Pollok Golf Club 1
POLLOK GOLF CLUB Advisory Report on the Golf Course incorporating the STRI Programme Report Date: 7th October 2013 Consultant: Richard Windows
Pollok Golf Club 2
CONFIDENTIAL
Date of Visit: 26th September 2013
Visit Objective: To review the early autumn condition of the golf course, take objective measurement of greens performance and confirm on-going maintenance requirements.
Present: Mr Willard Dougall – Vice-Captain Mr Bruce Wallace – Green Committee Mr Donald McKellar – Club Manager Mr Donald MacLeod – Head Greenkeeper Mr Mark Houston – First Assistant Mr Richard Windows – Turfgrass Agronomist – STRI Ltd
Weather: Warm, dry with a light breeze.
Weather conditions have generally been very dry with 41mm of rain through August and 13mm of rain in the 7 days leading up to the visit which includes 2mm on Tuesday 24th September.
Contents
Executive Summary 3
Key Observations 4 Greens 4
Greens Aprons & Surrounds 4
Fairways 5
Rough 5
Performance Data 5 Soil Moisture Content 6
Surface Firmness/Hardness 7
Smoothness & Trueness 8
Green Speed 9
Key Recommendations 10 Greens 10
Green Aprons & Surrounds 10
Fairways 11
Rough 11
Pollok Golf Club 3
Executive Summary
• The general condition of the golf course was very good with high standards of presentation, turf
quality and playing performance to all major surfaces.
• Objective measurements illustrate sustained and continuous improvement in response to the
maintenance programme implemented to the greens. Ball roll qualities in particular are
becoming smoother, truer with more consistent pace.
• Feedback regarding greens performance since the July visit has been excellent. Regular rolling,
slightly lower mowing, regular grooming and Primo-MAXX growth regulator applications have
retained green speeds around 8 ft 6 in to 9 ft 6 in throughout this period.
• Sward health has been sustained during this period of more intensive refinement meaning this
can be repeated again in the future.
• Dry patch was controlled well with Breaker Curative combined with monthly applications of
Osprey. A monthly programme should be repeated again next spring to prevent dry patch
developing.
• To complete the organic matter reduction programme, a further Graden sand injection
scarification operation should be implemented during the mid-October to early November
period. If the Graden cannot be employed, micro coring combined with kiln dried sand top
dressing will be the reserve strategy.
• A relatively minimal aeration programme can be implemented involving verti-draining to traffic
routes only and a couple of blanket solid tining operations to all areas of greens. This will be
sufficient to aerate the upper soil profile without causing excess softening for winter play.
• The green aprons remain soft in comparison to the greens and the extension of Graden sand
injection and routine top dressing is required to improve surface firmness. If Graden work
cannot be implemented, 12mm hollow coring, preferably followed by kiln dried sand top
dressing should be implemented.
• A full cover of grass has nearly been restored to the 8th fairway and a further divot patch with
overseeding and top dressing should complete the process over the next few weeks. The
weaker turf to the semi-rough should be re-turfed with appropriate material from elsewhere on
the course.
• Renovation work, combined with altered mowing practices to the bunker tops, is required to
restore and retain grass cover. In addition, certain green complexes should receive bunker
renovation involving removal of sand on bunker heads and replacing with better quality top soil
before re-turfing with an appropriate grass mix that will blend with surrounding material. In
some places this is likely to be dwarf perennial ryegrass combined with fescue.
• Rough grassland management will be a key operation over the autumn to winter. The initial task
should involve cutting and clipping collection to a 4-5m band followed by graminicide application
then scarification during the winter to early spring period.
• Bunker performance and consistency continues to be a problem and regular cultivation
combined with sand topping will continue to be implemented to optimise performance as much
as possible until full renovation and reconstruction can be implemented.
Pollok Golf Club 4
Key Observations
Greens
• The condition of the greens was excellent with a strong and healthy sward throughout all
surfaces even the 17th.
• Feedback regarding performance since the July visit has been superb. More intensive
refinement involving regular rolling (3 times a week) closer mowing and on-going Primo-MAXX
growth regulator applications optimised ball roll qualities and delivered consistent green speed
around the 8 ft 6 in – 9 ft 6in for routine play. This operation did not have any negative effect to
sward health or turf quality showing this more intensive refinement strategy can be repeated in
the future to optimise green performance.
• Dry patch symptoms have been controlled excellently with Breaker Curative combined with
monthly applications of Osprey. Uniform soil moisture has been restored and a preventative
wetting agent programme should be repeated next year to ensure dry patch symptoms are
prevented.
• The 17th green has performed far more consistently with the others on the course this season in
terms of firmness and ball roll quality. The objective measurements (see later in the report)
confirm this to be the case combined with Donald’s excellent and regular measurements of
surface performance. The sward however was looking a little tired following the rigours of play
this season and additional fertiliser inputs should be implemented to boost vigour and sward
density to the autumn to winter period.
• Some fusarium patch activity was present to the greens and has been controlled well with an
application of Scorpio fungicide on a spot treatment basis over the past couple of weeks.
