Photo Credit: Courtesy of Travis Sales
Turfgrass-maintenance programs vary greatly from region to region, depending on soil types and turfgrass species. The following maintenance program is based on native clay soil fairways/tee boxes and sand-based greens with TifGreen 328 Bermudagrass species at the Mesquite Golf Club in Mesquite, Texas. The golf club received the 2010 Texas Turfgrass Association Golf Course Renovation Award for its maintenance program. This program is designed to produce an aesthetically pleasing course that is safe for all participants.
Soil Testing
The first step to any good maintenance program is to take soil samples from the course. These samples should be from various locations, and each portion of the course, such as tees, greens, and fairways, should have its own sample since soil types and nutrient levels vary greatly. Once the results are in, you will have a starting point for the program. Make sure to run additional tests one or two more times throughout the growing season to ensure a fertility program is producing the desired results.
Fertilization
Fertilization is an important key to any turfgrass program, but can cause problems if applications are not properly calculated according to soil-test results. Mesquite’s golf club applies a 21-21-0 with Boron in June and July, and a 20-5-10 in April and October on tee boxes and fairways at a rate of 1.25 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The nitrogen is in a 50-percent Sulfur-Coated-Urea, slow-release form. A 16-16-16 mixture is applied on all greens once a month at a rate of .75 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The nitrogen is in a 75-percent Nutralene form. In addition, a monthly application of 12-0-0 liquid iron provides an attractive dark-green color without the excess growth.