these Open Championship Clubs choose to relief grind - Pitchcare

Controlled burning of scrub Fairways wind through the heath
helped achieve more than we might have
expected.”
“This work has already made a great
difference to the course,” says Steve,
“both aesthetically and environmentally.
We work very closely with Natural
England and the RSPB to ensure all
parties are aware of the work going on,
and we constantly monitor the diversity
of flora and fauna found out on the
course.”
“We have a number of conservation
volunteers to come and help out at
various times of the year. This ongoing
management programme is necessary to
maintain the balance of the ecology of
the course.”
In early autumn, due to fixtures, Steve
carried out his first renovation
programme. “The greens, collars and
aprons were aerated with solid tines at
125mm depth and topdressed with sixty
tonnes of fen dressing. In early
November, we vertidrained all the
greens, collars and aprons with 12mm
tines to a depth of 150mm and, from the
second week of November to date, we
have slit-tined in fortnightly intervals.
Directly behind this, they were then
rolled with a turf-iron to ensure the
members had little disruption to their
playing surfaces.”
“We employed ALS Contracts to
hollow core ten hectares of fairways and
semi-rough to a depth of 50mm,
collecting the cores using a Sisis
Litamiser, a week later this was followed
up with a vertidrain to relieve
www.headlandamenity.com
compaction at a deeper depth. ALS will
return in March and August to repeat the
same process and, at the same time, to
verti-core the greens, collars and aprons
to a depth of 175mm. This is a good first
step on the way to my soil exchange
programme.”
“Presentation and course definition
will be my priority, and regular brushing
of greens and tees will become part of
our maintenance regime. Standing the
grass up, mowing on a daily basis and
rolling as and when required will help
improve the playing surfaces.”
“We’ve already made a few machinery
purchases,” says Steve. “Four new Toro
Pedestrian G1000 mowers, complete with
towing trailers, were first on my list, so
that we could start hand mowing the
greens. I’ve also bought a ride on blower
for clearing up debris all around the
course, which helps keep the course tidy
all throughout the year. Other important
buys included a Toro Multi Pro ® 5800
sprayer, a Greentek greens slitter and a
Tru-Turf Roller. I’m still reviewing my
overall machinery needs, but these first
purchases were something that I felt were
an immediate requirement, and Gary was
happy to back me up.”
“Last summer, the greens were kept at
around 3.5-4mm and raised to 5mm
through autumn and winter. Surrounds
and tees are kept at 8mm in the summer
months, rising to 10mm at other times.
Fairways are cut between 15-17mm and
semi rough at 20-28mm.”
“This year, we will continue with our
Grass Agronomics
Golf
new and ongoing renovation programme
to greens, tees and fairways,” explains
Steve. “I’ll also be upping the rate of
sand going on the greens. I’m looking to
apply between 200-300 tonnes per year.
Tees will also receive more dressing. We’ll
continue to core the fairways twice a year
to control thatch levels, along with an
excessive over seeding programme to
improve sward composition.”
“Prior to my arrival in July, I had
several different tests carried out on
greens, collars, aprons, tees and fairways.
Once we had the results back, in
conjunction with Mark Hunt at
Headland, we formed an aeration and
fertiliser programme. Everything we are
doing is aiming at improving soil and
surface conditions. I am using a full
Headland programme on all surfaces
throughout the year to help produce a
healthy, strong and disease free plant.”
As we complete our course walk, Steve
returns to the subject of his staff. “I want
them all to feel part of the course, to
have an empathy with the surrounding,
and to understand why we are doing this
work. To that end, I want to ensure that
they are properly trained and qualified. I
also want them to visit other courses and
trade shows to get a wider perspective on
this industry.”
It is early days yet but,
talking to Steve, you get the
sense that he has found his
true vocation at Parkstone.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012 PC 23