Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Figure 29. Rolling of turf smooths putting surfaces and increases green speed for daily play or tournaments and should also be considered on fairways or tees to reduce the occurrence of some turf diseases. Photo credit: Chris Harriman.

Cultivar Selection

Maryland is located in a transition zone. Both cool season and warm season turfgrass can be grown, but the climate is not favorable for the growth of either group of grass over the entire year. To establish and maintain turfgrass, site preparation, the choice of cultivar, and correct management practices are essential. In western Maryland, or the mountain region, cool season grasses are better adapted. The coastal plain, southern Maryland and the eastern shore, as well as the piedmont region and central and northern Maryland, have warmer winters. Both cool season and warm season grass can be grown there. Tall fescue grows throughout Maryland. Numerous new turfgrass cultivars continue to be developed and released by turfgrass breeders. However, while many of these cultivars are adapted to the environmental conditions that prevail in other regions of the country, many are not adapted to the specific environmental conditions that occur in the transition zone. Thus, to identify cultivars that perform well in this region, extensive cultivar trials are evaluated each year at the University of Maryland and Virginia Tech. The cultivar performance data obtained at various trial locations are reviewed annually in a joint meeting of university researchers and representatives of the Department of Agriculture of both states. The use of recommended cultivars usually results in a turfgrass stand of higher quality and density, greater stress tolerance, lower nutrient requirements, less water usage, and fewer pest problems. Also, the use of recommended cultivars generally has the benefits of greater water infiltration, reduced need for pesticide applications, reduced water runoff, and the enhancement of the environmental benefits of properly managed turfgrass.

63