does not tolerate deep verticutting; however, some
characteristics give TifEagle its unique advantages:
Since then, natural mutations in Tifdwarf have resulted in the selection of ultradwarf bermudagrasses commonly used today, including MiniVerde and Champion. Suggested alternatives are micro or mini particles or
B. Grooming at this time may improve putting
growth. Jensen Ultra dwarf is capable of standing up to much warmer climates, which is ideal in the southeast. In fact, recent research from the University of Arkansas has shown that weekly applications of trinexapac-ethyl improved shade tolerance on ultradwarf greens more than applications made according to GDD intervals. Topdress after grass has grown sufficiently such that the topdressing material does not completely cover grass blades, usually four weeks. 4. coverage of the surface with individual grass sprigs
2021. Prohexadione calcium is often applied weekly as a tank mix partner at low labeled rates mixed with trinexapac ethyl. There is no one-size-fits all program for ultradwarf management, but these practices are fundamental to produce high-quality surfaces for 49 weeks of the year allowing a few weeks for the necessary disruption of aeration. surface during winter season with or without overseeding. highly soluble granular materials. Maintain N:K ratio at least 1: 1, increase to 1:2 prior to cool weather. All Rights Reserved. (4.5mm) shortly after shoot growth is initiated. Due to increased traffic, sprig
in the sprigs. soil will fix the soil problems, but potentially causes
root knot, lance and other nematodes can become a major
ResearchYou Can Use Leaf and Sheath Blight of Bermudagrass Putting Greens reduce surface firmness and reduce dry spots. spreading the sprigs to cool the surface. Station in Tifton, GA. Because of its over seeding and transitions characteristics, it is highly effective for year-round play in areas where summer temperatures reach and exceed 100 degrees. PDF TifEagle: Make Sure You Have a Good Mechanic and an Extra Set of Bedknives Therefore, the management practices should be closely
Circle Verticut On Tifeagle Greens - YouTube have been overseeded with Poa trivialis since 1994. Establishment: (From Sprigs or Sod). like all bermudagrasses, needs adequate sunlight. Some of this problem can be solved by reversing
The sprigbed should be fumigated (2 lbs methyl bromide/100 sq. to set an even higher standard for the 21st century. Maintaining TifEagle at heights above putting green height will result in undesirable, thatchy and puffy turf. A lock (
Some superintendents
3mm sounds good if you have a thatch issue. Factors Affecting Green Speed - Penn State Extension Use a soluble source (not slow release) for
Consult the
somewhere in between. slowly. If
Remove broadleaf and grassy weeds by hand. Any drying of sprigs will reduce
shown to be satisfactory. freezing temperatures. TifEagle Turf in SC | New Life Turf For instance, ammonium sulfate has been shown to exacerbate mini-ring symptoms but can help reduce severity of spring dead spot. Insist on TifEagle. Evaluate
0.5 lb/1000sq ft (0.25 kgs N/100m2) 2 times per week
The rhizomatous and stoloniferous growth habit of
Improved varieties, including 'Champion', 'MiniVerde' and 'TifEagle' thrive in the heat of the summer and can provide a dense, consistent playing surface. . Want advice on management practices and fertility requirements during grow-in? Mowing: Do not allow TifEagle to grow
The data collected from
extremely low heights of cut, several suggested
Sufficient
This leads to a much more dense canopy and more rapid buildup of old plant material, thatch, and grain. instead of thatch. protocol. Sprigs should be cut into the surface, preferably in at
A suggested alternative is to use Certified Tifway or Tift 94 sod. poor playing surface during periods of stress (i.e. Mini Verde has a deep root system that stands up very well in dry conditions and it grows quickly. 5. Light verticutting (1/32"-1/16" below cutting height) at least once every 2 weeks during active vegetative growth, alternate with topdressing. (5-7.5 kg/100m2, particle size on the finer side of the
TifEagle was developed by Dr. Wayne Hanna, USDA turfgrass breeder located at Tifton, GA. . We now have a much better understanding of the maintenance practices that will provide good putting surfaces for a majority of the year. these sites showed that TifEagle produces a premium
Scalping can also be due to excessive thatch buildup. ft.) or otherwise treated to eliminate contaminating seeds and vegetative plant parts. It is a quality turf that is being used insub tropic and tropical regions where brackish or salt water is used for irrigation. Unauthorized propagation is prohibited. (32C) and full sun, irrigate immediately after cutting
growing slower, but once every week in the summer when
Aside from mitigating winter injury issues, playability during winter months also needs to be considered. at least twice yearly on sand greens. grasses, and even many of the new superdwarfs, just can't stand up to
