Rice Paper and Corn Stalks-Greens Construction??? Cancel The title field is required!

1. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   2/7/2014 5:02 PM

   Hey everyone. I recently took a new job in St Louis and during the interview process the new owner said the greens were built with Rice Paper and or Corn Stalks. Hummm this is a new one for me. Ive asked a few friends and like me, never heard of it.
   Has anyone heard of this or is he way off?? Im hopeing he is way off!
   
   Virgil

   
   
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   2/8/2014 7:02 AM

   Apparently, they couldn't find and sheep dung and feather pillows.
   
   Sorry, no help. Sounds like someone is a bit misinformed.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
3. Stephen Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   2/8/2014 12:02 PM

   When was the course built? Back in the mid 80's rice hulls were used as an alternative to peat. The break down of the organic matter wasn't very consistent and the fad passed from the market.

   
   
   
   
4. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   2/8/2014 7:02 PM

   Virgil Range said: Hey everyone. I recently took a new job in St Louis and during the interview process the new owner said the greens were built with Rice Paper and or Corn Stalks. Hummm this is a new one for me. Ive asked a few friends and like me, never heard of it.
   Has anyone heard of this or is he way off?? Im hopeing he is way off!
   
   Virgil

   
   
   Maybe rice but never anything corn that could be very bad.
   
   Keith

   
   
   
   
5. Joe Wachter

   

   5 posts
   
   2/10/2014 10:02 AM

   Virgil,
   
   What is the name of the facility? Might have some information.

   
   
   
   
6. Joe Wachter

   

   5 posts
   
   2/10/2014 1:02 PM

   Virgil,
   Saw your linked-in status. I'm guessing Sugar Creek was built with Rice Hulls. Popular product used in our area in the 90's. A lot of different Mgrs there over the years. Good luck in the new job. Have not kept up with the guys who have been there over the years.

   
   
   
   
7. Michael Rogers

   

   2 posts
   
   2/11/2014 2:02 AM

   Don´t think the original organic input matters that much after 20 years. The physical ( granulometry and shape )and chemical ( silica, calcareous, etc ) components do matter and the topdressing history considering these same parameters. Hopefully there are not too many different topdressing layers.
   
   good luck Michael

   
   
   
   
8. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   2/12/2014 6:02 AM

   Virgil,
   
   I know a man who was the superintendent at Sugar Creek a couple of years ago. If that's where your at and would like his number you can email me at boldreghini@hotmail.com

   
   
   
   
9. Corey Eastwood

   

   80 posts
   
   2/12/2014 11:02 AM

   A course near me was built around 1987 with rice hulls. A nice crop of rice came up during grow in. Who ever dreamed that one up.

   
   Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
   
   
10. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    2/12/2014 12:02 PM

    That was big in California in the late 70's. Kellog's was an organic company that sold a product called Nitrohumus. Wayne Morgan was their key guy. The started blending what was called Amend which was rice hulls and Nitrohumus. Most every course that went that way in building greens had problems. Many were also blended on site with tillers making matters even worse. Sounds like it made it out of California!

    
    
    
    
11. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    2/14/2014 4:02 AM

    Thanks for all the Help everyone. More information is always better!! Sounds like it could be a major problem. But for the past 3 years Ive been dealing the Bacteria Decline and was very successful. Ive thought that pythium and bacteria are the worst possible things to have on your course. Sure hope Rice Hulls is not added to that list.
    
    Does anyone know of anyone having success with the Rice Hulls?
    
    Thanks
    Virgil

    
    
    
    
12. Joe Wachter

    

    5 posts
    
    2/17/2014 9:02 AM

    A lot of greens were built with this material in Stl in the 90's. Many have regrassed since then and some have rebuilt while I'm sure many others are still the original mix growing new strain of bent which if blended properly is gone by now. My bro at Franklin County CC has four troubled greens that were built years ago and blending of the product was not correct. Severe fairy ring caused from large chunks of rice hulls found in the green profile, not blended properly and definitely still effecting green conditions.

    
    
    
    
13. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    2/18/2014 6:02 AM

    Thanks Joe. Im assuming I might have the same issues.
    About the Fairy Ring. Last year I applied 1 app of Bayleton, 1 app of Triton, and 1 app of ProStar and had 0 signs of fairy ring. Not saying it will work at a different course but has anyone tried this combo together in the st Louis area?
    Hey 2 greens were cut and sodded last fall. I only got to see 1 of them and very poorly done. Might as putt on the parking lot with rocks on how bumpy it is.
    I know for the past 3 years they have deep tined twice yearly. So no cores have been removed for 3 years. hummm. I would say that's 1 problem there. Im thinking atleast 5/8 maybe 3/4 holes this spring. 1st day is around the corner. Im sure ill have a lot of questions and answers when I get settled in.
    Thanks for everyone's help.
    
    Virgil

    
    
    
    
14. Canedo Alberto J

    
    2/18/2014 7:02 AM

    Virgil,
    Look into using Torque Fungicide for fairy ring and other diseases. Ever since I started using it 3 years ago it has been a budget saver. I have not seen any fairy ring on my greens for the last 3 years. I have actually cut back to 1 application of Heritage since adding Torque Fungicide to my fungicide rotation. I used to spent over $3000 a year for 3 applications of pro star and now spending a third of that. I do have an acre of greens.

    
    
    
    
15. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    2/18/2014 10:02 AM

    We've been on the recommend program by Dr. Miller at Missouri, he doesn't specify Torque, and it could be any of the T's such as Triton, Torque, Trinity, Tourney. It's pretty specific in its timing, with soil temps, then following up 2 weeks with a wetting agent (this one isn't quite as critical, we've missed it and still had control), then 2 weeks with the 2nd app, then 2 weeks later with another wetting agent. It has worked well for us. We have gone with Torque; I think it has been the cheapest per acre, along with package sizing for our greens.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO