[PhillyHack73]

I'm a member of a semi-private country club. Over the past few years, the fairways on the front nine have not been maintained as needed so the bermuda grass has been overrun by what I call field grass. We hired a new groundskeeper a few months ago. In an attempt to better our fairways, he sprayed a poison/weed killer that was suppose to leave nothing but bermuda. Either he used the incorrect poison or there was very little bermuda left because the fairways are dead. He says that within a month, maybe two, the fairways will be plush with bermuda. I don't believe him.
Regarding my handicap, I post every round I play be it great or poor and I obey the rules of golf. I plan to continue playing until the fairways get better although I am sure the condition of the fairways will negatively affect my handicap. Should I not post any scores during this time? Is there any stipulations in the rules of golf that allow me to improve my lie when my ball is in one of these fairways and still post a score?

[bloodredsun]

Surely they would implement a local rule for lift, clean and place like some clubs do in winter?

[PhillyHack73]

As of this past Sunday, no notices have been posted to allow lift, clean and place.

[WhiteRabbit]

Most hebicides like that make the Bermuda very sick for a couple weeks then it recovers nicely.

[azgreenskeeper]

PhillyHack73, on Apr 17 2008, 10:45 AM, said:

I'm a member of a semi-private country club. Over the past few years, the fairways on the front nine have not been maintained as needed so the bermuda grass has been overrun by what I call field grass. We hired a new groundskeeper a few months ago. In an attempt to better our fairways, he sprayed a poison/weed killer that was suppose to leave nothing but bermuda. Either he used the incorrect poison or there was very little bermuda left because the fairways are dead. He says that within a month, maybe two, the fairways will be plush with bermuda. I don't believe him.
Regarding my handicap, I post every round I play be it great or poor and I obey the rules of golf. I plan to continue playing until the fairways get better although I am sure the condition of the fairways will negatively affect my handicap. Should I not post any scores during this time? Is there any stipulations in the rules of golf that allow me to improve my lie when my ball is in one of these fairways and still post a score?

Here... I fixed it for you!

I'm a member of a semi-private country club. In my opinion, I think that over the past few years, the fairways on the front nine have not been maintained as needed so the bermuda grass has been overrun by another grass that I don't know the name of. We hired a new Golf Course Superintendent a few months ago. In an attempt to better our fairways, he sprayed a herbicide that was suppose to leave nothing but bermuda. Either he used the incorrect herbicide or there was very little bermuda left because the fairways appear to be dead. He says that within a month, maybe two, the fairways will be plush with bermuda. I don't believe him (don't ask me to elaborate on my opinion).
Regarding my handicap, I post every round I play be it great or poor and I obey the rules of golf. I plan to continue playing until the fairways get better although I am sure the condition of the fairways will negatively affect my handicap. Should I not post any scores during this time? Is there any stipulations in the rules of golf that allow me to improve my lie when my ball is in one of these fairways and still post a score? Or... should I ask our (insert appropriate committee name here... i.e. league, tournament, handicap, etc.) committee as to how members should proceed in the interim? Perhaps a temporary winter rules? It's obvious that it can't all be marked as ground under repair. Any and all suggestions appreciated!

[azgreenskeeper]

WhiteRabbit, on Apr 17 2008, 03:18 PM, said:

Most hebicides like that make the Bermuda very sick for a couple weeks then it recovers nicely.

Yours too!

Some herbicides can have a phytotoxic affect on the Bermuda for a couple weeks then it almost always recovers nicely (as you really can't kill the stuff... not with one spray application anyway!).

[azgreenskeeper]

Sorry guys... had to do it!

It's a pet peeve of mine when the members at my club make assumptions about what is or is not taking place out on the course! The first thing I would do is to bend the ear of your Greens Committee Chair... call him at home during dinner time! That's why he ran for the BOD... didn't you know that?! He will, if he's worth a darn, be able to tell you in simple terms what is being done currently and what the expectations are for the short term.

Now... having said that... I will say that I find it interesting, IMHO, that an application of this type was made this early in the season (not to mention this early in a new position!). Even for my course here in the Phoenix Metro, I wouldn't do something like this until my Bermuda was hitting its stride (which is next month here). If you get too agressive, too early, it's just going to sit there until the temperatures are more favorable.

