Every golf course has those areas that struggle every year. It could be a few collars where thinning occurs as the weather becomes more stressful, or turf loss in areas where cart traffic is concentrated. Regardless of why some areas are particularly challenging, developing a targeted maintenance plan could be the solution to your problems.
With continuing labor challenges, increasing material costs and courses busier than ever, it can be difficult to complete any task across the whole golf course. But just because a maintenance practice cannot be completed on all the putting greens or throughout the entire rough doesn’t mean it should not be performed at all. If certain areas struggle historically develop a list of them, identify which targeted maintenance practices are necessary to make improvements, and set a schedule for when these practices will be performed. You can also take an opportunistic approach and sneak some of these practices in when time allows.
There is nothing wrong with venting only a few collars that always struggle, applying additional fertilizer in high-traffic areas, or performing any other practice that improves specific problem areas. Not only is this an efficient way to operate, it will help you address areas that are a source of frustration every golf season.
For further assistance troubleshooting agronomic challenges or developing a targeted maintenance program for your course, please reach out to your regional agronomist to schedule a Course Consulting Service visit.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org