Golfdom, April 2010
GOLFDOM S ANNUAL PUTTING SURFACE GUIDE 18 Golfdom A p r i l 2 0 1 0 PHOTO ABOVE COURTESY THE CLUB AT PELICAN BAY ON A F ifteen years ago golf course superintendents were much more apprehensive about rolling their courses greens than they are now They were saying No way those machines would be on my course because they were worried about compaction and bruising the turf says Thom Nikolai Ph D a turfgrass academic specialist at Michigan State University who has been conducting rolling research since 1994 Research changed that apprehension Now superintendents are rolling greens more than ever Most superintendents I know roll at least three days a week Nikolai says Fifteen years ago Bob Bittner certified superintendent at The Club at Pelican Bay in Naples Fla was rolling three times a week and was worried about compaction and wear and tear Now hes rolling the TifEagle greens daily Everyone is rolling more than they used to Bittner says The increase of rolling frequency is primarily for two reasons green speed driven by golfer expectations and healthier turf through higher heights of cut and moisture reduction Lowering the height of cut caused rolling to become more popular says Shawn Emerson director of golf at the six course Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale Ariz We were at such low heights I didnt like lowering mowing heights just to create speed MSU research and turfgrass scientist James Beard Ph D solidified Emersons views about rolling Hes the one that really OKd rolling for me Emerson says about Beard I also talked to the PGA Tour and folks like
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