Taking penetrometer readings!!


• Average maximum root depth • % Organic matter


Kath repeated the same readings mid season, and the final set of readings will be taken as this magazine goes to press. In addition, we take a set of readings on four greens each and every Friday, two Symbio greens and two YARA greens. The readings are for surface smoothness/trueness and putting speed. As a head greenkeeper, being able to systematically record the greens performance against a standard each week is excellent. It really is valuable to get down and think about how the greens are performing for the golfer each week. Once more, it opens your eyes to the realities of how different operations and height of cut affect playing performance. And the results are not always as expected!


One of the Reaseheath greens in November It is also important that the students


are getting involved with this process, and begin to see for themselves the true picture of playing conditions week to week, as well as understand the benefits of being armed with an accurate record of greens performance over a number of years is likely to be to them when they, one day, find themselves sat in front of a committee!


In the wider context of the work, education today is very much focused on sustainability across all curriculums and, by aiming to reduce the Poa annua and promote the finer grasses which will surely result in less fertiliser inputs, reduced water requirement and less chemical use, they are learning first hand the challenges and solutions that they will need to face in an ever evolving industry. At this stage, conclusions are hard to draw. We need more assessments from the


STRI Programme before we can begin to analyse what is happening. Like any research or trial, the longer it goes on, and the more data is collected, the more confidently we will be able to draw conclusions about the impact the two approaches are having.


What I can confidently say right now is that the greens have improved and the members are definitely happier than before we started. That is not to say we have top quality greens, we do not. Rome, as they say, was not built in a day and no one is under any illusions. However, as we continue to work together to try new things and record the results, I am confident everyone, including the students, will see evidence for continued improvement in the right direction.


SPORTS FIELD CONSTRUCTION SYNTHETIC SURFACES


HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING CRICKET WICKETS AND OUTFIELD GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FENCING AND SECURITY CIVIL ENGINEERING LAND DRAINAGE


PLANT HIRE/TRACTOR HIRE


• • • • • • • • •


www.cleveland-land-services.co.uk tel: 01642 488328


117


....the North East of England, NATIONWIDE!


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