Success StoryWestern Kentucky Golf Course Makes Lemonade out of Lemons
Western Kentucky Golf Course Makes Lemonade out of Lemons
Author: Kenneth Clayton
Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences
Major Program: Turfgrass
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
In the summer of 2024, it became apparent that Windward Heights Country Club, the only golf course in Hancock County KY, and home to the Handcock County Hornets Golf team was beginning to lose there putting greens to an unknown cause. I was called to make a visit to the golf course where after some investigation we found that the most likely cause of the decline of the putting greens was from herbicide injury. Putting greens are the most important part of every golf course and without them golf is very limited. This would severely limit revenue of the golf course as well as limit the number of fundraising events possible through golf scrambles used to raise money for groups in the community.
Working with the superintendent and staff of the country club I quickly helped them to develop a plan to reseed the putting greens with a newer variety of creeping bentrgrass that is more disease tolerant and adapted to the weather conditions of the area based on data from university research trials. The golf course superintendent was able to provide temporary greens for the remainder of the season and renovate with the new improved grass cultivar. The putting greens were open again for regular play in the spring of 2025 and the golfers are extremely pleased with the new playing surface and the golf course now has grass that will require less pesticide use than the previously. The community again now has an active golf course to provide healthy activity for many as well as meet philanthropic needs of the county.
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