SlideShare ist ein Scribd-Unternehmen logo
1 von 3
Downloaden Sie, um offline zu lesen
42 www.horticulture.ie / April/May 2014
10
Eamon Kealy, turfgrass specialist and
lecturer in horticulture at the Institute of
Tecnology Blanchardstown, sets out a
concise strategy for managing areas of heavy
rough on Ireland’s golf courses
I
ncreasing pressure on golf course
budgets has made superintendents
reconsider how they manage their
heavy rough grass and out of play
areas. It is no longer feasible to
intensively manage all the grassland
areas on a golf course due to the
increased cost of diesel, equipment
and labour. Members and green fee
paying golfers expect challenging
conditions, yet enjoyable rounds of golf.
Unmanaged rough areas can spoil a
round of golf. They can frustrate players
due to lost golf balls or injuries caused
to golfers from playing heavy lies. The
ideal rough penalises a poorly struck
shot but does not prevent the golfer
from locating and advancing the ball to
some degree.
The heavy rough or deep rough on
a golf course is the most important
grassland habitat from an ecological
point of view. It is usually allowed to
grow throughout the season and only
cut once or twice annually. It provides
refuge for mammals and insects and
can form part of the broader wildlife
corridor throughout the course.
Greens, tees and fairways are all
intensively managed and provide little
protection for mammals. Collectively
woodlands, hedgerows, water courses
and heavy rough can be viewed as a
precious sanctuary for flora and fauna.
Poor management and maintenance
of these long grass areas can lead
to a general thickening of the sward
over time. Prolonged instances of
wet weather can have an undesirable
impact on the sward composition,
favouring grasses like Lolium perenne,
Dactylis glomerata and Holcus lanatus.
In such cases efforts to encourage finer
species can be to no avail.
In recent years, superintendents
have become proactive in developing
management strategies and plans
to reduce the density of the heavy
rough on the golf courses. Approaches
have revolved around reducing the
soil fertility by harvesting grass and
preventing the breakdown of nutrients
back into the soil, effectively starving
the coarser grasses. In 2009, a new
selective graminicide, Rescue, was
introduced onto the market targeting
Lolium perenne and other coarse
grasses. When used in combination with
cultural techniques it can reduce the
density of heavy rough areas. It can also
be used on Festuca spp. golf greens.
THE MANAGEMENT
The objective of a management plan
should be to alter the sward composition
of the heavy rough over a period of
time, by a combination of cultural and
chemical techniques. Encouraging
finer grass species and reducing sward
density should be a priority. When
developing a plan, areas along the
fringes of play should be prioritised,
as they have the most impact on play
and subsequently the speed at which
the game is played. Superintendents
must survey and record the species of
grasses in the areas to be treated. Any
subsequent treatments will be based
around their recordings. If the survey
reveals high levels of desirable grasses
like Festuca and Agrostis spp., then
the strategies should revolve around
maintaining and increasing these levels.
However, should the survey reveal high
levels of coarse grasses such as Lolium,
Holcus and Dactylis spp. then all efforts
should target reducing the prevalence of
these grasses.
Getting the ideal sward composition
doesn’t happen overnight. The
superintendent must have the full
backing of the golf club’s committee
or owners. Plans may need to be in
place for five to six years in order
to be considered successful. With
regard to informing the members of
the club, communication is key. Often
new management techniques can be
misunderstood by the golfing public if
they are not properly informed. During
transition phases, areas of heavy rough
can look weak and unkempt. It is at
these times that a good management
plan which has a solid basis in good
agronomical practices is worth its
weight in gold. There are a number of
approaches that a superintendent can
take regarding implementing a plan.
2014 / www.horticulture.ie / 43
10
The following management plan is an
example of a combination chemical
and cultural strategy, although I am not
implying that a cultural only strategy
would be less successful.
IMPLEMENTING THE
Surveying the Areas
Superintendents must have good
turfgrass identification skills to survey
and record the species of grass that
dominate the rough on their golf
courses. Applying chemicals to reduce
grass species that don’t exist in the
sward would be a waste of time, energy
and money. Two good reference
sources for superintendents and
greenkeepers looking to increase their
knowledge of grasses are: ‘Grasses’
by CE Hubbard and ‘Plant Material of
Agricultural Importance in Temperate
Climates’ by MA Farragher. Both contain
comprehensive identification keys for
both the vegetative and inflorescence
stages of the grass’s life cycle.
When carrying out the survey,
superintendents should use a quadrat
to sample the areas to be included in
the plan. Photographic records should
be taken of the quadrats in position and
percentage cover of both coarse and
fine grass species should be recorded
before any treatment takes place. The
locations of each quadrat should be
marked from two fixed points to ensure
that follow up surveys are in the exact
same position. Data collection is crucial
to the successful execution of the plan.
