Each phase has specific objectives and
they require different tactics to complete. Take your time to complete each stage before trying to move on. You will need to be patient. Objective measures can tell of progress towards target areas.
Phase 1: Lay the foundation
The first leg of your journey is the starting point for most - putting surfaces with annual meadow grass (Poa annua) dominance, an organic matter rich turf base and less than ideal drainage. Playing qualities can be variable throughout the year and the surfaces are vulnerable to extremes of weather and disease attack. You want to change the nature of your greens. Your primary objectives at this stage are to improve drainage and reduce the organic matter content of the soil profile. This will immediately improve playing qualities, especially through the winter. It will also create an environment where the finer grasses can start to flourish. Try to get through this stage as quickly as possible, so spend your energy informing your club and the players of your intentions. Explain the procedure and sell the benefits of success. Tell them that, if carried out correctly, this stage won’t last forever. Better greens for longer in the year is a fairly compelling objective for most golfers and golf clubs. If your underlying drainage is really
poor, you need to be thinking pipe drainage or even green reconstruction. Work against the organic matter by hollow tining (with big enough tines) or deep scarification, integrate topdressing and aerate like mad. Don’t worry about disturbance at this stage because there is nothing to save. Ensure you change the reason for the thatch accumulation in the first place by amending the previous fertiliser or irrigation programme. If shade is a problem then thin or
remove the trees (under guidance of an ecologist or tree expert). Turn the situation around as quickly as possible to keep the golfers happy. Sample organic matter content through the soil profile to monitor progress and to review the success of the methods being employed. Work towards specific targets. You complete this stage when you have
created a surface with an open aspect that is founded upon a sandy and free draining soil. The greens are already better and now you can start thinking seriously about changing the grass types.
Phase 2: Manage the environment
With the foundation in place you can start with the art of greenkeeping. Changing the sward species composition to establish the browntop bents and fescues requires subtle management of the environment. Here we begin
overseeding in earnest and setting the environment required to shepherd the seedlings into established plants. We also want to allow the established plants to flourish. This is achieved by preparing the surfaces in a different way. Our knowledge of the plant growth strategies tells us that constant damage (disturbance) will favour the annual meadow grass while the finer grasses prefer more settled conditions. We reduce the need for aggressive treatments with the judicious use of fertiliser and irrigation inputs to keep growth and thatch production under control (plant growth regulators?). We begin preparing the surfaces through topdressing, brushing, rolling and less aggressive mowing and verticutting to keep disturbance pressure to a minimum. We continue to aerate to maintain the optimal soil conditions but without it being detrimental. We still provide firm, fast, smooth and true surfaces for the golfers to enjoy but we start doing it in a different and less damaging way. Successful overseeding requires you to be pernickety. Use quality seed and apply it at the correct rate when there is a chance of success. Be sure to place the seed to the correct depth (with soil contact) and give it enough space to come through. Hold back the competition from the existing sward before overseeding with the use of plant
“Our objective is to help you understand that the nature of the environment controls the composition of the sward”
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