The 2010 Greens Survey

September 7, 2010

By Michael D. Vogt, CGCS, CGIA

I decided after the brutal spring and summer of 2010 to do a quick survey to discover how many golf
course superintendents where having difficulties delivering high quality greens surfaces. To my surprise I
received nearly 400 responses for all over the United States, with 44% reporting form the South Atlantic
Region and the East North Central Region (the areas hardest hit by cool wet spring and record summer
temperatures and humidity). The link to the survey was made available at the GCSAA Forum website that
is restricted to members only, the blog site “Golf Course Business” a LinkedIn site for golf course
superintendents and a weekly mailing bulletin that is sent via email to 570 superintendents across the
country by me. It is important to understand this survey is for informational purposes only. It is not a
controlled group, the questions have not been formulated based on focus groups within the response
population and the survey has no significant statistical accuracy. This survey was developed to allow only
one response per IP address. The survey duration was three weeks.

The Questions
Of the superintendents reporting, 47% claimed to have greens composed of predominantly creeping
bentgrass, and 39% a mixture of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass (Poa annua), 10% claimed to
have Bermuda turf on greens with the remaining other varieties listed below at question 2.

Question 3 asked what type of greens construction was beneath the turf cover on greens; what type of
root-zone mix and construction methods are the green’s turf being cultivated on. 43% of all that
responded claimed to have a USGA specification root-zone mix and construction as their greens
construction method they managed, although it is important to note the condition of the root-zone was not
probed. Reporting at 30% was a soil based green with a sand topdressing layer of at least 3 inches. I ask
the question of soil construction with at least 3 inches of sand to determine if the bulk of the turfgrass root
system was growing in a sand matrix, and if the superintendent would have the ability to minimally
manage water and air movement in the top sand profile of the root-zone. Other root-zone mixes
accounted for 27% of all respondents, and are; Non-USGA specification root-zone mixes and
construction, California Style root-zone mix and construction and others as noted below in the original
survey report.

Question 4 and 5 was shocking; 51% of all that responded reported some loss of turf. The upside was
that wholesale turf loss was not observed, with an overwhelming percent (76%) suffering less than 15%
turf loss. However, even a 15% turf loss on an average golf course with 3 acres of green surface is
accounts for 19,600 ft².

It should be noted that a survey reporting just single questions and answers shows good information in a
broad sense. Where the statistics show root causes and patterns is when each question is cross
tabulated to illustrate connections between questions and responses in different categories or questions.

The cross-tab that compared the variety of turf with the loss of turf was statistically even with
predominantly bentgrass at 55% and a mix of annual bluegrass at 41% with the remaining 4% being
Bermuda or other as noted below.

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 Greens Survey, 2010

The Data

Lost Greens Turf By Region

25.95%
23.24%

15.14%

11.89%

8.11% 7.57%
4.86%
2.70%
0.54%

New England Mid Atlantic (NY, South Atlantic East North East South West North West South West Mountain West Pacific
(NH, VT, ME, MA, PA, NJ) (DE, MD, VA, WV, Central (WI, IL, Central (KY, TN, Central (ND, MN, Central (OK, AR, (MT, ID, WY, NV, (WA, OR, CA)
RI, CT) NC, SC, GA, FL) MI, IN, OH) MS, AL) SD, IA, NE, KS, TX, LA) UT, CO, NM, AZ)
MO)
 
Figure 1 any amount of greens turf loss by region.

In figure 1 above the survey cross-tab illustrates the amount of greens turf lost by region regardless of
percentage of turf loss.

