Proceedings of the Sixty-first Annual Meeting of the Northeastern ...

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HOW GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS VIEW NEW HERBICIDE COMPOUNDS.
S. Zontek, United States Golf Association, Glen Mills, PA.
ABSTRACT
One of the basic prerequisites of a good golf course is a weed-free turf. It is
basic. The game of golf is played on grass, not weeds. Golfers (usually) cannot
distinguish between most weed grasses growing in the desired turfgrass stand. They
can distinguish between weeds like crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.),
goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaetn), dandelions (Taraxacum officinale Weber),
dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir) and Poa annua, during the period of the year
when it produces seedheads. Therefore, golf course superintendents are interested in
controlling the weeds. Golf course superintendents tend to embrace new herbicide
chemistries. They understand that a well conditioned golf course is a positive reflection
on their work and their programs. The reverse is also true. No golf course
superintendent likes complaints as in not being able to find a golf ball that lands in the
rough due to a thick mat of clover or the seed pods from dandelions. Also, grassy
weeds present uniformity as well as playability issues in roughs. Right or wrong,
today’s golfers desire roughs which are consistent. Weeds in rough present a stand of
grass that can (and is) inconsistent both in terms of appearance and playability.
Therefore, controlling weeds is a priority for golf course superintendents for practical as
well as perceptive reasons. A well presented golf course, free of weeds with a healthy
stand of turfgrass, is pleasing to most golfers. Equally, the reverse is true. This
presentation will be an attempt to discuss the latest herbicide chemistries on how they
are being used by golf course superintendents in the Eastern Transition Zone and Mid-
Atlantic Region of the United States. Herbicide compounds to be discussed are the
latest suggested usage for the older chemistries of broadleaf and annual grassy weed
controls as well as how superintendents are using the latest chemistries of weeds
including the ALS inhibitors.
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