EAST KILBRIDE GOLF CLUB

Transcription

1 Making great sport happen EAST KILBRIDE GOLF CLUB Advisory Report on the Golf Course incorporating the STRI Programme Report Date: 14 th October 2017 Consultant: Richard Wing

2 Date of Visit: Tuesday 29 th August 2017 Visit Objective: Present: Weather: To review the prevailing conditions of the course, take further objective measurements from the indicator greens and confirm ongoing maintenance requirements. Mr Brian Bolland Course Manager Mr Sandy Brawley Deputy Course Manager Mr Richard Wing STRI Ltd Overcast, 14 C (Heavy rain in the days prior to the visit). Headlines The presentation and general condition of the golf course was excellent considering the challenging wet conditions of the summer. Conditions have limited the opportunities to perform routine refinement work to the surfaces, so the ball roll quality had reduced. The organic matter levels in the top 20mm have slightly increased. In general, the firmness of the greens was good but inconsistencies across the putting surfaces were recorded. The work to the third green approach displayed a weak turf cover. Traffic routes at the time of the visit were beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Woodland continues to cause issues on several putting surfaces. Key Actions Slightly increase the annual target of sand top dressing to reduce the organic matter to target level. Apply additional sand top dressing to the more moisture retentive softer sections of the greens. Additional nutrition and over-seeding of the 3 rd approach until a healthy sward density is achieved. Implement traffic management precautions to rotate the wear areas through the winter. Management of the woodland to improve the agronomic conditions of the effected surfaces. Objective Measurements Measurement Average Target Range Soil Moisture (%) 41.6% (range %) 15-30% Hardness (Gravities) 93 Gravities (range g) g Smoothness (mm/m) 28.0 mm/m <25 mm/m Trueness (mm/m) 12.9 mm/m <8 mm/m Green Speed 8 ft 2 in 8-9 ft Organic Matter 0-20 mm (%) 7.5% 4-6% Organic Matter mm (%) 4.7% <4% Soil ph Phosphate (P2O 5) 4.7 mg/l >10 (mg/l) Potassium (K 2O) 45.7 mg/l >30 mg/l Key: In Target Marginal Variance Out of Target

3 Photo Observations and Comments Figure 1: The course was well presented with most playing surfaces being firm and playable despite the wet conditions. Figure 2: The putting surfaces were well presented and firmness was still in target despite the moisture content of the soil profile. Figure 3: The sward composition of the greens is a good blend of annual meadow-grass and bentgrass. Strong grass cover was apparent on all greens. Figure 4: The conditions of the summer have reduced the amount of refinement work that has been possible and the ball roll qualities were slightly out of target with the sward texture being slightly leafy. Figure 5: The soil profiles display a good amelioration of sand with a well-controlled level of organic matter. Figure 6: A slight outbreak of fusarium was highlighted on the visit and accurate control will be required through the period of disease pressure.

4 Photo Observations and Comments (continued) Figure 7: The work carried out to the front of the third green will improve the playability of the hole however the density of the sward has declined. Figure 8: The woodland displayed severely compromised, the winter sunlight to the 9 th and 13 th green with dense undergrowth compromising the air flow to the surfaces. Figure 9: With the wet underfoot conditions traffic routes were starting to show signs of significant wear and tear. Figure 10: Again, traffic routes becoming worn around the 14 th tee complex.

5 Recommendations Greens The past 12 months have been a productive year for organic matter production with the wet conditions. The slight increase in organic matter highlights the need to slightly increase the annual sand top dressing slightly. Increase sand top dressing to a minimum of 120 tonnes/ha per annum to see a gradual reduction of the organic matter content back down to the target level of 4-6%. This should be achieved through regular light dressings throughout the year. Achieving these targets of sand top dressing in combination with a less disruptive solid tine should see the reduction needed without the need to carry out disruptive mechanical remedial work through hollow coring and scarifying. The 14 th green displayed a larger variance in firmness and soil moisture content, with the front of the green being considerably softer and moist than the remainder of the green. To combat this, apply additional sand during top dressing to this area and any others around the course that display similar characteristics. Winter aeration should combine the use of the Air2G2 air injection unit a minimum of three times with a single verti-drain with a 10-12mm tine with little/no heave to join up the work carried out and improve the drainage characteristics of the soils. This should help the moisture move through the profile creating drier more playable surface year-round. Continue with overseeding the greens to further improve the consistency of the sward blend. Additional seeding should be concentrated onto weaker surfaces, (e.g. 2 nd Green). Overseed the greens using 100% browntop bent seed mixture at 6-8g per m² ideally in the height of the growing season (July-August). The technique for bent over seeding should be: Verticut or sarel roll. Broadcast seed onto the surface. Top dress to cover the seed and work into the sward. With the imminent changes to the chemicals available for disease control in the amenity sector a change of approach is required in the future. Accurate disease control is key to reducing fusarium patch in the winter, which will in turn maintain a stronger sward to start next year. With the changes in available chemicals, a preventative fungicide programme should be adopted for the highest efficacy. Use: An early autumn systemic product (e.g. Banner Maxx) before any outbreaks occur. If active disease is noted, then it is too late to apply this application. A contact/systemic product (e.g. Instrata Elite) at first signs of outbreaks or expected time of outbreaks. A contact fungicide (e.g. Medallion) in the winter if required. The greens displayed a good cover of grass highlighting that the nutritional inputs being carried out are well balanced and accurately applied. The presence of the bentgrasses in the greens is a testament to the controlled nature of the nutritional program. The phosphate levels were identified to be a little low at 4.7mg/l but no direct intervention is required at this stage other than keeping a close monitor of the situation and should values fall lower and/or turf vigour is weak, particularly in the spring, then additional applications should be made.

