The annual Southeast Regional Conference hosted by the USGA and Carolinas GCSA occurred at Pinehurst Resort on March 10-11, 2025, drawing attendees from across the turf industry – including vendors, superintendents, scientists and academics from the Carolinas, Virginia and beyond. The event opened with a warm welcome from Tim Kreger, executive director of the Carolinas GCSA, and chapter president Alex Tolbert of Orangeburg Country Club, setting the stage for an impressive lineup of speakers. Before the presentations began, the Carolinas GCSA made an exciting announcement: Bob Farren, CGCS, was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Service Award from the Carolinas GCSA. Bob’s dedication and service to the industry and the Carolinas GCSA are genuinely inspiring, making this recognition well deserved.
The theme of the meeting, “Control What You Can Control,” set the tone for an engaging series of discussions covering essential industry topics. Presentations included updates on the USGA’s Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program, a panel discussion on preparing for and recovering from natural disasters, advancements in weed management technology, bunker sand testing and selection, and key Rules of Golf that superintendents should know. Along with these presentations, industry updates from the Carolinas GCSA, USGA, Carolinas Golf Association and South Carolina Golf Association provided attendees with valuable information to take home and apply in their respective roles. Here are a few highlights from the presentations:
New Technology for Weed Management
Using drones for weed control is an emerging technology that may be coming to golf courses in the near future. Navdeep Godara, NC State's newly appointed weed scientist, explained the importance of optimizing flight height and nozzle selection to improve spray patterns in agricultural drones. These adjustments have a positive influence on droplet vaporization, enhancing herbicide application precision. Godara also explored using liquid nitrogen to kill weeds by freezing and destroying plant tissue on contact, a method that showed promising results with weed damage visible within three days and complete plant death by day 21. However, practical use of this approach is hindered by safety issues, high costs and the need for specialized equipment. Sam Kreinberg, a graduate student at Arkansas, discussed his research on developing precision technology for real-time herbicide applications. The dark green color index (DGCI) utilizes a real-time camera on the sprayer to precisely target weeds. Although still being tested, early results suggest that significantly less herbicide is used than with traditional backpack and broadcast spraying methods.
Bunker Sand Testing and Selection
Replacing bunker sand can be necessary for various reasons, and there are many things to consider before selecting the right sand for your course. Fellow USGA agronomist Brian Gietka and I explained some of the key steps in choosing a bunker sand. The most important characteristics to consider include particle size, particle shape, coefficient of uniformity, infiltration rate, angle of repose, crusting potential and color. The most effective way to test a sand is through laboratory analysis to determine if it has the desired performance characteristics. Additionally, installing test bunkers on the property allows superintendents, golfers and decision-makers to assess how well the sand suits the local climate, maintenance needs and player expectations.
Thank you to all who attended this year's Southeast Regional Conference and to Pinehurst Resort, Bob Farren, and his staff for being gracious hosts. We look forward to seeing you next year at Clemson University on March 23-24.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
Contact the Green Section Staff
