6/14/2011 6:06 PM
Looking for someone who has maintained both bent and ultradwarf (either Champion or Eagle) in the transition zone. Have someone who is looking at purchasing a course in Oklahoma and putting in ultradwarf greens. He has been told he can save a great deal of money doing that. I have no experience maintaining ultradwarf greens (I have maintained TiffDwarf, but in Arizona) but everything I read seems to point out the only real advantage is that you don't need people constantly cooling greens from May through September. I would think chemical budget is close to the same, fertilizer budget is about 3X that of bent, water may be less - but that is not an issue here, topdressing and aerating the same. And he would need to have covers for the winter, another cost. So I don't see where he will same much, if any. Admittedly, if I was going to be the superintendent I would like not having to worry all summer, but as far as budget?????
Steve Ravenkamp, CGCS-Ret