8/21/2018 6:08 AM
My golf course was built in the early 90's and the greens were seeded with PennLinks creeping bentgrass. The greens are primarily bentgrass with some Poa annua. The bentgrass begins to check out in a mottled pattern, usually the first week of August. The greens have reverted back to their parent plants, with a great deal of segregation. It appears one particular clone, lighter colored, thin bladed variety is the being affected.
I have had an independent Agronomist in a few times in recent years and he seems to think the damage is caused by mechanical damage and release of N during hot and humid periods, the plant gets puffy, and scalped. The last three years we aggressively attacked the thatch and organic matter in the upper profile, but it occurred yet again this August, the first time since August 2014.
I will be introducing a new variety of bent to the greens and overseeding these areas but has anyone else experienced this issue with PennLinks putting surfaces in particular?