NEWARK GOLF CLUB. Advisory Report on the Golf Course incorporating the STRI Programme. Making great sport happen

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1 Making great sport happen NEWARK GOLF CLUB Advisory Report on the Golf Course incorporating the STRI Programme Report Date: 14 th September 2018 Consultant: Adam Newton

2 Date of Visit: Thursday 6 th September 2018 Visit Objective: Present: Weather: To provide a summer agronomic review, collect greens performance data and confirm ongoing maintenance requirements. Simon Collingwood Club Manager, Graeme MacDonald Course Manager Alex Clarricoates Course Manager, Adam Newton Senior Agronomist STRI Fine, dry and mild. Temperatures approximately 20 C. Headlines The course has largely fared well through what has been a very challenging year weather wise. Legacy issues from the summer drought were apparent on some fairways (e.g. 3, 4) and elevated maintenance will be required this autumn to promote recovery. The greens have received positive feedback this year and have progressed agronomically. Anthracnose disease has been prolific of late and caused notable scarring on some greens (e.g. 16, 17). This is impacting ball roll currently and the surfaces now need strengthening leading into autumn. Leatherjacket grubs were apparent in abundance beneath many greens and damaging turf. Organic matter levels have seen a pleasing reduction over the last year. A leaner feeding programme has allowed bentgrass populations to flourish. Sprinkler upgrade has paid dividends through the dry, hot summer conditions. Elevated maintenance has begun to improve the quality of the green approaches. Tree removal behind the 15 th green is impressive and a notable improvement aesthetically. Key Actions Apply Acelepryn with immediate effect to control next year s leatherjacket populations. Strengthen the greens through K-Step application and further bentgrass overseeding. Vigilant disease management through autumn is essential given the current high levels of anthracnose. Maintain pressure on organic matter reduction through aeration, sanding and spring renovation. Hollow core, scarify and sand topdress green approaches and collars in autumn. Deploy scarification, wetting agent application and fescue overseeding to drought damaged fairways. A blanket application of ammonium sulphate is needed to all fairways this autumn. Ongoing tree management is crucial, with tree populations to the left of the 16 th and 17 th being a priority. Objective Measurements (Single Measurement Average Target Range Soil Moisture (%) 28.8% (range %) 15-30% Hardness (Gravities) 113 Gravities (range g) g Smoothness (mm/m) 28 mm/m <25 mm/m Trueness (mm/m) 9 mm/m <10 mm/m Green Speed 8 ft 4 in ft Organic Matter 0-20 mm (%) 6.4% 4-6% Organic Matter mm (%) 4.5% <4% Soil ph Phosphate (P2O 5) 22 mg/l >10 (mg/l) Potassium (K 2O) 115 mg/l >30 mg/l Key: In Target Marginal Variance Out of Target

3 Photo Observations and Comments Figure 1: The summer weather has been ideal for golf but has been challenging from a greenkeeping perspective. The greens have been well managed and a number of important strides have been made from an agronomic perspective. Figure 2: A key objective was to reduce nitrogen inputs to the greens this year and this has worked very well. This leaner approach has allowed bentgrass populations to flourish through the summer and this was very evident. Figure 3: The 17 th green sits in a challenging microclimate of its own, with dense surrounding tree populations causing shade stress on the green and a lack of airflow. This green has struggled of late and grass cover has retreated in response to anthracnose disease and leatherjacket activity. Figure 4: Anthracnose disease was evident on many of the greens but most notably on the 16 th and 17 th where scarring was quite severe and impacting ball roll performance. Conditions have been ideal for this disease of late and many courses are suffering. The focus now is to strengthen and recover the turf leading into autumn. Figure 5: Leatherjacket grubs were apparent beneath most greens but the 15 th and 17 th greens were the worst affected due to a lack of airflow around these surfaces. Figure 6: The damage caused at the surface by the feeding grubs looks like pitchmarks but is in fact where the grubs come to the surface at night to feed.

4 Photo Observations and Comments (continued) Figure 7: Tree clearance work undertaken behind the 15 th green is superb and a notable improvement to the hole visually. This has also increased airflow and the benefits will be most felt through the autumn and winter. It was interesting to see an abundance of regrowth on the gorse stands already. Figure 8: Organic matter levels have seen a pleasing reduction over the last year thanks to a leaner feeding programme and a successful GKB renovation in summer. Soil structure was quite tight beneath the depth at which the Multicore can reach (approx. 4 ) and this will need relieving as a priority in autumn. Rooting continues to be superb. Figure 9: Fairy ring activity was mostly confined to the front of the 17 th green where a Type 1 fairy ring is currently damaging the turf. This is a by-product of the dry summer and consequent wet and dry cycles in the soils. Figure 10: The hydraulic oil leak on the 8 th green has been well repaired through careful turf replacement. This is blending well but some work is required to perfect surface levels. Figure 11: The fairways have largely coped well with the drought and are starting to recover in response to recent breaks in the weather. There were however some areas of notable damage where grass cover has retreated and a programme of work will be needed to aid recovery over the coming weeks (e.g. drive length 4 th pictured).

