Greenkeepers Question Time!!

[Greenkeeper]

Hello fellow golfers

I thought I should refresh this thread, and encourage more to ask questions!

I am a Golf Course Manager as well as a keen golfer, so I understand both perspectives of golf course life.

The many years I have been lucky enough to be a greenkeeper, I have been asked all sorts of questions regarding the operations we do. I would like to help bridge the gap from the complexities of greenkeeping to the common frustrations of our customers ‘you the golfer’.

So if you would like to ask me questions regarding ‘greenkeeping matters’ on this site I would be more than happy to oblige.

I weight in anticipation!

Regards

The keeper of the green.

 

[G9Pool]

Hi,
Very pleased to see your posting. I have a question re the use of sand on greens.

Some time ago our club had a STRI(Sports turf research institute) report recommending the use of dressing on greens at a rate of 600Kg/green. Over the years little or no dressing has been applied and the latest STRI report does not mention dressing at all.

My question is: Has there been a change in the industry's attitude to the use of heavy dressing. I personally believe heavy dressing is necessary both to improve the soil (subsoil clay) and to keep an even putting surface.

Gerry F

 

[Greenkeeper]

Hi Gerry

I know of no change in the industries views on Top dressing. However a lot of courses are top-dressing lighter but more frequently. I try and top dress every few weeks or so, this is so light you may not even notice. I start the spring dressing heavy (to get the levels back after the winter), then light throughout the year. This is to keep the surface smooth and keep that thatch under control.
Your club may need to invest into some new machinery, I have recently bought a top-dresser for £ 18 THOUSAND pounds! Well worth it.

Its great to hear members wanting more dressing!

Many thanks

 

[shanker]

I'd like to ask the Greenkeeper about bunkers. I play at an excellent course here in Spain but I've noticed that recently the quality of the bunkers has deteriorated terribly i.e. there's hardly any sand in them and I'm worried that this is due to penny-pinching. Many of the bunkers are huge (50 metres in length in one case) and I wonder if it just costs too much to keep replacing the sand that the weather and golfers remove from them. Would the Greenkeeper prefer to work with big or small bunkers like the ones you see on many UK courses?

 

[swingstar1]

I have just played in the medal today and the greens had been cored making them v bumpy

I holed quite a lot of putts my two playing partners were complaining a lot as a lot of their putts bobbled badly

why do greens needs to be cored A) in the middle of summer) B)so close to a medal

thanks for any knowledge you can pass on

 

[Greenkeeper]

Bunkers

It astonishes me how much bunkers cost to maintain, I am sure if owners knew how much, they would think twice before embarking on such extravagant projects. ,man hours alone will be in excess of 100 hours per week for an average club. Like most things, environmental influences has hit our pockets hard, haulage charge, extraction fees have massively increased in recent years. You the golfer are paying for this. Sand has nearly doubled in price in 10 years.

Large bunkers generally cost more, shallow bunkers lose more sand with the wind.
Deep Lincs style bunkers are normally small and deep because there is less chance of wind erosion. Also, many use their own natural sand.
From a golfing perspective I think a hazard should be a hazard, so I prefer small & deeper with a large catchment area. And I certainly prefer small from a greenkeeping perspective.

 

[Greenkeeper]

Re: Thatch / hollow core

I understand your frustration, however I can assure you coring is necessary.

I am presuming your greens have a thatch (organic build up) problem. This is a major problem on courses. We have seen many courses destroyed by excess thatch. Overwatering, feeding and lack of aeration/ topdressing has influenced this problem.
High expectations from members have put pressure on many greenkeepers. Many fall into the trap of trying to create a lush green carpet style greens. This is a recipe for disaster.

I read an article recently that explained the process like this I hope you understand it.

Greens are a living-breathing animal.
If you over indulge in drink (irrigation) and food (fertilise) you will get fat (thatch)
Sometimes you need to diet, and do some exercise (aeration) to burn off the excess fat (thatch)
Hollow coring is like liposuction, pulling that fat out.

If your greens have become obese, then what your greens need is plenty of liposuction, exercise, (slitting & tinning) and go on a diet.

Question 2
Microbial activity is the bug that breakdown thatch, theses are dormant in the winter. So to get best results the work should be carried out during summer.

Your greenkeeper should be applauded for taking on this controversial operation. Many greenkeepers are not brave enough hence a raise in newly constructed greens.

Many thanks