On The Course and Introducing PGR's

On The Course This Week:

• Continued cart path tie in work.
• Bunker sand adjust and required edging from Wednesday until Friday.
• Core aeration and topdressing of #10 fairway and approach.
• Install 2 sprinklers to account for lack of irrigation coverage on #2 approach to assist with improving turf health in this area.
• Greens verticutting and light sand topdressing early Wednesday morning (weather permitting).
• Greens height lowered to .110 inches on Friday (if we can topdress on Wednesday).
• Continued planting bed work on #13 and #16.
• The first application of a PGR on the greens and a test area on #2 fairway.

Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Use At The Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

An important tool we as turf managers have for maintaining fine turfgrass is the use of plant growth regulators. In this case, Primo Maxx which is widely used throughout the golf course industry. Without getting too complicated this product will be sprayed on all our greens, in regular intervals, beginning today. We held off on the use until now because of winter damage recovery required on some of our greens. Trinexapac-ethyl (Primo Maxx) reduces the amount of grass clippings by regulating turfgrass growth rates. It also has several other important benefits such as improving density, color and in the case of Poa annua, keeping those annoying seed heads much lower and tighter in the turf canopy.

The major benefit as far as I'm concerned is assisting in the maintenance of green speed. When we have greater control of growth rates combined with our mowing and rolling practices it is easier to deliver consistent greens speeds throughout the day. With the desire for firmer, faster putting surfaces Primo Maxx can only help. There may be some temporary yellowing on the greens until the turf gets used to the applications but it will be applied within our liquid nutrient program so it may not be too noticeable if at all.

As we monitor the results there is very good chance we will be applying this product on tees and fairways in the future. On a side note this product has been mentioned as one of the more important innovations in the history of turf management. The use of PGR's is an important and welcome addition to our maintenance practices here at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

All for now,

Wade