5 Recommendations Greens Maintain cutting heights at 3.5mm for the time being but plan to grind the units again as soon as possible to improve the quality of cut. Utilise the prism on a more regular basis to check actual cutting heights against bench set heights. Treat the greens with Acelepryn as soon as possible to control the next cycle of leatherjacket grubs. Solid tine immediately and supplement this with weekly sarel rolling over the next 2 months. Dimple seed the 16 th and 17 th greens fully (double pass at 6g/m 2 per pass) and continue this to localised scarred areas of the other greens to aid infilling of disease scars. Plan to make 2 very light sand topdressing treatments (4 tonnes/ha) through September to aid surface smoothing and protect seedlings. Avoid aggressive brushing afterwards to minimise damage to the seedlings. Strengthen the greens with an application of K-Step (@30g/m 2 ) over the next 1 2 weeks. Keep an eye on turf health through the autumn and spoon feed light applications of ammonium sulphate as and when turf health dictates. Monitor the recovery of the 17 th green and consider application of Invigorator Plus (@25 g/m 2 ) in mid October if needed to aid recovery. With the high iron content in this product, ensure that the seedlings have had at least 4 weeks to strengthen. Apply Instrata Elite over the next fortnight to help preventatively manage disease activity. Maintain a preventative approach to fungicide application through the rest of autumn and early winter with an application of Propiconazole (e.g. Banner Maxx) in October, followed by Instrata in late October/early November and Fludioxonil (Medallion) in late November/early December. We must bear in mind that the current level of anthracnose scarring leaves the greens very susceptible to further infection by fusarium and/or anthracnose through the autumn. Supplement the fungicide programme with routine applications of phosphite and iron sulphate. Look to make the first application of phosphite as soon as possible. The nutritional programme has worked superbly well and this leaner approach should certainly continue moving forward. Our aim should be to keep nitrogen inputs at circa 70 80kg/ha next year but with nitrogen inputs being made on a green specific basis i.e. weaker greens (e.g. 17 th ) receiving additional nitrogen where needed and vice versa to stronger greens. Sanding has sensibly been relaxed through the drier spell of weather and annual totals are currently a little lower than planned. We agreed that some very light winter dressing would be beneficial if conditions are favourable. Our annual sanding target remains at tonnes for the coming year. Verti-drain the greens in October before soils become too wet and the surfaces too soft. Given the tight nature of the soils at around 5-inch depth, this work is considered essential. Utilise 12mm diameter tines, with heave. If conditions are favourable at the time, a follow up sand dressing would be beneficial but take care not to smother the surfaces as this will encourage fusarium. We agreed a programme of verti-draining (19mm diameter tines), micro hollow tining (10mm diameter tines) and sanding should form the basis of spring renovations to target organic matter reduction and soil textural improvement. Organic matter content has seen a pleasing reduction in what has been a very challenging year (see appendix). Our focus remains on further reducing organic matter into target ranges and I would recommend that the GKB Sandfiller operation is repeated again next summer.

6 Laboratory Testing Results Laboratory testing confirmed an increase in soil ph from an average of 5.3 last year to 5.7 this year. This can be attributed to an increased level of irrigation input through the summer months. The current values are ideal. Phosphate levels have been successfully increased from 8mg/l to 22mg/l over the last year. No further phosphate input is now needed for the coming year. Potassium levels averaged at 115mg/l and are ideal. Other than the K-Step feed, no further potassium input is needed for 12 months. See appendix for lab sheets. Green Collars, Surrounds and Approaches Continue with plans to hollow tine and sand topdress all approaches and collars this autumn, coupled with scarification (with the pedestrian scarifier) to poorer, thatchier surfaces (e.g. 17). Extend greens sanding to these areas wherever possible along with autumn verti-draining. We have previously discussed the need to renovate the 2 nd green surround to improve surface levels following mole damage. This recommendation still stands and should be built into future plans. Tees Hollow tining and sanding is to commence this autumn. Fairways Apply a penetrant wetting agent to drought stressed areas as soon as possible to allow hydrophobic soils to be rewet and encourage turf to recover. Apply a combination of deep grooming, raking and pedestrian scarifying to the worst drought stressed areas to remove organic surface debris. Overseed these areas with fescue at 20g/m 2 and ideally follow up with a light sand topdressing (if budgets allow). Plan for application of water-soluble ammonium sulphate to all fairways at a rate of 50kg/ha over the next 4 5 weeks once work is complete. This will deliver 10.5kg/ha of nitrogen. Our longer-term aim is to improve the consistency and texture of the fairways and we have previously discussed the need to increase fescue content and improve the texture of existing bentgrasses. Consideration should also be given to investment in a wetting agent programme to the fairways to aid turf uniformity and improve performance under drier conditions. This can be discussed in more detail in future visits, but a trial could be budgeted for to 2 3 of the drier poorer fairways next year (e.g. 3 rd, 4 th ) with wetting agent treatments being made in late spring and early/mid-summer. Rough It is essential that all grassland areas are cut and collected this autumn using the flail collector. This is crucial for continuing to improve the in-season playability of these areas.

