Turfgrass industry leaders participate in Clemson field day

CLEMSON, SC — Clemson University turfgrass researchers presented the latest and most effective research-based turf management protocols to approximately 130 turfgrass industry leaders and golf course superintendents from across the state of South Carolina during the Clemson University Turfgrass Research and Education Field Day on Aug. 14.

Clemson University Turfgrass Program professors and researchers displayed their findings on subjects including using plant growth regulators (PGRs) efficiently to reduce mowing events, managing bentgrass golf greens with organic products, postemergence grass weed control in bentgrass, establishing and managing Seashore Paspalum and Diamond Zoysiagrass golf greens and the effectiveness of using liquid products for thatch control.

During the field day, John Brown, president of NewLife Turf Inc., a grower of golf-course quality turfgrass in Norway, SC, presented a check to Clemson’s turfgrass program.

“The Clemson Turfgrass Program has helped me a lot over the years. I think this is one of the best turfgrass teams in the country. The donation is my small way of supporting the research they’re doing here at Clemson,” Brown said.

Much of the research being conducted by Clemson’s turfgrass program is funded by Carolinas GCSA’s Rounds4Research online auction of donated tee times. Rounds4Research has raised approximately $350,000 for turfgrass research in its first two years.

“Donations like John’s and the support of Carolinas GCSA help Clemson provide cutting edge turfgrass research and produce future turfgrass industry leaders and golf course superintendents,” said Bert McCarty, professor of advanced turf management in Clemson’s School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Sciences (SAFES).

The Field Day was sponsored by the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Public Service and Activities; Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association; and Clemson University’s Walker Golf Course.

The Clemson University Turfgrass Program is conducted by an interdisciplinary group of faculty in the departments of horticulture and entomology, and soils and plant sciences. Next year’s field day will be held at Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC.