ON THE FIRST TEE...
With Nick Dietzen
Ihave always been a fan of sports, all of them, some I have followed more intensely than others throughout my lifetime. I have always enjoyed the historical understanding of the various games and by the time this is published, my favorite basketball team, the New York Knicks will likely be on vacation. They made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. They’ve never won a championship in my lifetime, but I knew all the names from the two championship teams even though I only saw clips of highlights. I’m not sure I’ll ever see them win one, but it’s been fun to have a glimmer of hope this spring.
What does this have to be with golf? One of the oldest pastimes is comparing generations and shared connection through mutual interest. I can play golf with coworkers and friends from all generations. Some remember where they were during the Kennedy Assassination, some who weren’t around for 9/11. Our perspectives are shaped by our experiences and it’s easy to pick a side: prisoner of the moment or stuck in the past. I’m guilty of both at times.
Right now, as we gear up for MSGA Championship season, I think Montana golfers are playing some of the best collective competitive golf that the Treasure State has seen. There have always been great players from Big Sky Country, but the depth is impressive. Far be it from me to claim that now is the brightest crop of players, but having the conversation is instructive as we can appreciate the present greatness and learn about past glory.
This year, the MSGA will have a team rep-
resenting Montana at the 58th Pacific Coast Amateur. The three golfers on the team each won MSGA Championships last year: Kade McDonough (Match Play), Liam Clancy (Amateur), and Sean Ramsbacher (Mid-Amateur). In that order, all three garnered win, place, show finishes in the Barnett Memorial Tournament, they are horses for any course, and we’re excited for their opportunity to tee it up at one of the Elite Amateur Series events in July.
Our championship fields are deeper, stronger and as competitive as any in recent memory and the chance to qualify for regional and national championships are new opportunities for our best to compete at the highest levels of amateur play.
In Bozeman, three Bobcat golfers earned conference recognition on the All-Big Sky Team. Lauren Greeny earned first-team accolades and has won our past two Women’s Amateurs. Teammate, Scarlet Weidig (two-time Match Play Champ) was honorable mention
and Becca Tschetter was a second team.
Oh, and who won the individual conference title? Another Bobcat, Maddie Montoya. Depth is what first captures my attention when it comes to golf in Montana right now. There have and hopefully always will be great players, but several great ones at one time is what we have the benefit of seeing.
Then there is the remarkable run of Bill Dunn. Six MSGA titles in the past three years and far more wins and high finishes in other tournaments during the stretch, Senior and Amateur alike. Dunn was three shots out of third place at the Barnett opting to play from the amateur tees rather than move forward. Jerry Pearsall won twice last year and watching their displays (and distance) is impressive and catches the eye of not only senior competitors, but amateurs alike.
Game respects game and we have it through all levels. Our junior golfers are an incredibly impressive group too – I’m going to save word
count and omit names for now to build attention spans if they want to see some of their names listed in this column. All joking aside, the one area I lament is the commentary and pressure applied in the area of junior golf.
Charlie Woods (Tiger’s son) just won his first AJGA event. If you’re not familiar, that’s American Junior Golf Association. If you are familiar, I can refer you to several travel rewards credit cards for the funds you’re racking up as a parent to get your junior to these events. Sadly, Montana does not have an AJGA event this year, but our juniors are on the road more than my friends who travel for business! If we had stamps for a domestic passport, they’d be close to filling up the West Coast for many of our talented players.
Woods is being burned by the immense spotlight he didn’t ask for. Having his name on the first page of ESPN for winning an event is purely a function of his last name and while his opportunities will be endless, so is the unrelenting pressure. Look no further than
Podium Finishers: Sean Ramsbacher (T-3), Kade McDonough (Champion) and Liam Clancy (Runner-Up) at the Barnett Memorial Tournament.
Asterisk Talley, the next great women’s amateur is part of an endless list of phenoms in the women’s game and her prodigious talent is not more than others in recent history, but the microscope of each success and failure continues to zoom in to greater detail with each passing day.
Burnout is real and some of the stories related to LPGA players from their younger days is at times heartbreaking and sometimes resembling abusive by parents and those in their unchosen inner circle.
I am heartened by one of Montanan’s most decorated amateurs and now professional players — Libby’s Ryggs Johnston, winner of the 2024 Australian Open is returning to Montana to host a junior camp to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for golf. Ryggs was as successful in the classroom at Arizona State as he was on the links. Golfers of all generations can follow his progress on the DP Tour as he competes at a level not seen for Montana golfers –he will play the Open Championship this July, yes THAT Open Championship.
“Amateur” comes from “amatore”, Latin for “lover”. It means “someone who does something for love rather than money.” In our context, not professional, someone motivated by love rather than money.
Professional prize purses are larger than ever, NIL has come to college sports and even Arnold Palmer would blush at the number of endorsement opportunities afford to golfers of this generation. As June begins, we will highlight the great performances of our amateur players and celebrate our juniors as hopefully, they enjoy the purest form of enjoyment – the love of the game.
ABOUT US
BOARD OF DIRECTORS - OFFICERS
PRESIDENT................................................... Peter Benson
VICE PRESIDENT.................................. Ron Ramsbacher
TREASURER....................................................... Bill Dunn
PAST PRESIDENT......................................... Mary Bryson
EXEC COMMITTEE......................................... Karen Rice
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brett Bennyhoff, Peter Benson, Carla Berg, Mary Bryson, Bill Dunn, Cheri Ellis, Lisa Forsberg, Marcia Hafner, Ron Ramsbacher, Karen Rice, Joe Rossman, Rod Stirling
MSGA STAFF
Executive Director......................................... Nick Dietzen
Tournament Director...................................... Tim Bakker
Membership Operations Director............... Emily Hulsey
Member Services Coordinator......................... Ian Hulsey
Communications & Tournament Manager.... Katie Fagg
Communcations Coordinator.......................... Ty Sparing
Partnerships & Business Development.......... Jess Miller
USGA PJ Boatwright, Jr. Intern................ Dean Hendrix
USGA PJ Boatwright, Jr. Intern...................... Ella Prigge
PARTNERSHIPS
Jess Miller.................................. 1 (800) 628-3752, ext. 5
406GOLF STAFF
Editor in Chief............................................... Nick Dietzen
Consulting Editor........................................ David Bataller
Senior Writer..................................................... Ty Sparing
Graphic Designer............................................... Katie Fagg
Contributing Writer......................................Samuel Berry
Contributing Writer..........................Bennette MacIntyre
Contributing Writer.....................................Shanda Imlay
Contributing Writer....................................Dean Hendrix
Contributing Writer..........................................Pete Grass
Contributing Writer........................................Jim Corbett
Contributing Writer..................................John Petrovsky
A HISTORY OF BILL ROBERTS GOLF COURSE: MUNICIPAL LINKS AND AVIATION LANDING STRIP
BY TY SPARING
MSGA Communications Coordinator
If you think golfing is hard, just imagine if there were planes trying to land in the fairway during your round. As odd as it sounds, that’s just what golfers at the Helena Municipal Golf Course (present day Bill Roberts) had to deal with for a couple years in the late 1920s.