irrigation of sand-based greens planted to shallow-rooted ultradwarf bermuda-grass cultivars, or increased use of thiophanate methyl in summer for bermudagrass decline, thereby inducing an increase in this non-target disease. Call Us 803.263.4231. It acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it. The rhizominous growth habit with appropriate topdressing and verticutting provides an excellent seedbed for uniform overseed establishment. surfaces. a. every 3 weeks to improve root growth, plant health, and
Greens contours may need to be
California from 1993 to1997. Without sand, the stolons and rhizomes become
One of the main differences between bentgrass putting greens and ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens is the way in which they grow. Insist on TifEagle. Lets Talk Greens: Which Putting Surface Works Best? - Coastal Golfaway frequency to twice per day, then once per day, then
Topdressing maintains pore space in
available to intercept sunlight and to produce energy for
If
E. Light grooming can be a useful practice to prevent grain and improve quality of cut. The benefits of applying growth regulators include improved shade and drought tolerance, and reduced top growth which improves playability. Vegetative Growth. and 60C) in the center of a box showed variable amounts
Improving winter hardiness: A number of
adjusted according to test recommendations before
TifEagle on a straight sand root zone until there is an
can also be effective. PDF TifEagle: Make Sure You Have a Good Mechanic and an Extra Set of Bedknives members. environmental condition (higher cut if cloudy, cool, poor
Toro Greensmaster 3300/3400 DPA cutting unit set . The mutation was selected out of Tifgreen putting greens in South Carolina and researchers propagated this field stock and released Tifdwarf in 1965. potassium levels on soil reports and maintain high
without excessive thatch is critical for good overseeding
front roller or somewhere in front of the bedknife)
We double verticut green bi-weekly thought the golfing season followe. mowers. No matter what your favorite putting surface is, Myrtle Beach has a nice variety of them and for the most part they are always in tip top shape. frequently, at least 2 to 3 times per week, such that
maximum rates:
Use consistent, good quality
TifEagle was bred, evaluated, developed and released by Wayne Hanna at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA. TifEagle was evaluated on over 25 golf course environments from North Carolina to Barbados and California from 1993 to 1997. turf density. Double mowing will add speed
periods will not reduce the amount of injury, but will
YOUR greens each week and implement only the practices
is maintained at putting green height on the turf farm,
Water requirements are similar to Tifdwarf.Irrigate immediately after distributing and cutting in sprigs. surface performance. enhance infiltration. don't hesitate to "Ask The Expert". In several instances, stress induced by aggressive verticutting has caused severe outbreaks of persistent disease symptoms. Use particle SGN (size
Ultradwarf putting greens have come a long way since they became popularized in the 1990s. N
We've got answers. General Management Guidelines During Active
kgs/100m2)
Seasonal Cultural Management Practices for Aging Subtropic Ultradwarf Keene says that the differences in manage-ment practices between Tifdwarf and TifEagle makes for extra work in having different mowing and verticutting heights and schedules. No other grass has a growth pattern quite like Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass and therefore no other bermuda grass can produce the exceptional putting surface that the Champion Dwarf green can. A. The resources allocated to keep bentgrass on life support during southern summers e.g., pesticides, frequent hand watering and walk mowing are typically redirected to maintenance practices that produce high-quality putting surfaces. Therefore, each superintendent considering TifEagle is encouraged to review these suggested management practices to determine if the Greens Committee and golf course budget will support the required management inputs. TifEagle is an ultradwarf hybrid green couch variety suitable for golf and bowling greens that tolerates routine close mowing. For golf course owners, this means more maintenance, more materials, more labor and no doubt more money. In tropical climates, try to
TifEagle's tolerance to close mowing gives the superintendent an excellent tool to manage and control spring transition. It is especially important to rogue foreign contaminants
is rapidly growing. "You're just trying to remove all the grass. As with most diseases, it is important to implement sound cultural practices to manage organic content, promote good drainage and enhance overall turf health to reduce disease severity.
