Pilgrimage to Pebble

About one of the only good things with having my wife in Law School in San Francisco, is the fact that we get to explore the beauty of California's Northern Coast. From surfing in Santa Cruz to cycling in Marin County, we have been able to see some of the most amazing scenery in the U.S. This weekend, we had no plan except to head south from The City. During the drive, I suggested we make the drive to Pebble Beach, one of the Meccas of American golf. The beauty and majesty of this fabled course were beyond what I expected, and made me proud of my career and being part of the great game of golf.

Colorado Golf Carbon Project

One of the items I am working on this spring is collecting information about our facility to enter into the Colorado Golf Carbon Project.

"The primary goal of this research project is to collect information about resources utilized by Colorado's golf courses, so a carbon accounting research can be completed. The research will explore and quantify the benefits and impacts golf courses have within the greater carbon emissions and sequestration picture"


I feel this is a groundbreaking project which will hopefully show that golf courses can have a positive environmental impact and help to alleviate some negative thoughts about our industry.

Friend or Foe?

One of the major dilemmas we have at SSGC is Poa Annua or Annual Bluegrass management. How can one tiny little plant cause so much uproar? While many Superintendents do everything in their power to eradicate this "weed", we here at South Suburban embrace our Poa and manage it into a putting surface that is as good as the best bentgrass greens.
Come Spring, the Poa plant begins production of seedheads for propagation. If left unchecked, these seedheads not only become unsightly, but cause the green to become bumpy and inconsistent. One of the major tools we use is a Plant Growth Regulator(PGR) called Proxy. This product inhibits the maturation of the seedhead, and doesn't allow it to emerge. By monitoring soil temperatures on our greens, we have had very good control over the past few years and are confident that this year will be just as good.