NEWTOWNSTEWART GOLF CLUB

Transcription

1 Making great sport happen NEWTOWNSTEWART GOLF CLUB Advisory Report on the Golf Course Report Date: 27 th March 2017 Consultant: Ian McClements

2 Date of Visit: 15 th March 2017 Visit Objective: Present: Weather: To review the condition of the course ahead of the start of the main competition season and to review maintenance objectives. Mr Ronnie Jack Green Convenor, Mr Nigel Scott - Green Committee Mr Emerson Donnell - Green Committee, Mr Alan McFarland Course Supervisor Dr Ian McClements STRI Ltd Mild and dry. Headlines Greens are heavily scarred from an autumn outbreak of Microdochium patch disease, the 7 th being the worst affected. The spring maintenance programme should focus on restoring a full and uniform grass cover, a process that has started to occur where the desirable fine grasses are regenerating. On bare ground where annual meadow grass has died, then seeding will be an important strategy to encourage recovery. The greens continue to improve botanically, an ongoing process that will help to confer the most economically viable surfaces in these stringent economic times. The greens were firm underfoot with very little thatch in the upper profiles thereby conferring playable surfaces in all but the most extreme of weather conditions. Accumulations of thatch and moss on fairways is contributing to increased levels of moisture retention which is adversely impacting upon playability. Cost effective strategies for improving course playability were discussed. Key Observations & Actions The scarring to greens has been caused by an outbreak of Microdochium nivale disease triggered by the late application of top dressing and favourable environmental conditions. Disease scarring was most significant on the 7 th green where annual meadow grass forms a higher percentage of the grass cover and where the green is in more sheltered location which tends to favour this disease. This disease is favoured by environmental conditions that are conducive to disease outbreaks as well as a susceptible sward cover. It should also be appreciated that disease pressures through the autumn were particularly high given the weather conditions experienced at the time. One of the effects of milder autumn weather and climatic changes are a potential increase in disease incidence. Our preferred bent and fescue grass species tend to be much more resilient to this particular disease and there are signs of recovery on some of the scarred areas as a consequence. This contrasts with annual meadow grass which is not only much more susceptible but also is much more likely to die if infected by this disease. Cultural practices can help to minimise disease activity, including good air movement and the maintenance of a dry, hardy grass cover, but from time to time it will be necessary to use fungicides to keep scarring to a minimum, particularly when golfer demands for blemish free surfaces are high. The greens on the front nine which tend to be a little thinner have seen an increase in moss activity which highlights the need to adjust the maintenance programme to promote a slightly stronger and more aggressive sward that is able to better outcompete this less desirable species. Bits of Yorkshire fog have been broken up by the slit seeding work and they are also a little thin due to wear pressures. This is no bad thing as it represents an opportunity to seed some better-quality species into these areas and reduce the impact that the Yorkshire fog is having on the surfaces. Yorkshire fog is a soft coarse textured grass which is also visually unappealing.

3 One of the other significant blemishes adversely affecting ball roll was the high incidence of ball marking scars that will be slow to heal in the prevailing conditions. Greens were firm underfoot as current practices do not allow thatch levels to accumulate which helps to maintain good standards of year-round playability. This is further illustrated by the comparative similarity in the moisture content of the top 60mm (29.9%) with the lower mm depth (26.9%) as found on the 16 th green for example. The main focus for greens maintenance programme is very much directed towards restoring a full grass cover, promoting recovery and infilling of areas affected by disease activity. The current maintenance practices on greens tends to discourage worm casting activity which is noted as being particularly problematic on several surrounds/approaches such as the 5 th. Considering the current restrictions on chemicals available for worm casting control, we need to focus on cultural techniques. STRI research has proven that it is possible to reduce casting by up to 50% by simply boxing off and collecting clippings. Green collars and aprons are not particularly enticing for approach play such as putting or chipping and the quality and uniformity of the grass cover needs to be improved to enhance these areas of the course. Fairways, in the main, are softer than desired underfoot which can be attributed to the significant accumulations of thatch or organic matter at the surface above the native clay soil. Thatch levels have accumulated over a number of years and in some places this water retentive material is tending to stifle grass growth and favouring an increase in moss. In some areas moss is dominant with very little grass, such as the wet area to the right of the 6 th fairway. Accumulations of thatch are also problematic on the left hand side of the 8 th fairway which is further compounded by the shading effect of the trees and lack of air movement and drying. An initial assessment might conclude that areas of the course require drainage, since underlying soils are dry the problem is surface related due to the accumulations of organic material.

4 Photo Observations and Comments Figure 1: Disease scaring on the 7 th green Figure 2: Larger disease scar Figure 3: Leafy bent with fescue also colonising greens Figure 4: Excellent rooting in places Figure 5: Interface between green and collar, note higher incidence of worms in collar Figure 6: Mossy fairway

5 Photo Observations and Comments (continued) Figure 7: Wet landing area on 8 th fairway Figure 8: Grit used to dry and firm surface Figure 9: Thatch accumulation on fairway

