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Posted 15 April 2008. Applied Turfgrass Science. Can't Make That Putt? Blame the Nematodes University of Arkansas. bumperscollege.uark.edu Little Rock, Arkansas (April 4, 2008)--Sports Illustrated may have given desperate golfers an excuse for a bad putting game: nematodes.
Nematodes are tiny, wormlike creatures that can live in extreme environments. Some species have a penchant for grass, making the nematode a nemesis to golf course superintendents and other turf managers. Sports Illustrated cited nematode damage in a story on Tiger Woods' performance in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, noting that the worms had left "bumpy, inconsistent putting surfaces." Of course, not even nematodes could get in Tiger's way as he chalked up his sixth straight victory. "Nematodes can be a serious pest for golf course managers, and by extension, golfers," said Aaron Patton, extension turfgrass specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. "But only rarely are they a problem in Arkansas." Nematodes can cause root damage that inhibits the grasses' ability to take up water and nutrients, causing wide swaths to turn brown and in some cases, die, making the greens seem more like the rough. "What makes greens so vulnerable is that they are trimmed to very short lengths, have to withstand traffic, high soil temperatures and other stressful conditions which make maintaining a healthy root system very difficult." However, if nematodes show up, managing them can be as difficult as curing the slice in your swing. "While ideally, putting greens are trimmed to 3 mm or 4 mm heights, adding just 2 mm can help improve the turf's ability to resist nematode damage," Patton said. "However, higher grass ‘slows' the greens and turf managers are often under pressure to keep the grass heights as low as possible to improve play. "You're left with trying to make the grass stronger," he said. There are pesticides that will help, such as Nemacur. In a state where golf course revenues were $4.4 billion in 2000, the University of Florida has been experimenting with sesame and thyme oil, as well as extracts from black walnut, oak or pine - even mustard bran - as controls for nematodes. The good news for course superintendents and the bad news for golfer is that while nematodes are everywhere, in Arkansas "they're not at a threshold where they will do damage to turf," Patton said. April and May are good times to check turf for nematodes, Patton said, adding that the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture has nematode diagnostic service. "Homeowners, nurserymen -- anyone who has turf or deals with farm crops will find this service useful," Patton said. More information about the diagnostic service is available at www.aragriculture.org or ask your county extension office. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture. Contact: Mary Hightower |
