Divot Mix

"The best stroked putt in a lifetime does not bring the aesthetic satisfaction of a perfectly hit wood or iron shot. There is nothing to match the whoosh and soar, the almost magical flight of a beautifully hit drive or 5-iron." -- Al Barkow

Drought-resistant turf research proceeds in Texas

In an effort to find grasses that can take the heat--and drought-- a variety of Central Texas turf types and cultivars are going to be denied water for 60 days to evaluate their drought recovery potential. Only the fittest will survive.

To establish the research, Texas Cooperative Extension specialists in soil and crop sciences and agricultural engineering have entered into an agreement with the San Antonio Water System Conservation Program and the Turfgrass Producers of Texas.

Earlier this year, researchers discussed methods that would meet San Antonio Water System needs for developing turfgrass recommendations. Through their trade organization, turfgrass producers provided sod, as well as input on the types of grasses to be evaluated.

Ultimately, 25 types or cultivars of grasses were chosen for the two-year-plus study. One buffalo grass, eight Bermuda grasses, seven St.Augustine grasses and nine zoysia grasses were selected.

"We needed to set up a field research site where we could test the drought tolerance and recovery of grasses in the San Antonio area," said Dr. David Chalmers, Extension turfgrass specialist and one of the principal investigators for the study. "It was also important that these results could be put to practical use by our research partners."

This year team members constructed a research site south of San Antonio and sodded plots with 25 grasses. Later this year, a 5,000-square-foot shelter will be built to permit the scientists to maintain 60-day drought period. Between drought periods, the grasses will be irrigated for 60 days to allow for recovery. Each grass will be evaluated during the drought period and the recovery period.

"Drought studies are scheduled to begin in July 2006 on the grasses we've already planted," said Roger Havlak, the Extension turfgrass specialist in charge of data collection and plot maintenance. "The same set of grasses will be planted in a second set of separate plots in September 2006 to repeat the 60-day drought cycle, beginning in July 2007."

Grasses will have been established for more than nine months before the 2006 drought treatment, he said. And data from the 2006 study will be used to produce a list of drought-tolerant grasses.

"This data will be helpful because the City of San Antonio has passed a conservation ordinance that addresses new turf installation that is supposed to go into effect January 2007," Havlak said. "The ordinance will require new home construction to have at least 4 inches of topsoil before a lawn is established, and that's the amount we used in our plot testing.

It will also require that during new home construction, landscapers plant grasses most likely to survive a 60-day drought. Of course, it's imperative that this is all based on good science."

"This study and similar studies that may come after it will be a good thing for turf in Texas," he said. "We will have practical, science-based data that will allow for better turfgrass selection and to help promote the conservation of water, which is a vital resource for our state."

October sets weather records

From Maine to Delaware, the northeast U.S. experienced its wettest October on record, thanks to several powerful, rain-producing storms. The global surface temperature was warmest on record for the month, according to scientists at the NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

The experts also said the average October temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 1.4° F above the mean for 1895 to 2004. Thirty-two states were warmer than average for the month. Two states--New Jersey and Rhode Island--set records for the period.

Precipitation was near average for the U.S. overall during October, with major regional variations. Unusually dry conditions prevailed for much of the Lower Mississippi Valley, contrasting with extreme wetness for the Northeast. Stations in the Lower Mississippi region reported less than an inch of monthly rainfall, including those at Newton, Miss., Lafayette, La., and Monroe, La. Severe drought remained across portions of the southern Great Plains, southern Great Lakes and the Northwest.

Nine states in the Northeast had their wettest October on record. Monthly totals reached more than 14 inches for several northeastern stations, including Old Town, Maine. Some, such as Kingston, R.I., Durham, N.H., and Millbrook, N.Y., received more than 17 inches of rain – more than three times their monthly averages.

A record-breaking tropical cyclone season had occurred by early November, with a total of 23 named storms, 13 of which became hurricanes, seven were classified as major. For October 2005 four hurricanes and two tropical storms formed, tying a record last set in 1950 for the greatest number of named storms for October. In addition, Hurricane Wilma became the third Category 5 hurricane of the season, setting a new record for the most Category 5 storms in the Atlantic Basin in a single season.

For more on October weather, visit : http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/oct/oct05.html.

Palmer breaks ground for new center

On Nov. 17, the USGA held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnold Palmer Center For Golf History, a 20,000 square-foot addition to the existing building, scheduled to open in early 2008.

On hand for the festivities were Palmer and dignitaries from the USGA that included current president Fred Ridley, executive director David Fay and Executive Committee member Jay Rains.

Each talked about the past and future of the USGA Museum, which is the oldest in the country dedicated to sports.

“It's like winning the Amateur, Open and the Senior Open all at once,” said Palmer, describing his emotions of having his name attached to this project. “It's like I said to Fred Ridley when he asked if I would consent to this I said, ‘That's it. It's like winning another Open.'

“I'm very flattered. I don't think you can put words to how important it is to me as an individual. When I was a kid, it was my family and God and the USGA. That was kind of the way I was raised.”

Shortly after the speeches were made to an assembled group of invited guests, USGA volunteers and staff, Palmer, Ridley, Fay and Rains simultaneously took shovels to a clump of dirt in front of the existing museum to conclude the ceremony.

The project itself has already received approval from local, county and state officials, and has completed the design development phase. Actual construction is slated to begin in 2006.

The Arnold Palmer Center For Golf History will include a rotunda with skylight and clerestory to showcase the 13 original USGA National Championship trophies, approximately 5,000 square feet of gallery space to tell the history of the USGA championships and champions from1895 to the present, a 1,000-square-foot research room, 5,000 square feet of collection storage rooms and offices for curatorial staff.

“Mindful of Arnold Palmer's popularity throughout the world and to all of golf's greatest qualities, we are here today to honor him,” said Ridley. “The Palmer Center will be the world's premier repository for significant historical artifacts, photographs, film and videos that will be used to create a dynamic atmosphere to celebrate the game's greatest champions and greatest moments in USGA history. The Center will also be a leading research facility for a study of the game's history. We also anticipate that this facility will be a key communications tool in its mission to promote and conserve the best interests of the game.”