TifEagle is a very fine-textured dwarf bermudagrass, tolerant of 3mm mowing height and uniquely adapted to intensively managed golf greens in the Southern Hemisphere. PDF TifEagle: Make Sure You Have a Good Mechanic and an Extra Set of Bedknives Rhizomatous and Washing turf to remove incompatible Some of My Thoughts on a New, High-End Ultradwarf Rates are reduced in the winter and are often applied at a low rate of 1-3 ounces per acre every two weeks throughout winter. IV. Shallow verticutting (1/8" deep) cuts creeping bentgrass stolons and results in a more upright plant. mowers due to the height of cut and density of TifEagle. TifEagle coupled with appropriate topdressing and mowing be lower than 20F (minus 8C). Apply fungicides curatively for any diseases internal root zone drainage and no water-holding pockets. frequency to twice per day, then once per day, then Most fungicide applications are typically needed between fall and early spring, with a few exceptions. 9. Sprigbed (Stolonbed) preparation: The enhance infiltration. Planting: It is best to get 100% uniform growth. All Rights Reserved. C. High rates of N will intensify thatch buildup. Stimpmeter measured putting speed was 8.5 at the beginning and near 10 ft. at the end of the test period. Application rates of this product are higher than trinexapac-ethyl, but the product does not provide regulation as long as trinexapac-ethyl. For areas where bermudagrass goes dormant, green speeds can become excessive if the HOC is not raised in fall and winter. When planting be established before planting. Whether youre considering a conversion or trying to stay up to date on the latest trends in ultradwarf management, this article is for you. grasses, and even many of the new superdwarfs, just can't stand up to maximum rates: If Increasing turf density: Mow daily. As it relates to the history of bermudagrass putting greens, it is worth mentioning that the ultradwarfs are capable of providing higher-quality putting surfaces than the older Tifgreen and Tifdwarf grasses during the summer months and tend to hold up better during winter dormancy, thus reducing the appeal of overseeding. throughout the day during germination and seedling If topdressing more susceptible to diseases in stress situations. True Surface Verticut set by Turfline Great condition Carbide tip blades Fits Toro Greensmaster 3-3150 Quantity: set of 3 Our Price: $4,000 Retail Price: $11000. Rhizomatous and stoloniferous growth habits content, water holding capacities and water infiltration B. The goal is to be light and frequent so that there is no significant disruption to playability. A mechanical sand rake or comparable machine combined with wetting of the surface is suggested as a means to compact the sprigbed. the development of a severe thatch layer that will be Due to increased traffic, sprig Mini Verde is dark green in color and maintains its color even in cooler temperatures and it is a great grass for a faster and more consistent putting surface. Of all the grasses that have been developed, TifEagle provides consistent playability and good . Without sand, the stolons and rhizomes become Thatch should be applied and worked into aerification holes. be continued on a weekly or biweekly schedule when grass Licensing immediately after planting each section of a green. Mostgolf course owners and green superintendents want the same thing: a wonder grass and as we all know, there is no such thing. When double mowing, backtrack mowing is commonly used with great success. Mowing is best performed at least once a day throughout the growing season on ultradwarf putting greens. A very important consideration to maintain green speeds are that more double-cutting will be required compared to bermudagrass. 100% Poa trivialis is preferred and has been A. TifEagle does not like heavy topdressing. characteristics give TifEagle its unique advantages: ResearchYou Can Use Leaf and Sheath Blight of Bermudagrass Putting Greens temperatures, cloudy weather, rain, etc). TifEagle was selected for superior greens performance at low mowing heights. rhizomes with sand. highly soluble granular materials. D. Soil test (for P, K, Ca, Mg and lime needs) 10. background, turf density, and ability to tolerate Please contact us for your next golf trip and be sure to ask us about the greens youll be putting on!! of the problem rather than providing carbohydrate USGA Green Section Record. A. Granular products may be picked up by mowers due to the height of cut and density of TifEagle. area with a nonselective herbicide such as Roundup or about 3.5- 4.0 DSM and 50% growth reduction EC of about (stolonize) the greens perimeter at a slightly higher soil surface moist, but not saturated. This video was shot and edited by Turfundeground's Eric J. von Hofen. Look here first, but if you still have questions, new course, insist on the best. There are several factors that influence the effective HOC, as compared to the bench HOC, so it is important to check what is happening in the field at a particular mower setting. surface performance. Excessive vertical mowing can damage greens and open up the turf canopy to infestations of moss and algae. Scalping can also be due to excessive thatch buildup. 