Fusariummy

It has now been over 10 years since I first started using the MLSN guidelines. In that time I've written a ton about how I've tried to use it and how it has benefited my operation. A lot of people were, and still are skeptical of this "new" way of fertilizing grass but after a decade of use, I think it's safe to say that this way of fertilizing grass is probably good, especially for your budget. I've heard people say "your greens will have 8 weeks to live" and it is now over 500 weeks and they are doing just fine. While many people (including many university professors) still confuse the MLSN with low nitrogen rates, the guidelines are actually intended to ensure that you have enough of the other nutrients in the soil and take the annual use rate (based on nitrogen rates) into account to ensure that you apply fertilizer to stay above the guidelines. They are not target (although I have used them as such) but are levels that you should not go below. W...

Productivity starts with you. Productivity is loosely defined as how much work you can do in a given amount of time. It's a measure of efficiency. For mowing we measure this in ha/hr (in all but 2 countries on Earth). Production is what you can do with a given productivity and level of resources or how much grass you can cut with one person who has a certain level of productivity. We don't start early because it's fun, we start early because it's more productive and a great way to catch the occasional bitching sunrise. Every superintendent knows this. While every single superintendent I have met understands the economics of golf course maintenance to some degree, I find it useful to write this stuff down so you can reflect on it and maybe be more deliberate in how you address these problems. Here's my poorly educated but somewhat experienced attempt at addressing productivity in golf maintenance. Production Productivity During the last few crazy months I have done a...

While browsing social media it is apparent that there are many different approaches being taken to manage courses during the #Covid-19 outbreak. I have also received many questions from other greenkeepers about why I have cut back so hard so quickly. This post isn't designed to suggest that one approach is better than another but is more of a place to discuss the various options and how they might play out in these uncertain times. Right now there is a LOT of uncertainty. Will we be allowed to maintain our golf courses? Will we be allowed to open up? When can we open back up if we are closed? Will anyone have money to golf if we are open? No one has the answers to any of these questions because at this time, we simply do not know. In the coming year, a lot of courses are going to go out of business and it is my hope that the number of courses that close is a low as possible. In SAR, part of what I do is predict the future. It's pretty easy to do actually. You plan for the worst...