Growth Regulators on fairways Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ryan Bruner

   

   4 posts
   
   7/9/2018 12:07 PM

   Looking for some info on growth regulators on Bermuda fairways. Specifically on if there is that much of a cost savings spraying vs. reduced cost of manpower and operation cost of equipment.
   
   Thanks,
   Ryan Bruner

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   7/11/2018 10:07 AM

   In season, its about a break even proposition with labor. Fully regulated we can cut Bermuda fairways twice a week and have excellent playing conditions. When you factor in cost of regulator and labor to apply, it nearly balances with the savings If we were to cut three times a week. But, that doesn't tell the whole story. There is reduced wear and tear on fairway mowers (outweighs increased wear and tear on sprayer), and it makes it easier to accomplish weekly goals given unpredictable weather and heavy play, not to mention improved playing surfaces. This is with generic trinexepac-ethyl. I imagine with some of the other regulators it would be more difficult to justify, but probably still worth it.

   
   
   
   
3. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   7/12/2018 8:07 AM

   I agree with Keith. Better conditions with less mowing. If you get a few days of rain and cannot cut then the regulator will save your butt that week.

   
   
   
   
4. William Murphy

   

   8 posts
   
   7/17/2018 5:07 AM

   Ryan,
   
   We have not looked so much at cost savings, but the quality of cut and the aesthetics are much better under normal conditions. Under wet conditions I know there has to be significant savings. The way we apply our growth regulators, we stagger out the applications so there are times when the growth regulator may run out on a few holes, and when we have wet periods we end up double/triple cutting and blowing the fairways that are not regulated, while the ones that are a single cut usually suffices.
   
   I would suggest trying a third of your fairways and try to figure out the savings, and as Keith says try to factor in wear and tear/fuel as well as labor costs.
   
   Here is a link to a good article that contained a PGR cot savings calculator (but the tool link seems to be broken) but the article is worth reading.
   
   http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/artic ... e-to-stay/
   
   Billy