FERTILISER USE
Over use of fertiliser especially nitrogen promotes lush soft growth, and undesirable coarse grasses. Adopting a more restricted fertiliser programme discourages the weed grasses and tilts the balance in favour of the desirable fine leaved fescues.
IRRIGATION
Some irrigation is obviously important, but the overuse of water like the inappropriate use of fertiliser will promote the development of lush soft slow greens.
TOPDRESSING
Regular topdressing of the greens is valuable in producing a more consistent and smooth putting surface, but choice of the wrong type of dressing can be deleterious. Too much soil or worse still peat in the dressing will promote the development of a soft damp surface and will create a slow putting speed.
ROLLING
Light rolling of greens has been shown to improve pace, but it does also cause compaction, which then has to be dealt with by aeration techniques. However, it is less damaging than shaving greens too short and causing death of the turf. The simplest and least damaging method of rolling the greens is to place a weight in the grass box of a hand mower with the blades set up.
IN CONCLUSION
The answer to producing fast greens is to produce conditions that favour the fine grasses. Annual meadow grass greens no matter how well managed will never be as slick as fescue greens. The solution then is in sound, long term, "old fashioned" greenkeeping, with the addition of a few short-term remedies such as grooming and rolling. The worst thing that can be done is to shave the greens in search of short-term improvement, as this will lead to death of the fine grasses and a more uneven surface.
At any good golf club a long-term programme can be adopted that will result in more consistent and faster greens. This programme should include daily mowing, the use of regular light topdressing, regular verticutting and grooming, some scarifying, and the careful use of irrigation and fertilisers. The introduction of short-term measures should be resisted as this can cause long- term damage to greens.
“At any good golf club a long-term programme can be adopted that will result in faster greens”
Article written by GEORGE ATTWOOD-H
HARRIS
Sports Turf Consultancy Associates Ltd
RACK? READERS
EACH issue we catch up with a leading turfgrass professional and ask him or her what’s going on in ...
Who are you ? Bruce Elliot, Head Groundsman at Reading Football Club
Status? Married to Sue with two children Dean 18 and Devon 14
What car do you drive? Fiat Punto, which I will obviously have to update now we are in the Premier League.
What do you manage? I am responsible for managing six staff who maintain the pitches and landscaped areas at both the training ground and Madejski Stadium. We have a demanding maintenance schedule at the stadium as we are also hosts to London Irish RFC and Reading Reserves.
How Long have you been at the club? One and half years, having previously worked at Millwall, The Mighty Spurs and Fulham.
What are you doing now? Busy sorting out our end of season renovations and wishing the days away to the final game of the season. Having just won promotion to the Premiership, the pressure will be on to produce a premier standard pitch, with the same challenge of still accommodating rugby and reserve team games. A the end of May we intend to strip the existing vegetation and organic root matter to expose the Desso fibres. We will be incorporating various products into the rootzone to overcome drainage problems we have experienced this season.
Favourite food? Has to be pasta and chicken. Which sounds like I’m very healthy!
Favourite Film? The Matrix Trilogy, although if someone can explain what it all means that would help!
Lives
Favourite TV programmes? I don’t have control of the TV in my house, but mainly I watch Sky Sports News and any football that’s on.
Hobbies outside of work? Five a side football, I’m too old for the real thing now.
Favourite music? Muse. I am also looking forward to seeing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers when they play at our stadium in July.
Favourite bit of kit? The Toro Pro core 648
What in your opinion has revolutionised our industry? In football it has to be Sky Sport. It has raised the profile of football to new heights, which has led to a greater awareness of playing surfaces although they can be highly critical. It has also brought in much needed income into the industry which, hopefully, filters through in small amounts to us to purchase new equipment or carry out vital tasks.
Best experience? Being promoted to the Premiership.
Worst experience? Being promoted to the Premiership. 20,000 people celebrating on your pitch with a rugby match the next day!
What would you most like to change? The profile of the Groundsman. Although the situation has improved over recent years, to many people we are still seen as grass cutters and I still get asked if my job is full-time! I think most managers are starting to realise the importance of the playing surface which can only help our cause.
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