Pitch marks

There's no doubt the issue of pitch marks on greens has been and very much still is a contentious issue at golf clubs around the globe. It's a strange phenomenon as the majority of golfers you talk to on this subject will always say they repair theirs and a couple more?

This year we've undertaken some case studies to try and monitor the repairing of pitch marks. A par 3 green was observed late one morning for 40 minutes, in total 21 people played the hole.

8 players out of the 21 hit the green making a pitch mark. Out of the 8 no one repaired their mark or even looked for it, out of the 21, not one person repaired a pitch mark or looked for one.

Another case study we carried out was on the par 5 16th. We purposely didn't repair any pitch marks from Friday morning set up until Monday morning set up. Following set up we placed a golf ball in every unrepaired pitch mark on the 16th green, in total we placed 60 golf balls on the green. (see pictures below). This was a very disappointing stat to acquire especially as we had just completed a maintenance week in which all works carried out to greens was in aid to make are putting surfaces smoother and truer.

I've no doubt that there are conscientious individuals that do repair their ball mark and one other, but on the above evidence there are many more that don't! I feel a more conscientious effort needs to be adopted by all of our members to deliver the true putting surfaces we all desire.

How to correctly repair a pitch mark

How NOT to repair a pitch mark

Maintenance week Autumn 2017

Our Autumn maintenance week concluded 22/09/2017 and we were blessed with fine conditions, all scheduled  operations to greens and approaches have been successfully carried out by our dedicated green staff.

 A chemical application was made to greens two weeks prior to maintenance week. This application will kill the Rye grass, Yorkshire fog and weaken the coarse Bent grasses within our greens. The surface of the greens will yellow and patches of grass will die off, this is a normal reaction to the graminicide that has been applied.

Discolouring of coarse grasses

The greens are scarified in two directions at least 5mm below the surface using vertical cutting blades with tungsten tips. This will remove a proportion of organic matter from the thatch layer and rake through the dying coarse grasses.

Scarifying

Material removed through scarifying

Greens surface after scarification

This year we used two separate solid tine operations to aerate the greens. 8mm x 200mm tines and 6mm x 100mm tines punched small diameter holes into the soil profile at different depths. Aeration plays an important part in helping air and water move through the soil, air spaces between the soil particles will create gas exchanges to help break down thatch and provide space for root development.

200mm Verti-drain aeration

100mm Procore aeration

Again two different methods and seed were used to over-seed our greens. Shallow holes were made by a sorel roller in which 5Kg of  brown top bent seed was distributed per green. Fescue seed was inter-seeded behind the bent at 20g/m2. Persisting with this blend of grass species will provide us with the optimum putting surfaces year round.

Sorel rolling with bent seed

Inter-seeding with fescue seed

Greens, surrounds and approaches have all been sand-dressed and worked into the surface. In all around 60 tons of straight sand has been applied to the greens complex's to restore levels following the invasive work already carried out. Dressing not only aids us in the reinstatement of the surface but also dilutes thatch, improves water infiltration, firmness and trueness. Further light dressings will be applied as necessary.

Straight sand dressing

Working in dressings

All through these processes the greens complex's were cleared of debris, cut and ironed to ensure we could provide the best surfaces possible following the invasive procedures. The use of hole stabilizing rings will be used temporarily to aid the initial instability around the hole, these will not be used in qualifying competitions and will be removed completely following re-establishment of the surface. 

Ironing

Hole stabilization

In addition to our normal routine maintenance work the surrounds and approaches of 10, 11 and 12 needed extra attention this year. Thatch and Rye grass infestation has become problematic leading to poor surfaces. The Rye grass had been sprayed prior to maintenance week then we set about removing as much thatch as possible by taking cores from the soil profile using a hollow tine. These cores were left to dry before being broken up with the scarifier, the thatch material removed through this process was blown to the sides and picked up. Straight fescue was inter-seeded and cyclone spread over the tine holes with 12 tons of sand dressing applied and further sand dressing scheduled to reinstate the surfaces.

