... adopt the ‘gimme’ rule during play on prolonged frozen surfaces
communicated.
• Prepare temporary greens well in advance, especially on those holes where the greens are shaded.
This area can then be renovated via tining, dressing and seeding to aid recovery whilst it is being rested. Another good idea is for the club to adopt the ‘gimme’ rule during play on prolonged frozen surfaces. Playing on a frozen surface becomes somewhat of a lottery and should be seen as a game of fun and exercise as opposed to a competitive game. Therefore, any ball lying within one club length of the hole should be a ‘gimme’. The advantages are that the green can
remain in play for longer, the pin never needs to be removed from the hole, no putting takes place within the crucial three to four feet of the hole thus avoiding damage, it speeds up play, keeps golfers moving during cold conditions, is fun and can even lead to having more players since it should take about thirty minutes less to play a round of golf.
Another technique to help with conditions of white frost is to apply a dew dispersal agent via a foliar spray. This helps to maintain a dry surface and reduce the amount of frost. It lasts for about ten to fourteen days and has the added effect of reducing the likelihood of disease attack since all diseases of cool
season turf require a damp surface. It
should also be noted that within any golf course, there may be areas where micro- climates exist e.g. shaded greens in low lying hollows. Therefore, within a single course, there may be variances as to what greens remain in play, hence the reason why the Course Manager’s expertise is essential.
Key points
• Produce a winter play policy as part of the overall plan for the club/course.
• Ensure all the best agronomic practices are carried out to ensure that the turf is healthy, of good root depth, good density and that surfaces are firm and free draining.
• Apply a dew dispersal product at 2 week intervals at key times during the winter.
• Cut two holes per green, one fairly close to the front edge.
• Implement the ‘gimme’ rule of club length and have this well
FAVOURITE KIT?
When asked what his favourite piece of equipment was Malcolm Gardner, Grounds Manager at BA Clubs, plumped for the versatile John Deere Progator
WHEN asked what my favourite piece of machinery was, I had to think long and hard, only
first experience of grounds machinery was a Ford Super Dexta, a tractor that was without any three point linkage, the use of which was limited to pulling around the trailed gang mower, trailer or for pulling out stumps of moderate sized dead trees. One of the other things we had was an old Dennis ‘Z’ type cylinder mower that, if you didn’t
because, when I first came into the profession, my
get the starting handle right when turning the thing over to start her up, would send you flying across the workshop. It had no reverse gears so, after emptying the box, you had to haul it backwards by hand. It had no brake steering too and was extremely heavy. A lot of tasks back then involved physical
labour. I particularly remember topdressing hockey pitches by hand, loading the trailer and then spreading it with the use of a shovel, three of us walking behind the tractor and trailer as it made its way up the pitch spreading as we went. 60 tonnes per pitch and, as we were double handling onto the trailer and then onto the pitch, thats 120 tonnes shifted in a day. Funny how you can look back on such memories with fondness, especially so with the range of machinery at a groundsman’s disposal these days that are both lighter, easier and, to a
greater extent, safer and more reliable. That is why I find it a difficult question to
answer because there are some great bits of kit available on the market these days. I am, however, going to come down squarely
in favour of my John Deere Progator. I find the versatility of the machine to be brilliant. On its own it’s a great utility vehicle for transporting goods about the grounds with room for two seated comfortably in the front. It has great flexibility in that I can demount the tipping cargo box and mount my 600 litre sprayer within fifteen minutes and go out spraying. Similarly, I also have the option to mount my twin spinner topdressing machine and, with the use of a tractor with a front bucket, I can topdress a football pitch as a one man operation in half a day.
• Implement good traffic control measures via the use of post and rope around the greens.
• Apply turf products that help to reduce turf
stress and aid recovery once the frosts are over. This in conjunction with aerification using both micro and half- inch tines.
Conclusion
With good planning, communication and implementation of best practices, winter play, even during periods of prolonged frost, can be sustainable and without leading to a large loss in income. Plan for winter well in advance and have a clear policy, fully communicated to the golfers as to when play on the main greens will be permitted.
By implementing the above, the greens are more likely to be in better condition in spring and the club with more money in the bank.
Laurence W Pithie MG Tel: 07774 414207
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