Most superintendents don’t get to aerate as often as they would like, and that was something I have worked around for years, so I’m always looking to find other ways to raise my soil oxygen levels. Cultural practices help, but before learning about Agriox I wasn’t aware of a chemical product that would do the trick. I’m very happy with the conditions of my greens since we started using it, they look as good as they ever have, and I’ve noticed they recover from stress better than ever before. I sure am glad that it came along.
Mike Ray, Superintendent
Brevofield Golf Links
Wake Forest, NC
September 5th, 2008
With the increasing demand for education, more and more golf course superintendents are looking for new, cutting edge technologies to meet the ever changing demands placed on them due to growing environmental standards, all while maintaining confining budgets. Geoponics, together with Univar, was very pleased to be a part of this educational process between two neighboring turf regions. It was truly a rewarding experience to see the joining of two differing cultures for the specific cause of bettering our turf industry as a whole. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who made this union possible.
Agronomist Samuel Valentin and Agronomist Raul Perez from R. Maldonado & Co., Inc. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) visited with some of Naples, Florida’s golf courses to discuss some of the cultural and fertility practices of local superintendents with various fine, warm season grasses. Both Valentin and Perez state that environmentalism within the self-governing commonwealth of Puerto Rico is crucial for the future and stability of island’s tropical ecology. Valentin goes on to say, “In Puerto Rico, we are constantly looking at ways to reduce cost so that more people have the opportunity to protect the island’s soil and water resources. With regard to the benefits we are seeing, everyone can benefit from these programs.” It just goes to show that Together We Can Make A Difference!
Team Turf would like to share with you how golf course superintendents are reaching out to a growing Puerto Rican golf community. Below is a brief recap of their trip.
Naples National
Mr. Terry Wood, Golf Course Superintendent
Champion/Paspalum/419 Bermuda
While maintenance philosophies and practices will vary from one club to the next, Terry Wood explained that Champion Bermuda is a high maintenance turfgrass. Some of the most notable advantages, said Wood, is that it is finer and denser than that of other varieties he has managed. Wood continued Champion may require a little more attention, but the prominently noticeable recovery has definitely increased his appreciation for the variety.
Terry Wood explains the renovations Naples National is currently undertaking, as well as the benefits he has seen from the Agriox in both his greens and approaches.
Wood went on to share the benefits of Paspalum on the driving range and tees. He has noticed consistent color and manageability in both areas. He has plans to experiment with a new and upcoming variety of Bermuda called Celebration which boasts a cool season blue-green color and is said to be more drought and shade tolerant. Wood is firm believer in the conservation of natural resources and responsible environmental practices in both the management of turfgrass and his personal life as well.
The Quarry
Mr. Tim Haskins, Golf Course Superintendent
Paspalum
Haskins demonstrates how effective management of soils can be attained by using Agriox and Penterra, even shortly after nine inches of rain!
As we move into the future, fresh water will become more and more of an underlying issue for turf managers. Tim Haskins focused on the benefits of Paspalum and its tolerance to lower qualities of water and the benefits of water conservation. Haskins also elaborated that, although Paspalum will respond well to Nitrogen sources, our environment can benefit from the reduced amount of fertilizer needed for this particular species. He explained some of the challenges one could be faced with during establishment of this type of fine turf.
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
Mr. Brian Beckner, Golf Course Superintendent
TifEagle/419 Bermuda
Brian Beckner explained how important aerification and movement of water is through his TifEagle Bermuda greens. Beckner states that various practices from the use of two type of surfactant chemistries Humawet and Penterra assist in the management of water through the profile. Beckner elaborates further on how Agriox and its unique ability to increase dissolved oxygen within porespace water has dramatically reduced the need for outside sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in his high performance greens.
Brian Beckner demonstrates how proper aeration methods can greatly improve soil health.
Beckner also elaborated on the benefits of using organics in his fairways like Carbotein, stating he has seen tremendous improvements in the health and vigor of the turf he manages. Beckner is an immense advocate of environmental practices with regard to turf management and is continuously striving to better his knowledge, thus enhancing his pursuit of utmost professionalism for LaPlaya’s clientele and members.
The Strand Golf and Country Club
Mr. Scott Davis, Golf Course Superintendent
Floradwarf/419 Bermuda
Scott Davis explained the benefits and challenges he is faced with in his Floradwarf greens. Davis stated that Floradwarf Bermuda grows very tight and without a lot of grain which helps for roll consistency and speed. He went on to state that Floradwarf does not come without its own set up obstacles. One such obstacle is water. Consequently, he manages water on his greens very carefully with products like Humawet and Agriox. Davis said that this helps him keep the water in the root zone while saturating it with oxygen.
Davis also talked about how he maintains uniformity and plant health using the Grizzly Pro-Turf Program. He stated he has seen new growth and development from these economical environmental approaches, which has allowed for reallocation funds to other areas of his budget.
Scott Davis explains how managing Floradwarf can be a “whole different animal” which affords unique benefits to golfers.
August 21st, 2008
Our players expect a constant, quick, and smooth surface, but my grass has to be able to stand up to the heavy traffic of a busy resort environment and the stress of summer. I’ve used Agriox tank mixed with Humawet for the past year, ever since I met with a Geoponics Field Technician that suggested a program based on my specific situation. We go out at a 20 lbs./acre rate following aerification because we find our holes close up and heal quicker, which is a real help. The roots I have now are healthy, thick and long enough to hang out of the bottom of the tines, and the root mass holds together after the plugs are pushed and cleaned up.
