Golf Course Products and Services

Looking for answers to specific questions about agronomy? Pat Gross is here to help.

Pat retired from the United States Golf Association (USGA) after a 28-year career as an agronomist and director of the Western Region of the Green Section. During his tenure with the USGA, he completed more than 2,000 on-site consulting visits with a focus on providing practical information to help golf courses conserve water and improve course conditions.

Take advantage of Pat’s in-depth knowledge and experience in the golf industry by submitting your questions below.

Recent Question

Q: How long will my grass survive under flooded conditions?

A: Whether grass is damaged by flooding depends on several factors:

• Turf species (bermudagrass and creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and annual bluegrass)
• Amount of time the turf is submerged
• Depth of water
• Light intensity
• Temperature of the water

In one experiment, creeping bentgrass survived 60 days of flooding at a water temperature of 50°F but less than 10 days at a water temperature of 86°F (Beard 1973). The good news is that many turf species have the ability to survive adverse conditions, including flooding. The following articles provide further information and details about turfgrass flooding and recommendations for recovery:

Will my turf recover from recent flooding? - Michigan State

It's Raining, It's Pouring, The Golf Course is Flooding - USGA