7 Tree Removal Ongoing tree management is essential to enhance course character and ensure the playing surfaces receive sufficient light and airflow. The work undertaken behind the 15 th is superb and plans are to target the woodland surrounding the 2 nd green this winter (as discussed previously). I would also recommend that improving the growing environment around the troublesome 17 th green should be given priority, with the woodland to the left side of the green being notably thinned. This would also tie in with thinning tree populations to the right of the 16 th green. Signed Adam Newton BSc (Hons), MBPR, FQA Senior Turfgrass Agronomist Official Agronomist to the R&A Championship Committee t. +44 (0) e. adam.newton@strigroup.com

8 Objective Data Objective Data Graph 1: Soil moisture values were generally ideal and within the upper end of target range. The 4 th was the wettest green and just outside, whereas the 16 th green was the driest. The consistency of moisture across each green was within acceptable parameters but there was some legacy of inaccurate irrigation delivery from the sprinklers. Objective Data Graph 2: Surface firmness was generally ideal and within the firmer end of target range on 2,4,6,14 but notably firmer on the 16 th and 17 th greens. Values were more ideal than last year (at a similar moisture content) and I would suggest that this is due to an improvement in soil structure and organic matter.

9 Objective Data (continued) Objective Data Graph 3: Smoothness values were just outside target ranges and very consistent between all greens except the 17 th where anthracnose scarring was having a detrimental effect. The recommended sanding, seeding and feeding strategy for the coming weeks will see smoothness improve. Objective Data Graph 4: Trueness values were generally very good and within routine target range, except the 17 th green where again, anthracnose scarring is having a negative influence.

10 Objective Data (continued) Objective Data Graph 5: Green speed averaged at 8ft 4in after a single cut. Values on the 4 th were somewhat slower at 8ft.

11 Soils Laboratory Data Soils Laboratory Graph 1: I was delighted to see the improvement over the last year at this depth. Values averaged at 6.4% compared to 8.3% last year. The 14 th has seen the greatest reduction following the drill and fill work and GKB operation. This is significant progress in what has been a challenging year. Our focus remains on further reducing values into target range over the coming year. Soils Laboratory Graph 2: Values at 20 40mm have improved on all greens except 2 and 6 where a slight increase has occurred. Values are just above target range at this depth.

12 Soils Laboratory Data (continued) Soils Laboratory Graph 3: There has been little change at this depth and values remain within ideal target range, except for the 6 th where an increase has occurred and is now just outside. No action is needed here. Soils Laboratory Graph 4: The same can be said for values at 60 80mm depth. The 6 th green is the only one where a notable increase has occurred.

13 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT CLIENT: NEWARK GC DATE RECEIVED: 09/08/18 ADDRESS: CODDINGTON, DATE REPORTED: 03/09/18 NEWARK ON TRENT, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, NG24 2QX RESULTS TO: ARN TEST RESULTS AUTHORISED BY: CONDITION OF SAMPLE UPON ARRIVAL: MOIST Michael Baines, Laboratory Manager SAMPLE NO DESCRIPTION LOSS ON IGNITION (%) * A17115/ mm mm mm mm A17115/ mm mm mm mm A17115/ mm mm mm mm A17115/ mm mm mm mm A17115/ mm mm mm mm A17115/ 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

14 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS CLIENT: NEWARK GC DATE RECEIVED: 09/08/2018 RESULTS TO: ARN Lab No. Source ph P 2 O 5 (mg/l) K 2 O (mg/l) A17115/1 GREEN A17115/2 GREEN A17115/3 GREEN A17115/4 GREEN A17115/5 GREEN A17115/6 GREEN Mr MABaines, Soil Laboratory Manager THE RESULTS PERTAIN ONLY TO THE SAMPLE(S) SUBMITTED AND TESTED.

15 STRI St Ives Estate, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1AU T F E. SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS NEWARK GC Date: 09/08/18 ph Analysis ph GREEN 2 GREEN 4 GREEN 6 GREEN 14 GREEN 16 GREEN 17 Phosphate Analysis P 2 O 5 (mg/l) GREEN 2 GREEN 4 GREEN 6 GREEN 14 GREEN 16 GREEN 17 Potassium Analysis K 2 O (mg/l) GREEN 2 GREEN 4 GREEN 6 GREEN 14 GREEN 16 GREEN 17 THE RESULTS PERTAIN ONLY TO THE SAMPLE(S) SUBMITTED AND TESTED.