HomeMy Public PortalAboutUSGA VISIT 08 01 17
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McCall Golf Course
McCall, Idaho
Visit Date: August 1, 2017
Present:
Ms. Jackie Awmon, Mayor (short visit)
Ms. Rita Bolli-Neal, Golf Committee
Mr. Eric McCormick, Superintendent
Mr. Allan Morrison, Head Professional (short visit)
Mr. Larry Gilhuly, USGA
United States Golf Association
Larry Gilhuly, Agronomist | Green Section | West Region
5610 Old Stump Drive | Gig Harbor, WA 98332 | (O) 253 858 2266 (C) 253 278 2766 | lgilhuly@usga.org
The USGA Green Section develops and disseminates sustainable management practices that produce better playing
conditions for better golf.
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It was a pleasure to once again visit the McCall Golf Course on August 1, 2017, on behalf of the
USGA Green Section. This visit was conducted as a “thank you” on behalf of the Idaho Golf
Association for hosting several of its events this year.
This was my first visit back to McCall in over 25 years, with significant changes noted in many
areas. First, the new clubhouse, practice facility and additional nine holes have been added
since my last visit. There is no question that the addition of the new clubhouse has been a major
upgrade, with outstanding facilities for those using the golf course. While the new nine is very
different and far more difficult than the original 18 holes, it has proven to be a good addition due
to high player demand during the growing season.
It was also good to see that multiple trees have been removed near greens to assist in turf
growth on the original 18 holes, along with the complete renovation of Aspen No. 1 and
resodding of several greens that suffered ice damage during the past few years. Poa annua
continues to play a significant role in the populations on the greens, but all of the greens still
have a large percentage of creeping bentgrass despite their small size.
This report will focus on existing programs and topics for the future to address economic
sustainability, improve staff efficiency and increase player enjoyment. Should you have any
questions concerning this visit or report, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following brief summary provides a non-explanatory list of topics discussed that can be
found within the main framework of this report in the same order. Each topic is discussed in
greater detail including observations and recommendations.
Greens - Continue the current aeration program.
- Is Poa annua control possible?
- Continue overseeding with improved creeping bentgrass.
- Consider the addition of reverse-rotation brushes.
- Renovation of Aspen No. 6.
- Trees still impacting turf growth on greens.
Green surrounds - Address the approaches in a similar manner as the greens.
- Expand winter disease protection around the greens.
- Further improve rough surrounds by controlling voles.
Tees - Add forward tees where needed.
- Address trees, Birch No. 4 tee.
Fairways - Selectively protect fairways where needed.
- Begin addressing heavy earthworm populations.
- Seriously consider the use of GPS spraying equipment.
Misc. topics - Consider the USGA Resource Management Tool in 2018.
- Generation of more funds is needed.
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GREENS
Observations and recommendations. There is no question that the putting surfaces on every
golf course are the most important areas for golf course maintenance. For this reason, it was
good to view very healthy putting
surfaces despite recent invasions
of the turf pathogen anthracnose
on some of the greens as shown
in the right photo. Appropriate
fungicides had been applied to
minimize this issue, as it is only
weakening Poa annua and not
desirable creeping bentgrass.
Several topics were discussed
concerning the greens including
the following:
Continue the current
aeration program. One of the
recent trends noted at many
golf courses has been the
elimination of the standard
core aeration. Mr. McCormick
aerates in the spring using
open tines, with a combination
of both standard aeration
equipment using 5/8-inch tines
and 3/4-inch deep aeration
with a Verti-Drain®. This
combination removes a
considerable amount of
organic material and is needed
on your greens due to the
many layers found in the
profile. No changes are
suggested at this time for
those greens with “push-up”
soil or slow-draining materials
found below the first few
inches of the surface.
One of the greens viewed that
will not require deep aeration
is No. 1. The T-1 creeping
bentgrass on this green was
very healthy and producing
deep root systems after a
better mix was used to a depth
of 12 inches. Since there are
no layers in this profile, deep
aeration is not needed. You
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may also wish to consider aerating this green using solid tines. However, any change in this
direction will require more sand applications during the growing season to dilute the organic
material that has not been removed.