Constructed in 1926 the original nine-hole “municipal links” in Helena was an outgrowth of the Hogan’s Alley Golf and Country Club which for several prior years existed at the base of Mount Ascension. It was a good example of how popular the game of golf had become in Montana during the early part of the 20th century. Hogan’s Alley at that point had spent decades developing a reputation as a tough, working-class part of town where kids played baseball, got in fights, and even trained chipmunks to show off to friends at school. As some of those kids grew into adulthood, a few became interested in the ancient and honorable pastime, but without the funds to join a
first-class organization like the Helena Country Club across town they took it upon themselves, with picks and shovels, to build the original nine-hole course. Conscious to build the original layout away from windows and flower gardens, the Hogan’s Alley crew took pride in a course that was affordable and within walking distance, despite being a little rough around the edges. Al Gaskill, a longtime writer for the Helena Independent Record and product of Hogan’s Alley himself, wrote in 1924 that “the greens are nothing to brag about, and the weeds grow freely. And hazards—boy, it’s all hazard!”
So, it was in this Hogan’s Alley type of spirit that the Helena Municipal Links was constructed. Moving the course to its new location on North Benton Avenue, a central part of town that was accessible to more people, fit right in with the working-class ethos of the original Hogan’s Alley Golf and Country Club.
The new golf course was also a product of the times, in a way one of the legitimizing
Helena Rotary Club 1925 (Bill Ferguson)
factors in the culture of a town. In the 1920s it was a point of civic pride to take part in the wholesome sport that everybody could play, as Gaskill wrote in 1926, “It is a well known fact that golf has swept the United States like a giant storm…practically every town or hamlet of any consequence has its golf course for public playing as well as one or more splendid private clubs…there are many others here who feel that they would like to grow up in a place that is alive and looking forward instead of one of those well-known ‘Ghost Cities of the West.’”
As Helena citizens were getting increasingly involved with the game of golf, another symbol of modernism had taken root in the public imagination—aviation. Since the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903, flying became more common and popular in the ensuing decades. Especially so after World War 1 thanks to more innovation and trained pilots who knew what they were doing.
Ed Follensby, an engineer and operator of an auto electric station was one of those
Helena citizens who took interest in flight after witnessing a flying circus that had come to town. He ended up purchasing one of the first planes operated out of the capital city, a two-seated Curtiss Jenny biplane, and built an airplane hangar to store it in. The hangar, which housed Follensby’s plane for several years, happened to be built on the same chunk of land on North Benton Avenue that would eventually become the Hogan’s Alley inspired nine-hole municipal course.
In the same span of time that the Helena Municipal Golf Course was getting off the ground, the area became an ever-more popular landing spot for pilots looking to deliver mail or stop for gas and repairs. Without an official airport, aviators landed wherever they heard was the local spot, and the municipal links was it. Follensby’s hangar and mechanical assistance was part of the reasoning, but to make it more interesting, the municipal golf course/ airport was put in the national spotlight after a publication out of New York called “Aviation”
Charles Lindbergh, arguably the era’s most famous pilot, landed his “Spirit of St. Louis” plane on Bill Roberts Golf Course in September of 1927.
helped spread the word when it published a report that claimed, “through the untiring efforts of Captain Bill Ferguson, secretary of the Helena Commercial club, Helena will soon have a combination municipal course and flying field.”
This is true about “Wild Bill” Ferguson, an avid pilot and golfer, who was instrumental in bringing the municipal links to fruition, but also encouraged other aviators to land there when in town for special events like the state fair. He was a man of many stories. Among other things Ferguson served in France during World War 1, in 1925 he survived a plane crash near the Butte Country Club, and he also once flew from Miles City to New Orleans with a live bobcat in the plane so he could show off the state’s mascot to his pals at a Legionnaire’s convention.
In fact, the golf course had become such a popular landing spot that none other than Charles Lindbergh, the era’s most famous pilot of all, landed his “Spirit of St. Louis” plane there in September of 1927. With great fanfare he flew into town for a brief vacation and an appearance at the local fairgrounds, in which he gave a speech promoting the merits of commercial aviation. Although Lindberg’s historic
visit was met with general enthusiasm from the town of Helena, the area’s golfers soon lost patience with the whole endeavor. The state fair, which brought in a number of visiting flyers besides Lindbergh, seemed to push the issue to its breaking point, and for a few months became a divisive topic in town.
As exciting as a half golf course, half airport sounds, it just didn’t work. Almost immediately after Lindbergh left town, the fighting and bickering ensued. As one September 29, 1927 Independent Record letter to the editor explained, “naturally men and women who play golf on what is known as the ‘Municipal Links’ do not want to duck to cover or run to safety like a flock of chickens trying to escape from a hawk, when an airship swoops down on the Helena field.”
A series of incidents occurred over the next month, as pilots kept landing on the field. Typically, a horde of outraged golfers would descend on the plane to chastise the pilot for tearing up the course, and then go yell at Ed Follensby for encouraging it, and then later go yell at Bill Ferguson too for advertising the course as a landing strip. The out-of-state pilots generally slunk away as Follensby shouted back at the angry golfers. It got to a point
Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" on Bill Roberts Golf Course.
where nervous aviators called ahead to Helena Police Chief Joe Spurzem so he could send an officer to the landing strip in order to make sure the visiting pilot wasn’t harassed when they landed. It became clear that it was an unsustainable situation, and something needed to be done.
By the end of 1927 there were 864 municipal airports in the United States, and of the places without one, there was probably no other city more eager to commit space for airplanes than Helena, Montana. The future had arrived and the need for a real municipal airport was desperately needed, if for no other reason than to stave off a revolt from the local golfers. The city acted quickly and by February 1928 there was a plan in place. Bill Ferguson was among other local leaders who helped find a new site to land planes, perhaps as a way to alleviate the earful he’d been getting from his golfing buddies. Finally on July 20, 1928, 1500 people celebrated the grand opening of
the Helena Airport by listening to a brass band and watching stunt flyers in the sky.
In 1927 there were 208 public courses located in 148 cities in the United States. For men and women “to whom one dollar looks big,” this was a sign that golf was “no longer exclusively a rich man’s game,” as Gaskill explained. While plans for the new Helena Airport were being devised, so too was the future of the municipal links being considered by city leaders. From its humble beginnings in the foothills of Mount Ascension, to the new location in the center of town and its clashes with aviation, by 1928 the Helena Municipal Golf Course had cemented itself as a permanent staple in the city of Helena.
Not only did the golfers win the battle for the land and skies of North Benton Avenue, that year they also decided to change the name of the course to the Last Chance Golf Club, which remained in place until 1960 when it was renamed to the Bill Roberts Golf Course.