Lightly irrigate the green to provide lubrication for the verticutting blades. (particularly deep and aggressive) may create an
hydrophobic because of its density. As temperatures moderate in the fall, applications of potassium are also common. Backtrack verticutting is most effective and keep in mind that verticutting down grain will be the most aggressive direction. C. Maintain high levels of K (up to 1N:2K)
thatch layer, soil that is incompatible with the greens
Topdress lightly at about four weeks such
The first pass should be made in the most aggressive direction (down grain) and the second in the opposite direction, but on the same pass. Improve the speed, consistency and playability of your greens. cutting-in operations. Off-types In Ultradwarf Putting Greens - USGA C. Coverage should be 100% within 45 days
It will be extremely
The following bullets outline the backtrack verticutting process: The most commonly used PGRs on ultradwarf greens are trinexapac-ethyl (Primo Maxx) and prohexadione calcium (Anuew). budget will support the required management inputs. Several morphological characteristics give TifEagle its unique advantages: $ excellent root system development and structure$ high quality putting surfaces at cutting heights of 0.125" and lower$ rhizomatous rather than stoloniferous growth habit$ superior color under cool conditions$ tolerance to verticutting$ rapid regrowth from mechanical injury. Aerification: A good goal for aerification
a. Poa trivialis alone or with 10-20% bentgrass. mowed at 0.125 inch (3.2mm). How often should you Verticut greens? The longer growing season will
reserves for the plant. Use higher rates of N during periods of active
If too much pulling occurs, try verticutting in a different direction e.g., cross-grain. cool conditions
background, turf density, and ability to tolerate
Typical annual nitrogen fertilizer rates for ultradwarf greens are in the range of 4.0-6.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. C. Increase fertility to encourage bermudagrass
The last option would be to raise the height. inch (3.2mm). rate so that the entire green develops at the same rate. There's a wealth of information about
per pound of N. Fertility levels will vary depending on
Sprigbed (Stolonbed) preparation: The
Thatch
These grasses require less water; can be cut closer and will roll faster and truer. Monitor
Regular light topdressing applications should
Weed Control is similar to Tifdwarf. mechanical sand rake or comparable machine combined with
should result in a shorter interval between establishment
are below 25F. A. Preplant suggestions:
Use heavier applications if necessary to fill in
Sign in to access your AXS Fan Account to manage your tickets. Verticutting during active growth periods will not reduce the amount of injury, but will shorten the . (Note: we recommend higher
Establishment: Establishment from sprigs or sod is similar to Tifdwarf. Likewise, putting greens should be verticut and . Compared to bentgrass, ultradwarfs (which include Champion, Mini Verde, and Tifeagle) grow much more agressively both vertically and horizontally. Brushing. least once daily at 0.156 inch (4.0mm) or lower during
IV. Typical use rates in the summer months are around 3 fluid ounces per acre, per week. smoother and consistent putting greens. vertical mowing is used in preparation, leave plenty of
throughout the day during germination and seedling
Grooming should be more aggressive when the grass is
6. benefit from vertical mowing in two directions, whereas
Featuring fine leaf blades, short internodes, and high shoot density, it makes for an excellent putting service. C. Seeding rate: total 10-20 lbs/1000 sq. 2 lb/1000 sq ft (1.0 kgs/100m2). An official website of the United States government. of play (higher cut to tolerate more traffic),
seeds and vegetative plant parts. The type of sand used varies, but many have implemented a two-sand system where a sand with fewer coarse particles and no very-coarse particles (> 1 mm) is used for routine topdressing. of a good wetting agent, frequent quadratine
TifEagle, like most other bermudagrasses, needs full
as high as 0.180 inch [4.5mm] during the cloudy and rainy
and a high quality putting surface, but only if the turf
Fertility: Similar to Tifdwarf, but more attention should be placed on fertility levels of TifEagle, especially nitrogen. Some greens may
least two directions, and the surface firmed with a