Regular applications of liquid iron with magnesium sulphate through the winter should keep the
sward healthy and disease at bay. However, prior to renovation operations, it would be prudent
to apply a preventative application of fungicide to protect the greens and ensure disease
scarring is avoided.
• Moss populations were far lower than in comparison to previous years, but further Graden sand
injection combined with appropriate nutritional inputs would be beneficial to further reduce
moss populations and provide healthy sward conditions to minimise moss ingress.
Greens Aprons & Surrounds
• The green aprons are softer than the greens meaning more intensive maintenance to reduce
organic matter accumulation and improve surface firmness is required into the aprons over the
next couple of years.
• The bunker tops have lost grass cover during the dry summer and regular mowing. While this
would have been difficult to totally avoid, it does detract from the general presentation of the
green complexes.
• To improve these areas requires some consideration to alternative mowing practices as the
initial step. In addition, renovation involving overseeding and regular wetting agent application
should be implemented to restore grass cover for next season.
Pollok Golf Club 5
• Where grass cover cannot be restored via renovation and the entire green complex can be
treated, a programme of turf stripping, sand accumulation removal, top soil replacement and re-
turfing with dwarf perennial ryegrass should be implemented. The priority for this work was
considered to be the 6th green complex.
Fairways
• The fairways were in excellent condition and have responded very well to the scarification work
implemented over the past few weeks.
• Clover has been treated with selective herbicide but should be repeated again next May/June
and September.
• The 8th fairway has progressed well throughout the summer and a full cover of grass has
practically been restored with the exception of the odd local area to the drain channels. Further
overseeding and top dressing is required and this should be sufficient to restore a full cover of
grass over the next few weeks.
Rough
• Rough grassland management will form a major focus of maintenance over the autumn to early
spring period.
• The drainage channels to the left of the 8th in the semi-rough should be turfed over with similar
quality material to restore grass cover to this area.
Performance Data
The full suite of STRI Programme measurements was taken during the visit to accurately determine the performance of the greens and inform ongoing maintenance work. The greens were single cut with the Triple mower and turf iron rolled prior to the measurements. The results are shown in the table and graphs below along with interpretation where necessary.
Performance Measurement Results
Green
No.
Speed
(distance)
Smoothness
(mm/m)
Trueness
(mm/m)
Firmness
Mean
(gravities)
Firmness
SEM (±)
Moisture
Content
(%)
Moisture
Content
SEM (±)
13 8 ft 3 in 20.0 6.4 100 1 25.8 1.8
8 9 ft 2 in 18.6 6.7 104 2 26.2 1.2
16 8 ft 8 in 20.6 7.2 105 3 22.7 2.1
17 8 ft 3 in 21.0 7.5 105 2 25.0 2.0
Pollok Golf Club 6
Soil Moisture Content
• Soil moisture values were all within the ideal target range with an excellent level of consistency
between each surface.
• The soil moisture values are reflective of the dry weather recently, but also lack of moisture
retention in the upper soil profile due to the high sand content and excellent drainage qualities
of the greens.
• Consistency of moisture through each surface was far superior to the July visit and all dry patch
symptoms have been appropriately controlled with wetting agent applications.
• One or two drier sections of the 17th remained present illustrating the importance of a high
quality wetting agent programme to this surface, as well as the others, in the future.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
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VO
LUM
ETR
IC S
OIL
WA
TER
CO
NTE
NT
(%)
MONITORING PERIOD
SOIL WATER CONTENT MEASUREMENTS
8
13
16
17Target
Pollok Golf Club 7
Surface Firmness/Hardness
• Firmness values to the greens were excellent and all within the ideal target range with a superb
level of consistency between each green.
• Following the high firmness values obtained the main summer and feedback indicating these
firmness levels were not too hard for routine play; the upper end of the firmness target has been
increased to 130 gravities. This would be a similar value to that achieved on a links course. It
was felt the architecture and strategy of the course is appropriate for such firm greens.
• Analysis of previous results shows the greens are becoming increasingly consistent between
each surface and the 17th no longer stands out as in previous years. The organic matter
reduction strategy to improve the firmness of the soil based greens is the reason for such
improvements.
• It was interesting to hear the surfaces soften down minimally in response to rainfall events
during the course of the summer and again this is attributable to the organic matter reduction
strategy.
• The consistency of firmness through each individual green was good, but, as a general rule, high
trafficked areas, e.g. front left of 16, were significantly firmer than low trafficked areas, e.g. back
right of 16. We need to continually address this via more pin placements to areas of low traffic
and deep aeration into areas of high traffic only.
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
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HA
RD
NES
S (G
RA
VIT
IES)
MONITORING PERIOD
HARDNESS MEASUREMENTS
8
13
16
17
Target
Pollok Golf Club 8
Smoothness & Trueness
• Smoothness and trueness values were excellent and all within the ideal target range for routine
play.
