Rings and Dots

The picture below shows two things on #11 green.  The first is some patch disease, which really isn't all that unusual this time of year.  However, what may be more noticeable, are the bright green dots on the edge of the green.  Unintentionally, we caused this by allowing some fertilizer to hit the putting surface.

For the past several years, we rarely use any granular fertilizer on the golf course, but last year's weather took its toll on the rough, and a bit of fertilizer was applied to encourage growth and recovery.  The green dots are where prills of fertilizer landed on the green.

What this picture may illustrate more than anything else, is how lean and hungry the greens are.  Why don't we feed the greens more?  Well, as we must balance plant health with playability, limiting leaf growth is one of the best ways we can maintain green speed.  In-season, we often provide nourishment to the plant through a liquid fertilization program, while also applying a plant growth regulator at the same time.

This all may make more sense if you think of the putting greens like a lean, mean elite athlete.  In order to perform at their peak, their workout routine--mowing, rolling, verticutting, topdressing, aerifying--and everything that goes into them is carefully monitored throughout the year.