Is Poa annua control possible? Over the past 35 years with the USGA Green Section,
many “silver bullets” have come and gone, with none providing selective control of Poa
annua in creeping bentgrass. The same situation exists today, with only some growth
regulators (Trimmit® and Cutless®) minimizing the spread of Poa annua but not eliminating it.
While the use of Cutless was recommended on a demonstration basis, it should be done
with great care and only during the growing season.
While none of the current products provide consistent control of Poa annua, an experimental
product viewed during the past five years offers a very effective answer. PoaCure®
(methiozolin) has been used at multiple golf courses in similar climates. Excellent results
have been achieved when this product is applied in the spring and fall on a consistent basis,
with Poa annua slowly fading away and creeping bentgrass filling in the voids.
Unfortunately, the release of this product has been delayed until 2019, at which time it will
hopefully become available. When this occurs, it was highly recommended to purchase
enough material for use on all of the greens at McCall based on the percentage of bentgrass
currently noted. The expectation would be to eventually convert the greens from their
existing population to nearly 100 percent creeping bentgrass in as little as one to two years.
Continue overseeding with improved creeping bentgrass. It was good to learn that the
greens at McCall are being maintained at a reasonable speed and mowing height. The
current mowing height favors the competitive ability of creeping bentgrass and should be
retained.
Overseeding with T-1 creeping bentgrass at 1 pound per 1,000 square feet during the
summer months will produce the best results. During the summer, Poa annua is at its
weakest, thus with your current mowing height and overseeding, you will have the best
chance to increase bentgrass competition. For best results, aerate with 1/4-inch solid tines
on the closest possible spacing, and no more than 1 inch in depth. The sand can be applied
first, then aeration and seed placed on top before dragging.
Consider the addition of reverse-rotation brushes. One of the more common
improvements noted with newer mowing equipment is the addition of grooming attachments
that allow for reverse-rotation brushes. Many that have used these brushes on their
creeping bentgrass/Poa annua greens report much better removal of seedheads and
reduced grain on the surfaces. A good example of this positive result is noted in a recent
email from a municipal golf course equipment manager in Oregon to the manufacturer of
these brushes that can be adapted to all of the major manufacturers:
The results are absolutely amazing. We see great improvement with grain, and
when the Poa starts to pop they're very effective against the seed heads.
Groomers have their place, but for overall results nothing I've seen beats these
brushes."
For more information contact Rod Lingle at greensperfection@gmail.com.
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Renovation of Aspen No. 6.
It was good learn that this
extremely small green is the
next targeted for
reconstruction. As you
contemplate the renovation of
this green, it will be important
to move it to the left as much
as possible to nearly double its
current size. As this is done,
you will have more problems
with shade from the trees to
the far left of the green. Also, it
was suggested to consider
using a qualified golf course
architect for input on this green
and future putting surfaces.
While there is certainly nothing
wrong with the renovation of No. 1, the use of a qualified golf course architect generally
provides the best possible results. In this regard, it was suggested to contact either Mr.
Dave Druzisky in nearby Boise or Mr. Mark Miller in Denver, Colorado.
Trees still impacting turf growth on greens. The Sun Seeker app was utilized during the
visit to show the sun track during the middle of the winter (blue line), spring and fall equinox
(green line) and the day of this visit (yellow line). Several greens were reviewed including:
◦ Aspen No. 6. Should the
putting surface be moved to
the left, the large trees in this
area will impact shade on
the new portion of the green
even more. The photo to the
right shows which trees
would need to be removed
or have lower limbs removed
for more morning sunlight
onto this putting surface.
This photo was taken from
the proposed left side of the
new green.
◦ Aspen No. 9. A
considerable number of
aspens to the left of this
green need to be removed to
provide several hours of
needed morning sunlight
during the spring and fall
equinox. It is important to
understand that morning
sunlight is the most critical,
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as this is the time the plants are storing carbohydrates for winter hardening and faster
recovery during the spring. As can be noted in the photo at the bottom of the previous
page, both sides of the green line have substantial shade issues that need to be
addressed through extensive tree removal. The wider the gap that can be made, the
better the results will be for this green.
◦ Birch No. 9. Several
aspens need to be removed
between the left side of this
green and the practice tee.