Hollow tine

Cores on surface

Breaking up cores

Thatch material removed

Broad leaved grass control

An application of the selective graminicide Rescue has been made to all greens to aid in the control of Ryegrass and Yorkshire Fog grasses. Members will notice a yellowing and thinning of the turf where these grasses are most prominent. This application has been made to greens for a number of years prior to the September maintenance week, it is evident that these undesirable broad leaved grasses are declining in population. The application will be backed up week commencing 18/09/17 with over-seeding of the more desirable grasses for putting surfaces Fescue and Browntop Bent.

Autumn Maintenance Week 2015

Having just completed this years Autumn maintenance work we would like to provide you with an update on the works completed and what we hope to achieve from these essential tasks. Given that it is becoming quite late in the year we have been very lucky with weather conditions this week. Soil temperatures have remained high enough to encourage germination and light winds have enabled the greens to dry quickly so that we could complete the tasks effectively. We hope that temperatures will remain stable in the next few weeks to give the seed its best chance to survive and germinate.

Pre Maintenance Work

Two weeks prior to maintenance week a graminicide was applied to the greens which targets the undesirable, coarse species of Ryegrass and Yorkshire Fog in the sward. This was completed using a pedestrian sprayer which was more time consuming but gave us greater accuracy of application. After ten days the greens were showing clear signs of the chemical taking effect. This may have caused some concern to members as the greens had turned a shade of brown! However this is normal as the chemical kills the coarse species but also causes temporary stress to the finer Bentgrasses in the sward. We were pleased to see that the Fescues remained healthy and noted the high percentage of this fine grass that was present in all the greens.

Maintenance Week

Greens

We began early on Monday morning by brushing the greens to disintegrate as much of the dead Ryegrass as possible before we began our main tasks. We then scarified the greens to a depth of 5mm to get into the thatch layer and remove organic material, making sure we carried the work on into the surrounds as much as possible.




Scarifying the 17th green.



A light top dressing was then applied and dragged into the slices cut by the scarifier. This is a major part of our on-going thatch dilution program which aims to improve water infiltration, surface firmness and ultimately greens performance.

Drag matting 17th green.

We next began overseeding the greens with fine fescue seed using the Vredo disc seeder. We did two passes on all greens and followed with a heavy top dressing to provide the seeds with soil contact which will protect the seed and aid germination rates. A total of 200kg of seed has been applied to the greens this week and we hope to see germination in the coming weeks. This increase in Fescue will improve our species composition leading to smoother, firmer and more sustainable greens. We hope the golfers will see the benefits in 2016.


The greens were top dressed again later in the week to fill in any remaining slots from the seeder and improve surface levels. A total of 40 tonnes of sand has been applied to the greens in just a week which brings us closer to achieving our target of 150 tonnes applied for the year.

8th green after renovations completed.

Approaches

After the work to the greens was completed we began some maintenance on the approaches. This included a double pass with the scarifier which removed a massive amount of thatch! (see picture) Followed by a single pass with the overseeder and a double pass with the top dresser. 40kg of seed and 9 tonnes of sand was applied.


Thatch removed from approaches.

Another pass with the overseeder and top dresser will be performed in the following week in another direction to improve species composition and firmness.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to post below. We also now have a Facebook page which contains small updates and pictures of our work and can be used to ask any questions, so please 'like' the page if you are interested, see link below.
 La Moye GC Greens


Verti Cutting & Sanding

We have taken the opportunity to carry out some sward refinement using verti-cut units fitted to a Toro 3250. As the name suggests the blades on these units work vertically into the turf slicing through lateral growth and imparting stress into broader leaved grass species.

 

 

Following this procedure sand top dressing was applied to all greens. These tasks complement each other as the verti-cutting grooves enable the sand to be worked into the surface well while the sand helps smooth out any unevenness caused by the verti-cutting.

 

The sand is worked in to the surface of the green using a rubber dragmat. In this instance we attached some astroturf to the dragmat to achieve a superior brushing effect.

