Walk N Talk Tour reviews Scott McElroy 2018

After a couple of very busy weeks I am back in Sydney. This is the busy time of the year for myself not in terms of sales but as I call it the seminar and trade show season.

 

We held 2 Walk N Talk tours in Sydney and Melbourne the week before the Turf conference in NZ with Prof Scott McElroy from Auburn University. these were held in conjunction with Jacobsen, JT Turf, K&B Adams, Heritage Seeds, ADE and the AGCSA, NSWGCSA, STA NSW.

Both were well attended with over 80 for Sydney and 45 for Melbourne (sold out). Both events could not of happened without the support of the supers Russell Fletcher (St Michaels) Glenn Stuart (Peninsula Kingswood) and their clubs and staff’s support. Thank you guys.

A few pictures from Sydney mainly

For Sydney

After Scott’s early arrival we headed to St Michaels where the weather not ideal. However we were lucky that we missed all the rain that was meant to be hitting that day.

We all met in the clubhouse for some intros and then headed out onto the course in the windy conditions where pre emergent herbicides were discussed and the situation in the US where resistance is a big problem to both pre and post emergent mode of action as we are starting to see here.

Russell lead us around parts of the course talking about areas they have been working on. There Scott would discuss various weed management strategies as well as best use of certain products and his experience with them. Some products Scott has trialed in his area have been used differently to ways we do things here. However as he pointed out the differing climates would impact on that. Where Sydney with its mild winters Auburn in the US is cold, some snow where he is but not alot. As well they get 4 actual seasons. Summer there is hot and humid.

Overall all the mixture of the delegates really helped with discussion and understanding that no matter where you are issues are the same. Getting on top of it is hard at times and fine tuning programs is where the most gains are made.

 

For the Melbourne event I would like to thank @AndrewTurfNerd for the following words on the day at Peninsula Kingswood CC.

Firstly, if we could thank all involved in making this walk ‘n’ talk possible – Glenn Stuart and Peninsula Kingswood Golf and Country Club for hosting, Jacobsen, K&B Adams, Heritage Seeds, ADE and the AGCSA. Also, many thanks to our guest speakers Prof. Scott McElroy and David Greenshields for enduring the journeys out here.

Our first speaker of the day was David Greenshields from Barenburg UK, who spoke about his involvement in seed research/production, then going on to explain about different Fescue cultivars.

Following David, we were introduced to Glenn Stuart who briefly explained the history of Peninsula Kingswood Golf and Country Club and what the future entails for himself, the staff and the club.

After a short recess, we were led out on course by Glenn. First stop being the 9th hole (south course). We were met with an expansive, multiple tier par 3 tee. Glenn explained the architecture firm behind PKGCC design Ogilvy-Clayton-Cocking-Mead (OCCM) and their philosophy of width & angles – typically the closer you are to a hazard, the better the angle for your approach into a green.

We then made our way to another Par 3 (forgive me for not remember the hole number), this was our first look at the Pure Distinction bentgrass greens. Glenn then had his first question for Professor Scott McElroy regarding couch encroachment into bentgrass collars. Prof. Scott made jest of starting the course walk off with an easy question! Then going on to explain that perhaps a rotating program of Tupersan followed by Paclobutrazol would likely be the only herbicide treatments.

A stroll down the following hole, a par 5, we stopped at the tee after that. The next topic up for discussion was post emergent control of perennial Poa Annua. Scott raised the question with everyone if Sulfonylureas were being used, and if so, what sort of result were we getting. It was fairly conclusive that most had used them, but are all seeing some form of resistance. Scott went on to explain that there is a difference between SU resistance and something that of Glyphosate which is called metabolic resistance. Increasing the rate of Round Up each application will still see die off, but also increase the resistance to lower rates. With SU resistance, rates are irrelevant. Scott mentioned how he has heard of some post control with Specticle, but results can be varying. He had also suggested tank mixing pre and post emergents or perhaps Fe applications in the middle of summer, as poa does not like it.

We then proceeded to the 12th tee (south course), which is an elevated tee with a creek passing across the front of it. Glenn spoke about the vision of OCCM and their want of recreating the original creek system throughout the property.

Transitioning over to the North course (2nd tee), seemingly almost a different course, but using key themes throughout the two. One of those being the remnant vegetation management that Glenn spoke about and how passionate they are to have it seamless throughout.

Another question for Scott was asked regarding poa control in bentgrass. Poa Cure was mentioned and said to be working very well in trials. Campbell Chemicals is working on registration and likely to be available in Australian within a few years. Aside from Poa Cure, Scott spoke about using Paclobutrazol and Trinexapac programs to suppress. Also went on to say that a cultural practices, having firm greens, can create less conducive conditions for poa intrusion into bentgrass.

Scott signed off the talk of poa control with perhaps a very important message – To be your own researcher. What may work for some, may not for others.

Once again, thank you to all who came along and may this day possible.

 

Well until next time keep an eye out on my travels with Twitter @campbellturf