Following a survey of the areas, in
late summer/early autumn existing
vegetation is cut and harvested to a
height of 50mm. Ten days later, Rescue
is applied at a rate of 1.0 l/ha when
the grass is actively growing. The next
spring, the vegetation is once again
cut and harvested by March. Rescue is
applied at a higher rate of 1.33 l/ha. The
following autumn, the grass is collected
and harvested again to reduce fertility.
It should be noted that a maximum of
two treatments of Rescue should be
applied per annum.
Depending on the amount of
undesirable grass in the sward,
overseeding with finer grass species
may be necessary after treatment to
help the areas recover quickly. The
area can be treated with a plant growth
regulator such as Primo Maxx or Clipless
before germination takes place. The
plant growth regulator will give the
germinating grass a better foothold in
the first few weeks.
After the initial targeting of small trial
areas across the golf course in the
first two years has been deemed a
success, the management plan can be
fully rolled out across the course with
confidence.
Continued monitoring and surveying
by staff will be needed to ensure that
the sward does not regress. The plan
may need to be modified to adjust
cutting times, rates of chemicals and
harvesting plans should regression occur.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO
The heavy rough and out of play
areas can make up a large portion of
the entire golf course. Tackling large
areas requires machines capable of
cutting at low heights of cut (50mm)
“Increasing pressure on golf course
budgets has made superintendents
reconsider how they manage their heavy
rough grass and out of play areas”
ABOVE LEFT: A DEMONSTRATION OF THE AMAZONE GROUNDKEEPER AT NAAS GOLF CLUB IN MAY 2012
ABOVE RIGHT: DESIRABLE ‘WISPY’ FESTUCA SPP WITH EVEN CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT
44 www.horticulture.ie / April/May 2014
10
and harvesting the material. Many
golf courses hire local agricultural
contractors to carry out this work,
as staffing levels are inadequate
to complete in-house. Care should
be taken to ensure the ground is
sufficiently dry to take the weight of
such machines and all access routes into
and out of the course should be clearly
defined to prevent damage to areas of
high value turf.
When implementing the plan on a
smaller scale, combination machines like
the Amazone Groundkeeper would be
sufficient. Equipping the machine with
scarifying blades to clean out the base of
the sward will encourage the finer grasses
to prevail once nutrient levels have been
decreased. Such equipment also has the
capability of harvesting grass clippings
which can then be composted on site if
the facilities are available.
In Scotland, some links courses
have brought sheep back to maintain
Sites of Significant Scientific Interest
(SSSI’s). In such areas invasive species
are kept under control and rare plants
can flourish. In future, Irish golf course
superintendents may revert to using
sheep for grazing the heavy rough,
thereby reducing the reliance on the
use machinery.
POTENTIAL
Bracken: Heavy roughs can often
have issues with invasive plants, such
as bracken (Pteridium aquilinum).
Asulox (a selective herbicide for
treatment of bracken in grassland)
was withdrawn from the approved
pesticide register in December 2011
with a use by date of December 2012.
However, a temporary licence was
granted for emergency use from 19th
July 2013 to 16th November 2013.
Bracken is extremely hard to control
due to its reproductive mechanism.
It spreads by underground creeping
stems (rhizomes) and spores.
Chemical treatment alone has varied
success. Crushing of bracken is a
method of control that has been
used by land managers for decades.
Crushing of the bracken plant has
been shown to reduce the overall
vigour of the plant by up to one third.
The crushing of the bracken causes
the plant to bleed sap for a number
of days. This reduces the plants
photosynthetic vigour and ultimately
causes the death of the plant.
There are many beneficial effects
of having bracken on the golf course.
These include habitats for birds
and cover for ground flora such as
bluebell and violet. Dead bracken
fronds provide cover for plants
that otherwise could not compete
with grass competition. Bracken is
also used by badgers as bedding.
However, from a golfing point of view,
it is unsuitable due to its invasive
characteristics.
ABOVE: A DEMONSTRATION OF THE AMAZONE GROUNDKEEPER AT NAAS GOLF CLUB IN MAY 2012.
ABOVE RIGHT: YOUNG BRACKEN PLANTS IN EARLY APRIL ON THE GOLF COURSE
EAMON KEALY
M.Hort.Sc is a lecturer
in horticulture,
specialising
in sportsturf
management at the
Institute of Technology
Blanchardstown. ITB
offers part-time and
full time courses in horticulture.
For more information see www.itb.ie
or email info@itb.ie
IN
CONCLUSION
For any plan to be successful it
must be implemented in full and
supported by staff and members
alike. If the golf course is dependent
on contactors for harvesting of
material, a good relationship should
be developed with a contractor
who understands the quality of
work required on the golf course.
Along with economic benefits,
implementation of this type of
plan can also have the following
advantages for a golf course;
The speed of the average round
of golf decreases as golfers spend
less time looking for golf balls in
the rough.
Biodiversity increases as flora and
fauna flourish.
Time spent cutting heavy rough
areas decreases throughout the
growing season.

