Bermuda grass sprigging

Starting Monday, we will begin the process of sprigging some areas of Bermuda grass fairways. We will be focusing on areas that will not be sodded and are too large to allow to heal on their own.

Sprigs are the rhizomes, stolons, stems, and leaves of grass. They can be purchased and the process can be done commercially. However, we will be doing this in house, working on Mondays. We will not purchase sprigs. Instead, we’ll be using our aerator to pull cores of soil and grass out of healthy areas. The difference being the presence of soil with our cores versus only the plant material of actual sprigs. However, the grass can regrow from either practice.

Harvested cores can be seen in the bare areas

Cores being collected

Last week we tested the process on the Bermuda soccer field. The early results are promising and we expect the same if not better outcome on the golf course. We used our large 80” aerator to pull ¾” diameter cores from healthy grass on the soccer field. We then moved those healthy cores and placed them on the damaged areas and compacted them down into the soil. Once in their new location, the only factor that keeps them from growing is moisture. If we keep the cores wet, they will begin to grow. In this way, we are using the natural reproductive techniques of the Bermuda grass to our advantage. The only issue we had on the soccer field was that the aeration cores that we pulled did not hold their integrity very well. The soccer field is capped with 2-4” of sand. Sand is very difficult to aerate because it does not hold together well. Due to this, we did not get as many quality sprigs as we had hoped for. Nevertheless, the viable sprigs that we did

accumulate have already begun to grow.

On the golf course, the soil is a much heavier clay that does hold its shape much better. Aerating the fairways results in nice cores that will be much easier to harvest and move. Once the cores are compacted in the damaged area, we will run the irrigation in those areas to wet the cores.

Each spot of green tissue here is a core that
was moved into the bad area and
began to grow

An up-close shot of a new sprig starting
to grow

Over the course of the next week, depending on rain, we will be running the irrigation in the particular sprigged areas very frequently. If the cores dry out, the grass will die, and the process will have been for not. Therefore, please be aware that during this time, you may have to play near or around running sprinklers. We will do our best to manage the water away from play, but at this time, improving the Bermuda grass as quickly as possible is our priority.

Thank you for your patience.

More sprigs growing after relocation

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please limit hitting extra shots on the course, especially if taking large divots or making ball marks.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org