HOW LATE IN THE FALL CAN I SEED?

Nick Christians
March 12, 2012

Every fall, I get questions in October about how late is too late to seed. The answer to that varies with location, species, and weather of course, but here is a post from my son Tim in the North end of Chicago that may help answer that question.

He finished a tee construction project late and took a chance on seeding the new tees with bentgrass on Oct. 25. The tee pictured below on March 12 was covered, but he also had tees that were not covered on which he has 40 to 60% cover. It was clearly worth it to seed even though it was late.

If anyone else has some pictures of late seeding, send them to me and I'll get them up on the blog. We can use this information next fall when people are asking about seeding.

Meet the 2012 Turf Bowl Champions from Iowa State

2012 GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl Champions.  From left to right: Isaac Mertz, Casey Sheehy, Dan Strey, and Shane Lohman.

Q: Where are you from? What’s your background in turf?

A: Isaac Mertz – I’m from Perry Iowa. I grew up playing a lot of golf and always wanted to make a career out of it someway. It wasn’t until I heard about the turf program here at ISU that I knew I could make that a reality.

A: Casey Sheehy – I am from Perry, Iowa as well. I played golf all throughout high school and spent many, many hours on the course during the week and summer breaks. I first came to Iowa State as an Animal Science major before deciding to change majors. My cousins Cory and Brett Henson graduated from Iowa State in Turf and my love for the game of golf helped spark my interest to study turfgrass science.

A: Shane Lohman – At 19 I decided to work the maintenance staff for a private golf course in suburbs of St. Louis. A couple years later I worked for Superintendent Dave Klinkhammer at Greenbriar Hills Country Club. He helped guide me and continually gave me opportunities to learn new golf course management practices. After learning Dave had gone to Iowa State I knew if I wanted to become successful in this industry Iowa State was the place I needed to go to get my education.

A: Dan Strey – I’m from Cherry Valley, Illinois. I have been in the turf industry for the last three years and have completed internships at Geneva National Golf Club (Lake Geneva, WI) and Victoria National Golf Club (Newburgh, IN). I completed an A.A.S. degree in turfgrass management from Kishwaukee Community College in the spring of 2010 and graduated summa cum laude. I plan to graduate this May 2012 and will begin graduate school at Iowa State starting in the fall of 2012.


Q: What did you do to prepare for the contest?

A: Isaac Mertz – As a team we would get together 2 to 3 times a week and even on weekends. As far as day to day stuff, I don’t think there has been a time over the past month and a half that I went somewhere without a set of flashcards in my pocket. I’d review them walking to class across campus, while waiting for class to start, and even while getting lunch. People would give me weird looks but you get used to it. Plus, the feeling of accomplishing what you set out to do definitely makes it all worth it.


Q: What is it like traveling home with an oversized check?

A: Dan Strey – The check had to be cut in half in order to fit on the plane. Even though it was in two pieces, it didn’t stop Shane and I from having a little fun at the Las Vegas airport. We were able to put it back together when we got home and it’s on display in the Horticulture building for everyone to see.

Q: What does ISU's success in the Turf Bowl say about the ISU turf program?

A: Shane Lohman – It speaks volumes about the level of education students receive at Iowa State. The turf professors at Iowa State are truly some of the best. They do everything they can to prepare the students with the proper education for employment after graduating. Also, the alumni of the ISU turf program are terrific we well. All week alumni were coming by the booth wishing us well and good luck in the Turf Bowl. I am very proud to be a part of the turf program at Iowa State.


Q: Who was the first person you contacted after you found out you won the Turf Bowl?

A: Isaac Mertz – The first person that I contacted was my brother. I texted him as soon as the trophy presentation was over with. After that the text messages and calls just kept coming in. It’s amazing how fast the word got out and definitely something I will never forget.

2012 Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition Recap

From left to right: Stephen Vincent, John Deere Golf; Nick Christians, Iowa State University; Nick Dunlap, Turf Bowl Coach; Dan Strey; Shane Lohman; Casey Sheehy; Isaac Mertz; and Robert Randquist, CGCS.

The 2012 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show was held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. A group of students from Iowa State University went “all in” and brought home the 2012 Collegiate Turf Bowl Championship. Shane Lohman, Senior from New Haven, Missouri; Isaac Mertz, Senior from Perry, Iowa; Casey Sheehy, Junior from Perry Iowa; and Dan Strey, Senior from Cherry Valley, Illinois formed the winning team from Iowa State. Graduate research assistant, Nick Dunlap, coached the teams from Iowa State.

The Turf Bowl consists of a 3 ½ hour test which includes a case study question and sections covering plant identification, growth and development, soil and soil fertility, weed identification and control, entomology, pathology, mathematics, irrigation, water, and business management. The test is facilitated by Leah Brilman, Ph.D., of the Turfgrass Breeders Association and Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., who update and modify the exam each year.