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Was ist angesagt?

effective rain fall
effective rain falleffective rain fall
effective rain fallBhanu Dangi
 
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservation
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservationPastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservation
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservationVishnu Gopan G M
 
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan 9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan Mr.Allah Dad Khan
 
soil moisture conservation techniques
soil moisture conservation techniquessoil moisture conservation techniques
soil moisture conservation techniquesIhtisham Ali
 
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...AZOJETE UNIMAID
 
Shelterbelts and windbreaks
Shelterbelts and windbreaksShelterbelts and windbreaks
Shelterbelts and windbreaksbhargaviMadival5
 
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. Kore
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. KoreIrrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. Kore
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. KoreVijaykumar Kore
 
Tillage Practices and types
Tillage Practices and typesTillage Practices and types
Tillage Practices and typesArunMK17
 
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establismentUC Davis
 
Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice
 Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice
Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati riceSuman Dey
 
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
Overview of Cover Crops and Green ManuresOverview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
Overview of Cover Crops and Green ManuresElisaMendelsohn
 
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEET
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEETProtected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEET
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEETStudent
 

Was ist angesagt? (20)

tillage
tillagetillage
tillage
 
effective rain fall
effective rain falleffective rain fall
effective rain fall
 
Agl111 Lecture-2
Agl111 Lecture-2Agl111 Lecture-2
Agl111 Lecture-2
 
Conservation Tillage
Conservation TillageConservation Tillage
Conservation Tillage
 
Soilless agriculture
Soilless agricultureSoilless agriculture
Soilless agriculture
 
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservation
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservationPastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservation
Pastures, wind breaks and shelter belts in soil conservation
 
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan 9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan
9. soil conservation tillage By Allah Dad Khan
 
soil moisture conservation techniques
soil moisture conservation techniquessoil moisture conservation techniques
soil moisture conservation techniques
 
Presentation 1
Presentation 1Presentation 1
Presentation 1
 
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...
Interactive Effects of Stream Sizes and Furrow Geometry on Furrow Irrigation ...
 