It was suggested to remove
as many aspens as possible
to provide several hours of
needed morning sunlight
above and below the green
line. While these trees may
provide desirable shade
during the summer, the
putting surfaces should
always be the first priority.
◦ Cedar No. 4. As noted in
the photo to the right, a
small clump of trees to the
left of this green needs to be
removed to provide needed
morning sunlight. In reality,
for a 27-hole golf course,
the issues with shade on
your greens are not
considered major. It was
good to learn of the work
already completed in this
area by Mr. McCormick as it
has been a very positive
way to improve greens and
promote creeping bentgrass.
GREEN SURROUNDS
Observations and recommendations. While the putting surfaces deserve the highest level of
priority, the green surrounds are not too far behind. This includes the approaches, collars,
nearby rough and bunkers. Specific recommendations for these areas included the following:
Address the approaches in a similar manner as the greens. Perhaps the most difficult
shot in the game is hitting into a firm putting surface with a forward hole location and a soft
approach. For this reason, many golf courses have opted to treat the area 10 to 15 yards in
front of the greens in a similar manner as the putting surfaces. In other words, regular
aeration with cores removed and topdressing to fill the holes is done twice annually. In
addition, when the greens receive light sand topdressing, so do the approaches. Finally, you
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may wish to consider acquiring
a powerful deep vertical
mowing unit such as the First
Products® VC-60 shown in the
right photo. This type of unit
can go as deep as 1 inch and
address thatch in this area,
teeing surfaces and the
fairways where earthworms
have not reduced this issue.
Expand winter disease
protection around the
greens. It was mentioned that
fungicides are applied on the
fairways, but this basically
protects the undesirable Poa
annua. While there are
certainly areas in full shade that will still require protection, you may wish to consider not
applying protective fungicides to some of the fairways and utilizing this material for areas
around the greens instead. This is particularly important early in the spring, when ball lie
around greens requires touch that is impossible when turfgrass has been wiped out by
winter diseases. It was recommended to extend fungicide applications at least 10 yards out
from the greens, especially on holes with shade issues.
Further improve rough surrounds by controlling voles. The control of voles is extremely
difficult, with this problem a bigger issue on the open holes of the Cedar Course. Others
have had very good success using different types of snow packing techniques with a
primary emphasis around putting surfaces or areas in play along the fairways. While there
are no techniques that are 100 percent effective, the use of existing equipment and
consistent packing should minimize vole damage without the use of various products that
could cause problems with the many pets found around your site.
TEES
Observations and recommendations. It was refreshing to view a golf course that has already
added needed forward tees, with many found on the fairways on all three nines. However, it is in
this area where the greatest improvement can be achieved with pace of play and simply
providing more fun for your players. Recommendations for the tees included the following:
Add forward tees where needed. One of the most outstanding trends occurring over the
past several years is discussed in the article Move Forward, Not Back. While this article was
written 15 years ago, the same principles apply today. As mentioned in the article, the
average female player hits a golf ball approximately 75 percent as far as the average male
player. With this fact, any total yardage or yardage on an individual hole can be compared to
create a situation where those with less swing speed can be hitting the same club into a
green as more accomplished players.
With the preceding in mind, please note the charts on the next page showing the current
distance of your yellow, red and blue tees and the comparable distance for male players.
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Finally, the last column shows the suggested forward distance for each hole based on our
tour of the golf course. These distances are only suggested as a starting point. Based on the
topography and the input of your golf course architect, the final distances will vary. Also, the
goal of this exercise is to achieve the same par for all players. With this in mind, a
combination of red, yellow and a different distance may be suggested for the proposed
distances on each nine.
