USGA agronomist reports on BV golf courses

The annual visit from a USGA agronomist took place last week on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Steve Kammerer was at the Golf Committee meeting to report his observations.

The courses look good, Krammerer said, and the recent rain has made the roughs look very good. He noted that the bent grass greens may get too hot, but the fans, he said, help with that.

Many courses in the region experienced winter kill like Scotsdale, Krammerer said. Scotsdale greens are a hybrid Bermuda grass which tolerates the hot

weather better than bent grass but does not tolerate the cold. Scotsdale was closed all summer while several greens were completely replanted. Part of the problem Krammerer said may have been the age of the Bermuda grass

which was originally planted in 2016. As the grass matures, it develops a more complex root structure that will help it survive harsh weather.

The only other Bermuda greens in Bella Vista are on the nine-hole Brittany course. Those greens survived the winter, golf maintenance director Keith Ihms said.

Kammerer also recommended that the maintenance

department consider a device to hold the winter tarps an inch or two above the greens. The inch of “dead air” adds insulation and keeps the tarps from pulling up the grass when they are lifted. Pool noodles will work to hold the tarps up.

Heavier tarps have already been ordered, Ihms said, explaining that the company offered a good deal on replacement tarps

when it became apparent that the original set was not enough protection.

During the open forum, a regular feature of each meeting, a member complained that Bella Vista prices are too high. Members usually pay $41 for a round even after they have paid monthly assessment fees. There are courses in the area where he can play for less than $41 a round.