Columnist Peter Benton: Annual reseeding an annoyance, but the results are worth the wait

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

It seems that every couple of years or so, I pen a column similar to this one in an effort to explain to area golfers -- particularly those new arrivals to this increasingly expanding city -- why so many of our courses close for a few weeks at this time of year.

Believe me, I know how frustrating this can be, especially as the weather is generally downright gorgeous during September and October. However, the work that is being done is absolutely necessary for the betterment of the layouts -- and ultimately we golfers are rewarded with wonderful course conditions.

Aerification, one of the many preventive maintenance programs necessary for the health of golf courses, invariably takes place in late summer and approximately six weeks before overseeding.

Three very important objectives are achieved: Soil compaction is relieved, thatch is reduced and/or prevented and the soil mixture around the highest part of the grass roots improves. If this process is not attended to, particularly on the greens, the roots decline and the turf becomes increasingly weaker and thus is susceptible to diseases.

Because Bermuda grass becomes dormant with the arrival of cooler weather, overseeding with rye -- which thrives in colder conditions -- must be completed by late October as that is when Las Vegas usually experiences its first frost of the season.

Here in town, 90 percent of our layouts begin their overseeding process following Labor Day because it is then that the days and evenings begin cooling.

Overseeding basically consists of three major steps: (a) watering is cut back; (b) a special machine renovates the turf to loosen the mat and thatch of the fairways to enable the seed to make good contact with the soil; and (c) the fairways are then chemically treated with growth retardants. This prevents the Bermuda grass from growing, which in turn means that it does not compete with the fresh rye seed.

The seeding rate of this perennial rye grass (which is the most widely used for overseeding in the southwest section of the country) varies from 400-800 pounds per acre. Depending on the quality of seed purchased, the price of this expensive commodity varies between 75 cents and $1.25 per pound.

The reason so many of our courses close for this mandatory program is because after seeding, the soil must be kept constantly moist as seed takes anywhere from 5-10 days to germinate. Approximately 12 days later, mowers will start cutting the new fairways and shortly after that the courses will re-open for play.

In January, once the soil temperature reaches a consistent 55 degrees, the Bermuda grass begins to grow back (this transition period happens through April, May and June) when the rye is basically choked out, as Bermuda is more aggressive.

Laverty, after rounds of 76-70-77--223, picked up $3,150.