Steve Malloy

To a golfer, few things are as satisfying as playing a good game of golf on a course with mature trees lining each side of the fairway. Players come to the course for the game but also to appreciate the calming beauty that a golf course can offer. However, it has long been known that trees on golf courses can wreak havoc with turfgrass quality and playability. For us, trees and the work they create have become a part of […]

Winterkill is an easy problem to define but difficult to understand. Winterkill simply put, is when turf dies during the winter. However, understanding the mechanism’s that cause winterkill whether it be ice, crown hydration, low temperature kill or desiccation is not that simple. Creating effective prevention strategies and formulating actual recovery tactics can be complex, time consuming and at times experimental. What causes winterkill? Winterkill is a catch all term describing winter injury to turf that can occur through a […]

There are two reasons for covering greens turf during the winter months in the northern climate of the U.S. 1) To protect the turf from cold, dry winter winds. 2) To help prevent the forma on of ice on the greens surface. But, not all cultivars on our northern greens are the same… some need extra protec on and some actually benefit with no protection. The most susceptible turf species to winter damage is Poa Annua (poa). Poa plants are […]

One of the unique aspects of golf is that it is a game of integrity.  There are no umpires or referees; quite simply… there is no on course supervision. Instead, the game relies on the integrity of the individual – the golfer – to show consideration to others, abide by the rules and to have respect for the course. Over my more than 30 years as a golf course superintendent I’ve seen virtually every imaginable type golfer behavior… some good… […]