Practices such as mowing, topdressing, light verticutting, applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) and water management are some of the most critical components of a successful ultradwarf management program. TifEagle is a patented and licensed variety. solid tines, star tines and/or a Hydrojet as needed to
High quality, uniform overseeded putting surfaces are routinely obtained. TifEagle has been shown to tolerate mowing 2-3 times per day at a height of 0.112". the front roller on the mowers to bring the roller and
grooming and light topdressing. Routine management during active vegetative growth. or aerify with 1/4 inch (6mm) quadra-tines or star-tines
Licensing
immediately after vertical mowing or aerification to help
Light and frequent topdressing accomplishes many things in ultradwarf putting green managment. difficult to remove or control. 59(20). The actual depth depends on the condition of the blades and the effect in the field. turf vigor, a growth regulator may also make the turf
Superior color under
It would be wrong to characterize ultradwarfs as being low-maintenance grasses, but they can deliver good results across the budget spectrum as long as maintenance resources match expectations. management depending on slope, angle of sun, macro and
Greens with detrimental
B. is used, apply cool, moist sand. Many superintendents find that optimum results occur when the weekly application rate is split in half and applied twice weekly during the summer growing months. In addition, verticutting removes removes excessive tissue. a uniform and healthy turf. high
/hectare) or otherwise treated to eliminate contaminating
green is also important. Species: Smaller seeded species are
surface should be as smooth and firm as possible. This takes three or four days. profiles of the proposed turf and determine if there is a
problem. yds/1000 sq. This is done through frequent, light. TifEagle putting greens
including pH should be performed and root zone fertility
9. Another of the Bermudagrass varieties, Tifeagle has also proven to be a premier putting surface. 5. During this period mowing height should be lowered to 0.125". N,but caution should be exercised to prevent and control
Some of My Thoughts on a New, High-End Ultradwarf same golf course may require a little different
This is another elevated event on the PGA Tour, as such the field is extremely strong. grass (fertility, disease, nematodes, etc), A. TifEagle
root zone mix K 2 lb/ 1000 sq ft. minor elements. deep rooting. So do some of the superdwarfs. of
This leads to our next topic: topdressing. Fall applications of nitrogen can be beneficial for fall turfgrass quality and improved spring greenup (Richardson and Booth, 2021). K Maintain N:P:K ratio of at least 1:1:1. thatch by verticutting 1.25 inches (30mm) deep in late
provide optimum putting speeds with true ball rolls. 2. about 3.5- 4.0 DSM and 50% growth reduction EC of about
Controlling nematodes on the perimeter of the
C. Coverage should be 100% within 60 days. Overseed management: Summertime management that gives a healthy turf without excessive thatch is critical for good overseeding results. West Coast Turf Tifgreen 328 Bermuda Grass in SoCal Stimpmeter measured putting speed was 8.5 at the beginning and near 10 ft. at the end of the test period. Like all our hybrid bermudas, Tifgreen 328 is a drought tolerant grass, and requires very little water compared to cool season grasses like . Apply only enough nitrogen to maintain a quality putting surface. Thankfully, extensive research has been performed in this area and a summary of best management practices can be found in the USGA article Best Management Practices for Preventing Winter Injury on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens.. that is, a layer of stolons and rhizomes without sand, is
If the goal at a facility is to provide fast, firm and extremely high-quality putting greens, no cost savings should be expected. course environments from North Carolina to Barbados to
Why do we verticut and topdress greens so frequently? Fertility recommendations during establishment:
to successful Spring transition with Tifdwarf should be
appropriate for transition, lower cutting height to 0.125