A plane on Bill Roberts Golf Course with Mt Helena in the distance.
WHO WAS BILL ROBERTS?
BY TY SPARING MSGA Communications Coordinator
In the city of Helena the name Bill Roberts is synonymous with golf. As the namesake of one of the most played municipal courses in Montana for the last 65 years, many people don’t even think of a person at all when they hear it, more likely they are wondering about tee times, reflecting on a round recently played, or lamenting the triple bogey they took on the par-5 hole called “Jaws”. Many in the community have affectionately dubbed it “Billy Bobs” or “Bill Robs,” and other such monikers. In the fall it hosts cross-country meets, in the winter it’s open to cross-country skiers, and in the spring and summer the place is jampacked with golfers of all ages. The land we call Bill Roberts might be the single most visited spot in the capital city.
But once upon a time the name Bill Roberts signified a man, a golf pro in fact, one of the best in the state who came to Helena in 1939 to revive the public course on North Benton Avenue that had fallen into disrepair during the previous decade of economic depression.
William Roberts was born in 1885 in Streator, Illinois and became a mining engineer upon completion of school. After marrying a woman name Josie Olive Crowl, the two moved to Roundup, Montana in 1913 where Roberts secured a job as a hoisting engineer in the coal mines. Like so many before and after, Robert was immediately hooked on the Treasure State, as one 1959 Great Falls Tribune article wrote, “The cool Montana nights were such a relief from the swelter of Illinois that he decided to stay, a move he has never regretted.”
Despite learning the game as an adult at age 22, Roberts was a natural and his desire
to be around golf only increased over time. By 1928 his job as a steam engineer was taking a toll as one Billings Gazette article remarked, “he nearly ruined his health by overwork and doctors told him he would have to find a job that would keep him in the open.” With a medical order to switch careers and having already been a devoted golfer for roughly 20 years, Roberts started a job selling golf clubs and balls, and before long “found himself with a professional’s rating.”
Bill Roberts wasn’t just a talented player however, as we now know his impact on golf in Montana went well beyond playing skills. His engineering background for example gave him unique insight into golf course construction and by 1930 he was hired to lay out his first nine-hole course for the Bowen Dude Ranch on the Boulder River near Billings. During the 1930s Roberts was also credited with designing and building much of the former Sleepy Hollow Golf Club, to go along with his rotating responsibilities as a pro for the Billings Golf and Country Club, Hilands Golf Club, and Sleepy Hollow as well.
Although generally known as a mild-mannered person, Roberts displayed his humorous side in 1935 when one irritated writer for the Billings Gazette commented that “Mr. Roberts has given out false accounts of matches played at the Hilands and it is evidently his idea of a ‘good’ joke to have erroneous reports in the newspaper about the course activity.” Club members reported that when Roberts read the false news article he thought it was “very funny.”
Approaching the game in about as pure of a way as anyone can, Roberts truly loved golf and every aspect that came with it. In a 1959 Great Falls Tribune article he commented that “money couldn’t buy the enjoyment I get out
of seeing people out there having fun playing golf.” A soft-spoken man who was known for his patience and grace as a teaching pro, he also became well-known for mentoring the youth, and even helped produce three Women’s State Amateur winners in Grace Taylor, Leah Afflerbaugh, and Edean Anderson, who won nine combined.
In 1940, Bill Roberts and his wife and two daughters made a move to Helena where he would spend the rest of his life molding the course that would become his legacy. After leasing what was then known as the Last Chance Golf Course, Roberts had his work cut out in refashioning the ragged piece of land, but he came “convinced that the rocky, sagebrush-covered slopes on North Benton were
fine for playing golf.”
And get to work he did. A famously industrious individual known for his “customary 14 to 18-hour working day,” Roberts “hacked down the sagebrush and picked the rocks. He mowed the tough grass and replanted the fairways. He dug sandtraps and planted trees. He planted grass on the greens, laid out driving and putting ranges, installed a sprinkler system, built a club house and brought a new brand of golf to the capital city.” Along with his teaching duties and pro shop sales, Roberts did pretty much everything for that course for nearly two decades.
Sadly, Roberts’ playing career came to a grinding halt in 1951 after suffering a gruesome injury to his left hand when it got
Bill Roberts circa 1959.
caught up in a mower blade. It didn’t slow him down any as he said himself in 1959 that he always “got a bigger thrill out of tending the Last Chance Golf Course than playing golf.” A man known for having “given away more golf lessons than most pros are paid for,” even in his later age his passion for golf never wavered.
Having become one of the most well-respected individuals in the city of Helena over his two plus decades of residency, in March of 1960 city commissioners voted overwhelmingly to rename the Last Chance Golf Course to Bill Roberts Golf Course. As the petition asking for the change read:
The golf course is largely the product of the imagination, labor and skill of Bill Roberts. He saw into the future and was determined to
make his vision a reality. He set out in 1942 to convert a then existing pasture of brambles and rocks into the well-planned grass fairways, hedges and trees and neatly manicured grass greens which today stand as a graceful, living monument to his patient skill and tireless labor
Upon the name change the Helena golf community probably thought of it more as Bill Roberts’ Golf Course, more so than The Bill Roberts Golf Course. Although he continued to work as an adviser to both the public course and Green Meadow Country Club until his death in 1970, he stepped down from his main responsibilities in 1960. Around that time while looking out over the course he built, Roberts told Great Falls Tribune report-
Bill Roberts posing with machinery in 1959.
er Clyde Reichelt that “if I had a chance to live my life over I’d do the same thing all over again.”
Now 65 years after changing its name to Bill Roberts Golf Course, the municipal links in Helena is more popular than ever. There’s been a couple occasions where city and club officials have attempted to change the name of the course, most recently in 2013, but after a massive backlash amongst the Helena public (not too dissimilar to this year’s Vigilante Parade drama), the name remained the same.
One of the many who wrote in to the Independent Record in Helena was Roberts former protégé Edean Anderson Ihlanfeldt. At age
83 Anderson looked back on a glorious hall of fame career that saw her play against the likes of Babe Didrickson Zaharias before going on to coach at the University of Washington, and all those decades later she couldn’t help but reminisce about her own tutelage under the old pro, and reflect on the impact Bill Roberts had on so many peoples lives. “He spent a lifetime for all of us,” she said, “There will never be another Bill Roberts or his equal.”
Indeed, Bill Roberts was a special man by all accounts who influenced golf in Montana like very few others, and now in death he lends his name to a special course that is the culmination of his vision. Here’s to another 100 years
Bill Roberts examines a set of woods in 1959.
INSIDER’S VIEW: BILL ROBERTS GOLF COURSE
BY SAMUEL BERRY
Former Carroll College Golf Standout and Employee at Bill Roberts GC
Helena’s Bill Roberts Golf Course is one of the few truly municipal courses in Montana. It might be the best bang for your buck. $45 for 18 holes is tough to come by anymore and especially at a championship course.
