Turfgrassterminology-GolfCourseSuperintendents.docVIP

Turfgrass terminology Presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Topdressing. Pythium blight. Creeping bentgrass. Cultivar. Poa annua. If you listen to golf course superintendents awhile, you will hear these and many other similar terms. To the layperson, they may seem rather foreign. An understanding of some of the more frequently heard golf course management terms may help you understand the complexities of managing a golf course. The turfgrass science terms included here concern the quality of the playing surface. Here are a few of the most common, with translations. A acid soil A soil having an acid reaction of pH below the neutral point, which is pH 7.0; a soil having an excess of hydrogen ions. Turfgrasses generally prefer slightly acid soils, in the pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. aeration The process of coring to allow more air into the soil and to relieve compaction; used synonymously with aerification. algae A growth of minute single-celled plants containing chlorophyll that develops on thin or bare areas in hot humid weather when soils are saturated with moisture. alkaline soil A soil having a basic reaction or a pH above the neutral point, which is pH 7.0; a soil having a predominance of hydroxyl (OH) ions, usually found in areas with relatively low rainfall. annual grasses Grasses that normally complete their life cycles in one year. apron The fairway area close to and in front of the putting green, adjoining the putting green collar. This area is normally mowed at fairway height but sometimes is mowed slightly closer. B bacteria A large, widely distributed group of typically one-celled microorganisms, chiefly parasitic or saprophytic. Some bacteria are disease producing; many are active in processes such as the conversion of dead organic matter into soluble food for plants and the fixing of atmospheric nitrogen. ball mark A depression and/or a tear in the putting green surface made by the impact of a golf ball. bench