Percentage of Greens Turf Loss by Region

53%
Percent Turf Loss

BLUE < 15%

ORANGE 16% -
32%
28%
20%
25%
22%
20% RED > 20%
16% 16%
14%
12%
9% 10% 11%
9%
6% 5%
4% 4% 4%
1%

New England Mid Atlantic South Atlantic East North East South West North West South West Mountain West Pacific
(NH, VT, ME, (NY, PA, NJ) (DE, MD, VA, Central (WI, IL, Central (KY, Central (ND, Central (OK, (MT, ID, WY, (WA, OR, CA)
MA, RI, CT) WV, NC, SC, MI, IN, OH) TN, MS, AL) MN, SD, IA, NE, AR, TX, LA) NV, UT, CO,
GA, FL) KS, MO) NM, AZ)

 
Figure 2 percentage of turf loss by region of all that reported any turf loss on greens. 

In figure 2 the greatest number of superintendents that reported turf loss of 20% or greater was in the
South Atlantic region, followed by 15% in the East North Central and West South Central regions. 16 -
20% turf loss was also led by the South Atlantic region followed by the West North Central region at 28%

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 Greens Survey, 2010

and East South Central at 20% turf loss in this category. Thus, one would surmise from the data that the
hardest hit areas of the country were from the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard through the Central and Southern
Midwest.

Correlation Between Constuction Method and Greens

Turf Loss
Percent Turf Loss
74%

BLUE < 15%

ORANGE 16% -
20%

41%
RED > 20%

32% 32%
28%

20% 20%
16%
11% 11% 12%

5%
0% 0% 0%

USGA ro o t-zo ne So il with sand to pdressing o f M o dified sand ro o t-zo ne Califo rnia style co nstructio n Other (please specify)
specificatio ns at least 3 inches (no n-USGA specificatio n)

Figure 3 illustrates the amount of turf loss as compared to type of construction regardless of location or type of turf

Figure 3 compares all construction methods with percentage of turf loss, the most significant turf loss on
greens regardless of type of turf or location was on USGA specification root-zones and construction. It
should be noted that many factors can contribute to this summary. An example of these factors can
include; height of cut, amount of organic matter in the root-zone, architecture, sunlight, air circulation,
chemical applications, fertility and water quality. Further queries into other contributing factors should be
studied.

However, one conclusion can be made; that USGA specification greens have suffered more during the
2010 summer season than among all other construction methods from the total respondents of this basic
survey.

The actual data can be confirmed and viewed from the link below from the survey site for your perusal.
rd
Survey cutoff date was Friday, September 3 .

http://mcmahon.qualtrics.com/CP/Report.php?RP=RP_74epMFxh4F7trms 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

Greens Survey 

Last Modified: 09/03/2010 
 

1.  What part of the United States are you located? 

#  Answer      Response  % 
1  New England (NH, VT, ME, MA, RI, CT)       21  5% 
2  Mid Atlantic (NY, PA, NJ)        44  11% 
3  South Atlantic (DE, MD, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL)        85  22% 
4  East North Central (WI, IL, MI, IN, OH)        88  22% 
5  East South Central (KY, TN, MS, AL)        33  8% 
6  West North Central (ND, MN, SD, IA, NE, KS, MO)        46  12% 
7  West South Central (OK, AR, TX, LA)        29  7% 
8  West Mountain (MT, ID, WY, NV, UT, CO, NM, AZ)       19  5% 
9  West Pacific (WA, OR, CA)        29  7% 
  Total    394  100% 
 

Statistic  Value 
Min Value  1 
Max Value  9 
Mean  4.50 
Variance  4.73 
Standard Deviation  2.17 
Total Responses  394 
 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

2.  Are the greens at the golf course you manage: 

#  Answer      Response  % 
1  Predominately Creeping Bentgrass       186  47% 
2  Predominately Bermuda        40  10% 
3  A mix of Creeping Bentgrass and Annual Bluegrass        153  39% 
4  Other (please Specify)       16  4% 
  Total    395  100% 
 

Other (please Specify) 
Bermuda in Summer, Poa Triv in Winter 
Dwarf Fescue 
90% poa 
Predominately Annual Bluegrass 
Annual Bluegrass 
poa 
fine fescue 
Paspalm Supreme 
poa 
champion 
12 bent 6 mix bent/poa 
Supreme Paspalum 
Bent that was converted to Champion in July 
Annual Bluegrass 
Paspalum 
Velvet bentgrass 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