10111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940
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VER
TIC
AL
MO
VEM
ENT
(MM
/M)
MONITORING PERIOD
SMOOTHNESS MEASUREMENTS
8
13
16
17Routine Target
Tournament Target
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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LATE
RA
L M
OV
EMEN
T (M
M/M
)
MONITORING PERIOD
TRUENESS MEASUREMENTS
8
13
16
17
Routine Target
Tournament Target
Pollok Golf Club 9
• There is a significant and definite trend of improvement smoothness and trueness during each
visit in response to the sward refinement and general maintenance programme in place. The
greens are simply getting better due to the work implemented.
• We need to keep the pressure on with regard to sward refinement to optimise ball roll qualities
throughout the main season, but also during the autumn to winter period. The regularity of
rolling is particularly important in this regard.
Green Speed
• Green speed values were good and all within the ideal target range.
• There was a good level of consistency between each surface, but 13 & 17 were a little slower
and were a littler grassier.
• Regular measurements of green speed by Donald have shown speeds were consistently around
the 8 ft 6 in to 9 ft 6 in mark from July. It was felt these speeds were most appropriate for
routine play and provided a good and enjoyable challenge.
• Sward refinement operations should therefore be tailored to ensure these speeds are achieved
routinely next season.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
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GR
EEN
SP
EED
(FT
)
MONITORING PERIOD
GREEN SPEED MEASUREMENTS
8
13
16
17
Routine Target
Tournament Target
Pollok Golf Club 10
Key Recommendations
Greens
• To complete the organic matter reduction programme to the greens, a further Graden sand
injection scarification operation would be very beneficial to all the greens (except 17) during the
mid-October to early November period.
• Before the operation, apply Instrata fungicide and the 4:0:8 granular feed to avoid disease
scarring and accelerate turf recovery.
• If Graden sand injection cannot be implemented due to budgetary constraints, micro hollow
coring combined with kiln dried sand top dressing would be the alternative. It should however
be said this would not be as effective as the sand injection scarification.
• The 4:0:8 granular fertiliser should be applied immediately to the 17th green to boost sward
vigour and density and a further application of Everris Sierraform GT with analysis 6:0:27 (or
similar) should be made to this green to retain vigour and density throughout the autumn to
winter period.
• Regular applications of iron sulphate with magnesium sulphate should be made to the greens
every 6 – 8 weeks during the autumn to mid-spring period to harden and condition the turf
thereby maintaining sward vigour and colour. Each nutrient product should be applied at
20kg/ha.
• Aim to place as many pins as possible in low trafficked sections of the green to help improve
surface firmness, but also minimise moss ingress.
• The aeration programme can be reduced this winter and in the future due to the excellent soil
conditions, healthy root development and lack of soil compaction. Therefore, the strategy
should involve localised verti-draining to areas of high traffic only once this winter using 13mm
tines.
• Solid tining to a depth of 75-100mm using 8mm tines should be implemented twice to the entire
putting platforms to aerate the upper soil profile and allow appropriate gas exchange.
• Following each aeration operation, roll the surfaces to settle and restore ball roll qualities.
Green Aprons & Surrounds
• Aim to Graden sand inject all green aprons. If this cannot be achieved, 12mm hollow coring
followed by kiln dried sand top dressing to fill the holes would be the secondary alternative.
• An application of 4:0:8 granular fertiliser should be applied prior to the renovation to optimise
rapid recovery.
• Renovation of all bunker heads should be implemented involving granular fertiliser application,
dwarf perennial ryegrass overseeding and rest as much as possible.
• Certain green complexes should be earmarked for more intensive bunker renovation involving
turf stripping, sand removal, top soil replacement and returfing with dwarf perennial ryegrass.
The priority for this work is the 6th green complex.
Pollok Golf Club 11
• Consideration to alterations of mowing practices around certain surrounds and bunkers is
required for next year to avoid damage wherever possible.
Fairways
• The usual programme of verti-draining should be implemented to the fairways combined with
on-going scarification to reduce organic matter and optimise surface drainage.
• A further divot patching and top dressing operation should be implemented to the 8th fairway to
fully restore grass cover to the drainage lines.
Rough
• A 4 - 5 m band of rough should receive cutting and clipping collection as soon as possible. The
Amazone should be set to achieve a cutting height of 25-30mm.
• Prior to cutting, an application of graminicide should be made to help remove the coarse grass
species. Areas dominated by Yorkshire Fog should be avoided, but rather treat sections where a
good proportion of finer grasses are present interspersed with Yorkshire Fog.
• Once the cutting and graminicide has been applied, scarification should be implemented during
the late winter to early spring period.
Signed
Richard Windows Turfgrass Agronomist
Official Agronomist to the R&A Championship Committee
E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 07968 263204
STRI is completely independent and has no alliances to commercial products, services or contractors. This ensures that our
design, project management and advisory services provide the best solutions for each individual client.
The STRI Programme provides golf courses with measurements and data that help to monitor and assess golf course performance. The R&A has recently developed CourseTracker (www.coursetracker.org), a free, online business management tool
for golf courses, to record, review and analyse golf club performance across many areas of your business, including the golf course. STRI believes The R&A CourseTracker combined with the STRI Programme provides the tools you need to
objectively monitor and assess your golf course performance.
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