Aspen Course – Forward Tee Recommendations
Hole Current
Yellow
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Red
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Blue
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Proposed
Distance
1 276 368 341 455 370 278 278
2 60 80 139 185 192 144 139
3 275 367 342 456 378 284 275
4 303 404 320 427 388 291 303
5 304 405 377 503 458 344 377
6 211 281 276 368 354 266 276
7 234 312 296 395 330 248 234
8 68 91 138 184 201 151 138
9 344 459 409 545 431 323 323
Total 2075 2767 2638 3517 3102 2327 2343
Birch Course – Forward Tee Recommendations
Hole Current
Yellow
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Red
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Blue
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Proposed
Distance
1 331 441 392 523 407 305 305
2 235 313 305 407 329 247 247
3 90 120 93 124 149 112 93
4 219 292 287 383 316 237 237
5 388 517 453 604 507 380 388
6 383 511 447 596 471 353 353
7 55 73 113 151 148 111 113
8 283 377 324 432 404 303 283
9 296 395 322 429 400 300 296
Total 2280 3040 2736 3648 3131 2348 2315
Cedar Course – Forward Tee Recommendations
Hole Current
Yellow
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Red
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Current Blue
Distance
Comparative
Distance
Proposed
Distance
1 161 215 241 321 307 230 241
2 360 480 433 577 521 391 391
3 272 363 339 452 431 323 323
4 62 83 131 175 187 140 131
5 388 517 331 441 369 277 277
6 46 61 104 139 155 116 104
7 415 553 492 656 580 435 435
8 46 61 106 141 193 145 106
9 230 307 288 384 342 257 257
Total 1980 2640 2465 3287 3085 2314 2265
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As can be noted from the charts, some of the yellow forward tees are simply too short, while
some are exactly the right distance. In regard to the existing red tees, some are too long and
others, just right. For this reason, it is recommended to add a combination tee that will
provide a comparative distance with the existing blue tees. The red and yellow tees can be
seen by their colors, while the tees that will need to be changed are in black. Again, these
measurements are only offered as a starting point in providing another option for players as
viewed at numerous public and private golf courses with very positive results.
While the distance for the tees is critical, when addressing forward tees on any golf course,
it is also important that they be constructed properly, yet do not add to the overall
maintenance budget. In this regard, many courses have had very good success by following
the recommendations below:
◦ Remove the red color from the tees. This has been done at numerous courses with
very positive results, as many with ego concerns simply will not play the “ladies” tees
when the forward tees are red. This is simply no longer the case, as forward tees are
being played by many skill sets. By simply changing the color from red to silver (or
another color), you will immediately find that some players currently using the white tees
will move forward for improved pace of play.
◦ Position the tees on the fairways where possible. Many top clubs have added
forward tees at the proper distance without causing major differences in labor or mowing
time. As discussed during the visit, many of the proposed forward tees can be placed on
the fairways. Also, the positioning of the tees should always have safety and the
topography of the area in mind.
◦ Build the tees out of soil similar to the surrounding area. Another trend that has
been noted with positive results is building these tees out of soil that requires the same
type of irrigation as the surrounding area. A combination of soil and sand will provide
adequate drainage during the winter months, but will not result in excess drought during
the summer that would occur with a sand-based tee.
◦ Keep them low and let
them flow. Another very
positive way to build the
tees is by keeping the
height of the tees no more
than 8 to 12 inches. This
allows the tees to be added
onto fairways to further
keep maintenance costs
down. Also, by keeping the
heights of the tees low, the
contours can be added to
fairways, with very gentle
side slopes mowed with
fairway mowers. A perfect
example is shown in the
right photo taken at San
Francisco Golf Club.
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◦ Build the tees of adequate size. One of the mistakes often seen with forward tees is
building a tee by simply mowing out an area or creating a small “bump-up” tee. This
should be avoided by all means, with flat teeing surfaces constructed at a minimum size
of 500 to 750 square feet. Also, it is extremely important to take time to build these tees
as flat as possible. This includes the current and proposed forward tees that currently
are played with markers on the fairways.
As a final comment concerning the addition of forward tees, virtually every golf course that
has added these surfaces has reported positive results. While they may not be used
extensively at first, with time they will become heavily used as all players lose distance, yet
want to continue playing this great game. In addition, the removal of the red color will
definitely remove the stigma of “ladies” tees and will result in more appropriate tee use. Also,
these tees will improve pace of play and provide a positive economic impact for your course.
Address trees on Birch No. 4 tee. This tee
is similar to the putting surfaces, with an
extensive number of trees around both the
blue and white tees. The photo to the right
was taken from the main traffic area of the
white tee, where very thin turf is found due to
heavy traffic and excess shade. Several
aspens noted in the photo and four pines
were suggested for removal to provide
several hours of needed sunlight onto this
high-traffic area.
