lemont is strengthened by representation of turf scientists from each distinct region. It allows us to discuss and learn of our similarities and differences of turf research efforts from southern (Dr. Ken Diesburg), central (Dr. Bruce Branham) and northern (CDGA) Illinois. To everyone who has helped the CDGA Turf Program this year with the necessary encouragement to keep doing what we do, we say THANK YOU!

Click here to view the September 23, 2011 Scouting Report.

Enjoy your first weekend of fall. I am.

Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Weather Blog

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
Research Blog

Aeration will now take place the week of October 10th. The course has received 0.80 inches of rain since yesterday, with more in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Because of this, our scheduled aeration will be postponed to our rain date. The aeration is now scheduled for the week of October 10th.

It was announced this week that Tim won the Leo Feser Award from the GCSAA for his article titled "Shoot The Elephants First" from the June issue of Golf Course Management magazine.

There have been two previous posts about the article:

Tim Contributes To Golf Course Management Magazine

Tim Contributes To On Course Magazine

The Leo Feser Award is given to the author of the best Superintendent written article in the Golf Course Management magazine.

Tim, you just won the Leo Feser award, what are you going to do now? Well he gets a free trip to Las Vegas for his efforts!

The small pond in front of the tee boxes on 11 will receive a dredging this week. It has completely filled with silt and muck, and is ready to be cleaned out. This will be the first time this pond has received this procedure.

This pond is a silt trap and is doing what it was designed to do. When a drainage line from the adjacent sub-division runs into this pond, the speed of the water slows down and allows the silt and dirt in the water to settle out before it moves through another pipe into the pond on 17. This pond is designed to clean the water before moving into the 17th pond. After years and years of the silt accumulating, it is time for the pond to be restored to its initial specifications. This pond was constructed to a 6 foot depth. As you can see from the pictures, the water depth is only a few inches.

We will be using a procedure that is less invasive. A pump will be used to pump out the silt and muck into a large bag where it will drain for a few months. Once the moisture has drained from the silt, it will be pushed into a mound and planted over. The silt will be pumped from this pond into a bag located in the grassy area off the right side of the 10th hole. You will be able to see the process, but it should not be disruptive to play.

After receiving preliminary recommendations from our tree inventory, we are beginning to remove some tree this week. We have not received the full report from our tree inventory yet, but we have received a list of trees that have been recommended for removal due to safety concerns. Many of the trees on the list have sustained storm damage at some time and have continued to decline. The assessment was none of these trees would ever be in better condition than they are now.

The noticeable trunk wound on this tree from a previous year's storm has caused this tree to continually decline. Because of its proximity to the cart path, it is in the club's best interest to remove now.

We started removing these trees yesterday, and will continue through the list this week and later into the fall as needed. It is likely that none of these trees will even be noticeable once they are removed because of their small size, or proximity to playing areas.

Cog Hill hosts PGA's BMW Championship: We Volunteer, First Frost, Rust Disease, Dollar Spot, and Tim meets PGA's Paul Vermeulen

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -

Ready or not our fall season is just a week away. I looked it up and fall officially begins on Friday, September 23 at 4:09 am. However, fall seemed to begin this week - an early arrival of cool temperatures came true. For some in northern Illinois, the experience would occur smack dab in the middle of Cog Hill's #4 Dubsdread. It was Thursday, September 15 and I was awake bright and early as a turf maintenance volunteer at Cog Hill. The PGA Tour's BMW Championship had begun in the southwest Chicago suburb of Lemont but an early morning frost meant the turfgrass crews scattered across 18 golf holes would wait. It was 2 hours until the go ahead was given at 7:30 am, because that's exactly how long it took the rising sun to melt ice crystals which otherwise damage turf when trafficked. Together outdoors, we had the look and feel of a different season as we assumed our appointed duties with jackets, hats and gloves on. The early hour work schedule was no trouble because we were helping our neighbors, course 4 superintendent Scott Pavalko, director of courses Ken Lapp and PGA agronomist Paul Vermeulen. It was a spectacular experience and along the way we were able to take in all the sites and sounds associated with a PGA Tour Event. Scott, Ken and Paul thank you for sharing and teaching what you do. Next week, when we officially welcome a new fall season, I will always remember where it began for me - Cog Hill's #4 course on number 1 green at 5:30 am.