Maintenance Week

Maintenance Week  

Our annual autumn maintenance week runs from Monday 23^rd – Friday 27^th September. We will carry out a number of vital operations to the putting surfaces with the aim of decreasing the amount of organic matter present in the upper profile of the rootzone. We plan to core the greens using a 13mm hollow tine, deep scarify in two directions, over seed and top dress. Weather permitting; we will apply around 3 tonnes of dressing to each green. This procedure is a fundamental part of our course maintenance plan and represents the single most important week of the year from a greenkeeping perspective. To enable the work to progress uninterrupted, restrictions will be in place with 9 holes open for play only on each day until the work is complete.

  

June Course Update

Greens

The year so far has proved to be very challenging from a course maintenance perspective. Poor weather conditions have meant the playing surfaces are slightly below expected levels for this point in the season. Some of the grasses are still in the seeding phase and this has been more vigorous and longer lasting than usual causing green smoothness and pace to suffer. Regular brushing, double cutting and rolling of the putting surfaces is maintaining standards to a reasonable level but aeration of greens has been suspended until the seeding has stopped. We can expect to see a significant decrease in seed heads over the next fortnight or so which will allow a resumption of regular needle tine aeration. This, when coupled with sufficient top dressing is the key element of our in-season greens maintenance program and is entirely necessary to produce the desired putting green performance.

Rough

How ironic that as the closely mown playing areas have struggled for growth this year, the rough areas have seen growth in abundance. The current length and density of the roughs is causing some problems from a playing perspective. With this in mind we have cut extra rough areas on holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 17 and 18. This still leaves some dense patches on the course but we can already see it beginning to die back now that the wettest weather seems to be behind us. Rough grassland management is not as simple as just keeping it all cut down. We must balance the needs and desires of the player with those of the grasses to ensure we have a healthy and robust sward for the remainder of the year. These grasses provide an aesthetically vital frame to each hole and give crucial definition between holes. There are ecological matters to consider also; the marsh harrier is just one of the bird species that are enjoying the current conditions. Wild orchids have had their best year for some time and countless other flora and fauna have been able to exploit the productive conditions this season.

Old Trolley Shed

The unsightly wooden shed situated between the 15^th tees and 16^th green is scheduled to be removed in the next few weeks. Specialist contractors will be used to remove the roof section before the rest of the structure is dealt with by the course staff.

 

New Bunker Rakes

A different style of bunker rake is being trialled in some of the bunkers on the course. This is to try to minimise bunkers losing shape during the days play. It is hoped the new rakes will stop too much sand being moved around causing over softness and contributing to the problem of downhill lies. Players should find the rake lighter, requiring less effort to use. Please remember to leave rakes outside the bunker on the side away from the normal line of play.

Greens Update

What a pleasure it has been out on the course recently with the warm sun on our backs. It feels like summer may have arrived. On the course this week we have top dressed all greens and sprayed a liquid fertiliser mix. These tasks will help to refine the quality of the putting surfaces further now that we are into the golf season proper. Soil temperatures are good and with careful water management there should be no impediment to good growth. We expect to see improved surface smoothness and consistent grass growth across the various species within the greens.

Autumn Maintenance Update

Following the maintenance work carried out on the week beginning 26th September, I would like to consider the work done and the results so far. The solid tine work on greens was completed in a timely manner without creating too much disruption to the surfaces.

Seeding work was carried out next using our dedicated seeding unit.

The seeder was used twice, the first time with a fescue seed, then at a slightly shallower depth bent seed was used. The greens were ironed to improve firmness before top dressing was applied to improve smoothness.

Since the work was done the seedlings have germinated well. The new grass is infilling the patches of ryegrass that are dying off following the previous selective graminicide treatment.

Lines of new grass plants

Benchmarking Progress

We were recently visited by Steve Gingell, a turfgrass agronomist from the Sports Turf Research Institute. We use the STRI for help and advice on all agronomic matters. An agronomist would normally visit us once each year to assess the condition of the turf and suggest possible ways to make some improvements. 

This year for the first time during the visit Steve undertook a series of measurements designed to objectively assess the quality of the putting surfaces. The 5th, 9th and 17th were chosen as indicator greens and five different tests were carried out to each surface. 

