Golf


“ “ 34 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017


High chlorine levels in the water deplete good bacteria and fungi and, with its 7.5 pH, grass plants find it difficult to take up nutrients


The extent of tree coverage fosters fusarium


unlimited water.” “High chlorine levels in the water deplete good bacteria and fungi and, with its 7.5 pH, grass plants find it difficult to take up nutrients. We need 5.5-6.5 for optimum conditions. I’m planning to trial a system to lower pH levels so the course is less prone to fungal attack.” When you have a 400ft differential in


gradient between your top green (the 18th) and the lowest hole (the 4th), you have multiple microclimates to contend with. “The ecoclimate varies dramatically with height as the degree of shade differs. It makes things quite tricky to get the balance right,” Craig explains.


Sloping surfaces make for challenging golf


but they present the team with issues ensuring they are irrigated adequately. A complex blend of London clay, flint and sand, with silty soil type on the top level places further demands on course management. The extent of tree coverage across the


Typical greens core reveals how little thatch is now present


course fosters conditions favourable to fusarium outbreaks, despite all the measures in place. Thinning and removal lets in light and air to discourage the bacteria from gaining hold. “We still have the odd patch, but a blanket spray in the autumn helps resolves any issues,” says Craig. Over the years, he has introduced more


Bent grasses into the sward to replace Poa, which he knows is costly to maintain because the plant is less drought and disease tolerant and produces excessive thatch. “Greens are half Bent, half Poa now,” he


says. “Bent helps in the summer on the higher greens, which can really dry out. Drought resistant and a finer grass encourages better ball roll.” Shunning the notion that there’s ‘a bottle


for every bugbear’, Craig believes much of greenkeeping relies on commonsense and goes about his tasks accordingly. “I am very conscious about wasting money and feel no need for external consultants like agronomists. They cost too much in my view and are not always moving their golf clubs forward,” he states categorically. Apprenticeships form the fabric of Craig’s


team and he has good reason to believe in their benefits, rising through the greenkeeping ranks this way himself. Taken on as a twenty year old apprentice in 1994 at scenic Sweetwoods Park Golf Club in the beautiful Sussex Weald, Craig rose to course manager in 2001, when his long- standing boss and mentor Wallace Wilson moved to Milngavie Golf Club, and assumed that role for two years before deciding that it was time to move on from the proprietary venue. “I’d always wanted to work at a private


It’s difficult to employ other greenkeepers as often they don’t want to move so, over the years, I’ve sourced apprentices locally


The greenkeeping team - an emphasis on youth


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