Tips for Management of Dollar Spot in Golf Course Turf

Management Tips for Dollar Spot on Golf Course

Symptoms

Dollar Spot causes sunken, circular patches that measure up to 5 cm in diameter on golf greens and several inches on higher mown turf.

The patches turn from brown to straw colour and may eventually coalesce, forming irregularly shaped areas. Infected leaves may display small lesions that turn from yellow green to straw colour with a reddish-brown border.

The lesions can extend the full width of the leaf. Multiple lesions may occur on a single leaf blade.

Conditions Favouring Disease

Dollar spot is favoured by temperatures between 15°C to 30°C and continuous high humidity This disease is particularly favoured by warm days, cool nights, and intense dews. It also infects areas with low levels of nitrogen and becomes more severe in dry soils.

Integrated Turf Management Tips

Use an adequate level of nitrogen, particularly in the Spring and early Summer
Mow grass at regular intervals
Reduce thatch
Increase the air circulation
Irrigate turf deeply and as infrequently as possible to avoid drought stress
Remove dew from the turf early in the day
Convert to a turfgrass cultivar (especially for Bentgrass) that is more tolerant to dollar spot
Apply contact and/or penetrant fungicides on a preventive basis.

Cultural practices to reduce dollar spot infection

Reduce thatch.
Increase air circulation.
Avoid drought stress and irrigate turf frequently enough to maintain good soil moisture when the disease is active
Rolling, mowing in the morning, and dew removal help reduce disease severity on greens and elsewhere.
Apply appropriate fungicides on a preventive basis – use Smith Kerns model & current weather conditions as a guide
Maintain adequate nutrition – spoon feeding weekly is recommended