On July 10th, we completed the 1st application of non-selective herbicide to all of the identified common Bermuda grass that is growing within our fairways, 1st cuts and tee tops. The application went well as it took 8 of us 13 hours to complete. We sent two of our interns ahead to re-paint all of the identified areas. One of our assistants operated our 300 gallon sprayer while the rest of us walked the golf course with battery-operated, backpack, sprayers. The rig operator kept the machine idling and parked in wood lines adjacent to the golf hole. When the applicators emptied their tanks, they walked to the spray rig where we used the hose reel to refill the sprayers. All said, we used approximately 90, 3-gallon, backpack spray tanks to cover the golf course.
Ten days into the project, the herbicide mixture has taken effect and a lot of grass is dead or dying.
(Approach #10)
(Upper Fairway #6)
(Right Fairway #9)
(Fairway #13)
(#11 Approach)
The herbicide mixture burnt the cool season grass within 72 hours of the application. However, the Bermuda has been much slower to die-back. Although, as of today, the Bermuda is finally succumbing to the herbicide, there were a few days last week where it looked like the Bermuda was unscathed relative to the surrounding Bent grass or Bluegrass. But not to worry, we fully anticipated this reaction. One of the ingredients in our mix is an adjuvant which is designed to destroy the outer cuticle of the grass blades. By removing some of the waxy, protective, cuticle, more herbicide is absorbed by the plant. However, this adjuvant is very "hot" to cool season grass. So, much of the quick burn on the Bent grass was more a product of the adjuvant and hot temperatures than the actual glyphosate and fusillade. Since the picture below was taken, much of that green tissue within the Bermuda patches has started to die back.
(Persistent Bermuda - #8 Approach)
This past Monday, July 17th, we took our 4th walk throughout all of the fairway, tee and 1st cut surfaces. This scouting walk was done to identify Bermuda that we may have missed on the previous scouting walks. As it turns out, this Bermuda is very sneaky and hides well in the turf canopies. Again, there were 8 of us who walked, marked and sprayed any Bermuda that slipped past the previous application. We will continue this scouting technique every Monday through the middle of August. We are determined to locate and spray as much of this grassy weed as is humanly possible.
(Newly Identified Bermuda - #10 1st Cut)
This coming Monday, July 24th, we will likely make our 2nd, full-scale application. As long as the Bermuda shows any green tissue, there will be translocation of the herbicide. We knew this project would take 4-5 applications and this is why this "reset" must be done while: (1) the Bermuda is actively growing and (2) early enough in the summer to provide ample time for multiple applications. We do know that we will cover as much ground as possible and by the end of August, there will be a lot of dead common Bermuda grass at Kinloch Golf Club!
A few other questions that I would like to address:
Q: What will you do once you have achieved kill on the Bermuda?
A: In early September, with the help of our contractor, Landscapes Unlimited, we will sod cut and remove all of the dead turf. Those areas will be sodded with new creeping Bent grass and thermal Kentucky bluegrass. By the middle of September, all of the sod will be installed. From our September reopening until October 5th, we will RESTRICT ALL CART USAGE to CART PATH ONLY. During this 3 week period, there will be NO EXCEPTIONS.
Q: Will this be an Annual event?
NO!!! The strategy is to "RESET" the fairways, tees and 1st cuts. In subsequent years, we will keep the herbicide applications confined to our scheduled closures. You should not expect to see a project of this size and scope during normal operating hours. The efficacy of a tighter window will be less effective, but by resetting the golf course now, the spot spraying in the future will be on a much smaller scale and much less visible to our membership and their guests. But, we will be spot spraying common Bermuda grass from now until beyond yours or my time at KGC:)
Finally - a Thank You!! Our assistants: Adam Sauls, Duggan Cannon, Ian Stusak, Jake Morgan and Peyton Fristoe have been absolutely phenomenal. And not just applying the herbicides and painting squares, but in their overall approach to this summer on top of this project. The pm mowing's, early morning fungicide applications and 7-day/week schedule have been a grind and they have not flinched. We are so fortunate to have this team.
We will update you again in 2 weeks!
