Golf
Beneficial bacteria are at the heart of Craig’s programme of disease eradication at Shooters Hill Golf Club.
Under ever more pressure to perform as business booms at the club, Craig knows that minimising outbreaks of fusarium, anthracnose and other troublesome fungal invasions is critical to keeping the customers satisfied.
Since 2012, he’s been applying compost teas to boost bacterial colonisation and fungal growth within the greens rootzones, recently boosting the programme by introducing Enhance fertiliser with added bacillus.
“I was searching for a product to tackle disease outbreak that would have bioactivity. I prefer biology and bugs to chemical treatments,” says Craig. “We are winning the war against disease, and that’s giving us a lead over other courses in the region.”
Clubs nearby are “scarred by disease” by comparison, he claims. “Like chalk and cheese.” So much so that their members are switching allegiance to Shooters Hill; at least ten are said to have defected so far this year.
“We have healthy greens but, by the autumn, disease such as anthracnose can strike, brought on by drought. It was dry last year and the quantity of pay and play can also aggravate the condition of the greens.”
With the dry spell persisting - only 10mm of rain fell this March and April - Craig’s campaign to maintain a disease-free golfing environment will remain a challenging one.
That’s when Enhance comes into play, he says: “Even when the course is dry, our greens, tees and fairways look healthy - the fertiliser helps prevent them looking tired at the end of summer and encourages a robust rootzone.”
Originally applying 55kg of granular product across seven greens, Craig had to take care not to green up some parts of the course more than others. “I needed to match the treated greens with untreated ones, so that we didn’t have too much growth.” An “educated guess” on the correct concentrations to apply was all it took for the right result.
The team treated all the greens in February to ensure they were in fine fettle for the traditional start of the season. “It is a regular component of the programme now and we will apply it across the course earlier this year than last - in August - rather than from mid-October to Christmas as he did last year, although the fertiliser is still working well into spring,” he reports.
Bioactive fertilisers are tailored to all types of sports and amenity turf and include microgranular and liquid options for fine turf root growth. Amino acid supplements help turf withstand stress, whilst a trace element package of elevated zinc strengthens leaves, heightens stress resistance and encourages enzyme activity. Organic content delivers slow-release nutrients for maintenance level feeding after mineral nutrients are consumed.
www.vitax.co.uk 36 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
Erecting signage for competitions and tournaments is one of Chris Witchlow’s key tasks
ideas to take the club forward. “I have a vote now, so my voice can be heard to help influence the future here,” he adds. Holding on to a talented team is always challenging and Craig is bidding farewell to his first assistant greenkeeper, Chris Ward, 42, who is leaving to head up the greens team at Ilford Golf Club. “Chris had always wanted to become a head greenkeeper and the way we try to develop staff prepared him for the move.” Craig took on Chris Witchlow as an
apprentice five years ago and the 22-year old has completed his NVQ Level 2 at Plumpton College. “He’s currently working on his spraying qualifications, having attained his chainsaw certificates,” says Craig. “Erecting signage and display boards for competitions and tournaments - like September’s Greenwich Mayor’s Day charity event with its shotgun start - is one of his key tasks. Giving specific responsibilities to each one of the team helps them take ownership of an aspect of course management.” Craig does view himself as something of
a “babysitter”, tending his youthful charges. “Remember, when you are managing youngsters who have come straight from school, you have to keep reinforcing schedules. Every couple of days I’ll encourage them to remember their tasks as a way of motivating them to work productively.” Also just twenty-two, apprentice Jack
Wade too has just completed NVQ Level 2, at Hadlow College. His specific duties on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays include the “everyday stuff”, maintaining the footclean areas and machinery/kitchen facilities, Craig adds. Completing the complement of
apprentices is Ben Wise, 17, who Craig brought in last May and who is also going through his NVQ 2 at Hadlow College. It’s a young team for sure and Craig has
introduced firm but fair management and operational policies to bring out the best in them.
Changing times are only adding to the
demands of course maintenance, he believes. “You cannot get away with just a 9 to 5, and have to be on the ball with everything as the expectations from members and players are so much higher now. We need to answer member queries about the course and they will shout and walk all over if you don’t stand your corner.”
A true believer in marginal gains to
bolster efficiency, he has introduced a hygiene regime in a bid to minimise absenteeism - and it’s paying off he reports. “Days off through illness have reduced to
just one or two a year for each of the team. The vomiting bug that struck in spring and autumn hit us a while back, and you cannot really plan for that, but we do all we can to keep those types of infections at bay.” Other forms of absenteeism are a
different matter though and motivation is a major driver in limiting the urge to “throw a sickie” occasionally. When that does happen, team members are taken through a back-to-work interview to reinforce the importance of the work ethic. “Procedures matter,” stresses Craig, “and
keep us all focused on the jobs in hand year-round. When one of the team decides not to turn up, that affects everyone else and duties have to be reassigned to ensure they are completed.” Other factors can strike from left of field
to throw the system out of kilter. He’s been “unlucky” with jury service over the years he says. “I’ve been called three times, but you can plan your time around it.” “A team member announced one day
that he’d been called up and would be away for a week. He showed me his completed jury form he’d already submitted. Coming as it did, out of the blue, I was not best pleased I can tell you.” Environment figures strongly in Craig’s management programme. “We are currently creating wildlife corridors for birds, bats and hedgehogs between us and Oxleas Wood, an ancient site that adjoins the course,” he enlarges. “Kestrels are nesting on site and we have recently set up
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