Author Archive

Headshot: Mike Kenna

About Mike Kenna, Ph.D.

Mike Kenna, Ph.D., is the retired director of research, USGA Green Section. Contact him at mpkenna@gmail.com.

Posts by Mike Kenna, Ph.D.

Mike Kenna, Ph.D., recaps a study on preventive snow mold control on fairways Posted on 26 Aug 2024 in the From the Magazine & Featured & Research categories.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts evaluated several nontraditional products and fungicide treatments to evaluate snow mold prevention at Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland, Maine. Read more»

Off the Record: Mike Kenna, Ph.D., reflects on the short-lived Bentgrass Breeding Consortium Posted on 15 Aug 2024 in the From the Magazine & Research categories.

In 2000, independent bentgrass breeding programs across the U.S. were unified in 2003 by the USGA's Bentgrass Breeding Consortium to develop pest-resistant creeping bentgrass clones for commercial use. Read more»

Mike Kenna, Ph.D., recaps a study evaluating how nitrogen and PGR combinations effect bentgrass Posted on 29 Jul 2024 in the From the Magazine categories.

Ashton Franks, an M.S. student at Oklahoma State University, evaluated a 777 creeping bentgrass research putting green for the effects of nitrogen (N) rate and a mixture of three plant growth regulators (PGRs) on playability, turfgrass quality and dollar spot severity. Read more»

Off the Record: Diving deeper into the USGA’s PGR research Posted on 23 Jul 2024 in the From the Magazine categories.

Kenna dives into various projects from the USGA Mike Davis Program that evaluate plant growth regulators (PGRs). Read more»

A deeper dive into Pythium root rot control on bentgrass and ryegrass Posted on 26 Jun 2024 in the From the Magazine & Research categories.

Researchers at North Carolina State University, Clemson University and Rutgers University evaluated fungicides to control Pythium root rot on creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass. Read more»

Off the Record: Debunking three myths about microorganisms on putting greens Posted on 24 Jun 2024 in the Columns & From the Magazine categories.

Kenna shares results from twenty-five years ago when the USGA researched microorganisms found within putting greens. Read more»