the year of establishment and in the transition area. into the grooves, creating stripes. turf heal and recover. Overseeding ultradwarf greens is not necessary or recommended in most instances. quickly after thatch removal with a Graden mower. A. Multiple mowings per day is one of the best methods for altering the plant architecture to provide finer leaf blades, a more-upright growth habit and a smooth putting surface. For example, in the desert southwest where play typically drops off in the heat of the summer, some superintendents will perform triple aeration to avoid disrupting putting surfaces in late spring when the course is busy. Verticutting during active growth
Both MiniVerde and TifEagle grow much quicker than regular dwarves; MiniVerde grows twice as fast as TifDwarf, while TifEagle peaks at a mere 50% faster. growth and after vertical mowing or aerification. Apply fungicides curatively for any diseases
Overseeding recommendations? That said, if the goal is to overcome weaknesses in infrastructure or to simply provide healthy, dense turf then some savings may be realized by converting from bentgrass to an ultradwarf (Hartwiger and OBrien, 2008). Learn from your neighbors, but use their
Mow at
Winter injury is a concern in colder climates and proper precautions should be followed to reduce risk. One of the most important points to remember is the need to invest in black woven-polypropylene covers to protect the greens when temperatures are forecast to drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. within the layer, and poor
When weather and course conditions are
Number of verticut replications and depth will depend on the summertime management and the extent of the thatch layer. Spring transition: Practices that have led
The goal is to manage lateral growth and promote a fine-textured plant with upright growth not to harvest a significant amount of material. such as 5-20-20 on a weekly basis. scalping, spongy, etc. "Sunday also recovers better from verticutting and aerification, and requires less fungicide." Based on the test results, Easter chose Sunday for Broken Sound's Club Course greens renovation in 2018. accumulation of some organic matter. the superintendent an excellent tool to manage and
25F (minus 5C). | TifEagle Management Practices | Home. Use only freshly harvested, cool
is to impact 10-15% of the surface area at one time in
Of all the grasses that have been developed, TifEagle provides consistent playability and good . Thus, TifEagle is not recommended for collars. Thursday: Sunny, Max Wind 11mph. (3.2mm), spread sand, plant seed, and then topdress. vegetation. Verticutting - Sterling Golf Management Inc Please contact us for your next golf trip and be sure to ask us about the greens youll be putting on!! It for one fills in any inconsistencies in the putting surface, adds firmness, reduces the impact of grain, reduces algae, and most importantly dilutes the soil profile, leading to better water infiltration, more oxygen for roots, and disease prevention. that is best for your course, depending on several
leaf area is available to intercept the light. successful when incorporated into the TifEagle management
quality and thin the overseed canopy. Mowing height should be gradually lowered to 0.140 inch
sod, greens should be aerified with core removal and
preferred. be continued on a weekly or biweekly schedule when grass
However, during extended periods of stress, height of cut should be raised to 0.156". develop above the soil, making them more susceptible to
B. I. active
This is the verticut machine that is used on our greens here at Gull Lake Country Club. E. In the northern part of the transition zone,
light irrigation after turf is established, to encourage
The intent is to help suppress mutations i.e., off-types. Benefits of Certified TifEagle Bermudagrass For Golf Greens The specific management protocol for
2. that may not be necessary for others. Calabash Golf Package (Ask About Free Replays). levels. turf. Turfgrass performance and health must be evaluated regularly to determine what HOC is best suited for your course. When weather and course conditions are appropriate for transition, lower cutting height to 0.125" or less. If considering using sod, take several
quickly from mechanical injury, has better color, and is extremely cold-hardy,
I am grateful for your patience and willingness to help me learn Carbide-tipped blades are not ideal for this treatment. (60C) were dead. superintendents have had good experience in removing
growth. Tifdwarf has smaller and shorter leaves, stems and internodes and the leaf blades are dark green in color and have the finest texture of the hybrid Bermuda grasses. TifEagle is recommended for closely mowed areas ONLY. foliar diseases.