If you are playing Bill Roberts for the first time, go with someone who has played it! The back nine has several tricky blind shots off the tee and local knowledge is a huge advantage.
Bill Roberts is generally liked for its playability. All shot shapes and all distances can work to play well there. The course continues to be a great test for the state’s elites at events like the annual Montana State Match Play Championships but also runs league 4 nights a week for players of all skill levels.
The course can be generally described as soft and easy but there’s enough trick around the greens and off the tee to make it an espe-
cially great match play course. If you drive it well, Bill Roberts is a piece of cake.
Holes 13 and 14 could be called the hardest stretch of Bill Roberts because they have the potential for chaos. #13, “Jaws” as the locals call it, is a 600+ yard par 5 with 30-foot-tall cottonwoods and out-of-bounds left and right to navigate off the tee while also playing uphill the entire length of the hole. Once done you go straight into the 280-yard par 4 hole 14 that has numerous options off the tee and possibly the narrowest green I have ever seen. Both holes have potential to wreck a round or catapult you to a great finish.
The restaurant, Muni’s, has great options in season and all winter (See 406Foodies). They have 3 simulators, tasty food and great staff if you need to scratch that itch in the off season or sit in air conditioning after a round.
This is the 100th anniversary of Bill Roberts! Originally the Last Chance Golf Course, it is one of the very few 100+ year old golf courses in the state, go check it out, you will not regret it.
Bill Roberts Golf Course
SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MATCH PLAY
BY SHANDA IMLAY USGA AND MSGA RULES OFFICIAL
In lieu of the MSGA State Match Play event scheduled June 6-8, we thought we'd provide you a breakdown of some of the differences between match play and stroke play.
Match Play consists of two players playing against each other where both competitors are trying to win the hole that is being played by having the lower score. On any given hole, a player will either win, lose or tie the hole. There are some unique things to know when competing in a match play competition.
Opponent (Match Play) vs Competitor (Stroke Play)
Most golfers tend to view these terms as interchangeable, but in the Rules of Golf, there is a specific distinction between the two and it’s important to know why. In Match Play a player always competes against an opponent. The match only exists between these two players and either player’s actions can only affect the status of the match tak-
ing place. In Stroke Play, a player competes against an entire field of competitors. Any action taken by a player can have an influence on the entire field and vice versa.
Conceding the Next Stroke or Conceding the Hole Entirely
A unique option that players have when competing in Match Play is to concede the next stroke or concede the loss of a hole.
Conceding the next stroke is allowed at any time before the opponent’s next stroke is made.
When this happens, the opponent has then completed the hole with a score that includes that conceded stroke and the ball may be removed by anyone.
Conceding a hole is allowed any time before the hole is completed, including before the players start the hole. A concession is made only when clearly communicated, either verbally or by an action that clearly shows the player’s intent to concede the stroke, the hole or match.
A concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn.
Telling Your Opponent About the Number of Strokes Taken
When asked for the number of strokes taken, or when giving that information without being asked, the player must give the right number of strokes taken. A player who fails to respond to the opponent’s request is treated as giving the wrong number of strokes taken and the player gets the General Penalty (loss of hole).
Telling Your Opponent About a Penalty
When a player gets a penalty, they must tell the opponent about that penalty as soon as reasonably possible, before the player makes their next stroke. This applies even if they player does not know about the penalty. Failing to inform the opponent about the penalty before the opponent makes their next stroke (or takes similar actions such as conceding a hole) results in the player getting the General Penalty (loss of hole).
Knowing the Match Score
Players are expected to know the match score. If players mistakenly agree on a wrong match score they may correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole, or for the final hole, before the match result is finalized. If not corrected in time, the wrong match score becomes the actual match score.
Penalties
In stroke play, a General Penalty is two penalty strokes. In Match Play, the General Penalty is a loss of hole penalty. Another type of penalty in Match Play is a Match Adjustment penalty. In Stroke Play, if a player starts a round with 15 clubs and notices after the third hole, they get two penalty strokes on the first two holes of their round. If a player plays their first three holes with
15 clubs in Match Play, the match is adjusted by two holes in favor of the opponent. For example, a player wins the first three holes of the match and notices they have 15 clubs after completion of the third hole. The player was 3-up in the match after winning the first three holes but after applying the match adjustment penalty of a maximum of two holes the player is 1-up after three holes.
Rulings
Without a referee present, rulings are handled by the players. In Stroke Play, if there are any doubts about how to proceed under the rules, the player has the right to play two balls under Rule 20.1c(3). In Match Play, there is no right to play two balls. If the players are uncertain and there is no referee present the players may agree to how to proceed.
For example, If a player is taking relief from a cart path and they are unsure if the relief procedure is nearest point of complete relief and one club length or two club lengths, the players can come to an agreement on how many club lengths are allowed.
If they incorrectly agree to two club lengths, that ruling stands with no penalty for incorrectly following the relief procedure.
If the players cannot come to an agreement on how to proceed, the player can make a request for a ruling to be decided by someone on the Committee when one is available. If the player thinks they get two club lengths and the opponent thinks they only get one club length, the player can take relief with two club lengths, but the opponent can make a request for a ruling.
A few holes later, if the two players see a referee, they can ask what the ruling is and the referee would rule that the player played from a wrong place resulting in the player losing the hole. Rulings requests in Match Play can be found in Rule 20.1b.
1. Who introduced you to golf?
My grandpa Harold Gaarder at the Choteau Golf Course when I was 6. I was not much of a farmer when I visited the farm on the Fairfield bench so I think he thought he would at least make a golfer out of me. My grandma bought me those two-colored ping golf balls as a kid and I was hooked once I finally got them air born.
2. Who influenced you most in your golf life?
I was fortunate to get a job at Green Meadow Country Club in 8th grade and work there for 5 years. That is when I got more serious about golf. At the time Joanne Roberts, Gregg Morstein, and Ray Hunthausen were the professional staff and they were very generous in helping me starting out. I was able to get to know and play with members and be pushed by peers my age and older. Overall, it was the GMCC experience that influenced me the most in my golf life.
3. What’s your favorite part of being the Head Golf Coach at Carroll College?
I’ve seen a lot coaching for the last 19 years but easily the best part is watching the student athletes grow both in the game of golf and in the classroom and beyond. It is very fun watching them go on to high-
ly successful careers and start their own families. I get to work with some of the best and brightest students and their families at Carroll College and the energy and character they have is great to be around.
4. What is your favorite course in Montana and why?
Meadow Lake Golf Course in Columbia Falls. I really like the layout, but more importantly if I am there I know I am with family. I grew up taking summer vacations every year there with all my cousins. From hunting for golf balls to playing until dark, we had the best time up there. I now take my family there every summer and my kids love their time at Meadow Lake as well. Montana has so many great courses, I just wish we could play them more than 5-6 months a year.