Click here to view the September 16, 2011 Scouting Report.

Have a great weekend. Maybe we'll see you in Lemont!

Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Weather Blog

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
Research Blog

It is about time to begin our fall aeration. We will begin with the greens on Monday, September 26th. The tees and approaches will follow later in the week. The course will be closed as normal on Monday, and will be open the rest of the week. We will continue this process through the week, so please be mindful of the crew while playing.

The new seed that was planted a couple of weeks ago is beginning to germinate. You can see the new seed popping up in lines in these areas. The new seed will continue to grow in through the fall, but we do not anticipate full recovery until the spring. The new seedlings are in the areas that were damaged by summer patch this year. (Disease In The Rough)

Another disease, dollar spot, has been active in the roughs recently. Our green and tee banks have been showing the most symptoms of the disease. We do treat for this disease on our greens, tees and fairways, but do not treat for it in the roughs. We have made a spot application this week to the areas with the most severe infestations. This disease will not cause significant damage in our roughs. Now that these areas have been spayed, we do expect them to grow out of the damage quickly.

The fungus that causes the symptoms of dollar spot is very active when temperatures are 60-80 degrees, with high humidities at night. This past Saturday morning was perfect weather for the symptoms of the disease to show. There was a heavy dew and a fog was present for the better part of the morning. This dew and fog made the mycelium (the fungus) very evident in the morning. The mycelium causes a blight on the leaf blade of the infected plants. This picture (click to enlarge for a better view) is a perfect example of dollar spot in our roughs.

Here is a picture of one of the most heavily infected areas. This is at 13 tee. You can see the dew on the tee boxes and the fog.

These areas should recover is a shortly. Since our roughs represent such a large area and disease symptoms are very scattered, it is not a normal practice to treat roughs for disease.

I am finally getting around to post about the lightning strike that has caused us some expected frustration with the irrigation system. The strike happened on the Saturday afternoon of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3). Lightning hit the tree next to the halfway house and traveled to the roots and into the irrigation wires that are near the tree. The tree was split perfectly down the middle with half falling after being struck and the other half standing. The half that was left standing did have a large crack in it, so even if it had not have look the way it did, it would still have been removed.

The bark from the trunk was blown throughout the area.

The tree was shifted in the ground and roots and soil were blown our of the ground.

This is the irrigation pipe that was close to the tree that was blown apart. A few wires were burned, and naturally the electricity traveled through portions of the system. Several electrical boards were replaced in the satellite controllers on 6, 7, 14 and 15. A fused was blown in a satellite controller between 12 and 13 fairway, and an outlet in the pump house was burned from the strike.

This is a sampling of the boneyard that was created from the strike. We are still working to get a few heads fixed on the tee box at 7. The think we have the rest of them fixed at this point.

The remainder of the tree was taken down on the morning of Labor Day.

The maintenance facility hosted it's first event for the members this past Saturday. The first Fight Night at the club also required us to convert the maintenance facility to a boxing venue for the evening. A lot of cleaning and moving around equipment was required, but it was worth it.

Equipment is moved out and tables are moved in.

The buffet takes place of the walk mowers that normally sit here.

The lift turns into a warm-up area for the boxers.

Entrance

Ring being set up.

The main event.

Some unfortunate damage has occurred over the last week. This damage is from the fertilizer application that was made to the fairways. We used a contract service to apply the fertilizer as we normally do. This time a different truck and applicator were here for the application. The areas of noticeable damage are around slopes that caused a heavier application. Areas of damage are in 9 fairway, 5 approach, 11 approach, 15 approach and a few other scattered areas.

The applicator truck is equipped with two spinners to broadcast the fertilizer. This picture clearly shows the application pattern of the two spinners. Fertilizer is a salt, and when excessive amounts are applied to the turf, the salts pull water out of the plant which result in plant death. These areas are dead, and will need to be sodded.