6 Green Collars, Surrounds and Approaches The approaches to the greens were considerably softer than the greens. Look to extend the maintenance of the greens out onto the green approaches to improve the consistency of the playing surface. This should include sand top dressing and aeration as a minimum. The work carried out to the 3 rd approach displays a thin and weak turf. With the sward composition differing from the surrounding areas. Overseed the weaker areas using a dwarf ryegrass seed to improve the grass cover and the consistency of the surface with the surrounding playing surfaces. Additional applications of granular nutrition should be made until a healthy sward density is achieved. Pathways and Traffic Routes Due to the wet conditions of the summer many pinch points that are subject to concentrated amounts of traffic were beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Traffic in wet conditions will increase the rate in which surface issues occur causing compaction of the soil and eventually loss of grass cover to these areas. It is vital that precautions be implemented to limit the amount of damage occurring to the surfaces and reduce the amount of repair work required. In any dry periods in the coming months, compaction should be alleviated with regular verti-drain operations to help improve the drainage characteristics of the soil. Continued sand top dressing of these areas will improve the stability of the surface and the tolerance of the surfaces to wear. Tree Removal The woodland to the right and the undergrowth surrounding the 13 th green is compromising the surface quality due to the shade and lack of air movement. This causes an issue in the winter when sunlight hours are limited and frost is present, the green can often sit frozen for the full day. Ideally, remove some of the woodland to open up the availability of light to the surface. Even if it is creating breaks in the woodland and channels for a percentage of sunlight to reach the surface with a priority being given to winter morning sunlight. Consider thinning the undergrowth surrounding the 13 th green to create better airflow to the surface. This will aid with drying the surface and increasing its playability through wetter periods. The drier surface will also be more favourable to the establishment of the finer grasses in the sward. Signed Richard Wing BSc (Hons) Regional Turfgrass Agronomist t. +44 (0) e. richard.wing@strigroup.com STRI is completely independent and has no alliances to commercial products, services or contractors. This ensures that our design, project management and advisory services provide the best solutions for each individual client.

7 Objective Data Objective Data Graph 1: The soil moisture content of the greens was high at an average of 41.6%, not surprising with the wet conditions prior to the visit. The 14 th green is slightly more moisture retentive with a higher build-up of organic matter in the top 40mm of the soil profile. Objective Data Graph 2: With the wet conditions of the greens the firmness readings were all in target, if not a little inconsistent with the 2 nd being considerably firmer than the 14 th & 18 th. It is interesting to note that the 2 nd also has the lowest accumulation of organic matter in the top 40mm of the profile.

8 Objective Data (continued) Objective Data Graph 3: At an average of 28.0 mm/m the smoothness of the greens was slightly out of target range. This is not surprising with the wet conditions of the summer compromising the amount of routine refinement possibilities. Objective Data Graph 4: The trueness was also out of target at an average of 12.9 mm/m.

9 Objective Data (continued) Objective Data Graph 5: The green speed on average was 8ft 2in and towards the lower limit of routine target but the consistency between the indicator greens was excellent.

10 Soils Laboratory Data Soils Laboratory Graph 1: The organic matter in the greens has seen increased to an average of 7.5% highlighting the need to slightly increase the top dressing work that has been carried out. Soils Laboratory Graph 2: Greens 2 & 18 were within target range at 20-40mm but the 14 th had spiked. It would be beneficial to work the dressing into the surface through a solid tine to dilute the organic matter further at depth.

11 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS CLIENT: EAST KILBRIDE GC DATE RECEIVED: 10/08/2017 RESULTS TO: RAW Lab No. Source ph P 2 O 5 (mg/l) K 2 O (mg/l) A16170/1 GREEN A16170/2 GREEN A16170/3 GREEN Mr MABaines, Soil Laboratory Manager THE RESULTS PERTAIN ONLY TO THE SAMPLE(S) SUBMITTED AND TESTED.

12 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS EAST KILBRIDE GC Date: 10/08/17 ph Analysis ph GREEN 2 GREEN 14 GREEN 18 Phosphate Analysis P 2 O 5 (mg/l) GREEN 2 GREEN 14 GREEN 18 Potassium Analysis K 2 O (mg/l) GREEN 2 GREEN 14 GREEN 18 THE RESULTS PERTAIN ONLY TO THE SAMPLE(S) SUBMITTED AND TESTED.

13 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT CLIENT: EAST KILBRIDE GC DATE RECEIVED: 10/08/17 ADDRESS: CHAPELSIDE ROAD, NERSTON, DATE REPORTED: 22/08/17 EAST KILBRIDE, GLASGOW, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE, G74 4PH RESULTS TO: RAW TEST RESULTS AUTHORISED BY: CONDITION OF SAMPLE UPON ARRIVAL: MOIST Michael Baines, Laboratory Manager SAMPLE NO DESCRIPTION LOSS ON IGNITION (%) * A16170/ mm mm mm mm A16170/ mm mm mm mm A16170/ mm mm mm mm *ASTM F Standard Test Methods for Organic Matter Content of Athletic Field Rootzone Mixes (Method A) THE RESULTS PERTAIN ONLY TO THE SAMPLE(S) SUBMITTED AND TESTED Testing Certificate Page 1 of 1