5. What is a dream golf course you’d like to play once?
Walk Augusta and play Pebble Beach.
6. What is your dream celebrity foursome (living or dead)? Why would you choose them?
Because I love to laugh I would go with Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Adam Sandler, Harry Mack (the Freestyle Rapper) and
myself. We would be playing in a 5 some talking Mets baseball, why my acting career never took off and listening to “from the top of the dome” raps of Harry Mack. Of course, I would settle for playing a great course with golf buddies from growing up in Ben Alke and Kevin Opitz, where we would still talk Mets baseball and they can listen to Mac Smack while I take their money in a skins game.
7. What are your most memorable moments on a golf course?
Meeting my wife on a golf course, finding out I was going to be a dad on a golf course, and watching my brother help save another man’s life on a course with CPR when they had a massive heart attack in a remote area until an ambulance could arrive. My favorite summer nights are spent on a golf course at dusk listening to music and playing games with the kids on the course.
8. If you could change one thing about the game of golf what would it be?
Pace of play and accessibility. I would also be a fan of limiting the number of clubs in a golf bag from 14 to 12 to increase creativity and reward shot making.
9. What advice would you give to beginner golfers?
The sooner you can learn the basic fundamentals of good grip, posture and swing the better but whatever you do, have fun doing it and enjoy the time outside.
The driving range is your friend and so is your local PGA teaching professional.
Bonus: Lay up or go for it?
For better or worse I have always been all gas and no brakes.
Gross Champions: Carroll College Golf Coach Bennett MacIntyre (left) with 2024 Mixed Four-Ball partner Darah Newell Smith.
KADE MCDONOUGH WINS
BARNETT MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
BY TY SPARING
MSGA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Not too many people have gotten off to a better start this early golf season than former Missoula Sentinel standout Kade McDonough. Fresh off a U.S. Open Qualifying win two weeks ago, McDonough was back in dominating fashion at the Missoula Country Club for the 49th annual Barnett Memorial Tournament, one of Montana’s most prestigious competitions of the year.
Playing three rounds against some of the state’s best players, McDonough got off to a torrid start in round one, collecting eight birdies on his way to an eight under 64. Eight more birdies on day two as the Utah Ute freshman golfer posted the second lowest individual round of the tournament at -6 (66), which gave him a seven-stroke lead going into the final day. Another great round at -4 (68) on day three saw McDonough cruise to a ten-stroke victory, with a final cumulative score of -15 (198). Along with the Barnett title McDonough walked away with $750 in purse money.
In second place was last years Men’s State Amateur Champion, Liam Clancy, who after an even par round one posted back-to-back 68’s, which put him at -5 (208) overall. Following Clancy was a three-way tie for third
Kade McDonough (right), the winner by 10 strokes at -15 overall, with Missoula CC PGA Head Golf Professional Connor Sproull.
place at -4 (209) between Corvallis high school standout Brady Powell, the reigning Mid-Amateur Champion Sean Ramsbacher, and Bob Hasquet who also won the Barnett Derby with teammate Kevin O’Day.
In the ladies flight it was the former Montana State Junior Champion Macee Greenwood who had a stellar third round of -4 (68) which gave her a five-stroke victory over former Women’s State Amateur champion Kyla Lien. The current Boise State golfer Greenwood turned on the jets during the back nine of her final round, collecting five straight birdies at one point (holes 11-15) which gave her plenty of cushion for the win.
Brad Grattan was the senior champion with a final score of +1 (214). The 2022 Mon-
tana State Senior Tournament champion collected nine birdies over the three rounds.
The Memorial Day golf tournament at the Missoula Country Club is one of the longest running golf events in the state, going back over 90 years, when Dr. Don Barnett himself was chairing the original invitationals. Barnett was known as “the father of golf” in Missoula, credited with designing much of the course at the Missoula Country Club, particularly the 16th hole which was the first grass green in the state. The name was later changed in 1977 to the Don Barnett Memorial Day Tournament shortly after Barnett died.
To check scores for the Barnett Memorial Tournament, the GGID is: BARNETT25
2022 Montana State Senior Champion Brad Grattan took home the Senior title at the 49th Annual Barnett Memorial Tournament.
Former Montana State Junior Champion Macee Greenwood with Missoula CC PGA Director of Player Development David Owens.
2025 P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERN SUMMIT
BY DEAN HENDRIX
P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERN
The week of May 19, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the United States Golf Association (USGA) 2025 P.J. Boatwright Intern Summit at the USGA Headquarters in Liberty Corner, NJ.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity where I learned about topics in golf administration and engaged in discussions about the future of golf, including handicap-
ping, course rating, GHIN, the rules of golf, greens section, championships, broadcasting, player relations, and more. I connected with many (100+) other Boatwright interns from Allied Golf Associations nationwide while meeting the USGA staff members who work to shape the game. It was a special treat, when Mike Whan, USGA’s CEO, told his story. The advice given was valuable, true and from his heart, it was refreshing to hear a CEO speak on these terms. One thing he said, there are no coincidences in life, which rang true with me and my past career choices.
MSGA
MSGA P.J Boatwright Intern Dean Hendrix represented the Treasure State at the Intern Summit in Liberty Corner, N.J.
Among other sessions I personally enjoyed included the session on the GHIN app, which gave some behind the scenes looks and a vision for the future features.
The session on social media was eye opening. Special shout out to the two leaders of our group in this session, Maddie Montoya and Sara. They were experienced in social media and making TikTok type videos. They selected a Kim Kardashian, “This is my house” scene. I didn’t get it, but we tied for first place in the voting.
What really made this experience special was the fellow interns from the other 56 Allied Golf Associations. I am 68, the oldest attendee and older than anyone I met from USGA. The other interns ranged from 18-24 years old and were from all over the world. I really didn’t
know what to expect but what happened made this an outstanding experience. I am going with one of the top 10 experiences of my lifetime. These men and women were courteous, respectful, kind, welcoming, and so willing to collaborate. They made me feel like “they” wanted me to be there.
Thank you to the Montana State Golf Association for providing me with this opportunity, as well as Daniel Magen, MBA, Tyler Riggin, Erin Groeneveld, Molly Geppert and the rest of the USGA team for this unforgettable experience. I am incredibly grateful for all the hard work dedicated to making the summit so meaningful for the next generation of golf administrators and advocates. I look forward to carrying the skills and knowledge I acquired from the summit into my summer internship and rest of my career!
MSGA P.J Boatwright Intern Dean Hendrix poses with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy at the Intern Summit last month.
BY TY SPARING MSGA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
CLASS C STATE TOURNAMENT
The Sidney Country Club hosted the Class C State Golf Tournament this past May 20-21, the final high school golfing event of the season. Players had two rounds of competition.
