For the last 5 or 6 years, I've been sending soil plugs from our greens to Clemson University every couple months to monitor populations of Nematodes. Nematodes are essentially microscopic worms that feed on turfgrass roots growing in sand based soils. There are many species of nematodes; some are harmless and other can be very destructive. At Highlands CC, they've been an issue from time to time in the past. I think it is important to watch the numbers (the population numbers can shift dramatically from week to week) and treat our greens when necessary. The greens were treated last Monday with a product that will hopefully reduce the population of Stubby Root and Stunt nematodes. Nematodes can coexist with healthy turf provided the population doesn't cross a given threshold that is unique to each specific species of nematode.