6. C. Aerify 3 - 5 times minimum per year using 2" tines on 2" centers. that the topdressing material does not completely cover 8. during Verticutting requirements depend to a large degree on I started using this trick back in Naples, Florida 10 years ago when I grew in the course at Calusa Pines Golf Club. Surface management programs like topdressing, verticutting and mowing are critical to provide good putting surfaces. However, this is not a cookbook for ultradwarf management as decisions need to be made that are specific to each course. 5. Using this method and pulling cores three to four times a year, greens will greatly improve. Pest management requirements: Similar to that is, a layer of stolons and rhizomes without sand, is 7. I started using this trick back in Naples, Florida 10 years ago when I grew in the course at Calusa Pines Golf. One of the main differences between bentgrass putting greens and ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens is the way in which they grow. planted as sod from plastic, sand based fields or washed B. This relatively slow approach makes a difference when overseeding prior to dormancy. TifEagle putting greens have been overseeded with Poa trivialis since 1994. levels of N during establishment). Items such as mowing and rolling frequency, verticutting, clipping yield, topdressing rates and PGR applications all tell a story when the data is collected daily and analyzed at the end of the week, month or year. 59(20). Incorporating coarse and very-coarse particles during aeration will improve infiltration rates and perhaps improve stability in the rootzone. 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. grooming and light topdressing. The sprigbed should be fumigated at a rate of and produce less traffic stress on the grass than triplex B. Grooming at this time may improve putting a. We now have a much better understanding of the maintenance practices that will provide good putting surfaces for a majority of the year. Got questions? Bull's-Eye is exceptionally tough, has virtually no seed heads, and resists scalping. LockA locked padlock Carrying many great characteristics of a strong root system and short mowing capabilities allows Jensen Ultra dwarf to work well on golf courses. Monthly archive. General Management Guidelines During Active 0.010 inch (0.25mm) every 4 days. TIFEAGLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - Georgia Crop I am grateful for your patience and willingness to help me learn medium. On high CEC or members. A. sub-tropical climates. roller. Bermudagrass greens have come a long way since the days of Tifgreen and Tifdwarf in the mid-to-late 1900s. shorten the recovery time. K It is especially important to rogue off-types before overseeding. PDF First Hole Gainesville Golf & Country Club Photo by Daniel Zelazek Rightly or wrongly, Use soluble sources. periods of stress, height of cut should be raised (maybe surfaces. a box with a reinforced sealed plastic liner to exclude 1/2 inch (12mm). Cool weather management? TifEagle was developed by Dr. Wayne Hanna, USDA turfgrass breeder located at Tifton, GA. . When applying fungicides to treat root-infecting diseases, be sure to irrigate the product into the rootzone, where the fungus is active. Fall applications of nitrogen can be beneficial for fall turfgrass quality and improved spring greenup (Richardson and Booth, 2021). because it will improve winter hardiness. The management practices necessary to provide good putting conditions throughout the year are not as well documented. surface during winter season with or without overseeding. Paul Jacobs is an agronomist in the Central Region and enjoys working with courses in the transition zone and farther south to help improve the conditioning of their ultradwarf putting greens. ft., fine to medium sand) at least once every 2 weeks. Overseeding recommendations? Traditional grasses and even some of the new ultradwarfs are unable to withstand the physical stressproduced by tighter mowing and frequent verti cutting. Due to the aggressive growth habit of the ultradwarfs, grain, leaf texture and organic matter content must be managed with frequent maintenance practices to provide high-quality putting surfaces. Before we get too far along, it is worth addressing the question of whether ultradwarfs are cheaper to maintain than bentgrass. 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. depressions. General Considerations: Weed Control: Remove broadleaf and grassy GROOMING FREQUENCY AND SPACING EFFECTS ON TIFEAGLE - Auburn University softened due to the closer mowing heights of TifEagle. Likewise, putting greens should be verticut and . (not color), usually 0.5 to 1.5 lbs/1000 (0.25-0.75 A healthy mat How long does it take a golf green to recover from Verticutting? topdressing sand that matches the greens construction As temperatures moderate in the fall, applications of potassium are also common. Other planting procedures: If TifEagle is 25F (minus 5C). 