Kevin W. Frank
@MSUTurf
Professor & Extension Turf Specialist at Michigan State University. Tweets are my own
Internship visit with Jack Judge @TheTreeFarmGolf. Course designed by Tom Doak, Kyle Goalby, & @z_blair . Course is closed for summer maintenance so no pins in photos. Wide fairways, greens that allow for shots to roll in and collect, looks like recipe for entertaining golf!
Internship visit with Gabe Schneider at CC of North Carolina today. The area received about 10 inches of rain yesterday from tropical storm Chantal, you’d never know it based on how quickly the soils drained but still plenty of cleanup to be done during some hot & humid weather.
The July issue of our #WinterTurf newsletter is out! Read the latest work from our project about mitigating winter injury in turfgrasses: mailchi.mp/umn/winterturf… To subscribe: winterturf.umn.edu/newsletter 📸 Trygve Aamlid
Thanks @JaredEMilner for hosting our @MiGCSA match this afternoon, Meadowbrook CC was in fantastic shape! Mitchelson/Frank prevailed over @doug_middleton & @Nickmidds 4&3.
It’s not just about golf course turf during this hot weather, here’s some thoughts on getting home lawns through this stretch. canr.msu.edu/news/tips-for-…
To say it’s hot is an understatement. Here’s an article on the effects of these high temps on golf course turf. canr.msu.edu/news/the_heat_…
Excited to welcome Dr. Wrennie Wang to MSU for the Joe Vargas Professorship in Turfgrass Pathology Position. Thanks to @miturfgrass for donating $1 million to establish the endowment to ensure Dr. Vargas' legacy in turf pathology continues at MSU! …anturfgrassfoundation.wildapricot.org/news/13513238
Great internship visit today with @zach_flink at The Vineyard Club on Martha’s Vineyard. This Gil Hanse design prioritizes sustainability. Thanks to superintendent Kevin Banks for the hospitality and providing an excellent learning opportunity for Zach!
Internship visit with Lucas Courtemanche today at Blackwolf Run. During his internship Lucas will rotate among the 4 Kohler Resort golf courses - Whistling Straits, the Straits & Irish Courses, and Blackwolf Run, the River & Meadow Valley courses.
Kicking off internship visits 2025 with a visit to @Sand_Valley. Josh Powe has been working on grow-in of The Commons with superintendent Zach Jasin & also a bit at Mammoth Dunes with @brownlow_andy. Thanks to all the agronomy team lead by Rob Duhm for the hospitality!
Golf course superintendents- please take a few moments to fill out this (short!) survey: z.umn.edu/winter-damage Whether you saw #WinterTurf damage or not, all feedback helps us develop solutions to reduce future winter injury risk. Shares welcome & appreciated! 📸 @MSUTurf
Thanks to @UMNTurf for hosting the WinterTurf research grant meeting this year! Great opportunity to discuss and report on research efforts and participate in the WinterTurf Field Day.
Winterkill, superficial injury, or as the late, great Dr. Vargas once described it , super dormancy? I’m optimistic that most of this injury is superficial and will recover - warm temps arriving this week will definitely help determine dead or alive.
Unfortunately there is isolated but severe winterkill at some golf courses in Michigan. Appears to be primarily in low areas where ice was estimated to be in place for 5 weeks. Warm temperatures next week will help assess the extent of damage and recovery. #WinterTurf
Congrats Jake! Alumni Jake Kilby (MS 2024) reflects on his success at MSU canr.msu.edu/news/alumni-ja…
The big melt - what a difference 4 days makes. Ice gone, some water still present in depressions but overall most areas have drained despite underlying frost layer in soil. For golf courses it’d be a good idea to squeegee standing water off before it refreezes.
Melted lots of snow and ice the last couple days - should be cleared off by the end of the week. Turf at the Hancock Center appears to be in good shape after approximately 30 days under ice. 👍🏻
The Current Situation of Ice on Putting Greens Kevin W. Frank @MSUTurf Unlike the non-winter of 2024, the winter of 2025 has reminded Michiganders of what winter can be. Cold temperatures and Polar Vortex, frequent snowfall, ice events.....Read more: …anturfgrassfoundation.wildapricot.org/news/13464743
The February 2025 #WinterTurf Newsletter is out! Catch up on our latest publications, listen to a recent winterkill webinar, and join us in congratulating Cole Stover on his recent M.S. defense. Latest issue: mailchi.mp/umn/winterturf… Sign up: winterturf.umn.edu/newsletter