6 Recommendations Greens Spring Development The greens should be eased out of the winter period with the main emphasis on a spring seeding programme to introduce desirable grasses coupled with small inputs of nutrient to support growth and recovery. Excessive growth is undesirable as this can potentially create inconsistencies and differences between grassed and un-grassed areas leading to a heightened level of bumpiness. Light dustings of top dressing are also important to smooth out the surfaces and fill in any ball marks or dips in the canopy. Overseeding The greens should be oversown in the spring using a plant pot technique. Use a blunted 6mm diameter tine on the Procore set to operate to a depth of around 20mm leaving a shallow hole onto which fescue seed can be brushed. Following seeding apply a series of light dustings of top dressing to help smooth out the surfaces and fill the tine holes. A slight dip in the holes allows the seed to germinate and grow to produce a longer leaf which stands a better chance of going onto maturity than if the seedling were to be mown tight. Top dressing will be important in smoothing the surfaces but should be applied lightly and carefully to avoid damaging young establishing grasses. During the playing season, the opportunity should be taken to introduce bentgrass seed on a couple of occasions, choosing a couple of superior quality bentgrass cultivars from Turfgrass Seed Booklet The dynaseeder attachments for the triplex mower are an excellent technique and mechanism for bentgrass seeding with very little surface disruption. Finally, budget for a further overseeding with fescue at the end of the main playing season, adopting the plant pot technique at a time when the surfaces are moist, warm and receptive to the seed for germination and establishment. Avoid late seeding operations which potentially reduce their success. Turfgrass Nutrition The nutritional programme generally is on a sound footing with an underlying philosophy of only promoting minimal growth to combat wear and tear. That said, there is a need to push growth a little harder in the spring, using a couple of liquid feeds to complement the recent dressing of lawn sand to encourage recovery and provide growth that will facilitate top dressing. Once growth rates have stabilised then apply the main spring granular feed of an organic product of analysis 8:0:6 or similar. Liquid feeding provides a very effective mechanism through which small inputs can be applied on an as required basis. Using sulphate of iron and ammonium sulphate helps to discourage moss and is more effective than either of these ingredients applied on their own. Obviously, care is required when using these products in the summer months as they can exacerbate drought stress effects. The requirement for potash can be determined by a sub-soil nutrient analysis but this element does tend to be readily leached in sandy soils and even if potash levels were adequate as a rule of thumb, potash would be applied at 50% the nitrogen rate. The use of seaweed extract and chelated iron as a tonic through the summer period is acceptable and can continue. Turf Iron The acquisition of a turf iron would greatly assist in the improvement and development of the playing surfaces particularly in relation to ball roll and allow for improvements in smoothness and trueness that

7 are demanded by todays discerning golfers. I have enclosed a table comparing the features of a number of the most common models available. Microdochium Patch Disease Further information on this particular disease is detailed in the enclosed information sheet, but in the first instance the main focus is on adopting a good cultural programme that would seek to minimise disease outbreaks in the first instance. Cultural practices highlighted include the following:- Maintaining a dry turf surface as fungal spores will spread more rapidly in damp conditions. Maintain a hardened grass sward by avoiding lush, sappy growth through the use of iron. Keeping thatch levels under control as this is a substrate for fungal activity, this disease ordinarily exists as a saprophyte on dead plant material. Having adopted good cultural techniques, disease outbreaks can still occur but should be much reduced and it may be necessary to apply a fungicide to help minimise scarring. Fungicides are most effective if applied when the predictive disease pressures are at their highest before disease symptoms are readily apparent. A contact fungicide (iprodione, chlorothalonil, fludioxonil) will confer some protection by preventing the fungal mycelium from entering the sward, but when there is some growth it is useful to consider the use of a systemic either in isolation or in combination with the contact as the systemic will enter the plant and be translocated within to offer a longer period of protection. Green Surrounds and Approaches The aspiration is to improve the quality of surrounds and approaches to improve both presentation and the uniformity/density of the grass cover for cutting or chipping. Whilst there has been a welcome and marked improvement in the botanical composition of the greens, the collars and aprons still retain a high instance of annual meadow grass. In the short term, seek to extend nutrient inputs to surrounds and approaches (applying a spring granular feed) to promote recovery from winter play. Box off clippings to reduce the substrate for worm casting activity which is also contributing to the thatch accumulations and in the process, improve the texture and quality of surrounds. Sand top dressings to collars, aprons and approaches is vital to help build up a sandier, firmer and freer draining surface that is better able to cope with the intensity of foot and machinery traffic. Fairways The most cost effective means to improving the quality of fairways is to implement a sand top dressing programme which is not without its financial challenges. Before embarking upon this programme, the Club does need to commit to an annual and ongoing expenditure both in terms of purchasing appropriate sands and then in employing a contractor to apply the material. Such a programme should be properly costed so that funds can be earmarked and made available. Locally available sands could be evaluated for their suitability and whilst they do not need to be to greens quality, they do still need to have a high percentage of particles within the desirable ( mm) sand fractions. Avoid excessively fine sands or those that contain excessive grit (particles >1mm). Also bear in mind that sands with a wide spread of particles will tend to interpack and be less effective from a drainage perspective than a more uniform sand. Also bear in mind that sands with a lime content will trigger take all patch disease on your bentgrass dominant surfaces. In tandem with sanding, scarification would be advantageous to remove the organic material at the surface, but this will again require a contractor to be engaged to implement the work and to remove arisings in the process.

8 The wet, damaged areas on the left hand side at the 8 th fairway should be repaired ahead of the start of the main competition season, removing the surface organic matter, backfilling with a quality growing medium and turfing with quality sod. This area is adversely affected by the adjacent vegetation and the lack of both air movement and light that is so beneficial to surface drying. This also requires top dressing with sand to help dilute organic material and to improve surface firmness. If funds were available, the objective would be to apply 5-10mm of sand in the first season, thereafter backing off to apply 3-5mm on an annual basis. As a guide 1kg/m 2 equates to a layer approximately 0.6mm thick. Sand would be applied as a number of dressings over the growing season so it can be readily absorbed by the grass cover when it is actively growing. The introduction of an open ditch on the left of the 6 th fairway was discussed which could provide a good strategic hazard with the only concern being that it is within range of the bigger hitters of the tee but not visible. Signed Ian McClements Senior Consultant ian.mcclements@stri.co.uk 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.

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