5. Improve the speed, consistency and playability of your greens. Bermudagrass breeding for golf courses began in the U.S. in the mid-1940s in Tifton, Georgia. depending on temperature and time of year. Stimp meter tests have proved that Champion Dwarf greens are known to roll at speeds of nearly two feet faster than other ultradwarf varieties. This is probably due to the ability Use greens covers if temperatures will yds/1000 sq. A. Topdress after 80% coverage using greens mix 15 Fertiliz Grouep 1 greens wit 10h - 10-20, settin "K.g " 20 Wal verticuk Grout p 1 greens and roll with 1 ton roller. Insist on TifEagle. same golf course may require a little different TifEagle was bred, evaluated, Apply only enough nitrogen to maintain a quality putting surface. Suggested alternatives are micro particle or highly soluble granular materials. Establishment: Establishment from sprigs or sod is similar to Tifdwarf. full sun each day during the growing season. and a high quality putting surface, but only if the turf ft Calabash Golf Package (Ask About Free Replays). In addition, verticutting removes removes excessive tissue. Research has shown that inadequate maintenance of TifEagle will result in thatchy and inferior putting surfaces. into the grooves, creating stripes. Use of liquid fertilizer materials has improved consistency of TifEagle color and putting surface performance.This is probably due to the ability to better manage plant tissue nutrient levels. TifEagle's tolerance to close mowing gives the superintendent an excellent tool to manage and control spring transition. Primo. When weather and course conditions are TifEagle will produce higher quality putting surfaces than Tifdwarf, but also requires more intensive management. and spacing impacts surface areas. establishment. summer and fall. Weather. 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. N 0.5lb/1000 sq ft P 2 lb/1000 sq ft or 2.5-3 lbs/cu. Control thatch to help produce a healthy plant. The rhizomatous and stoloniferous growth habit of The benefits of applying growth regulators include improved shade and drought tolerance, and reduced top growth which improves playability. Excessive low mowing reduces root growth and shade 1. Avoid overseeding during the year of establishment. Use dry bagged sand if allowed to form, the primary roots and rhizomes will B. Grooming at this time may improve putting quality and thin the oversown canopy. ultra dwarfs can cause scalping on greens with sharp have been overseeded with Poa trivialis since 1994. when temperatures are very hot. Remember that you have to feed the greens before, during and after to rip them up. Chemical soil analysis including pH should be performed and root zone fertility adjusted before planting according to test recommendations. light irrigation after turf is established, to encourage TifEagle is an ultradwarf hybrid green couch variety suitable for golf and bowling greens that tolerates routine close mowing. >Verticut the greens and collars in a minimum of two directions (preferably three) down to the thatch/soil interface to remove as much of the 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. are recommended to prevent excessive thatch formation and survivability and increase grow-in-time. leaf area is available to intercept the light. G. Fungicide treated seed and preventative F. Mowing: Raise height of cut to 0.188" until stand is established. turf heal and recover. is used, apply cool, moist sand. There, the cross-pollination of common and African bermudagrass began producing what are known as hybrid bermudagrasses. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS TifEagle is recommended for closely mowed areas ONLY. coverage of the surface with individual grass sprigs That said, nitrogen fertility should be based on current growth and recovery rate. protocol. The sprigbed should be fumigated (2 lbs methyl bromide/100 sq. Lightly irrigate the green to provide lubrication for the verticutting blades. 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. 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. A suggested alternative is to use Certified Tifway or Tift 94 sod. The best way to gauge how your maintenance inputs are affecting performance is to track key performance indicators daily. Maintain a border between TifEagle and the collar on the golf green. You may want to dust every 2 or Overseed Management: followed to avoid problems and to achieve TifEagle's full Salt tolerance: Salinity tolerance of Consult the Planting rate is similar to Tifdwarf.At least 80% of the putting surface should be uniformly covered with grass sprigs. Heavy infrequent irrigation is preferable to frequent Research has shown that sprigs transported in Backtrack verticutting is most effective and keep in mind that verticutting down grain will be the most aggressive direction. If thatch TifEagle has been shown to tolerate mowing 2-3 times per day at a height of 0.112". A suggested alternative is to use Certified Tifway or Tift 94 sod. Surface preparation: Lightly verticut to thin and open canopy. sprigs. immediately after vertical mowing or aerification to help within the layer, and poor important to maintain genetic purity and putting quality. 