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Tough Winter for Golf Courses

By John H. Foy, Director of USGA's Green Section
March 11, 2010

Twice in the past 25 years, the USGA Green Section Florida Region has sent letters to all golf courses in the state in an effort to make golfers aware of the effects of adverse conditions on the environment. The 1998 winter season is a case in point, where the Pacific El Nino effect caused major problems in providing the expected conditioning and quality at Florida golf courses. The purpose of this update is the same.

The average temperature for the season, reported at Palm Beach International Airport, was 64.1 degrees F; 3.2 degrees below normal. Although 3.2 degrees below normal average may not seem significant, it has a major impact on warm season turfgrass growth, such as bermudagrass and seashore paspalum, in the central to southern part of the state. Basically, there has been no turf growth for the past two months, and, when combined with peak winter season play, the fairways and roughs at many courses have been beat down and worn out. Normally, during this time of year, there are golfer complaints about tight fairway lies and no definition between the fairway and rough cuts, but the degree of deterioration experienced at some courses is greater than normal.

An even greater impact on conditioning and quality occurs at facilities that deal with budget cuts, where further reductions in fertilization and pest control programs have taken place.

During the second week of March, temperatures have started to climb into the 70’s throughout the state. After all of the cold weather, these temperatures feel quite warm and are sufficient to produce a turf green-up. However, based on the extended forecast, this will be a short-lived spring tease. The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service issued its latest El Nino Advisory, and the El Nino effect will remain in place until at least May. For Florida and the Southeast, temperatures will continue to remain below average and precipitation above average. A cool and wet spring is just the opposite of what is needed for recovery from the winter and to quickly reestablish course conditioning.

For warm season turfgrasses to resume sustained active growth, daytime and nighttime temperatures must remain consistently in the mid-80 and mid-60 degree range, respectively. In Central to South Florida, the combination of a progressively increasing day length and milder temperatures will make it possible to reestablish the green color but, being able to produce a rapid recovery simply is not possible.

On a positive note, the base bermuda turf of Florida golf courses does possess a tremendous recuperative potential. Thus, with a few weeks of sunny, warm, and dry weather, a full recovery and reestablishment of good quality course conditioning can be accomplished. Yet, until more favorable environmental conditions are occurring, a degree of patience and understanding will be required during the remainder of the winter play season in Florida.

If you would like more information about a Turf Advisory Service visit, please contact either John Foy (772) 546-2620, jfoy@usga.org or Todd Lowe, (941) 828-2625, tlowe@usga.org.

 


Geminiani and Gros Win at Lake Wales

Sunday, March 7, 2010

 

Domenico Geminiani and Lauren Gros grabbed first place honors to capture their respective titles at the Florida Junior Tour’s (FJT) Lake Wales Country Club, in Lake Wales, March 6-7.

Domenico Geminiani, of Bradenton, carded a two-under par 70 in the first round to trail the first round leader by two strokes. In the final round Geminiani fired a one-under 35 on the front nine and continued his solid play on the back nine carding a three-under par 33, which included three of his seven birdies on the day for a four-under par 68. Geminiani’s tournament total of 6-under par 138 was good enough for a one stroke victory.  Geminiani's incredible season continued Sunday by winning his fourth event of the season.  Sawyer Shaw, of West Palm Beach, grabbed second place honors by firing a final round one-under par 71, for a tournament total of five-under par 139.  Peter Mathison, of Jupiter finished in third place with a tournament total of three under par 141 with rounds of 70-71.

Lauren Gros, of Gainesville, fired a final round even under par 72 to win her first career FJT title.  In the final round Gros played a solid round of golf, recording a three-under par 33 on the front nine, and held in together down the stretch carding a three-over par 39 on the back nine to give Gros a three stroke victory. Christina Foster, of Concord, Canada, and Ashley Holder, of Orlando, finished tied for second place with a tournament total of 149.

 

 

 

Southwood GC (16-18)
Boys 16-18 Division
  NAME R1 R2 R3 Tot.

1

H. Lebioda 70 72 -- 142

2

W. Bateman 71 71 -- 142

3

A. Slaton 73 70 -- 143

4

A. Watson 69 77 -- 146

5

J. Petronio 73 74 -- 147

Girls 16-18 Division
  NAME R1 R2 R3 Tot.

1

K. Swindell 74 73 -- 147

T2

N. Quinn 74 75 -- 149

T2

M. VanEtten 75 74 -- 149

T4

S. Liu 79 76 -- 155

T4

I. Southard 72 83 -- 155

Lake Wales CC (13-15)
Boys 13-15 Division
  NAME R1 R2 R3 Tot.

1

D. Geminiani 70 68 -- 138

2

S. Shaw 68 71 -- 139

3

P. Mathison 70 71 -- 141

4

J. Stanger 71 73 -- 144

T5

D. Jaramillo 71 74 -- 145

T5

R. Orr 71 74 -- 145

Girls 13-15 Division
  NAME R1 R2 R3 Tot.

1

L. Gros 74 72 -- 146

T2

C. Foster 72 77 -- 149

T2

A. Holder 74 75 -- 149

4

J. Lippetz 76 74 -- 150

T5

M. Lellyo 74 77 -- 151

T5

S. Liu 78 73 -- 151

T5

A. Newell 74 77 -- 151

2010 Member Summary
Boys (13-15): 197
Boys (16-18):
357
Girls (13-15):
58
Girls (16-18):
75
2010 Total: 687
(2009 Total: 765)

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