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Tim, Good work, We preached Brown at Atlantic City CC, which I owned and was the "SUPER" in the 70's and 80"s.Dry never hurt our "SEASIDE " Poa, Much!!, Doug Fraser, ps May be calling you re some work

The proof will be in the scores.....let's wait and see. You're right on....

Tim, Having experienced the coldest winter in SW Fl recent history, our course played firm and fast all season. Although we lost no turf and the greens were only slightly off color, the green speed flirted with virtually unfair speeds of over 13.5 for several weeks and fairways were extremely tight and fast. Tour professionals would have loved the conditions mother nature provided, however the average member with an 18 handicap grumbled about the tight fairways and the unfair greens speeds. I feel we are a long way from having "brown, firm and fast" as an accepted norm on the average members course. This is a result of members with limited skills and golf architects designing courses that simply require a degree of lushness to keep the ball in play near hazards and course boundaries and also many courses were developed and sold as "backyard eye candy" in many residential communities. By the way, I personally love the off green firm and fast conditions as do any real students of the game; unfortunately in today's golfing world there are lots of people golfing, but few golfers.....

Going Brown, a Poor Message Dan Dinelli, CGCS Just when the world is appreciating the concept of “green” our industry seems to want to go “brown”! The new coined phrase “brown is beautiful” when it comes to golf concerns me. The idea is being sold on the assumption that “brown” turf requires fewer inputs, saves money, is better for the environment and plays better. This will be a topic for some time driven by a few key issues. The industry is trying to break itself from the “Augusta effect” where all plants are growing beautifully and the look of perfection is seen in all elements within the landscape. “Over grooming is over spending” is the phrase often associated with Augusta like conditions, different then “brown is beautiful”. Some golfers enjoy the beautified landscape enhanced with flowers and shrubs, others feel it distracts from the purity of the game. The fact is most budgets can’t afford the intensity of care golf-scapes like Augusta require. In some areas, the drive to “go brown” is driven by water conservation and restrictions, common in many areas around the country. Other areas are concerned with water quality and the application of inputs, like Nitrogen and Phosphorous. Many scientific studies conclude that inputs, when used properly, pose extremely low risk when used on turf. However, governing bodies often overlook these studies in their efforts to propose broad bans. The expense in over-seeding dormant turf is another driving force behind “brown is good”. Lastly, many of the better golfers enjoy the dry, firm and fast surface thinning turf offers, similar to the courses where the game originated. Regardless of the reasons driving this new trend, I feel it is threatening to long-term revenues, playability, health of the facility and the environment. The challenge with “brown is beautiful” or “brown is the new green” is that it can work in certain areas and be devastating in others. Yes, one can fairly argue over-seeding dormant turf to maintain the green look is spending money poorly, for the game can continue to be played on dormant turf and the grass will actively grow again when the conditions are favorable. There are grasses that can survive ok when pushed into dormancy, like Bluegrass common in Midwest lawns and prevalent in our inner roughs. During hot dry summers, non-irrigated rough often turns brown and gets very thin. Unless the stressful growing conditions get extreme, the turf can still be playable. However, these are the areas where we actively fight weeds as well as having to make turf repairs. The problem is not all grasses tolerate dormancy; some like Poa annua simply die. Bentgrass tolerates some brief level of dormancy, but typically dies under the added stress of putting green like conditions. The variability in tolerance to stress and seasonal hardiness within turf species causes much confusion to the non-turf professional. Much of what is learned by the turf professional is to prevent brown, stressed turf during the growing season. It is well documented that healthy growing turf is the best defense against many pests, diseases, weeds and wear. Grasses used in our climate on greens, tees and fairways are typically Poa annua (considered a weed by many for it lacks winter and summer hardiness, invades the turf with its prolific seed production) and bentgrass. We try to favor bentgrass for it is a hardier species that tolerates weather extremes better then Poa, but Poa eventually becomes part of the turfgrass stand. These grasses, when starved for both water and nutrients, become stressed and vulnerable to some potentially devastating diseases that can wipe out the stand. We are reminded of this from time to time during stressful growing conditions. Rumors quickly circulate when turf dies in key playing areas at courses that unfortunately experience loss. Turf loss can compromise membership retention, playability, rounds played, revenues and the courses overall reputation. Sustainability is another buzz word used a lot today. In our climate and given the grasses we use, turf that continues to grow and function offers sustainable playing conditions. Stressed “brown turf” will not be capable of tolerating wear from play over time. The stand of turf will simply thin, allowing the surface to turn into barren soil. The potential short-term “savings” in going brown is offset when resources are used to bring these areas back to healthy, playable turf. Environmentally, healthy actively growing turf, defined by the plants ability to photosynthesize which requires the green color, offers far more environmental benefits then “brown” turf. The plants ability to cool the surface, filter the water and air, anchor the soil occurs best when the turf is healthy and active. The economy has recently strained maintenance budgets. As the industry responds and facilities budgets reflect new standards, golf-scapes will change at many courses. In the big picture, some feel the change will be better for the game by lowering the cost and making golf affordable for more people. I have seen the intensity in standards grow during my career. Sophisticated irrigation systems that almost mimic rain vs. the old manual quick coupler systems. Mowing heights on greens, tees and fairways are less than half of what they were just three decades ago driven by the quest for fast, firm playing conditions. Managing these ultra low mowing heights requires a barrage of equipment, an arsenal of inputs and staff to monitor the turfs life support systems that mimics an intensive care unit. Bunkers, once considered hazards, are now given the attention that rivals finely managed turf. Some say golfer demands drove these changes, others think superintendents took pride in demonstrating their skills. Regardless what drove the changes, these high standards is what is challenging budgets today. The key is balance. We must balance the turf’s health, playability, economics, and environmental concerns to meet reasonable expectations and function. In short, this is what Superintendents are trained to perform. The millions of dollars spent in research to better understand and manage turfs’ ecology, improving playability and spending money wisely is wasted when plant health is ignored. The training, tools and resources developed to allow practioners to grow healthy turf has little value when plant function is allowed to fail. “Going brown” in our climate is misunderstood and I feel is a poor message that could lead to very unattractive consequences for the golf course.

Tim I have to agree with all the statements above and they are valid concerns. This movement has to be intitated by the members not the Superintendents. Our problem is that we talk to each other we need to get this message in front of the members through a third party like Golf Digest. The way to get members attention is through reduced cost, I am sure most Superintendents agree that a blemish is considered a weakness in the eyes of their customers, however if the customer says we are ok with some inperfections then the cost will come down in our budgets. Until we have those assurances from our memberships the risk is too great and all the above concerns are valid.