Shelterbelts and windbreaks
Shelterbelts and windbreaksShelterbelts and windbreaks
Shelterbelts and windbreaks
 
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. Kore
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. KoreIrrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. Kore
Irrigation and fertilizer application methods in horticultural crops by Dr. Kore
 
Tillage Practices and types
Tillage Practices and typesTillage Practices and types
Tillage Practices and types
 
Irrigation scheduling in Maize by Anurag Prajapati
 Irrigation scheduling in Maize by Anurag Prajapati Irrigation scheduling in Maize by Anurag Prajapati
Irrigation scheduling in Maize by Anurag Prajapati
 
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment
4 citrus site_selection_preparation_establisment
 
Parks Maintenance Plan
Parks Maintenance PlanParks Maintenance Plan
Parks Maintenance Plan
 
Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice
 Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice
Planning of irrigation scheduling of direct seeded basmati rice
 
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
Overview of Cover Crops and Green ManuresOverview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
 
Strategies to reduce irrigation requirement of winter canola
Strategies to reduce irrigation requirement of winter canolaStrategies to reduce irrigation requirement of winter canola
Strategies to reduce irrigation requirement of winter canola
 
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEET
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEETProtected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEET
Protected cultivation of vegetable crops BY HARMANJEET
 

Andere mochten auch

ITB Part Time FAQ's
ITB Part Time FAQ'sITB Part Time FAQ's
ITB Part Time FAQ'sTU Dublin
 
Scifest@ITB - Presentation
Scifest@ITB - PresentationScifest@ITB - Presentation
Scifest@ITB - PresentationTU Dublin
 
Part-Time Courses 2014-15
Part-Time Courses 2014-15Part-Time Courses 2014-15
Part-Time Courses 2014-15TU Dublin
 
Garda Campus Watch
Garda Campus Watch Garda Campus Watch
Garda Campus Watch TU Dublin
 
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011ITB Business and Sports Week 2011
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011TU Dublin
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar bookadibaker
 
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.TU Dublin
 
Academic Council Election Guidelines.
Academic Council Election Guidelines.Academic Council Election Guidelines.
Academic Council Election Guidelines.TU Dublin
 
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 Reloaded
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 ReloadedWhy hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 Reloaded
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 ReloadedTEDxMongKok
 
Presentacion de power point (examen final)
Presentacion de power point (examen final)Presentacion de power point (examen final)
Presentacion de power point (examen final)771203
 
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)Nunik Nurhayati
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar bookadibaker
 
Slope in the real world!!(:
Slope in the real world!!(:Slope in the real world!!(:
Slope in the real world!!(:96kaider21733
 
Part time summary sheet 2015 16
Part time summary sheet 2015 16Part time summary sheet 2015 16
Part time summary sheet 2015 16TU Dublin
 
ITB Sports & Athletic Camp
ITB Sports & Athletic CampITB Sports & Athletic Camp
ITB Sports & Athletic CampTU Dublin
 
Get to Know your Exam Regulations
Get to Know your Exam Regulations Get to Know your Exam Regulations
Get to Know your Exam Regulations TU Dublin
 
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from Modules
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from ModulesDocument 3AD06 : Exemptions from Modules
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from ModulesTU Dublin
 

Andere mochten auch (20)

ITB Part Time FAQ's
ITB Part Time FAQ'sITB Part Time FAQ's
ITB Part Time FAQ's
 
Scifest@ITB - Presentation
Scifest@ITB - PresentationScifest@ITB - Presentation
Scifest@ITB - Presentation
 
Aranjamente florale
Aranjamente floraleAranjamente florale
Aranjamente florale
 
Part-Time Courses 2014-15
Part-Time Courses 2014-15Part-Time Courses 2014-15
Part-Time Courses 2014-15
 
Presentacion pedro frutos moto gp
Presentacion pedro frutos moto gpPresentacion pedro frutos moto gp
Presentacion pedro frutos moto gp
 
Garda Campus Watch
Garda Campus Watch Garda Campus Watch
Garda Campus Watch
 
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011ITB Business and Sports Week 2011
ITB Business and Sports Week 2011
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar book
 
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
ITB Exam Regulations banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
 
Academic Council Election Guidelines.
Academic Council Election Guidelines.Academic Council Election Guidelines.
Academic Council Election Guidelines.
 
