Conservation & Ecology
The Bolton Old Links Team being presented with nestboxes by Martin George from CJ Wildlife. From left to right, Stuart Angus, Pat Hothersall, Martin George, Antony Wainwright, Steve Helmsley and James Whitworth
and, together with the eventual dropping of leaves, would permanently change the character of the soil below. If this was to happen, it would be much more difficult, indeed almost impossible, to restore the heath habitat, thereby demonstrating the necessity to perform the simple task of sapling removal before the job becomes too demanding. This management regime for heath will then be written into our growing EMS.
In the two month’s since starting here, I have also managed to complete two more detailed additions to our EMS, with the completion of a report regarding eradication of Himalayan Balsam. This report is available to all of our members through our website and documents aspects of the plant’s ecology, presence on the course, methods for eradication and, as always, an annotated map. The map quickly shows how this invasive weed is starting to take a foothold within the course boundaries and has proved particularly useful to our members who, after reading the report, have a greater understanding of what this weed can do on a golf course and to the further environment. A second, more substantial report
describes the condition of the long-rough grassland habitats throughout the course. The report attempts to map all areas of rough on the course and provide a management regime to develop the rough from a thick, coarse sward to a more golfing friendly thin and wispy sward, whilst removing the stands of soft rush and other weed species. All the rough on the course was placed into grades of three distinct types present to allow for differing management regimes to tackle them. These were from Grade 1, which was dominated by fine, wispy species, to Grade 3, which was dominated by coarser, thick species. The plan is to eventually bring the quality of the rough to Grade 1, which will significantly improve our sustainability by reducing the need to intensively manage these areas whilst improving the ecological value. An excerpt from the report below describes in more detail:
“Long rough grassland forms a major factor upon playability at Bolton Old Links and management is necessary to prevent the grasses from becoming thick and entangled with thick species dominating. As the course is in an upland area, the grass species present
View of the 10th, with panoramic views across several counties in the background
should be thin and wispy with fescues, bents and other wispier species predominating. Although upland grasses are still prevalent on this course, coarse, thick species, such as Yorkshire Fog, Ryegrass and Cocksfoot, are present in many areas due to an increase of fertility within the soil, compaction and lack of any past management regime.
Large tracts of Soft Rush are also present, which is a severely thick plant, and finding or playing a ball from areas of rush is almost impossible. All these coarse species are detrimental to the game of golf as they prevent fast ball retrieval, slowing down play, and also impact upon the golf swing when trying to play balls out of the rough.
The rough on this course also has aesthetic value and, with future development, will be more relevant to an upland golf course. Lastly, through the development of the long rough, we will be enhancing the
environmental value of these areas by creating a habitat where wildflowers and biodiversity can thrive. All of the above will contribute significantly to the sustainability of the club by eventually reducing the need to manage the long rough whilst providing better playability, aesthetics and ecological value of the site.” The above statement is designed to give a detailed picture of the long-rough,
Woodland surrounds a few holes at the lower reaches of the course
120 PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
Japanese Knotweed after being treated to remove it from our course
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