Summer Sports - Commonwealth Games
Thankfully, there were no major detours on this one.
For us, there were probably just two curve balls. The first was closing the busy arterial road, Kelvin Way, which separates greens numbered 1-4 with greens 5 and 6 for seven days. Never originally in the plan, this intervention took about a fortnight to go through planning and then another to be organised. Fortunately, at the time of implementation, the University of Glasgow’s staff and students were on holiday. However, that meant what we lost in commuter traffic was made up with holiday visitors and coach parties in the vicinity.
Work gets underway at Kelvingrove ... “ 68 I PC JUNE/JULY 2014
Turfing happened on one of the hottest days of summer, so we had to make sure it didn't get a chance to dry out. The irrigation system was used continuously during the installation and the weeks that followed, but all the planning paid off
... and continues apace
The second was the challenge of the turf. When we came on board, the turf contract had been awarded elsewhere and had been in progress for several months grown on a site in Yorkshire. Turfing took place in the height of summer 2011. Logistically, we had twenty-four hours from when the turf was cut to having it in place. It left the turf farm early evening and then travelled 200 miles or so by road overnight for an early start the next morning. Naturally, it happened on one of the hottest days of summer, so we had to make sure it didn’t get a chance to dry out. The irrigation system was used continuously during the installation and the weeks that followed, but all the planning paid off.
What machinery was used?
Our HQ is approximately five miles away and, as it is also the home of Wiedenmann UK and Fairways GM, dealer for Ransomes Jacobsen in Scotland, we’ve had access to demo machines and the benefit of training from their very experienced teams.
The biggest machine we’ve had out on the greens was a Wiedenmann Terra Spike Gxi8 HD deep tine aerator, which we started using in 2012 up until about six months ago. The new technology, balanced crankshaft, precise tine control and perfect weight distribution, makes this model the kindest ever to fine turf like the newly laid greens. We chose 12mm solid tines with a 50mm square hole pattern to depths of about 100-120mm. Fortunately, we have no issues with compaction so we’ve just used it to let water, air and nutrients access the roots. On each of the occasions, Wiedenmann’s lead trainer in Scotland carried out the work as the spectacular backdrop of the Kelvingrove Art Galleries makes it a very coveted task in an unusual city location.
Another favourite has been the Smithco Tournament Ultra Greens Roller which is out fairly regularly and will be used even more in the run up to the event.
For mowing, we’ve been using primarily Jacobsen pedestrian mowers and, up until now, we’ve only really needed two, however, once we start the countdown to the competition, we will have four available plus a spare. We expect the organising committee to tell us to keep the grass to 3mm-4mm, so we know these do a fine job.
Aerial view of the Kelvingrove Museum and bowls greens We’ve used a pedestrian Mete-R-Matic
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