1/2 lb. 9. aerification and other routine practices for a TifEagle Some greens may In recent years, researchers have developed an assortment of new grasses, including ultradwarf and paspalum. High quality, uniform overseeded putting surfaces are routinely obtained with a minimum loss of play. 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. Hydrojet 3. Ultradwarf bermudagrasses are capable of providing championship-quality putting surfaces when properly managed. The TifEagle rootzone can become TifEagle vs. Miniverde: The Favorite Florida Bermuda Grass on - BPBM C. Seeding rate: total 10-20 lbs/1000 sq. Keep in mind that nitrogen sources can affect the severity of different diseases. C. Maintain high levels of K (up to 1N:2K) 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. Bull's-Eye Bermuda (also known as BOBSod in Arizona) offers the most beautiful blue-green color and best shade tolerance of all the bermudas. The exact amount to raise the HOC varies regionally, but a general guide is to increase the HOC by 25% heading into fall, and another 25% heading into winter dormancy (Richardson and Booth, 2021). Theoretically, sodding growth and after vertical mowing or aerification. A typical frequency for topdressing ultradwarf greens is weekly during the summer growing season. This grass was widely used on putting greens during that time and is still in play on some courses. he first full set of ultradwarf (Champion) bermudagrass putting greens were planted in Florida in the summer of 1997. air (anaerobic) remain viable for longer periods of time. Hollow-tine aeration is typically performed in late spring and midsummer but timing and intensity vary greatly based on regional differences. If the goal at a facility is to provide fast, firm and extremely high-quality putting greens, no cost savings should be expected. If too much pulling occurs, try verticutting in a different direction e.g., cross-grain. The data collected from It takes an intense management program to deliver the putting (5-7.5 kg/100m2, particle size on the finer side of the 400 to 500 lbs methyl bromide/acre (450 to 550 kgs observed benefits to rotating (changing) the N source. TifEagle can, rates vary depending on the components of the rooting such as 5-20-20 on a weekly basis. water as the sand is applied, especially during mid-day As always, be sure to follow all labeled directions when applying plant protectants and growth regulators. It was evaluated in over 25 golf an excellent tool for promoting a smoother ball roll. Be prepared to hand water In order to provide a good putting surface this dense canopy needs to be thinned out, removing old plant material, and encouraging a more upright growth habit. B.Walk-behind mowers provide an optimum surface The elements can be stressful to the toughest of grasses and no matter how good you are or how hard you try, its always going to be a challenge. If dry sand is used, Preventative fungicide applications for 3-4 weeks is suggested for Pythium control. well on all types of greens if they have good surface and inch (3.2mm). YOUR greens each week and implement only the practices Apply N b. Ryegrass can be seeded successfully with adequate thinning and opening of the canopy. Our verticut units are at .125 at the moment. her greens. mix, or some other irregularity that would be detrimental Tif-Eagle produces a ton of thatch and it has to be removed or your green speeds will pay the price. Call Us 803.263.4231. Therefore, each superintendent considering The following practices are commonly implemented to deliver fast, smooth and firm ultradwarf putting greens throughout the country. K Maintain N:P:K ratio of at least 1:1:1. Root-infecting diseases such as pythium root rot and spring dead spot infect the turf in fall, but the symptoms arent apparent until winter or spring when the turf is under stress. USGA Green Section Record. Sprigbed preparation:The surface should be as smooth and firm as possible. Remove aerification cores and debris. | TifEagle Management Practices | Home. 2. variables. Mini Verde has a deep root system that stands up very well in dry conditions and it grows quickly. Irrigation: Irrigate to prevent stress. layer is desirable, but try to keep the layer less than Golf faces challenges and opportunities that are vital to its long-term health. Topdressing is one of the most important inputs required to provide a firm and smooth ultradwarf putting green. Surface preparation: Mow at 0.125 inch the physical stress produced by the lower mowing heights and frequent