Commentary

Golf Course News, Jun 2002

Organic management plan offers best results

To the Editor,

Here at Lahontan Golf Club, we strive to be 100 percent organic through sustainable agriculture, by feeding the soil, not the plant ("Organic golf activists score major victory" GCN April 2002 and "The time for organic golf has arrived" GCN May 2002).

Our results have provided exceptional turf conditions, however, we realize that the definition of organic vs. inorganic can be subjective and is open to discussion. Synthetic vs. organic is easy to understand, but if a golf course over applies "organics" to the course, it could still result in leaching and runoff of phosphorous and nitrogen, requiring additional best management practices and mitigation to avoid contamination of waterways. Therefore, through all of this, management is pivotal to success, even if the course is organic.

I think Neal Lewis hits the point on the head by describing an "Organic Management Plan. "That implies the use of non-synthetic fertilizers coupled with a management plan that understands the agriculture of turf grass wholly and holistically."

Take care, Martyn Hoffmann DMB/Highlands Group, LLC Truckee, Calif.

Moss article covered bases

Editor's note: The following is contributor Kevin Ross' response to Neil Goldberg's letter in last month's issue that raised several questions about Ross' article "Moss hits Colorado hard, more research needed" (GCN April 2002).

To the Editor,

I would like to address a few issues from Neil Goldberg's response and offer additional information concerning the Colorado moss symposium.

As far as the Ultra Dawn issue, I stated that Ultra Dawn gave the most consistent results, which is absolutely correct. The Oregon State study is the only study that had poor results using Ultra Dawn. However, their technique used Ultra Dawn as a broadcast application through a boom sprayer and not a drench application. It is widely believed that the broadcast application was the reason for the ineffectiveness. In Frank Dobie's Moss Network (cited in Goldberg's letter), Ultra Dawn was determined as the most effective control for moss. As far as the discoloration issue, the research shows that only slight discoloring happens with temperatures above 80 degrees. This is consistent with most all products, including Terracyte.

On the subject of research, I did mention Dr. Frank Rossi at Cornell University as a site where independently funded research was taking place. Rossi's conclusions to date showedJunction ranked first and Terracyte ranked second in his trials to control moss. Neither of these products are a one-- time fix for moss and neither provided 100 percent control.

Concerning Terracyte, the article did indicate that Terracyte was one of the potential products that looked promising. I also stated, as did Dr. Koski, and Matt Nelson, USGA, at the symposium, that more research is certainly needed. As mentioned above, Terracyte has only been tested in university research by Dr. Rossi, with quantifiable results.

The climatic conditions in Colorado are certainly much different than that of Ithaca, N.Y. It appears there will be moss research conducted at Colorado State University, led by Dr. Koski, starting this season. This research will be sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The purpose of the article was to call attention to a problem that requires additional research to find a solution. I interviewed many superintendents at the symposium, and most all stated they went home more confused than when the arrived. This should tell everyone something concerning moss.

Let's hope that we do find a cure-all for moss, no matter what product it is, and no matter who makes it.

Best regards,

Kevin J. Ross, CGCS

The Country Club of the Rockies

Edwards, Colo.