The firmness of each green was measured using a Clegg Impact Hammer

Steve Gingell explains the Clegg Impact Hammer

The firmness of the putting surface is critically important with regard to its receptivity/ball holding characteristics, smoothness and year-round playability. We aim to create consistently firm surfaces which are receptive to a well struck shot played from a tight lie but which do not become uneven under play. A suitably firm surface allows a ball from a well struck shot to release, check and quickly stop. Poorly struck or shots played from longer grass should be less easy to control and  be prone to rolling through the green. Aeration and top dressing  are two key greenkeeping practices that improve surface firmness in a green. To carry out the test the silver weight is dropped down the yellow tube and the resistance it is met with when it strikes the turf is measured giving a numerical value of firmness. The target range for our course is between 100 and 120 gravities. All our greens fell within this range. 

Volumetric Moisture Content

Andrew Ricketts measuring soil moisture

This is measured using a Theta Probe which averages the moisture content in the top 60mm of the soil profile. The higher the reading the wetter the profile readings above 45% normally being at field capacity. The soil moisture readings were taken next to the measurement for surface firmness. There is a direct correlation between surface firmness and volumetric moisture content with wetter surfaces always tending to be softer. Our moisture readings were consistent from green to green and withing the desired range for a links course. 

Organic Matter

Core samples were taken through the soil profile to assess the organic matter (thatch) beneath the selected greens. Organic matter holds moisture resulting in soft surfaces when wet and overly hard and unresponsive when dry. It also increases the symptoms of dry patch during dry weather and can promote and contribute to the presence of superficial fairy rings which are an issue on some greens at the moment. The test results showed that our organic matter content is very marginally on the high side. This test was actually taken in the summer of 2008 and results have improved since then. Once again aeration and top dressing are key operations in the management of thatch.

Green Speed

Oliver Pennington uses the Stimpmeter

Green speeds were measured using a Stimpmeter. This method measures the roll of the ball from a standard delivery carried out in multiple areas of each green.The longer the average measurement the faster the surface is deemed to be. All the results were factored using the Bredy equation to remove the effects of slopes within the greens. Our greens showed reasonable consistency and were all within the target range of between 9 and 10 ft for mid summer.

Surface Trueness/Smoothness

The trueness meter in action

The most important aspect of any green is that it provides a smooth and true surface for as long a period possible throughout the year. We try to create a surface which does not deflect a ball from its intended path causing snaking and does not cause bobbling due to unevenness. Smoothness and trueness was measured using a newly developed trueness and smoothness meter which gives a reading in millimeter deviation in each direction per linear meter. The measuring device, which resembles a pimped trolley jack, was pushed across a 10 meter green section at a steady pace in two directions. In the photo above PGA professional Mike Deeley tries out the device under the watchful eye of Steve. The readings showed the 5th green to be the smoothest and 17 the least smooth. Greenkeeping practices that improve smoothness include top dressing, rolling using lightweight turf irons and the promotion of healthy, dense grass plants through adequate nutrition. Golfers can play a big role in maintaining surface smoothness by choosing to diligently repair pitchmarks.

Fairy Ring Activity

Despite the fact the greens remain smooth and in generally good order it is noted there has been a marked increase in the presence of dark green rings on the putting surfaces known as fairy rings.

 Dark rings visible on the 18th green

Although these fungal pathogens tend not to cause the turf any actual harm, they are very unsightly and the ball reacts slightly differently on the lush green rings compared to the adjacent lighter areas. A chemical control is available but it is difficult to apply it correctly. It must be sprayed onto the soil below the affected grass on two occasions four weeks apart when the rings are active. To get beneath the turf we must tine the greens to open channels into the soil and then spray the chemical down the newly created holes. Top dressing can then be used to help reinstate a smooth surface with the greens fully recovering in a week or so. Four weeks from the initial application we would need to repeat the process – tine greens, apply chemical, top dress and wait for full recovery to take place. Clearly, carrying out these processes at this time of the year is far from ideal from a playing perspective. In the coming days and weeks we host a number of important events along with several ladies and gents medal competitions. We need to balance the need to rid our greens of this largely superficial problem with that of the short term performance of the greens in this critical phase of the playing season. It would seem that by the time we have a suitable space in the club diary to carry out the work, it will be past the period of efficacy for the chemical. On balance this treatment will be best carried out in the early part of summer 2011, assuming of course the rings return next year.