Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Cultural Practices

Dense, healthy turf with adequate infiltration plays an important role in preventing runoff and erosion. Cultural practices promote both turf density and health, in balance with providing a high-quality playing surface. Heavily used areas such as putting greens often deteriorate because of compacted soil, thatch accumulation, and excessive use. Soil problems from active use are usually limited to the top 3 inches of the soil profile and should be actively managed to enhance turf health and improve nutrient and water uptake.

Mowing

Mowing is the most basic yet most important cultural practice to consider when developing a management plan. Mowing practices impact turf density, texture, color, root development, and wear tolerance. Failure to mow properly will result in weakened turf with poor density and quality. Proper mowing height is a function of the cultivar being managed and of the intended use of the site. Other factors influencing mowing height include mowing frequency, shade, mowing equipment, time of year, root growth, and abiotic and biotic stress. For example, mowing frequency affects turfgrass growth habit. Frequent mowing increases tillering and shoot density, but also decreases root and rhizome growth. Therefore, mowing practices should balance these two physiological responses to allow quick turf recovery through decisions related to height of cut, frequency, and mowing patterns. Mowing too infrequently results in alternating cycles of vegetative growth followed by scalping, which further depletes food reserves of the plants. In general, a taller turf offers a better defense to pests and other stressors, while a closer cut turf is often considered more aesthetically pleasing. Determining the best height of cut (HOC) requires balancing the stress response to mowing with golfer expectations of playability, staffing levels for mowing frequency, and budget considerations for the increased maintenance and inputs of lower HOCs. Especially at low turf heights (<1.5 inches), the corresponding reduction in root strength requires more intensive maintenance (e.g., water and fertilizers) to maintain turf density. Ideal tolerance ranges for turf height vary by cultivar. The ideal range maximizes density, though staying within the tolerance range will provide adequate density assuming water, nutrients, etc., are provided optimally. Recommended golf course mowing heights for Mid-Atlantic turf species are found in Tables 4 and 5 below: Height of Cut

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