May 2024 Newsletter

Every golf course is different, with unique situations, but a universal challenge is excess organic matter in the top inch of the soil. It’s obvious from the extent of this issue that traditional methods of OM control have not worked. That is why the USGA has spent considerable resources on cultural practices research led by Dr. Roch Gaussoin at University of Nebraska. That research has yielded actionable recommendations. But again, every course is different.

 

Enter Mike Nowicki, Director of Agronomy at Victoria National Golf Club, Newburg, IN.

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Mike’s first superintendent’s job was at a Donald Ross course in Richmond, VA, Lakeside Park Club, with older A1/A4 greens with moderately high OM and a history of root pythium. Mike implemented an attack of multiple small solid tinings (including a deep tine) followed by heavy topdressing in the spring (looked like a sewing machine went over the greens), along with persistent topdressings; and in a year and a half the OM went from 4.0% to 2.8%. What is the target for OM, no one knows exactly, but Mike didn’t spray a soil fungicide from early August until the end of that season.

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Fast forward to Victoria National Golf Club, a course with water quality issues, poor percolation and high organic matter. Victoria has considerably more resources than Lakeside Park, and also higher expectations, but again the same approach of multiple small solid tines (VNGC also got drill n fill to help with infiltration). In one year Mike and his team reduced OM from 4.8% to 3.9% using this approach. More work and time will be needed to get down in the 3% range, but the confidence that his programs will get him there is 100%. The ramifications will certainly be firmer greens that are less prone to disease and LDS. At some point, the aeration procedures will be less aggressive. This is how to create a sustainable system…that gets better each year.

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The nutritional component is to ‘never perform a procedure that is so aggressive that addition N (above what is recommended by Predict N7) is required to heal from that procedure’, ensuring that there is never an excess of Nitrogen applied and the potential for an ‘over-accumulation’ of OM is negated. Dr. Roch Gaussoin’s research on cultural practices + Predict N7 is a great way to approach OM management. Utilizing your talents (i.e. like Mike), and tailoring programs to your course creates true value to your golfing clientele.