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 Reloaded
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 ReloadedWhy hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 Reloaded
Why hitting rock-bottom is good for you, Emma Reynolds, e3 Reloaded
 
Presentacion de power point (examen final)
Presentacion de power point (examen final)Presentacion de power point (examen final)
Presentacion de power point (examen final)
 
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)
Peninjauan kembali pasal 97 ayat (8)
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar book
 
Slope in the real world!!(:
Slope in the real world!!(:Slope in the real world!!(:
Slope in the real world!!(:
 
Part time summary sheet 2015 16
Part time summary sheet 2015 16Part time summary sheet 2015 16
Part time summary sheet 2015 16
 
ITB Sports & Athletic Camp
ITB Sports & Athletic CampITB Sports & Athletic Camp
ITB Sports & Athletic Camp
 
Get to Know your Exam Regulations
Get to Know your Exam Regulations Get to Know your Exam Regulations
Get to Know your Exam Regulations
 
R-Style Part
R-Style PartR-Style Part
R-Style Part
 
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from Modules
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from ModulesDocument 3AD06 : Exemptions from Modules
Document 3AD06 : Exemptions from Modules
 

Ähnlich wie Thinning the sward april

Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015
Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015
Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015SaumyaShukla68
 
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fields
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fieldsProject on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fields
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fieldsKeerthanParuchuru
 
Turf grass pdf
Turf  grass pdfTurf  grass pdf
Turf grass pdfBusyFlori
 
artificial regeneration.pptx
artificial regeneration.pptxartificial regeneration.pptx
artificial regeneration.pptxSANGEETHA BOSE
 
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...IRJET Journal
 
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKINGREJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKINGsuraj vishwakarma
 
Conservation Tillage Farming In California
Conservation Tillage Farming In CaliforniaConservation Tillage Farming In California
Conservation Tillage Farming In CaliforniaTara Hardin
 
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdf
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdfCarrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdf
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdfAMIT Singh
 
Agriculture pollution notes BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari 12IEEM14
Agriculture pollution notes  BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari  12IEEM14Agriculture pollution notes  BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari  12IEEM14
Agriculture pollution notes BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari 12IEEM14fahadansari131
 
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka
 
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...MichaelHopkins44
 
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...mohammad reza mehrvar
 
Production technology for cumbu napier
Production technology for cumbu napierProduction technology for cumbu napier
Production technology for cumbu napierkannankoothan
 
Rotational Graz Research Paper
Rotational Graz Research PaperRotational Graz Research Paper
Rotational Graz Research PaperSabine Perez
 

Ähnlich wie Thinning the sward april (20)

Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015
Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015
Green highways (plantation & maintenance) policy 2015
 
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fields
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fieldsProject on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fields
Project on establishment and maintenance of different athletic fields
 
Turf grass pdf
Turf  grass pdfTurf  grass pdf
Turf grass pdf
 
artificial regeneration.pptx
artificial regeneration.pptxartificial regeneration.pptx
artificial regeneration.pptx
 
citrusshiva.pdf
citrusshiva.pdfcitrusshiva.pdf
citrusshiva.pdf
 
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...
Biological Measures for Rehabilitation of the Mined-Out Area in Dantewada, Ch...
 
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKINGREJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING
 
Conservation Tillage Farming In California
Conservation Tillage Farming In CaliforniaConservation Tillage Farming In California
Conservation Tillage Farming In California
 
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdf
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdfCarrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdf
Carrot-Production-Guideline-2019.pdf
 
Agriculture pollution notes BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari 12IEEM14
Agriculture pollution notes  BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari  12IEEM14Agriculture pollution notes  BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari  12IEEM14
Agriculture pollution notes BY Muhammad Fahad Ansari 12IEEM14
 
Control of soil erosion
Control of soil erosionControl of soil erosion
Control of soil erosion
 
Turf Culture 1
Turf Culture 1Turf Culture 1
Turf Culture 1
 
Circulars 2002 to_2006
Circulars 2002 to_2006Circulars 2002 to_2006
Circulars 2002 to_2006
 
Dryland farming
Dryland farmingDryland farming
Dryland farming
 
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...
Importance of sustainable scientific harvesting practices of Minor Forest Pro...
 
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...
Dennis Martin - Effect of Mowing Timing and Frequency on Green Antelopehorn M...
 
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...
CA implementation in irrigated summer and winter field crops by integrating r...
 
