Truman 4-16-23

 Truman 4-16-23       Contractor: Down to Earth     dtelandscape.com

Here is what I saw Sunday 4-16-23 at Truman.

Nematodes.  I just learned about these little guys.  It was pointed out to me that they may be the cause of the grass on the greens dying back of which there are a number of pictures below.  Soil samples need to be taken to confirm their presence.  Then chemical treatments are required to kill them.  

For many months I have shown you pictures of Truman and Roosevelt and talked about the lack of root structure when repairing ball marks on the greens.  I now know the nematodes eat and kill the roots.  Have you requested testing and treatment from Down to Earth for these courses?  I have seen this condition on a lot of the golf courses.  

The contract calls for soil samples to be tested on a regular basis.  Do the labs test for nematodes?

Hole 1

A lot of tee boxes are in rough shape.

Lots of weeds approaching the first green.

Greens are in bad shape.  Maybe nematodes.

Tough to putt through this mess.

Here is a scalped cup plug.  It was set too high and the mower scalped it.  Why does the superintendent not repair this on the green?  Actually a good manager/superintendent would have caught the high plug and had it re-set prior to it being scalped.  Once scalped it should be repaired and it has not because the superintendent does not care.  I see this everywhere.  There are a lot of people holding superintendent positions that are not qualified.  Why do you allow the contractors to get away with this?

Hole 2

They set the tee markers up in the worse part of the tee box.

Hole 3

Tee box full of weeds

Another tee full of weeds

I believe this is sedge.

Lemon Leaf is a weed

Is there a nursey green available for repairs?  I am guessing not because damage on the greens does not get repaired.

Here the contractor is spreading different grasses on the green by the way they cut the cups.  Nobody is managing or directing the workers.