Converting range tee to Bermudagrass in the Northeast Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jennifer Torres

   

   2 posts
   
   9/19/2016 1:09 PM

   Recently I have been asked my thoughts on converting out large range tee to Bermudagrass. We are a high end public course doing over 40,000 rounds a year. We are open year round weather permitting of course. The range gets a very high volume of use and in years like this when water is in short supply we find ourselves closing the grass tee and using the mats. You all know golfers want to practice what they will be faced with on the course, so grass is what they want. Please give me some advice, need your thoughts as well.

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Wagner

   

   0 posts
   
   9/20/2016 7:09 AM

   You say Bermuda in the northeast??? I don't think that will work out well for you.

   
   
   
   
3. Max Lamas

   

   0 posts
   
   9/20/2016 8:09 AM

   Michael Wagner said: You say Bermuda in the northeast??? I don't think that will work out well for you.

   
   
   Like he said.
   
   How "northeast" we talking here?

   
   
   
   
4. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   9/20/2016 10:09 AM

   Northeast? Square peg in a round hole...

   
   
   
   
5. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   9/20/2016 10:09 AM

   Bermudagrass --- no. Possible alternative...artificial.

   
   
   
   
6. Jennifer Torres

   

   2 posts
   
   9/20/2016 11:09 AM

   The course is in Yardley, PA very close to Philadelphia . My Director of Golf has been to a few local courses that have done this, so they say it can be done. I just want to have all the facts together, I know it is a warm season grass, not normally used this far north, it will only be green for about 3 months, but can it survive the winters here and the high volume of play. We are a public course that does over 40,000 rounds.

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   9/20/2016 11:09 AM

   I've been following the trend of more northern courses converting to Bermuda on their practice tees in recent years with the release of more cold tolerant Bermudas like Patriot, North Bridge, and Latitude. Generally speaking, these courses re-sod every year, or close and cover the tees for the winter (an extended time). We typically only have three solid months of a growing season for Bermuda in central Virginia, our practice tee is dormant or semi-dormant for about five months (+/-) of the year which limits and severely complicates use of the turf surface. Everyone gets excited about playing and wants to come out in March and hit balls, and the grass doesn't even begin to green up until April or start growing until May or fast enough to heal divots until June. Just realize there is no silver bullet and you will be trading one set of problems for another. Pick your poison. One last thought, even with the new varieties, you just don't see many Bermuda courses north of here...for a reason.

   
   
   
   
8. Charles Lafferty

   

   0 posts
   
   9/20/2016 1:09 PM

   contact Steve Macdonald out of Philly. he has all the answers. His company is turfrgrass disease solutions. Smartest guy around and he can lead you in the right direction.

   
   
   
   
9. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   9/20/2016 7:09 PM

   Several have done it around here with varying degrees of success, mostly not good but not terrible from what I hear. You are on a similar latitude. Those that have done it have larger range tees and only have part in Bermuda. It depends on how brutal the winter is and that varies from year to year.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
10. Stephen Ravenkamp

    

    1 posts
    
    9/21/2016 8:09 AM

    One thing to remember is that for at least 6 months of the year you will have no growth. That means the divots the golfers are making are either going to be scars, filled with weeds, or you will have to cover with winter grass. It also means you are going to have an increase in budget costs for sodding every year. Can it be done? Sure, anything can be done but don't expect a good quality tee.

    
    
    
    
11. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    9/21/2016 11:09 AM

    6 months? I would think 4 months growth at best in that area, yes?

    
    
    
    
12. Keith Fellenstein

    

    0 posts
    
    9/22/2016 10:09 AM

    4 months would even be a stretch. Might be green for 6 months, but actively growing, enough to heal divots, 2.5 months give or take couple weeks on average.

    
    
    
    
13. Kevin Tansey

    

    0 posts
    
    9/23/2016 10:09 AM

    Jennifer Torres said: The course is in Yardley, PA very close to Philadelphia . My Director of Golf has been to a few local courses that have done this, so they say it can be done. I just want to have all the facts together, I know it is a warm season grass, not normally used this far north, it will only be green for about 3 months, but can it survive the winters here and the high volume of play. We are a public course that does over 40,000 rounds.

    
    
    
    There are many places in the area that have made the switch to Bermuda for range tees and they have performed very well. It does however need to be fulled closed in the off season. From what I've been told you are looking from November thru May with it being closed to play. TPC Jasna Polana, Laurel Creek, Greate Bay CC, DuPont CC are just to name a few in our immediate area that have Bermuda range tees. We have been giving it a lot of consideration also. I would call one of those clubs to better discuss the pros and cons of making the switch. I think most of the guys are using Latitude 36.

    
    
    
    
14. Dennis Ingram

    

    5 posts
    
    9/23/2016 3:09 PM

    You can contact Tim Connolly at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, New Jersey. He has several areas of bermuda on his practice facility that were planted 3 years ago that are performing well. I never thought it was possible but with a bit of care going into the winter it has worked well for him. He is considering a conversion of at least part of the practice facility in the next few years!!

    
    
    
    
15. Anthony Nysse

    

    1 posts
    
    9/24/2016 6:09 AM

    Dennis Ingram, CGCS said: You can contact Tim Connolly at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, New Jersey. He has several areas of bermuda on his practice facility that were planted 3 years ago that are performing well. I never thought it was possible but with a bit of care going into the winter it has worked well for him. He is considering a conversion of at least part of the practice facility in the next few years!!

    
    
    Correct. A lot of guys are starting to use Latitude 36 in that area, not only on range tees, but NFL football fields.

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/24/2016 9:09 AM

    Have you considered looking into some sort of Zoysia instead? Someting that can tolerate a colder winter....?

    
    
    
    
17. Anthony Nysse

    

    1 posts
    
    9/24/2016 11:09 AM

    Andy Jorgensen said: Have you considered looking into some sort of Zoysia instead? Someting that can tolerate a colder winter....?

    I think the heal time from a divot would be just as slow, even slower, maybe....

    
    
    
    
18. David Stout

    

    0 posts
    
    9/24/2016 3:09 PM

    Jennifer Torres said: The course is in Yardley, PA very close to Philadelphia . My Director of Golf has been to a few local courses that have done this, so they say it can be done. I just want to have all the facts together, I know it is a warm season grass, not normally used this far north, it will only be green for about 3 months, but can it survive the winters here and the high volume of play. We are a public course that does over 40,000 rounds.

    
    
    
    What is the current turf type on the tee now? How large is that tee surface? Working nearly year round with Bermuda in a climate that supports it lends me to believe you are exchanging one set of problems for another. At what point in the year does the range tee give you challenges?
    
    I'm not saying it can't or won't work, but I'm skeptical that it will be what you were looking for. There is a reason Bermudagrass isn't more prevalent in the NE. I think you are one bad winter from having a major issue.

    
    
    
    
19. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    9/25/2016 8:09 AM

    We did it and then they always wanted over seed which never really worked .In hindsight I would have left the back part of the tee cold season, front bermuda and even put a couple mats thinking anyone who uses them will reduce pressure on the grass.

    
    
    
    
20. Jennifer Torres

    

    2 posts
    
    9/26/2016 11:09 AM

    Guys, thank you for all the advice. Will take it all into consideration when we decide what the next step is. Nice to have the support of others in our industry, thanks again.