With its extremely high traffic and limited space, we have begun to implement changes in our maintenance of the driving range tee at Makray Memorial Golf Club. We have started by utilizing a new mixture of two species of grass, that has benefits from both species. We use a blend of 50% Kentucky Bluegrass and 50% Perennial Ryegrass. The Kentucky Bluegrass gives us better divot tolerance and has underground reproductive tissues called rhizomes, that fill the voided divot quicker than what we saw with Creeping Bentgrass.
This image shows where the rhizomes have pushed through to form daughter plants that are assisting in filling of the voided divot.
Perennial Ryegrass is a species that has shown the quickest germination of any species of grass. We believe that by combining these traits will result in a higher quality playing surface on the tees.
The above image is of a bag of our new blend of grass seed.
We have also began using fertilizer that assists in the germination of seed. Phosphorus is one of the three Nutrients required by grass in larger amounts necessary for plant health. The downside of Phosphorus is that it is very immobile in the soil, which means once it is in the soil it doesn’t move very readily. A Normal stand of turfgrass has an extensive root system with all the necessary Phosphorus, readily available and seldom require supplemental applications of Phosphorus. Seed and young grass plants do not have the extensive root systems that can take up the readily available nutrients in the soil. That is why it is necessary for supplemental application of Phosphorus to speed along germination and assist in overall plant health. We have begun using mono ammonium phosphate that will provide the young plants the necessary Phosphorus for growth.
Here is an image of the fertilizer we use on our tees to help with germination. The analysis is 10-50-0. Which translates to 10% Nitrogen, 50% Phosphorus and 0% Potassium, which are the necessary Macro Nutrients for plant health.
One other change that has seen great results is our use of a new slit seeder. Seed requires contact with soil, water and nutrients for germination. Just throwing seed on the ground is not going to give you as good as germination as incorporating it into the soil. Last fall we purchased a new Triwave seeder to seed our new tees and begin to incorporate in seeding the driving range tee. We have seen great results with this and use less seed with quicker and better germination. The machine works by making a slit into the profile of the soil, which is followed by seed being dropped into the slit. Small rollers follow this process to assist in closing the slits.
Here is the Triwave seeder in action. This is the best seeder on the market and we have utilized it in many ways to improve the playability of the golf course.
With all these changes to improve the driving range tee surface, there is a way for you the golfers to assist us in improving the surface. If you have ever been to a range on the PGA tour or other professional event, you will see many very long single divots. The reason for this is that these players utilize a practice of always putting the ball behind the previous divot. Here is a link to a great article from the USGA Turf Care Department by By Ty McClellan, agronomist, Mid-Continent Region. Click Here to be taken to Article This practice has shown to remove 50% less turfgrass then moving the ball in a random pattern. This would greatly affect the performance of the Driving Range Tee if golfers could start utilizing this Practice. Thank you and I hope to see you on the course.
