September end.”
“On the continent we have experienced some opposite extremes to the UK, with very dry weather. At Castiglion del Bosco, a Tom Weiskopf design set in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy, construction started last spring. The dry weather meant no down days and, therefore, a lot of progress was made; a golf course contractor’s dream!” “Whilst, at Navarino Dunes Golf Resort in
Greece, a very dry year was as much a hindrance as it was a help. The Course Superintendent, Gary Finnerty, had a busy summer keeping on top of the grow-in of the golf course. Long, hot, dry days placed an ever so important emphasis on monitoring green conditions throughout each day whilst
when there is such heavy rainfall is bunkers, as I am sure many superintendents will agree.” “The devastation heavy rainfall can have on
bunkers, not to mention staff morale, is major. In response we are having to upgrade bunkers so they can withstand these extremes better. We do this by upgrading sub-surface drainage in the bunkers while at the same time installing liners. Liners allow us to minimise the movement of sand during heavy rains and prevent contamination with the subgrade below; the former preventing the labour intensive task of replacing sand and the latter prolonging the useful life of the bunker sand.” Although Simon and his team face a variety of climates, soil types and growing conditions, they strive to deliver a consistently high
between the growing conditions in the UK compared to the likes of Dubai but, at the end of the day, the fundamentals remain consistent”
“There are obvious differences
ensuring the newly installed irrigation system was up and fully functional on time. Along with this, there was the requirement to regularly monitor water quality and, in particular, salt levels which was critical during the summer months.”
In dealing with the variety of climatic
extremes, and in particular the wet conditions faced in the UK this year, Simon believes experience is again the best tool to possess. “We are getting much more used to the
problems Mother Nature has been throwing at us of late, and so the recent poor weather has not been a big surprise. It has created its problems but we adapt and respond where necessary. One of the main areas of concern
standard of playing surface regardless. Advising and managing agronomic issues at each facility allows Simon to implement Troon Golf ’s agronomy standards, giving each development the same support structure which, in turn, creates synergies and consistency across every course under their umbrella. Facing a broad range of conditions and managing facilities at every stage of development, from the well established Oceânico Vilamoura courses in Portugal to the Agalarov Estates in Russia, which are due to open in 2009, the fundamentals remain consistent, and consistently delivering these ultimately leads to a consistently high end
The Els Club, Dubai, not surprisingly, designed by the Big Easy
rain as was experienced in Greece or a summer of record rainfalls, agronomists must remain versatile and adaptable to the challenges that will forever be present in the industry.
Encouragement can also be taken from the fact that experience is the most valuable tool for being better prepared to deal with the challenges that future seasons will undoubtedly present. With every challenge faced agronomists become more qualified and better prepared for the future.
product. “There are obvious differences between the
growing conditions in the UK when compared to the likes of Greece or Dubai but, at the end of the day, the fundamentals remain the same. The frequency and timing of the practices can differ but, ultimately, the emphasis remains on implementing sound irrigation, fertility and cultural practices.”
The British weather continues to test
agronomists resources year on year. However, some reassurance can be drawn from the fact that agronomists in the UK are not alone in having to deal with extreme and challenging conditions. Whether it is five months without
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www.Rivendell-Projects.co.uk 51
Stand M10
See us at BTME
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