Agronomy Update — June 12, 2026

Course Operations

This week, we treated 68 acres of rough with a preventive insecticide targeting white grubs, along with a wetting agent to improve water infiltration. The GPS map below outlines the treated areas. Greens were sprayed on Monday with a preventive fungicide and received a light fertilizer application.

The Gps sprayer map after rough spray

What the operator sees on the GPS sprayer.

On Hole 16, cart restrictions were adjusted to better manage traffic on the back half of the fairway, beginning near the second set of bunkers approaching the green. This change is intended to reduce stress on newly established turf. We will continue to monitor conditions and adjust as needed.

On Thursday, a specialized contractor completed our annual irrigation pump system inspection. This included both the intake screen—located in the center of the No. 6 lake—and the wet well inside the pump house adjacent to the same pond.

The lake intake screen was inspected for structural integrity and sediment buildup to ensure proper water flow. The wet well, a 10-foot-deep, 6-foot-diameter concrete chamber housing three irrigation pumps, was also evaluated. All pump screens were confirmed to be secure and clean, with no sediment accumulation. These inspections are critical to maintaining reliable irrigation performance throughout the season.

A storm moved through Thursday night with wind gusts up to 60 mph, resulting in several fallen limbs and three small trees on Hole 3. Cleanup was completed promptly.

Trees that came down in the wind storm on Thursday by 4 tee.

Yesterday, BHCC President Dan T. Moss shared an update on campus improvements, including the Bermuda grass remediation program scheduled to begin in early July. Additional details on this initiative are provided below.

Bermuda Grass Remediation - 

 

Dear Members,

 

At the May Board meeting, the Green Committee presented a recommendation to address Bermuda grass contamination in several of our fairways. After reviewing the scope, cost, timing, and expected member impact, the Board gave the program its full support. This communication explains why the work is necessary, how we arrived at this point, what the remediation will involve, and what members should expect during the process.

 

Why This Matters

Belle Haven's reputation as one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier private clubs is directly tied to the quality, consistency, and presentation of the golf course. Our fairways were converted to bentgrass to deliver the playing conditions members expect: a fine, tight turf surface, consistent lies, predictable divots, strong ball presentation, and the deep green color associated with high-quality cool-season turf.

 

Bermuda grass works against those goals. Because it is a warm-season grass, it turns brown and dormant during much of the fall, winter, and spring - including periods when Belle Haven hosts important member events and guest play. Its coarser texture also creates inconsistent lies and interrupts the visual uniformity we work hard to maintain.

 

In practical terms, this is not simply an appearance issue. Bermuda grass affects playability, member experience, tournament conditions, and the long-term cost of maintaining the golf course at the standard expected of Belle Haven.

 

How We Got Here

Prior to the 2002 renovation, Belle Haven had Bermuda grass fairways and tees. As part of that renovation, the course was converted to bentgrass. The conversion included three rounds of non-selective herbicide treatment beginning in June of that year. The program was largely successful, but Bermuda grass is a persistent plant. It spreads through underground stems, called rhizomes, that can survive below the surface and re-emerge over time.

 

By 2005, Bermuda grass was again visible in fairways, tees, and rough. Spot treatment was available, but a full eradication program was not implemented at that time due to budget constraints. Since then, the issue has gradually expanded.

 

For the past decade, the club has used a chemical suppression program to slow the spread of Bermuda grass. That approach has helped manage symptoms, but it has not eliminated the underlying problem. Suppression products also place stress on the bentgrass we are trying to protect, especially when repeated over many seasons. In fairways and tees, where turf quality and playability are most critical, application rates are necessarily more limited, which also limits effectiveness.

 

Despite consistent effort, Bermuda grass now affects approximately 8 of our 21 fairway acres, and the affected area continues to grow.

 

Where We Are Today

Belle Haven has reached a point where continuing to suppress Bermuda grass is no longer the most responsible long-term strategy. The consequences are becoming more visible and more costly each year:

·       Seasonal inconsistency: brown, dormant Bermuda patches during fall and spring affect both appearance and playing quality.

·       Unpredictable lies: the difference in texture between bentgrass and Bermuda grass creates inconsistent playing conditions.

·       Compounding cost: annual suppression expenses continue, while the area requiring treatment continues to expand.

·       Bentgrass stress: repeated chemical suppression affects the health and density of the bentgrass we are working to preserve.

·       Reputation risk: members, guests, and prospective members notice course conditions and compare them with other leading clubs in the region.

 

Every season we delay increases the acreage that must ultimately be corrected. Acting now allows us to address the issue while a durable solution remains practical and cost-effective.

 

The Recommended Plan

The Green Committee and golf course staff recommend a decisive eradication and reestablishment program. This is the same general approach used during the 2002 conversion and remains the most reliable way to restore pure bentgrass conditions in contaminated areas.

 

The work will proceed in four major steps:

1.     Map all Bermuda-contaminated areas in the fairways and related affected playing surfaces so the scope is precise and controlled.

2.     Apply three carefully timed herbicide treatments beginning the first week of July. These applications are designed to eliminate both the visible Bermuda grass and the underground plant material that allows it to return.

3.     Confirm that the Bermuda grass has been fully controlled before regrassing the turf surface.

4.     Resod affected areas with certified pure bentgrass in early October, timed to take advantage of optimal fall growing conditions.

 

This approach creates the highest probability of long-term success. It also moves us away from an annual cycle of suppression and toward a cleaner, more sustainable bentgrass fairway system.

 

Timing and Impact to Play

We want to be direct with members: this work will affect playability during the remediation period. Treated areas and newly sodded areas will be out of play during portions of the late-summer and early-fall grow-in window.

 

The timing has been chosen deliberately. By aligning this work with the ongoing bunker renovation, we can consolidate disruption, reduce the total number of impacted golf seasons, and avoid a second major interruption in the near future. While the short-term inconvenience is real, it is preferable to allowing Bermuda grass to continue spreading across nearly 40 percent of our fairway acreage.

 

During the work, golf course staff will communicate clearly about affected holes (include link to Blog), temporary playing adjustments, and expected recovery timelines. Our goal is to protect the member experience as much as possible while completing the work correctly.

 

What Members Can Expect When the Work Is Complete

When the program is complete, Belle Haven will be positioned to deliver:

·       Restored pure bentgrass in the affected fairway areas.

·       More consistent playing conditions across the golf course.

·       Improved visual uniformity during fall, winter, and spring play.

·       Reduced reliance on recurring chemical suppression programs.

·       A stronger long-term maintenance framework designed to limit recurrence.

 

Bermuda grass contamination has developed gradually over many years. The proposed program is a direct, disciplined response to a problem that will become more expensive and more disruptive if left unresolved. The Board, Green Committee, and golf course staff are fully aligned that this is the right work at the right time.

 

Thank you for your patience and support as we make this important investment in the quality and long-term health of Belle Haven's golf course.

 

Questions are welcome. Please contact Mike Augustin, Director of Agronomy, Maugustin@bellehavencc.com