The girls division had a battle between Seeley-Swan’s Mia Nicholas and Richey/
Lambert’s Emma Biernaux, who finished the first round in a tie for first place after carding rounds at +11 (83). The second day Nicholas got things going early with a birdie on the par4 hole 2, and went on to notch eight pars on the day which was just enough to give her a final round score of +9 (81) and a three-stroke victory over Biernaux.
For Nicholas, the individual title comes at the end of a fantastic high school career in which she had previously finished in second,
Savage High School won the Girls' Montana Class C State title by 14 strokes for the first state championship in program history.
third and fourth place at the state event. Not only that, but she joins three of her older brothers (McKinley, Micha, Ari) as state champion golfers.
Following Nicholas and Biernaux in the top ten was Centerville’s Maddi Adams in third place with a total score of +34 (178), Absarokee’s Adisyn Kennedy finished up in fourth place at +36 (180) and Savage’s Taylor Conradsen rounded out the top five with a final score of +40 (184).
With three girls in the top ten, Savage won the team event by fourteen strokes with a cumulative score of +138. It was their first state championship in program history. Fifth place Taylor Conradsen was joined by teammates Aspen Peterson in eighth place at +48 (192) and Emma McPherson in ninth place at +50 (194).
On the boys side Scobey junior Cooper Axtman cruised to a nine-stroke victory after
posting a blistering second round of 75. After coming in fourth place last year, Axtman came in determined for the top spot and was the only competitor to post a round in the 70s – which he did twice (79-75). Axtman recorded two birdies and only one bogey on the back nine during the second round which put the tournament out of reach and his total score at +10 (154).
In second place was Manhattan Christian’s Cavan Visser who finished up at +19 (163). Visser’s teammate and last year’s state champ Carter Van Dyken ended up in third place at +22 (166), while Scobey’s Brecken Maher and Manhattan Christian’s Max Venhuizen tied for fourth place at +23 (167).
With Axtman and Maher’s top four performances along with teammate Evan Tande landing in sixth place, the Scobey boys team repeated as champions, winning by seven strokes with a final total score of +57.
Scobey High School repeated as Montana Boys' State Class C Champions, winning the team title by seven strokes.
BY TY SPARING MSGA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Rocky Mountain College Men’s and Women’s Golfers at NAIA National Championships
After yet another fantastic season at the top of the Frontier Conference, both the men’s and women’s golf teams of Rocky Mountain College had one final event, the NAIA National Championships.
The women’s tournament was a four-round contest held May 13-16 at the Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Coming into the event ranked 26th nationally, the Battlin’ Bears came in and showcased once again that they can compete against the best programs in the nation. With four consecutive Frontier Conference Championships under their belt, the RMC women’s team finished in 13th place in Michigan, with a final cumulative score of +94 (1246).
The four-time defending Frontier Conference Champion RMC Women's Golf Team finished in 13th place at the NAIA National Championships, held this year at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Mark Robertson / MT Tech Athletics
They were led by the Frontier Conference individual champion, junior Grace Metcalf who finished in 20th place after a final round of -2 (70) vaulted her up the leaderboard by more than two dozen spots. The 112th ranked player in the nation Metcalf had five birdies that final round, four of those coming within a five-hole span (holes 6-10).
Against over 160 other golfers, joining Metcalf in the top forty was graduating senior Isabella Downing who finished up her Rocky career in 30th place overall with a final score of +18 (306), and Tyla Potgieter who ended up in 40th at +21 (309) overall.
For full women’s NAIA National Championship results, CLICK HERE
About a week later the fifteenth ranked men’s team was at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois for what should’ve been four rounds of play including a cut, but with inclement weather conditions it was reduced to just three rounds.
As a team the Battlin’ Bears finished in 21st place at +59 (597), missing the cut line by just a few strokes. Leading the way for the men’s team was Jared Smith who finished his two rounds at +3 (145), followed by Jake Johnson at + 5 (147) and Kristjan Burkelca at +10 (152).
For full men’s NAIA National Championship results, CLICK HERE
Rocky Mountain College's Jake Johnson posted a well-earned +3 overall after two rounds at the NAIA Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Mark Robertson / MT Tech Athletics
BY PETE GRASS CERTIFIED GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
I have so many thoughts about what to share in these articles, at some point I may run out of them, but after 50 years working “in golf” it will be a while. Each month I hope I can talk about some things that will make both your and other players golf experience more enjoyable and at the same time help the grounds staff be able to present a better product to you, their customer.
As we now are into the summer months and
here in Montana, mother nature backs off on her irrigation support and temperatures rise. I want to start off explaining some things you may not know about “properly” irrigating a home lawn and a golf course.
It is so true that neither home lawns nor golf courses are the same outside of their most basic definition. At a home, it can vary from not “watering” at all, using a hose and head that is moved manually (when the person remembers to do it) or has an automated “sprinkler” system. Even of those 3 characterizations there are many variances in between them. As with a golf course irrigation system, the best,
The source (cost) of your water is often a major factor in operating either a home or golf course irrigation system.
most expensive home system still has limitations and will need a little or a lot of extra hand work sometimes.
The source (cost) of your water is often a major factor in operating either a home or golf course irrigation system. Using totally or partial “city water” you obviously should be very conscious as how you use it as it is the most expensive and precious source of water used on turf. If you are lucky enough to have a well, the water may be “free”, but you are paying electricity bills to pump it somehow. Industrial rates or “demand rates” typically used by golf courses are much higher than homeowner rates. Depending on acreage irrigated, efficiency and overall capacity of pumping system(s),
yes, many courses have multiple, separate components to their water source, pumping ability and distribution piping and control systems. Courses may spend from $500-$10,000/ month just for electricity.
Although most Superintendents refer to it as the “irritation system” (read that part closely), because no matter if it is 50 years old or brand new, there always seems to be some sort of weekly, if not daily issue with some part of it. The happiest day in the year for your course maintenance staff is the day after the irrigation system is “blown out/winterized”, and no longer operational. No more waking up in the middle of the night wondering what “surprise(s)” you will find when you show up for
If golf courses are lucky enough to have a well, the water may be “free,” but they are paying electricity bills to pump it somehow.
work in the morning.
Just like a golf course, a homeowner should try to maximize the efficiency of whatever way they irrigate. The most common waste of water for homeowners with an “automatic” system is to “set it and forget it”. If they even touch it at all from the time of original installation, very few make seasonal timing adjustments, just setting each zone for 20 minutes every other day and calling it good. Just like a golf course, varying soil conditions, topography, full or partial sun, full shade, tree root competition are factors to consider as to how much water an area may need. Slopes need to have shorter but multiple cycles to not have runoff, full sun needs twice as much as full shade, tree roots will always win in the battle for water and nutrients over turf. Heat reflecting off southern walls/fences can significantly raise tempera-
tures and add to turf evaporation. If you have a zone set for 20 minutes and it looks great, try backing down to 15 minutes and see if it does equally as well, then 10 etc., to see what is needed but not excess (wasted water). You can be fancy and have a moisture sensor that shuts the system off at a certain threshold (usually .10”) which is about what a typical run time would have provided. You can be old school and just turn it off but either way take what mother nature gives you for free.
