State-of-the-art aeration and drainage


The Grove


to the establishment of this pernicious moss. I put this moss in the same league as Poa annua when it comes to invasiveness in CBG.


Get picky


Handpick the Poa annua from your sward regularly. If you are just starting out with a clean green sward of any type, this is the most important thing you will do. This is vital with a CBG sward, as its natural density gives you a greater chance to keep AMG at bay. Secondly, never give up! As soon as you do, you have also given in, start managing for Poa annua ssp reptans. You'll find a good article on this in last month’s Pitchcare!


Short back and sides


Finally, this is the joy of growing Creeping Bent Grass greens, cut them low throughout the playing season and get them smooth and fast. Outside times of heat stress, they will take daily mowing at 2.5mm no problem. Why else are clubs spending all this money growing and maintaining them?


Future Proof


So, does creeping bent grass have a future as a golf green surface in the UK? Well,


UK developments with greens sown to Creeping Bent Grass


Moor Allerton 1972 Badgemore Park 1972 The Belfry 1979 Old Thorns 1982


given the history that I have just outlined, the honest answer would have to be no. Even with the expertise and budgets that some of the top- end developments have had, they have not managed to provide long-term Poa free swards. Economic uncertainty has caused many of these developments to reduce the intensity of management required, typically the first thing to go is the hand picking.


The more recent story over


in Ireland really points the way in terms of the future for CBG on these shores. If you have a large project investment fund that is pitched at the affluent end user, then it is highly likely that your signature architect is going to specify Creeping Bent Grass. There is no problem with this, as long as you ensure you always have the funds to keep your CBG at its best, as this is your unique selling point. As with all USPs, if you don’t maintain them you are simply the same as all the rest.


KMgc - Kevin Munt Golf Consultants Telephone: 07810 473623 www.kmgcgolfconsultancy.com


All images © of the captioned golf clubs unless stated


The Grove 2004 Remedy Oak 2006 Machynys Peninsular 2008


Irish developments with greens sown to Creeping Bent Grass


St Mellion (Nicklaus) 1988 East Sussex National (2) 1989 Collingtree Park 1990 Hanbury Manor 1990 The Wisley 1991 Buckinghamshire 1992 Bowood G&GC 1992 Stockley Park 1993 The Oxfordshire 1993 The London Club (1) 1993 Chart Hills 1993 Loch Lomond 1993


Celtic Manor (2) 1995 & 2008 Bearwood Lakes 1996 The Hertfordshire 1996 Queenwood 2000


Carlton House K Club - K2 Powerscourt Castleknock Castlemartyr Killen Castle Knightsbrook Mount Juliet The Heritage Bray New Dun Laoghaire Dunmurray Springs The Old Head of Kinsale Beaverstown Glen of the Downs


All this with NO DISRUPTION TO PLAY!


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