Site Assessment in Developing an IPM Plan

The first step in site assessment is to create a series of maps of the property that document the current status of:

Drainage lines and patterns

• Is the system adequate to move typical amounts of moisture?
• Are there sections that have broken down and need to be repaired?

Irrigation system

• Does the system deliver water evenly and efficiently?
• Are there overlaps or gaps?

Water supply

• Is the water supply adequate throughout the growing season?
• What is the source of water?

Water quality

• Municipal water will have very different characteristics than surface (pond or stream) water in many situations.
• Surface water may have very small particles that can interfere with pesticides or clog equipment.
• Reclaimed water or gray water may have more salts, leading to plant stress.

Soil texture

• Are there differences from one part of the course to another?
• Were all greens constructed with a similar soil base and soil profile?
• Were all greens constructed at the same time?
• Are some soils heavier than others, resulting in drainage issues?

Elevation variations

• Courses with 100 feet of elevation difference or more can see a difference of 7 to 10 days in warm up in the spring. Insects, pathogens, and weeds often develop more quickly in these warmer locations.

Direction of slope

• In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing slopes result in warmer soil temperatures, which can lead to quicker development of insect or pathogen or weed populations, especially in the spring.

Shade patterns, including seasonal variations

• Shade reduces the photosynthetic efficiency of the plant and can cause stress. Knowing where shade is heaviest and how it changes through the seasons is very important.

Air circulation

• Greens that sit in a “bowl” often suffer from various diseases, in part because the air circulation is usually much lower than in other locations, and drainage sometimes is poor. As a result, relative humidity is higher and soils remain moist for long periods, favoring pathogen development.

Traffic patterns

• Greens with only one entry and exit point often will experience more compaction in that area, resulting in many additional stresses.
• Greens with limited pin placements will see more traffic and compaction in those areas.

Surface waters

• Ponds and streams often provide aesthetic beauty to a site, but great care must be taken when using any pesticides or fertilizers, to prevent run-off into those waters.

Historical areas of insect, nematode, or disease injury or weed infestations

• Past pesticide application records should provide some information if you are new to a property.
• Whenever you experience pest problems, create a file – WHAT was the pest, WHERE did you see it, WHEN did you see it, WHY do you think it might have showed up where it did?

Similarly, whenever you experience agronomic problems (e.g., localized dry spots, saturated soils, overfertilization, overwatering, compaction), keep a record of the occurrence (WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY)

• Incorporate notes from previous scouting / monitoring records
• Areas that would benefit from renovation or alteration or reconfiguring the layout of the hole.

Maps can be created from:

• Scorecards that include sketches of each hole
• Irrigation or drainage or property blueprints
• Place mats that have a line sketch of the hole layout
• Aerial photographs (perhaps from drones)
• Images from Google Maps or a similar satellite-generated mapping system
• Virtual, computer-generated maps

If the map does not already include these features, draw in key trees and shrubs, 150-yard markers, sprinkler heads, greens, approaches, tees, fairways, bunkers, surface water, cart paths, and other key landmarks.

Maps are helpful in:

Identifying infested areas that may need treatment.

• Spot-treating can reduce the amount of pesticide needed to manage an outbreak, saving material, labor, and wear on equipment.

Recognizing when the same areas are reinfested over time.

• Pathogens that are favored by moist soils may be more prevalent in areas where drainage is inadequate.
• Areas with favorable overwintering sites for insects may be more prone to infestation. Some insects lay eggs in near sprinkler heads to take advantage of the moist soils.
• Areas where turf is thin are subject to encroachment by weeds.

Identifying conditions that may contribute to pest problems.

• (For example, placing an overlay of Pythium activity over a drainage map often reveals a correlation. Areas where surface drainage is least efficient are often more susceptible to Pythium infestations.

Identifying areas in roughs and other locations that serve as harbors or reservoirs for pests.

Providing visual evidence of the locations of pest problems, improving communication with club officials, golfers, and the general public.

Before you get too far into identifying specific methods and plans that you want to incorporate into your IPM plan, you should evaluate your current situation. Past records are critical.

Ask yourself:

• What pests have caused the most trouble in the past few years?
• Are there agronomic strategies (e.g., deficit irrigation, refinements in spoon feeding nitrogen, increased mowing heights, improvement in drainage) you can incorporate into your maintenance plan to improve overall plant health?

Create, consult, or consolidate:

• Landscape and golf course profiles like maps or descriptions of native soils, topography, surface water, grass species and cultivars, fertility programs.
• Pest records give profiles of pests that have been active.
• Past expense records for pest management showing pesticides, sprayer purchases, renovations, overseeding, sodding, sprigging.
• Past pest problems that were difficult to prevent or correct.
• Past pest problems that resulted in the greatest number of complaints from golfers.
• Areas you have identified that would benefit from renovation with improved turfgrass species and cultivars.
• Areas where you might reduce the area “in play” and convert to native grasses or other native plants.
• Areas where IPM practices are likely to make the most difference such as where the tolerance level is higher and the pest has been active several years in a row.
• Areas where management is probably going to continue to require intensive preventive management in the near future like putting greens, approaches, fairways, tees, grounds near the clubhouse.
• Areas where you can conduct small-scale experiments to compare various practices.