A golf course irrigation system has a “heart”, which is the pump station(s). It is just like a human, where the necessary fluid water/blood is distributed to the farthest extremes of the golf course/body. When it does not work, no matter how fancy your controls, heads, piping network are, turf will die. Again, depending on the course’s total acreage, there are miles (and
Depending on a golf course’s total acreage, there are miles (and miles) of pipe and wires that are never seen by the golfers, but are essential to operate an irrigation system.
miles) of pipe and wires that are never seen by the golfers but are essential to operate an irrigation system. Owners, Boards of Directors, Members, Pass Holders, Greens Fee Players often say why would we put from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars somewhere where it can’t even be seen? We would rather see a new clubhouse, snack stand, cart paths, new carts, bunker renovations with that type of money. All good things, but without a well-functioning irrigation system, none of those other things would be necessary because there eventually would be no players willing to pay to play on a dirt field.
As I mentioned earlier, even if a course has a brand new, state-of-the-art irrigation system,
that does not mean that in times of drought, very high temperatures, some hand watering of small dry spots will not be necessary. You may see heads running during play, could be that the system is not designed well enough to do all necessary during overnight hours, the water source can’t keep up with demand during peak temperature times, a loss of power during the night interrupted the process, it is just hot and the turf needs a syringe cycle to cool off mid-day to stay alive.
Before you judge/complain, ask yourself “what don’t I know” and be very sure, there is a legitimate reason there is irrigation going while you are playing, just to irritate you is not one of them!
Before you judge/complain, ask yourself “what don’t I know” and be very sure, there is a legitimate reason there is irrigation going while you are playing. Just to irritate you is not one of them!
CHARACTER, THE GOLF SWING AND BEN HOGAN - PART ONE
BY JIM CORBETT MR. GOLF ETIQUETTE
We live in a time of great concern about people's character. And the concern seems to become greater and greater as we observe less and less character demonstrated in our society. Many news and popular magazines have run cover stories on the lack of character exhibited by Americans (we lie, we cheat, we steal) and we are constantly confronted in our daily lives by situations that underscore the fact that true character appears to be in diminishing supply.
Our fascination with character should not be seen as unusual though, character has been analyzed and probed throughout the ages. Aristotle studied the human character as did Shakespeare, Emerson and many others across the span of time. But what exactly is character? Fortunately, character is not like pornography (something we can only recognize when we see it). Definitions and descriptions of character are easily located in dictionaries and throughout great literature, in treatises on morals and ethics, and in term papers in schools across America.
But I believe Ben Hogan captured it quite well when he described character as, "... a set of fundamentals that appeared to me to be right because they accomplished a very definite purpose, a set of fundamentals that proved to me they were right because they stood up and produced under all kinds of pressure."
Ben Hogan, not known for his sparkling personality, was well known for the character he exhibited on and off the golf course. His character was clearly demonstrated in the latter years of his career when he played under
tremendous pressure from the pain he experienced due to injuries received in a tragic car accident. Every painful step he took down the fairways bore witness to the inner strength that drove the man.
But actually, the comment above by Ben Hogan is not really about character, it is a quote from his book, published in 1957, Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. And the comment referred to developing a good golf swing -- "a set of fundamentals that proved they were right because they stood up and produced under all kinds of pressure." It is interesting to note, however, that there are quite a few similarities between developing a good golf swing and developing a good character.
Your character is the quality that makes up who you are as a person just as your swing will determine what kind of golfer you are. If your swing is flawed, everything else in your game will suffer and if your character is flawed, everything else in your life will cause you problems too.
And, like your swing, your character is something you must develop over your whole lifetime. Perfection (which we know to be unattainable) is not the goal; the goal is constant improvement. The good news for those who are struggling in either area (swing or character), is that with proper guidance and focused efforts, improvement is possible. When you read Hogan's book, you will see that the man, whom many believe to have had the greatest golf swing of all time, also had a great many things of value to say about developing one's character.
In his book, Hogan talks briefly about the "miracle shot" he took at Merion in 1950 -- a 2-iron played to, "a well-trapped, slightly plateaued green from about 200 yards out." By
hitting that shot perfectly, and two-putting, he forced a playoff in the U.S. Open, which he won the following day.
His perspective on that shot differs from that of many spectators who witnessed the event. Whereas the spectators viewed that shot as a glamorous moment, unique and isolated, Hogan doesn't see it that way at all. "I didn't hit that shot then -- that late afternoon at Merion. I'd been practicing that shot since I was 12 years old. After all, the point of tournament golf is to get command of a swing which, the more pressure you put on it, the better it works." Isn't that the same challenge for character -- the more pressure you put on it the better it works?
Hogan's observation reminds us why, like the golf swing, character is something that is best developed from the time a person is very young. That way, when a politician or a business leader is faced with a difficult ethical dilemma (i.e., "Should I accept a questionable campaign donation?" "Should I vigorously enforce our company's anti-discrimination or environmental policy?") no one will be surprised when the correct choice is made. Since that person has been practicing "doing the right thing" since childhood, it comes naturally as an adult. The fact that the circumstances occur in a pressure-filled situation makes success no
less likely.
Practice Makes Perfect
Hogan talks passionately about practicing the right things. "I realize that in some ways I can be a demanding man and that some things are harder for certain people to do than I may appreciate, but it really cuts me up to watch some golfer sweating over his shots on the practice tee, throwing away his energy to no constructive purpose, nine times out of ten doing the same thing wrong he did years and years back when he first took up golf."
Let's face it, though, we've all been to the practice range and seen those people (in fact, we may BE those people!). But hey, haven't we also seen many people who are practicing the wrong things over and over in their lives as well? And haven't some of those people been doing those same things wrong for years and years without ever changing or ever realizing what they are doing? Wait a minute! Is it possible that WE are THOSE people too? Actually ... it is possible. You see, in both the golf swing and in life, it is much easier to see the mistakes that other people are making than to see the ones that we are making ourselves.
Editor's Note: Part 2 of this article will be continued in the June 15th edition of 406GOLF.
