Greenkeepers Q and A

[clubchamp98]

Is there such a thing as ‘annual’ greens maintenance? Do clubs just do it once? I would have thought that doing some maintenance on a more regular basis would help the greens more, and possibly be less intrusive.

The annual maintenance schedule is not what it used to be .
It’s very weather dependent now.
But there are some basics that need doing ! Ie coring .

The best time for coring is July/ August as the greens recover better and quicker.
But most golfers complain if it’s done then.
But the grass needs to be growing so clubs pick their moments to do this ,

Lots of clubs now only core the greens once then frack the ground with an Air2G2 to help compactation later on.

 

[sunshine]

The best time for coring is July/ August as the greens recover better and quicker.
But most golfers complain if it’s done then.
But the grass needs to be growing so clubs pick their moments to do this ,

My club does this at the start of August. I understand the frustration from some members as the greens are in peak condition in July. But it makes sense to do it at this point because most people go on holiday during August and don't play as much. The greens have recovered at the start of September and they are then great for autumn.

 

[Neilds]

Just re-read our club update email from last week and we are having work done on our greens this week. Solid tine, along with a verti-drain treatment, followed by a top dressing of sand. Front 9 today, back 9 tomorrow.

 

[GreiginFife]

My club does this at the start of August. I understand the frustration from some members as the greens are in peak condition in July. But it makes sense to do it at this point because most people go on holiday during August and don't play as much. The greens have recovered at the start of September and they are then great for autumn.

I think people also often forget that the course is busiest during the summer and that causes more and more compaction of the soil. Big risk to keep holding off and holding off just so people don't get annoyed. (again, most likely the same people that would be the first to sound off if the greens started dying off or getting patchy).

 

[PaulMdj]

I think people also often forget that the course is busiest during the summer and that causes more and more compaction of the soil. Big risk to keep holding off and holding off just so people don't get annoyed. (again, most likely the same people that would be the first to sound off if the greens started dying off or getting patchy).

Our Greenkeeper switched a few years back, he use to try leaving it till mid to late Sept, but was caght out by the weather and couldn’t fit in in until early Nov.

We now “write off” a week at the end of Aug to almost guarantee he can do the work.

 

[moogie]

Were going to be having work done on 5 greens next month, hopefully, Hydrowick drainage system.

Anybody had this type of drainage system done on their course, or have much knowledge on the subject??

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Were going to be having work done on 5 greens next month, hopefully, Hydrowick drainage system.

Anybody had this type of drainage system done on their course, or have much knowledge on the subject??

We have the earlier versions on our greens - rope type drainage in channels

Worth every single penny and been excellent for us

In recent weeks our greens have been dry

We are just going to put more in on one green

They did a green a day

Dug the channel , laid the rope , then stones and top soil and then returf

Best drainage you can get for a green

 

[Swango1980]

As it is a slow day at work I have been going through some (very) old posts on the forum. There was one started by a Green keeper who invited questions from the forum and it was a good read with some interesting views put forward. Are there any greens staff on the forum (real ones and not the clubhouse experts who think that just because their 2' x 2' lawn is kept pristine they are an authority) or could GM run something similar to the Ask the PGA Pro thread that is currently ongoing?

Has this condition yet been met?

 

[Neilds]

Has this condition yet been met?

Not yet

 

[D-S]

Best drainage you can get for a green

Surely just a decent drainage system for older greens.

For new greens standard USGA drainage is first class, for others this is just one of the decent ones, others like the Shelton method or wider channels have proved equally if not more successful.

 

[rulie]

SubAir?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

SubAir?

Just a little bit out of a reach for 99% of your standard golf clubs in the UK

 

[clubchamp98]

Just a little bit out of a reach for 99% of your standard golf clubs in the UK

Yes it would be running 24/7 atm.

 

[Viewer]

Our Greenkeeper switched a few years back, he use to try leaving it till mid to late Sept, but was caght out by the weather and couldn’t fit in in until early Nov.

We now “write off” a week at the end of Aug to almost guarantee he can do the work.

Amazed that golf courses can afford to even consider ‘writing off’ a week let alone do it. Early or late is a much better option.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Amazed that golf courses can afford to even consider ‘writing off’ a week let alone do it. Early or late is a much better option.

If greens maintenance is done before the wet or cold weather, the healing process is much quicker.
Nothing is worse than having a winter of golf where the greens haven’t fully healed enough after the maintenance week.
Having a week for maintenance in growing season is no worse than a week with the course closed to the wet weather.
All maintenance week means is that you might have temp greens in play for a very short while. And would be back in play (albeit not perfect greens) by the weekend.

 

[PaulMdj]

Amazed that golf courses can afford to even consider ‘writing off’ a week let alone do it. Early or late is a much better option.

What I mean about “writing it off” is, we’ll not have comps, societies or anyone else booking will be informed it’s a maintenance week.

Course will still be open but Temp Greens will be used when they are working on said greens.

So monday there maybe 4 greens on temps, Tuesday 3, etc etc.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My course got tining wrong last year and we had holes on the greens not closed for about two months. I'd far rather have a dodgy week in peak summer than two months overall.

It has to be done, suck it up

 

[upsidedown]

Amazed that golf courses can afford to even consider ‘writing off’ a week let alone do it. Early or late is a much better option.

It's what you get used to , ever since I've been a member at our place we close for 3 days for Greens maintenance first week in Aug. Club championship is week before and then no competitions or Opens until last week in Aug
We plan our golf year accordingly.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Amazed that golf courses can afford to even consider ‘writing off’ a week let alone do it. Early or late is a much better option.

I suspect what it means it’s for a week greens won’t be at their best and members understand

For us to do it quickly we spread it over 2 days - 9 holes one day and 9 holes the next day

So for two days the course is 9 holes only

 

[irip]

I played with the head gk at my last place.
He told me a bit of what his job entails and says often the best time to work on the greens is when they are at their best.
He said the problem is members don’t understand this and he gets the backlash.