Everything I’ve used from Geoponics has helped me get to where I need to be in one way or another. I had been using their foliar fertilizer Terrain, but found the green up to be more than I was looking for. After sharing my concerns with their technical staff, I was impressed to learn they took my feedback into account and created an analysis more suitable for bentgrass. I have since switched to Grizzly Northern to get the even feed I want with the color I prefer. I judge the state of my greens by keeping an eye on my clippings, and they are where I need them to be.
Over all I’ve seen a good return for my dollar, and I’ve talked to other superintendents that now use Geoponics products that are pleased with what they are seeing. Since we are cultivating healthier stands of turf, we can save a little here and there by cutting back on rates and spacing out, or even eliminating, certain treatments. It all adds up, and in the end you get your money back while being a good steward for the environment. I really believe that, or else I wouldn’t keep buying it.
Patrick Donelan, CGCS
Barefoot Resort & Golf
Myrtle Beach, SC
August 19th, 2008
When Agriox was introduced to me it seemed too good to be true. The fact that I hadn’t heard of a slow-release soil oxygen product like it before made me skeptical, but we had some spots on our Par-3 with heavy organic that made for a good trial. Once we saw the grass was becoming healthier and healing easier after aeration, we ordered a season’s worth for the championship course. The proof is in the pudding, and at our annual member/guest invitational recently (June ’08) our greens were as firm as we’ve ever had them despite putting out minimal water, in 100 degree temperatures, while double cutting and rolling all week.
I’m a big believer in the value of having high aerobic microbial counts, especially to help fight off pathogens, and in my view that is the primary benefit of increasing the dissolved oxygen in your soil moisture. We’ve also seen a reduction in the use of N, which shows me it is helping the plant to more completely access nutrients suspended in the soil. I have recommended the product to other superintendents around the country and will continue to do so. If any superintendents considering Agriox have doubts, I would take a call to discuss my positive experiences.
Sam Green, Superintendent
Eagle Point Golf Club
Wilmington, NC
June 10th, 2008
The first few times the Geoponics Consultant came by the course I ran him off because we get so many snake oil salesmen coming around. When somebody tells you they can put oxygen in your soil without aerating there’s no point in listening because everybody knows you can’t do that. If you could, then there would be another product like it, which there isn’t. But then I started talking to some other superintendents that were using Agriox and they told me they were seeing real benefits. Well, we can’t go off what we think, we have to go off what we know, so I tried it. After three applications I know for myself that it works because I’ve seen it intensify the effects of the other things we do.
It just makes sense that if your soil is healthy, then generally your grass will be too. Now when the bosses ask what’s wrong with the greens, which they all do, I just tell them “Nothing.” They like that answer. I’m very happy with the Penterra as well as the Agriox, and when people ask me what I’m doing to get them looking so good and playing so consistent, I recommend both products.
Wallace Chavis, Superintendent
Beau Rivage Golf Resort
Wilmington, NC
June 6th, 2008
Superintendents are creatures of habit and tend to be skeptical. It isn’t that we aren’t willing to try new things, it’s just that we’d rather see other people are using a product because studies don’t necessarily mean you’ll get results. Once some of my peers I respect were seeing benefits from Agriox, I decided to try it. After my second application the compliments started coming in about how firm and healthy the greens were. I would expect that from the newer ones, but the 9 year old greens are doing just as well. It doesn’t seem like I’m doing much for them to look this good, which I attribute to the Agriox. It is worth the price, and I think it should be a part of everyone’s program.
Marty Walker, CGCS
Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation
Leland, NC
June 5th, 2008
We have enjoyed working with the Geoponics products as they have shown to give very positive results with our Paspalum Greens. Specifically, the Agriox, Penterra and Carbotein have shown to have some unique qualities that our greens and soils really respond well to. Moreover, we have received good technical support from the Geoponics technical team to address specific issues that golf courses face on a regular basis. I would recommend these “Earth Chemistries” to anyone who works with professional grade turf and is looking for environmentally friendly products, cost effective applications and a timely technical service.
Tim Haskins
Golf Course Superintendent
The Quarry Golf Club
Naples, FL
June 3rd, 2008
We have been using Geoponics’ Grizzly Pro-Turf Program™ for about six months and have really seen great results in our Floradwarf greens. The response from this program has been positive in many aspects from initial color response, lateral growth, healthier soils, enhanced water management as well as cost effectiveness. We would recommend anyone try this program to see the positive environmentally friendly product results for themselves.
Scott Davis
Golf Course Superintendent
The Strand Golf Club
Naples, FL
June 3rd, 2008
I started using Agriox when my 25-year-old greens started going anaerobic after locking up at the top from a soil amendment. It was a real problem. We had to punch them every week, and there was even talk of having to rebuild. After a single application I could tell the soil smelled better. It’s six months later and my greens have never been healthier. Adding Penterra to the program really helped too. The other morning it stopped raining at 4:00 and I could have mowed my greens by 6:00. Before Penterra I couldn’t have even thought about it until at least noon. It is the single best product for what it is that I have used in 25 years as a superintendent. Anyone that doesn’t believe that can call me on my cell and I’ll tell them myself. If it ever goes off the market, I’ll buy a tanker full first.
Johnny Powell, Superintendent
843-272-3303
Possum Trot Golf Club
North Myrtle Beach, SC
May 22nd, 2008
It has been a constant struggle maintaining healthy ultra dwarf turf on our push up greens. Since the implementation of Agriox, our greens have remained healthy and consistent. We are able to withstand environmental pressures better than ever before and are able to rebound from any injury in half the time. The best part of it is that the product is environmentally friendly! If you have issues you have to battle every year and you haven’t tried Agriox yet, you should give it a try today.
Michael Noppenberg
Golf Course Superintendent
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
mikenoppenberg@playeagleridge.com
May 9th, 2008
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