22 Sep Sunshine Course hosts iTurf Expo: Soil Temps Drop to 60s, Poa annua Roots?, Dollar Spot, and Tim says Bewitched!

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -

It now quickly feels and looks like fall. How do I know? You see I looked out my apartment window this morning and there it was. I found a yellow color decorating a favorite tree of mine. It was thornless honeylocust and it had begun to develop fall color - overnight it seemed. The Chicago nighttime temps must have gotten to it this week - we logged a couple 40-somethings. How do I know? In the human environment; by day our air conditioning is off more than it is on, by night our windows are closed and we are back into the closet so we can sport light jackets. In the turf environment; bentgrass is as healthy as we've seen all year, superintendents are poking holes (aerification), and greens are lightning fast. That's all positive news. It tells you we are getting beyond the thrashings of a summer called 2011. But are we? I didn't mention Poa greens did I? Well, they continue to give us some trouble. This week they still didn't look quite right in Chicago. I was asked to rule out anthracnose basal stem rot a couple of times - it was not. Instead, the problem was the inablity of Poa annua to respond to cooler soil temps with new healthy roots. Be patient, with cool-season turf, there is a lag time after shock therapy - summer 2011. Under the microscope this week I saw new roots and a sudden appearance of root hairs. It tells me it's going to be OK. In fact, the best Poa plant health on greens was centered directly over needle-tine holes that were made very recently. I'm speachless? Not really...roots!

Click here to view the September 9, 2011 Scouting Report.

Enjoy your weekend...without the winds of Lee!

Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Weather Blog

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
Research Blog

September Arrives: Another Hot Holiday Weekend?!?, Anthracnose on Poa Greens, Dollar Spot, Summer Patch, and Tim says Festuca arudinacea

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -

Having endured a difficult summer again what did we learn? One thing is certain. The difficulty of a humid environment like Chicago should not be underestimated. For the second year it brought turf leafblades to their knees - not to mention us. Unfortunately, Chicago's cool, humid environment can drop a lot of rainfall within one summer. Some seasons we've been lucky and the deluge occurred outside of midsummer or when cooling temperatures were nearby. Last year and this year, thunderstorms have brought horror of horrors so to speak. For example, in this growing season we would achieve our most significant flooding during our hottest summer period in July. It was as if Mother Nature didn't like us anymore. If you were a superintendent, the price you paid varied. If you collect water for the surrounding community you're likely going to flood somewhere - lowest fairways usually take the hit. If you have large bodies of water or streams that meander in a delightful way across your golf course - nearby turf will definitely be in harms way as banks overflow. The point is that in certain summers we can understand a very logical sequence of events that will negatively affect a property prone to flooding. Perfect turf is no longer perfect and, if you are the unfortunate superintendent, you've become the talk of the town. But really who's fault is it? As we move forward in September our soil temperatures will begin to drop from the mid-70s. When we leave that threshold we will once again see terrific root growth. The last time we saw optimal temperatures for root growth, let me check my weather records, was June 15 when little Sunshine Course recorded 69.9° on average at a 2 inch depth. Since that time our soils have been 70-80° with a peak reading of 85.5° on 21 July or two days before a 24 hour record rainfall event. All I can say is Happy Labor Day!

Click here to view the September 2, 2011 Scouting Report.

Have a great holiday weekend - we can now look forward to cooler outdoor temperatures.

Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Weather Blog

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
Research Blog

The tree inventory that was recently completed will give us lots of information regarding the health of our trees. We will not have the full report for a few weeks, but I will share some of the information that we have so far. With this post I will highlight the problem of stem girdling roots. There are many trees on the property that have this problem. Stem girdling roots happen when the roots grow around the trunk of the tree, just below the soil surface, rather than growing out away from the tree. As the trunk of the tree gets larger, the root begins to "choke" the tree preventing nutrient transport to the top of the tree.

These two trees show a good example of stem girdling roots. These two maple trees were likely planted at the same time as a pair. Obviously, the tree on the right is much larger and healthier than the tree on the left. The tree on the left has a stem girdling root.

The base of the tree shows one side of the trunk going straight into the ground which is characteristic of a stem girdling root.

This does not mean the tree needs to be removed, but it does mean the tree is not going to get any healthier. As the tree continues to survive, the integrity of the trunk will become compromised which will make it more susceptible to all types of environmental conditions.

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