The Turf Bowl Competition was again sponsored by John Deere Golf which awards a total of $10,000 in cash and prizes. The first place team receives $4,000 along with the traveling Turf Bowl trophy. This year’s competition had 87 teams participating from 44 colleges and universities across the country.

The victory for Iowa State marked the third consecutive year a team from ISU has won the competition. The students also helped carry on the tradition of Iowa State’s success in the Turf Bowl as they have placed first in 12 of the last 14 Turf Bowl competitions.

Here’s a rundown of the top 10 placing schools from the 2012 contest and a video from the awards ceremony.

1. Iowa State University
2. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
3. University of Maryland
4. University of Wisconsin-Madison
5. University of Arkansas
6. Purdue University
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Connecticut
9. Purdue University
10. Penn State University


2012 TURF BOWL from GCSAA TV on Vimeo.

Measuring Green Speed with iOS Devices

 Marcus Jones, PhD, Iowa State University and 

 Quincy Law, Graduate Student, Purdue University 

The iStimp App
By now, you have probably heard of the iStimp, an app developed by iGolfApps.com, to measure green speed. The iStimp is available to anyone who has an iOS device such as an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad for a nominal fee of $0.99. A stimpmeter reading is obtained by rolling a golf ball off the iOS device and measuring the distance the ball travels with a built in ruler. The iStimp application then uses algorithms to generate a stimpmeter value.

With over 250 million iOS devices sold to the public, the iStimp may have already appeared at your facility. If not, chances are you will at some point in the future. The question is, does the iStimp produce stimpmeter readings equivalent to what you generate with the USGA stimpmeter? A study conducted at Iowa State University set out to answer that question.

How we did it
Our study was conducted on a practice putting green at a local area golf course. The turf was a mixture of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass mowed at 0.125 inches.  Wind speed was negligible during the test.

Stimpmeter readings were obtained using the iStimp app with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPod touch 4th generation. The USGA stimpmeter was included as a control along with a research stimpmeter which is known to produce equivalent stimpmeter readings.

Three people, each with varying experience using stimpmeters, operated each device. All accessories (cases, ect.) were removed from each iOS device with the exception of screen protectors.

A level area of the green was selected and a tee was inserted at the end of the measurement device. Three golf balls were released, one at a time, from each device according to the guidelines suggested by the manufacturer. Titleist Pro VI golf balls, each weighing within one gram of the others, were used in this study.

The distance each golf ball traveled was measured from the end of each device to the front of the golf ball. The built in ruler function was used with the iOS devices and a measuring tape was used to record ball roll for the USGA and research stimpmeters. This length was recorded for each golf ball and the average obtained. The same three golf balls were rolled in the opposite direction along a similar line and the same measurements and calculations performed.

Accuracy of the iStimp
The green speed of the putting surface was 12 feet according to the USGA stimpmeter (Figure 1). This device is the only tool accepted by the USGA to measure green speed. The research stimpmeter produced a statistically similar reading of 11.8 feet. Research stimpmeters have proven to yield green speed values similar to the USGA device. The fact that the USGA and research stimpmeters produced statistically similar values in our experiment verifies our technique.

The three iOS devices equipped with the iStimp app failed to produce stimpmeter values similar to the USGA device (Figure 1). The iStimp application when utilized on the iPad 2 underestimated stimpmeter readings by 9%. In contrast, the iStimp application overestimated stimpmeter readings on the iPhone 4, and iPod touch 4th Gen. by 21 and 16%, respectively.

Figure 1. Stimpmeter readings for five devices used to measure putting green speed.  Columns with different letter are statistically different.  Note: Stimpmeter readings are listed in feet: 14.5 = 14’6”.

If golfers approach you and want to discuss stimpmeter readings obtained from the iStimp, take the time to find out which device they used. While the iPad 2 generated readings most similar to the USGA stimpmeter, this seems the least convenient device to obtain stimpmeter readings with due to its size and expense. There are probably far more iPod’s and iPhone’s that find their way onto golf courses and each of these devices will overestimate stimpmeter readings.

Regardless of the iOS device used, stimpmeter readings obtained with the iStimp app on the iPad 2, iPod touch 4th Gen. and iPhone 4 are different compared to the USGA stimpmeter and comparisons are not valid.

KIRKWOOD SPRING TURF WORKSHOP

Nick Christians
Feb. 17, 2012

Here is a post from Troy McQuillen about a workshop that they have planned at Kirkwood on March 8. It looks like a good program. Hopefully some of you will be able to attend.

Winter Weather Update 2-13-12

Some facilities have received snow cover while others remain open to the winter conditions.