FAIRWAYS
Observations and recommendations. The
fairways at McCall were originally comprised of
Kentucky bluegrass but are now a combination of
many different grasses. With lower mowing
heights and winter problems over the past
several years, a significant amount of creeping
bentgrass has entered into the fairways, along
with opportunistic Poa annua. Specific
recommendations for the fairways included the
following:
Selectively protect fairways where needed. As described earlier in this report, rather than
using preventative fungicides on all of the fairways, locations around the greens should be a
higher priority.
Begin addressing heavy earthworm populations. While earthworms certainly provide a
benefit through the decomposition of thatch, they can truly pose issues with ball lie on
heavily shaded fairways. A good example is Birch No. 4, where excessive earthworm
populations create many bare soil lies. Mr. McCormick mentioned that he has purchased the
fertilizer Early Bird™ for use. This is an effective way to minimize earthworm populations.
However, this product needs to be used prior to a heavy rain incident for best results. When
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this organic fertilizer is applied at 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet prior to a heavy rain event,
you should expect a significant amount of earthworms to appear on the surface. The effect
of the irritant inside of the fertilizer (tea bean extract) lasts approximately four to five weeks,
with reapplication necessary. In addition to testing this product, it was also suggested to
experiment with Rhizo Aide™ (available from Grigg Brothers®). These products should only
be used for areas where excessive worm populations truly impact turf density and ball lie.
Seriously consider the use of GPS spraying equipment. A recent visit to Priddis Greens
included a look at basic technology that has been available in the Ag industry for many
years. With the use of GPS spraying, extremely precise applications of all products can be
made to dramatically reduce overall resource inputs. The golf course superintendent at this
course reports as much as an 18- to 20-percent reduction in overall product costs, which
pays for the leasing of the units on his site.
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
Consider the USGA Resource Management Tool in 2018. The USGA Resource
Management Tool will be available in 2018. This tool is a web-based product to help golf course
superintendents in their jobs managing the golf course. It is a tool to more accurately measure a
golf facility’s consumption of resources (such as labor, water, fuel) down to a very defined area.
Using this data will help facilities manage their maintenance in a way that reduces costs while
improving the golfer experience. For more information, see New Technology is a Game-
Changer for Golf Facilities.
Generation of more funds is needed. It was mentioned by Mayor Awmon that the golf course
operates at a deficit with City assistance. Due to the very short season, an annual deficit of
$80,000 to $100,000 was mentioned. It was good to learn of the philosophy that providing this
important facility to your community is just as important as any other sports field or park. Since
there is an ongoing need to provide maintenance for the golf course, with labor and equipment
costs constantly rising, the easiest answer is to simply raise the cost for playing the course,
Specifically, the $800 annual player pass purchased for those who use the facility on a regular
basis is one of the lowest cost and best values seen in the Western United States based on the
quality conditions offered. Mr. McCormick should take pride in the conditions produced despite
the challenge of finding adequate labor to maintain the course.
While a slight increase in dues would certainly be helpful, another idea worth considering would
be a user fee on top of the annual pass charge. In other words, each player would be asked to
pay an additional $1 per round. With approximately 30,000 annual rounds, this would assist in
reducing the deficit. If combined with a $100 pass increase with approximately 400 pass holders
using this option, approximately $70,000 could be raised to nearly break even on an annual
basis. Regardless of how it is accomplished, some type of funding mechanism is needed to
assist in the ongoing maintenance operation.
Thank you for your support of the Idaho Golf Association through hosting several events this
year. It is hoped that the comments contained in this report shall be helpful as you look to the
future. Again, should you have any questions concerning this visit or report, please do not
hesitate to contact our office.
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As a final comment, would you like to receive the Green Section's electronic version of the
Green Section Record? It's free, informative, and short. All you have to do is click the link:
You may also visit USGA Regional Updates for current findings from the West and all the Green
Section Regions.
Respectfully submitted;
Larry Gilhuly, Agronomist
USGA Green Section
Distribution:
Mr. Eric McCormick, Superintendent