Statistic  Value 
Min Value  1 
Max Value  4 
Mean  2.00 
Variance  1.02 
Standard Deviation  1.01 
Total Responses  395 
 

3.  Are the greens at the golf course you manage built on: 

#  Answer      Response  % 
1  USGA root‐zone specifications        171  43% 
2  Soil with sand topdressing of at least 3 inches        117  30% 
3  Modified sand root‐zone (non‐USGA specification)        50  13% 
5  Other (please specify)        38  10% 
4  California style construction       18  5% 
  Total    394  100% 
 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

Other (please specify) 
blow sand push up 
Native Soil 
all of the above.... 
All of the above 
soil with sand topdressing 1.5 
inches 
native dune sand 
2 courses.  1 USGA modified 
root zone, 1 push up native 
soil with sand incorporated 
Both push‐up and California 
half usga half modified 
pushup 
Straight sand, no drainage 
both soil and USGA root 
zones 
1/2 usga's and 1/2 pushup 
Soil with 2 inches of sand 
topdressing 
both usga and soil with sand 
topdressing 
30 yr old USGA specs 
Push up 
soil with less than three of 
sand topdressing 
100% silica 
original nine soil and new 
nine usga 
27 soil with less than three 
inches topdressing and 3 
modified sand root‐zone 
native push up 40 plus years 
old 
some usga and some pushup 
All of the above 
both 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

1/2 push up‐ 1/2 non usga 
sand 
9‐USGA, 9‐ soil w/sand 
topdressing 3" 
17 Greens are clay push‐ups 
ammended with sand 
through topdressing and 2 
were rebuilt 2 yrs ago to 
California style 
Push up soil 
Purr‐ wick 
usga/pushup 
Six California, Six USGA, Six 
Native soil 
9 USGA, 7 Modified USGA 
and 23 pushup 
mostly soil, sand topdress 
when aerify 
pushup less than 3" of 
modified soil 
soil with 1.5 inches 
topdressing 
push up native soil 
 

Statistic  Value 
Min Value  1 
Max Value  5 
Mean  2.07 
Variance  1.61 
Standard Deviation  1.27 
Total Responses  394 
 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

4.  Have the greens at the golf course you manage suffered any turf loss this summer? 

#  Answer       Response  % 
1  No       195  49% 
2  Yes       199  51% 
  Total    394  100% 
 

Statistic  Value 
Min Value  1 
Max Value  2 
Mean  1.51 
Variance  0.25 
Standard Deviation  0.50 
Total Responses  394 
 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

5.  If you answered yes to question 4, approximately how much turf loss was experienced this 
summer? 

#  Answer       Response  % 
1  Less than 15%        149  76% 
2  16% to 20%        27  14% 
3  Greater than 20%        20  10% 
  Total    196  100% 
 

Statistic  Value 
Min Value  1 
Max Value  3 
Mean  1.34 
Variance  0.43 
Standard Deviation  0.66 
Total Responses  196 
 

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 Greens Survey, 2010

Conclusion
This basic five question survey was intended to point out that greens have suffered significantly during
the summer season of 2010. Half of all golf courses have greens surfaces that have been impacted in
some way. The data points to greens that have a sand modified root-zone faired worst than those that
were grown on soil or modified sand / soil mixes. The question one has to ask; during abnormally hot /
humid conditions do USGA specification greens or heavily sanded green root-zones perform well in
unusually hot conditions? Do superintendents have all necessary information on the care and
maintenance of the USGA specification root-zone and construction or heavily sanded green root-zones?

It’s apparent that this survey can not answer all the variables which contributed to turf loss on greens
during the summer of 2010. However, I do believe we may have uncovered a commonality, that
regardless of turf grown or sand type that modified greens failed more often and failed in greater
proportions than other types of root-zone mixes that had a soil proponent.

I have contacted several of the USGA staff for written comments and as of the writing have not received
any feedback.

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