Now it’s finally starting to feel like winter. The high temperatures in central Iowa barely crept out of the teens over the weekend. Wind chills brought the temperature down into the single digits and the low temperatures were some of the coldest we have experienced so far.

Records from the National Weather Service indicate that the average temperature in Des Moines from December 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012 was 31.7 degrees. That mark is tied for Des Moines’ third warmest winter and just falls short of the warmest average on record of 32 degrees, set during the winter of 1918-1919. This year ranks eighth in Waterloo, fifth in Mason City and is tied for sixth warmest winter in Ottumwa.

Unusual winter weather conditions have been the norm.  January saw three days in the 60's and nighttime temperatures never fell below zero.

Over the last 100 years the temperature has only reached 65 degrees in January six times. Two of those were this year, and for only the second time since tracking began, temperatures climbed into the 60s on three days in January.

Nighttime low temperatures have also been higher than usual. The lowest temperature recorded in Des Moines so far this winter has been one degree above zero, only the fourth time in 134 years the temperature hasn’t reached zero by the end of January.

Needless to say, this weather has been confusing to plants as many trees have already put out buds. Many of you are wondering how your turf is holding up in these conditions. Some of you received snow cover the weekend of February 4th but others continue to deal with open conditions. Snow cover will help protect the turf from desiccation. Injury from desiccation continues to be the number one cause of concern this winter especially on perennial ryegrass and short cut creeping bentgrass. Desiccation is most common in late winter/early spring when the ground is still frozen and the turf is exposed to drying winds.

One of the best ways to check on the health of your turf during the winter months is to sample turf from high value areas such as putting greens or from areas where the turf has experienced damage in the past. Collecting turf samples when the ground is frozen requires the proper tools. We have a sawzall, and a heavy duty hammer and chisel that we use to remove cores of turf from frozen soil. I collected some turf samples from our research station on the last day of January and brought them into our greenhouses to check the health of the turf.

I collected samples of greens height turf from different rootzones along with creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass at fairway height. The plugs collected from the putting greens received a late fall topdressing heading into winter. The fairway height turf did not receive any topdressing. We have had minimal snow cover at our research facility this winter and our turf is exposed to northwest winds.

The good news is that even with very little snow cover this winter, all the plugs greened up after a week in the greenhouse. The greenup came from exiting leaf tissue regaining its color and from new growth from the crown of the plant. Even without a greenhouse you can conduct a similar test at your facility by sampling cores of turf, giving them some water and keeping them in a warm spot with some light. This is a great way to gauge the health of your turf during the winter and can give you an idea what to expect once the snow melts.

These plugs sampled from the field in late January had no trouble greening up after a week in the greenhouse.  Top picture taken January 31, 2012.  Bottom picture taken February 7, 2012.

Marcus Jones
Assistant Scientist
Iowa State University

2011 Awards and Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to all the 2011 Award and Scholarship Recipients.  If you would like to nominate someone in 2012 visit www.iowaturfgrass.org to find information and nomination forms from the Iowa Golf Course Superintendent, Iowa Sports Turf Managers, and Iowa Professional Lawn Care awards.   

Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association

Distinguished Service Award - Ken Ellenson, CGCS, Amana Colonies Golf Course

Ken Ellenson, CGCS  (center) with Randy Robinson (left) and Brett Parcher (right).

Superintendent of the Year - Nick Cummins, Westwood Golf Course

Nick Cummins (right) with Randy Robinson (left).

Environmental Stewardship Award - Terry Hannah, Superintendent, Jester Park Golf Course

Terry Hannah (center) with 2010 recipient Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS (left), and Randy Robinson (right).

Charles Calhoun Writing Award - Jon Christenson, Superintendent, Monarch Bay Golf Club (not pictured)


Iowa Sports Turf Managers Association

Iowa Sports Turf Manager of the Year - Tim Van Loo, CSFM, Iowa State Athletics

Tim Van Loo with wife Amber, son Steven, and daughter Sam.

Iowa Baseball Field of the Year - Rick House, Sports Field Manager, Council Bluffs Recreation Complex

Rick House (center) with Tony Senio (left) and Zach Smith (right).

Golden Cleat Award Recipient - Bryan Wood, Owner, Commercial Turf & Tractor

Bryan Wood (right) with Tony Senio (left).

Iowa State University Scholarship Winners

Adam Grimm - A.E. Cott and Charles Hall Scholarships

Adam Grimm (right) with Greg Harkin (left).

Kevin Hansen - Iowa GCSA Legacy Scholarship and ISTMA Scholarship

Kevin Hansen (right) with Tony Senio (left).

Shane Lohman - Bob Clark Scholarship and Iowa GCSA Scholarship

Shane Lohman (right) with Randy Robinson (left).

Joe Parker - Bob Clark Scholarship and Kevin Reiter Memorial Scholarship

Joe Parker (right) with Randy Robinson (left)