Golf
In locations where temperatures commonly fall below 25O
F (-4O C), covers are not only
recommended, but are considered mandatory
Mini Verde sprigs on one of the new practice facility greens
the spring. It is a revolutionary service which can be added to maintenance programmes. It can reduce the need for core aerification as it relieves compaction, increase water filtration, allows oxygen into the rootzone and amends soil by distributing sand and soil amendments into the profile more completely. Dryject leaves the surface smooth and playable, and I would adopt this into a maintenance programme of my own. We used the BLEC Vibra Sandmaster on
every fairway; a piece of machinery I was not too familiar with. It creates sand slits 20mm wide and as deep as 200mm at 260mm centres to help move water off the surface and into the drainage system. Another machine that I did not know too much about was the Air2G2, which was demoed at Quail over the summer. This provided a great opportunity to broaden my machine operation skills and to experience different methods of maintaining oxygen levels in the soil. The machine works by sending three probes into the ground, releases air at determined psi and fractures the hard pan, relieving compaction and increasing porosity. A slow process, but effective with almost no disruption to the playing surface.
The summer of 2014 saw a brand new
short game facility created in a two acre site. Another great experience for me to witness large scale drainage plans, irrigation installation, the construction of two USGA spec greens and three bunkers. It was also my first experience using Mini Verde sprigs to grow a new green in. 419 Bermuda grass sod was laid over the remainder of the site. The new facility was opened in the autumn of 2014. Quail Hollow operate the Toro Links
irrigation software with VP field controllers. The irrigation source at Quail is a large lake centralised on the golf course that is filled primarily by rainfall and run-off, but also supplemented through deep bore holes. As you can imagine, the water quality is
not properly balanced for turf health. The irrigation water contains a high pH and moderately high levels of bicarbonates and salts. To effectively manage the turf, it was deemed necessary to amend the water through urea sulphuric acid. As we all know, acid melts down solids, the water treatment system from PrimeTurf is designed to buffer pH, and break down the high bicarbonate and salt levels, alleviating any detrimental effects to turf stemming from the irrigation water. This allows the plant to remain healthy and take in nutrients that are applied
to the turf rather than binding them up. In locations where temperatures commonly fall below 25OF (-4O
” C), covers are
not only recommended, but are considered mandatory. The winter months in North Carolina fall well below freezing and the use of permeable turf covers are used on the greens. This helps protect the crown of the plant from winter injury. We would cover all twenty-six greens if temperatures were forecast to be below 34O
F
(roughly one degree Celsius). The permeable covers are made from an uncoated woven poly material. Being permeable, they allow the turf and soil to breath but, at the same time, retain moisture and dramatically increases the sun’s ability to heat up the underlying turf.
The Air2G2 in operation 3.6m Terra Rake 1.85m Terra Brush
Both machines in stock now, call us to book a demonstration Thame, Oxfordshire
Hinckley, Leicestershire Shefford, Berkshire
Midhurst, West Sussex
01844 278843 01455 638960 01488 648552 01730 819981
01327 264844
www.farol.co.uk e-mail:
sales@farol.co.uk
PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 I 33
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