What's up with the patches on the greens?

The funky looking patches you see on the greens right now is called Fusarium patch, also known as Microdochium patch.  It is a fungal turf disease that is very common this time of year as it thrives under cool, overcast and wet conditions resulting in prolonged leaf wetness.  Thatchy turf is also very susceptible to Fusarium patch and although we have made significant headway reducing the thatch levels in our greens through core aeration, topdressing and verti-cutting, there is still some work to be done to reduce it to an even more acceptable level.  Our maintenance programs are geared towards continuing to reduce thatch levels everywhere on the golf course.

Fusarium patch

The greens were treated with preventative fungicide applications prior to the disease development and have since been treated with curative applications in an effort to halt the disease from spreading further.  That being said, in some areas the Fusarium patch is showing some signs of resistance to the fungicide applications so we are monitoring it very closely.  We are also continuing to vent (needle-tine aeration) and lightly topdress the greens over the winter months to promote surface drying as moisture is a key component in disease development.

It's plain to see that #4 green has been the worst affected green out there, but the turf disease is present on all the other greens, with the exception of #18.  

Fusarium patch on #4 green

The lack of proper greens drainage is the main culprit for the high thatch levels and ultimately the Fusarium patch.  Case in point: #18 green.  This is our ONLY green with proper drainage and it is completely clear of any turf disease.  #18 green is without a doubt our healthiest and most consistent green on the golf course.  

Slit-drainage was installed on #18 green in the spring of 2010 as it was draining so poorly that it was closed for play for several months during the winter.  The process took two days to complete and the green was reopened for play immediately.  The long range course improvement plan includes slit-draining the rest of the greens, but it's difficult to determine just when they will be completed.  Until then, we will continue to do our best to reduce thatch levels and manage any disease the best we can.

Please understand that most of the Fusarium patch present is "in check" and the greens will recover from any damage done in the spring as soil temperatures warm up.