[Lngnokr71]

azgreenskeeper, on Apr 17 2008, 10:36 PM, said:

PhillyHack73, on Apr 17 2008, 10:45 AM, said:

I'm a member of a semi-private country club. Over the past few years, the fairways on the front nine have not been maintained as needed so the bermuda grass has been overrun by what I call field grass. We hired a new groundskeeper a few months ago. In an attempt to better our fairways, he sprayed a poison/weed killer that was suppose to leave nothing but bermuda. Either he used the incorrect poison or there was very little bermuda left because the fairways are dead. He says that within a month, maybe two, the fairways will be plush with bermuda. I don't believe him.
Regarding my handicap, I post every round I play be it great or poor and I obey the rules of golf. I plan to continue playing until the fairways get better although I am sure the condition of the fairways will negatively affect my handicap. Should I not post any scores during this time? Is there any stipulations in the rules of golf that allow me to improve my lie when my ball is in one of these fairways and still post a score?

Here... I fixed it for you!

I'm a member of a semi-private country club. In my opinion, I think that over the past few years, the fairways on the front nine have not been maintained as needed so the bermuda grass has been overrun by another grass that I don't know the name of. We hired a new Golf Course Superintendent a few months ago. In an attempt to better our fairways, he sprayed a herbicide that was suppose to leave nothing but bermuda. Either he used the incorrect herbicide or there was very little bermuda left because the fairways appear to be dead. He says that within a month, maybe two, the fairways will be plush with bermuda. I don't believe him (don't ask me to elaborate on my opinion).
Regarding my handicap, I post every round I play be it great or poor and I obey the rules of golf. I plan to continue playing until the fairways get better although I am sure the condition of the fairways will negatively affect my handicap. Should I not post any scores during this time? Is there any stipulations in the rules of golf that allow me to improve my lie when my ball is in one of these fairways and still post a score? Or... should I ask our (insert appropriate committee name here... i.e. league, tournament, handicap, etc.) committee as to how members should proceed in the interim? Perhaps a temporary winter rules? It's obvious that it can't all be marked as ground under repair. Any and all suggestions appreciated!

are you a greenskeeper or an English teacher????

[TheCapedAvenger]

he just seems like an educated super. Nothing wrong with that.

BTW AZ, do those GCSAA ads with the guy and his daughter make you want to throw up in your mouth a little?

[azgreenskeeper]

TheCapedAvenger, on Apr 18 2008, 11:46 AM, said:

he just seems like an educated super. Nothing wrong with that.

BTW AZ, do those GCSAA ads with the guy and his daughter make you want to throw up in your mouth a little?

Actually, no... They're our association's ads and I think there okay. The ones we hate (can't recall the company right now) are where the Superintendent (with a stereotypical Scottish accent) is telling Mr. Goosen and Mr. Howell that "That's not you're job... that's Sean's job". Don't know what the consensus would be from the golfing community at large, but we don't think it's a particularly flattering portrayal.

[willpeoples]

the Sup did not spray a grass killer, probably a weed killer and it killed all the weeds however the bermuda is very minimal. It will come back, relax... He would not be dumb enough to spray a complete grass killer.

[PhillyHack73]

azgreenskeeper, on Apr 17 2008, 11:03 PM, said:

Sorry guys... had to do it!

It's a pet peeve of mine when the members at my club make assumptions about what is or is not taking place out on the course! The first thing I would do is to bend the ear of your Greens Committee Chair... call him at home during dinner time! That's why he ran for the BOD... didn't you know that?! He will, if he's worth a darn, be able to tell you in simple terms what is being done currently and what the expectations are for the short term.

Now... having said that... I will say that I find it interesting, IMHO, that an application of this type was made this early in the season (not to mention this early in a new position!). Even for my course here in the Phoenix Metro, I wouldn't do something like this until my Bermuda was hitting its stride (which is next month here). If you get too agressive, too early, it's just going to sit there until the temperatures are more favorable.

I will be the first to admit when I am wrong. Although the fairways still have a ways to go, they are getting there. I just wished they would have informed the members via our monthly newsletter, website or a notice on the clubhouse bulletin board. Maybe that would have allayed my panic-strickened rant. And by the way azgreenskeeper, I did inform our greenskeeper of the wonderful job his is doing.