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Walking a Mile in an Intern’s Shoes
When Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw completed the renovation of Pinehurst No. 2 they left the grounds maintenance staff a faster, firmer golf course that rekindled the spirit Donald Ross had originally envisioned for his masterpiece. One of the most talked about parts of the renovation are the natural areas, which feature native wiregrass along with a host of other plants that give No. 2 its classic look and feel. I got to spend quite a bit of time in these natural areas over the past three weeks and there’s a lot more that goes into maintaining them than I had initially imagined.
Penn State Grad Prepares for U.S. Senior Open
Despite temperatures topping 100 degrees earlier this week, and similar figures expected this weekend, Josh Cook, the golf course superintendent at Oak Tree National, is pleased with the course’s condition for the championship. “If you had asked me a year ago, we would have taken this,” said Cook, who became the superintendent here in January 2012. “It’s a challenge, but it’s a manageable challenge. We could be a lot hotter and more severe in July.”
An Intern Takes Two
One of the most challenging and exciting times in a turfgrass intern’s life is getting the opportunity to prepare a golf course for a major tournament. It demands long hours, sustained focus and strenuous attention to detail. The back-to-back U.S. Open Championships at Pinehurst No. 2 present an historic once-in-a-lifetime chance for an intern like myself to learn what goes into creating the playing conditions demanded by the most rigorous challenge in golf.
Iron in your irrigation water: why lab results may not always tell the entire story
In conducting a golf course irrigation water quality survey, I recently came across a water sample pumped from a deep well that showed a strong red-brown cast. The color of the water indicates a high iron concentration, which may be of concern to the superintendent with respect to negative effects on the irrigation system and other cosmetic problems. Although I was quite certain there was a high amount of iron in the sample, the lab results indicated below-normal levels of iron (<0.01 ppm).
Alum, Doug Brooks Reflects on Time at PSU
Denver Country Club superintendent Doug Brooks began his career with Penn State's 2-year Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program. Brooks decided to pursue a career in turfgrass management while working at Cherry Hills Country Club.
PSU Alum Hosts Tournament at Congressional
When this year’s harsh winter gave way to a cool, wet spring, Mike Giuffre resisted any urge to reach for the fertilizer. Experience has taught Congressional Country Club’s director of golf course maintenance to wait. And wait. And wait some more, if necessary.
Tournament at Congressional Ticket Contest
The Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program is giving away tickets to the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club. A total of two (2) tickets are available each day for any one day, of your choice, of the tournament, Tuesday through Saturday. We will also be giving away four very special tickets that are good all week, Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets will be given away exclusively through either Twitter or Facebook.
Brandon Wildt – Ballyneal Golf Course
In the previous post, I talked about my visit to Cherry Hills Country Club and Denver Country Club, where I was visiting another intern. Immediately upon finishing my visit with Jack at Denver Country Club, I drove three and half hours east to Holyoke where I visited with another student who was interning at Ballyneal Golf Course.
Control of Yellow Nutsedge in Pennsylvania Lawns and Athletic Fields
Yellow nutsedge may not be the worst weed problem in Pennsylvania lawns and athletic fields, but when conditions are right, it can certainly be a nuisance. Fortunately, nutsedge is relatively easy to control when using the proper herbicide at the correct stage of growth.
Adam Duncan – Valley Club
After my late morning visit with RJ at Teton Springs Golf Club, I made the four hour drive west to prepare for a morning visit. The 27th hole facility at the Valley Club gave plenty of opportunity for intern Adam Duncan to get a wealth of experience in various agronomic management practices.
