Most recently we had discussions of digging it up, which would entail stripping the top several inches of turf and root zone. We would then have to add new greens construction sand and re-seed the green. The major downsides are the green complex would be closed from mid August to April the following year. The agronomic practices and how the green plays would be different from the rest of the golf course for a couple of seasons while it matures.
Before we get to that, there is another option we have initiated. There is a product in trial right now called PoaCure. It is not available for sale in the United States yet, but we have been lucky enough to get selected for a demonstration trial. After recently seeing the results other clubs are getting we feel this could be a game-changer.
Here's how it works: we sprayed two applications of the product this fall on the front half of the green. Then in the spring we will spray 4 applications on the back half of the green, overlapping the middle section. The spring treatments require more applications because the Poa is actively growing. The Poa that has been sprayed this fall on the front half of the green has gone off color (picture below). We won’t see it disappear on the front half of the green until the spring when the Bentgrass is actively growing. The results of PoaCure at other golf courses are showing reduction and elimination of the Poa on the greens. A research professor will be monitoring our green through the process.
The long-term outlook for the PoaCure is both curative (gets rid of the Poa we have) and preventative (work it into the annual spray program so the Poa stays out) throughout the entire course once it becomes available for purchase. In the short-term we are optimistic it will be the solution to #4. The results so far are promising!
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| Notice the spots turning yellowish-white on the left side and no color difference on the right side. The Poa turning yellowish-white is the PoaCure slowly killing the plant. |