HOW TO CONTROL WEEDS IN YOUR LAWN
BY JOHN PETROVSKY MANAGER, GREEN SECTION EDUCATION
People often ask golf course superintendents and USGA agronomists for tips on how to control weeds in their home lawn. While some expert advice can certainly help, it’s important to start with reasonable expectations. Most yards are going to have some weeds, and that’s OK. Golf courses have weeds popping up every year even with all the tools and expertise that goes into their weed management program. The good news is that there are basic strategies any homeowner can use to keep weeds under control without spending too much time or money.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
Prevention is the most important part of weed control in lawns. It’s always much harder to get rid of weeds than to keep them from appearing in the first place. Preemergence herbicides are designed to target weeds when their seeds germinate, before they have a chance to grow and get established. This preventative control makes a huge difference in how many weeds you see in your lawn. Dr. Jim Brosnan is a professor and director of the Weed Diagnostic Center at the University of Tennessee and a leading expert on turfgrass weed control. According to Brosnan, a common mistake many homeowners make is failing to correctly use preemergence herbicides in spring to control annual weeds like crabgrass. “It’s always a bit jarring to stroll through the neighborhood in late summer and find lawns riddled with crabgrass and other weeds when there are so many effective options for preemergence con-
trol available,” said Brosnan. When it comes to preemergence weed control, timing is everything. Once the weeds are above ground, it’s too late for these products to work – it’s essential that the weed barrier is in place ahead of the expected germination period.
The optimal timing for preemergence applications will vary by location, weather trends and the target weed. Some weeds germinate earlier than others based on soil temperature and other factors. Tracking growing degree days (GDD) is a great way to know when it's time to make preemergence applications. You'll want to have your first application done before accumulating 200 GDD in your area. This online GDD tracker is easy to use, simply put in your zip code, select 50 F as the base temperature, make the date range the current year, and it will calculate the GDD for your location. Changes in other plants like spring flowering and budding can also be a good indicator of when to apply weed control products, so take advantage of these cues from Mother Nature. For example, if you have forsythia bushes in your area, they reach full bloom shortly before crabgrass germinates. When you see yellow flowers, it’s time for a preventative crabgrass application. In some areas, one preemergence herbicide application is enough for the year. But, if you have a lot of weeds or live in warmer areas where weeds can germinate for much of the year, you’ll want to make multiple applications well into the growing season. Read product labels to determine how much you are allowed to apply in a given year, there are often limits.
Preemergence herbicides are commonly included with a granular fertilizer that allows homeowners to “weed and feed” with a lawn spreader. Most weed control products have
recommended settings for common spreader models that will help you apply the right amount. Splitting the total recommended rate of herbicide into multiple applications is a great way to extend control and get better coverage. Most preemergence weed control products also need to get watered into the soil before they take effect, so you will want to make the application when rain is in the forecast or run sprinklers for several minutes after the product is applied if you have an irrigation system.
What To Do Once You See Weeds
Preemergence herbicides are the foundation of successful weed control on your lawn, but they don’t work on all weeds, and factors like excessive rainfall can limit effectiveness. This means that some weeds will inevitably
break through your preemergence defenses. To control weeds once they’re visible and growing, you will need to use a postemergence herbicide. These are usually liquid products that come in a hand-held jug with a nozzle attached, ready to apply.
You’ll want to know the type of grass you have in your lawn (warm-season or cool-season) and the kinds of weeds you are trying to control (broadleaf or grassy weeds) before making an application. Most postemergence weed control products are designed to target certain weeds without damaging your grass, but you need to check the label to make sure you have the right product for the job, or you may end up killing grass without hurting the weeds! There are granular postemergence products that can be more efficient to apply over large areas, but they may not be as effective as spraying. Some weeds can be surprisingly
When it comes to controlling weeds in your lawn, taking the right steps at the right times makes all the difference.
stubborn, especially once they’ve had time to mature. If herbicide applications aren’t doing the trick, you can always pull weeds manually or use a small knife to pry them out of the ground. This is time consuming and hard on your back and knees, but it might be the best option if nothing else seems to be working.
Once you kill or remove weeds, you want grass to fill the voids, otherwise weeds are likely to return. Maintaining a healthy lawn with routine watering and fertilizer applications is key to this transition. Also keep in mind that even “selective” herbicides can injure your grass if applied in excess or when the grass is under stress – e.g., a Kentucky bluegrass lawn on a hot summer day. You want to apply postemergence herbicides when the lawn is growing
well so that the grass isn’t damaged and can hopefully fill in the areas where weeds used to be. If you need to reseed areas with cool-season grass, fall is the best time to do it because the seedlings can mature in the fall and spring before facing the stress of summer.
Healthy Grass Is a Good Defense
Maintaining a dense and healthy lawn is a critical part of weed control. If the lawn is thin and sparse, that creates opportunities for weeds. Not mowing your yard at the correct height is a common mistake that can promote weeds. Far too many cool-season lawns (e.g., Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue) are cut too low – often in an attempt to extend the length
The appearance of yellow flowers on forsythia bushes is a good indicator that it’s time to make an application to prevent crabgrass and other weeds.
of time between mowing. For warm-season grasses (e.g., bermudagrass and zoysiagrass) it’s common to see them mowed a bit too high, resulting in a thinner canopy that’s more welcoming to weeds. In general, target a mowing height around 3 inches and above for cool-season grasses and no more than 1.5 to 2.5 inches for warm-season lawns, with some exceptions like St. Augustine grass, which prefers being cut at 3-4 inches.
Minimizing shade issues will help maintain healthier grass and prevent weeds. “We don’t really see lush sod in the forest so expecting to have a dense, weed-free lawn on a property with heavy tree shade is unrealistic,” said Brosnan. Homeowners might not want to cut down nice trees to improve their lawn, but pruning low branches to help more light reach the grass can make a big difference. Additionally, most weeds prefer wet conditions for seed germination and growth, so if you have a sprinkler system try to water only as-needed rather than running on a set schedule regardless of the weather. Adding some supplemental fertilizer applications throughout the year, especially in the spring and fall for cool-season grasses and summer months for warm-season grasses, will also boost turf health and give your lawn a competitive edge over weeds. For more general lawn care information, check out the Green Section Record article “USGA Agronomists Share Their Top Lawn Care Tips.”
Don’t Rest on Your Laurels
Unfortunately, weed control in your lawn
requires investment and effort each and every year. “Much like a vegetable garden, a lawn needs constant care,” said Brosnan. “Things such as fertilizer and herbicide applications, proper mowing and timely irrigation will all be needed to keep the grass healthy and minimize weeds year after year.”
If your weed control program is going well – stick to it! If it’s not going so well and the neighbors are starting to make comments, try some of the strategies in this article and take advantage of the many great resources available to help homeowners navigate weed control and other lawn care issues. Turfgrass weed experts like Dr. Brosnan are based around the country at land-grant universities and are usually more than happy to answer questions. Many university turfgrass department websites maintain a list of herbicides recommended for your area with detailed rates and other application information. Individuals can contact their local university extension office for guidance or work with a reputable lawn care business, of which there are many. Homeowners should seek out lawn care businesses that employ certified pesticide applicators licensed in their state.
Having some weeds in your lawn is to be expected, but you can keep them from getting out of control by using the strategies in this article. You may not reach the standard of the clubhouse lawn at your favorite golf course, but you can certainly have a yard that looks great from your porch.
Click Here for more from the USGA Green Section Record ‒including the latest articles and videos on sustainable management practices that produce better playing conditions for better golf.
