Best Golf Course Management Practices

Bert McCarty is a Professor of Horticulture specializing in turfgrass science and management at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. A native of Batesburg, South Carolina, McCarty received a BS degree from Clemson University in Agronomy and Soils, an MS from North Carolina State University in Crop Science, and a PhD from Clemson University in Plant Physiology and Plant Pathology. Dr. McCarty spent nine years as a turfgrass specialist at the University of Florida in Gainesville. While at the University of Florida, he oversaw the design and construction of a state-of-the-art research and education turfgrass facility named "The Envirotron." He also was author or co-author of the books Best Management Practices for Florida Golf Courses, Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses, and Florida Lawn Handbook. In 1996, he moved to Clemson University, where he is currently involved in research, extension, and teaching activities. He has published over 500 articles dealing with all phases of turfgrass management and has given over 700 presentations. He is currently co-author of the books Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds, Southern Lawns, Managing Bermudagrass Turf, and Fundamentals of Turfgrass and Agricultural Chemistry. He is also a co-author for the GCSAA seminars Weed Control and Advanced Weed Management, and is active in a number of professional societies.

1. Turfgrasses

2. Turfgrass Physiology and Environmental Stresses

3. Soil Chemical Properties

4. Soil Physical Properties and Drainage Characteristics

5. Soil Oxygen and Temperature Properties

6. Soil Organisms

7. Golf Course Construction and Renovation

8. Putting Green Construction

9. Turfgrass Establishment and “Grow-In

10. Plant Nutrition and Turf Fertilizers

11. Developing Turf Fertilizer Programs and Fertilizer Calculations

12. Water Management and Conservation in Turf

13. Irrigation Water Quality

14. Cultural Practices for Golf Courses

15. Managing Bentgrass/Poa annua Golf Greens in Stressful Environments

16. Managing Bermudagrass Golf Greens

17. Managing Seashore Paspalum

18. Integrated Pest Management

19. Turfgrass Diseases

20. Turfgrass Insects

21. Turfgrass Nematodes

22. Turfgrass Weeds

23. Turfgrass Plant Growth Regulators

24. Effective, Safe, and Legal Use of Pesticides

25. Best Golf Course Environmental Protection Strategies

26. Sprayer and Spreader Calibration

27. Budgets and Personnel Management

Appendix A: Stoke's equation for Calculating the Velocity of Falling Particles and Darcy's Equation for Calculating Hydraulic Conductivity.

Appendix B: Calculating Soil Porosity.

Appendix C  Chemical and Physical Properties of Organic Materials Used in Turf

Appendix D  Surface Area Calculations

Appendix E  Calibration Formulas and Metric Conversion Tables