Production technology for cumbu napier
Production technology for cumbu napierProduction technology for cumbu napier
Production technology for cumbu napier
 
Membangun kebun buah (6)
Membangun kebun buah (6)Membangun kebun buah (6)
Membangun kebun buah (6)
 
Rotational Graz Research Paper
Rotational Graz Research PaperRotational Graz Research Paper
Rotational Graz Research Paper
 

Mehr von TU Dublin

TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020
TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020
TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020TU Dublin
 
Fingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveFingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveTU Dublin
 
Kaleidoscope 2019
Kaleidoscope 2019Kaleidoscope 2019
Kaleidoscope 2019TU Dublin
 
Fingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveFingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveTU Dublin
 
Zero days 2019
Zero days 2019Zero days 2019
Zero days 2019TU Dublin
 
STLR for Students
STLR for StudentsSTLR for Students
STLR for StudentsTU Dublin
 
International Summer school
International Summer schoolInternational Summer school
International Summer schoolTU Dublin
 
Itb sports scholarships 2018
Itb sports scholarships 2018Itb sports scholarships 2018
Itb sports scholarships 2018TU Dublin
 
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018Pathways to Success November 7th 2018
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018TU Dublin
 
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018TU Dublin
 
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018TU Dublin
 
Stem Con 2018
Stem Con 2018Stem Con 2018
Stem Con 2018TU Dublin
 
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018ITB Kaleidoscope 2018
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018TU Dublin
 
ITB Recursion 2018
ITB Recursion 2018ITB Recursion 2018
ITB Recursion 2018TU Dublin
 
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018TU Dublin
 
ITB Open Day Schedule
ITB Open Day Schedule ITB Open Day Schedule
ITB Open Day Schedule TU Dublin
 
ITB Open Evening April 2015
ITB Open Evening April 2015ITB Open Evening April 2015
ITB Open Evening April 2015TU Dublin
 
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day Schedule
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day ScheduleITB Nov 2014 Open Day Schedule
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day ScheduleTU Dublin
 
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent TU Dublin
 

Mehr von TU Dublin (20)

TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020
TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020
TU Dublin Undergraduate Prospectus 2020
 
Fingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveFingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee Positive
 
Kaleidoscope 2019
Kaleidoscope 2019Kaleidoscope 2019
Kaleidoscope 2019
 
Fingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee PositiveFingal Bee Positive
Fingal Bee Positive
 
Zero days 2019
Zero days 2019Zero days 2019
Zero days 2019
 
STLR for Students
STLR for StudentsSTLR for Students
STLR for Students
 
International Summer school
International Summer schoolInternational Summer school
International Summer school
 
Itb sports scholarships 2018
Itb sports scholarships 2018Itb sports scholarships 2018
Itb sports scholarships 2018
 
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018Pathways to Success November 7th 2018
Pathways to Success November 7th 2018
 
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule Nov. 2018
 
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018
ITB Open Day Schedule November 2018
 
UDHEIT 2018
UDHEIT 2018UDHEIT 2018
UDHEIT 2018
 
Stem Con 2018
Stem Con 2018Stem Con 2018
Stem Con 2018
 
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018ITB Kaleidoscope 2018
ITB Kaleidoscope 2018
 
ITB Recursion 2018
ITB Recursion 2018ITB Recursion 2018
ITB Recursion 2018
 
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018
Kaleidoscope - ITB CDM end of year show 2018
 
ITB Open Day Schedule
ITB Open Day Schedule ITB Open Day Schedule
ITB Open Day Schedule
 
ITB Open Evening April 2015
ITB Open Evening April 2015ITB Open Evening April 2015
ITB Open Evening April 2015
 
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day Schedule
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day ScheduleITB Nov 2014 Open Day Schedule
ITB Nov 2014 Open Day Schedule
 
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent
Creative Cuts - Tips for the Modern Golf Course Superintendent
 

Kürzlich hochgeladen

UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE
 
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptxPrescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptxraviapr7
 
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptx
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptxCAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptx
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptxSaurabhParmar42
 
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxEducation and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxraviapr7
 
Clinical Pharmacy Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptx
Clinical Pharmacy  Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptxClinical Pharmacy  Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptx
Clinical Pharmacy Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptxraviapr7
 
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxPractical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxKatherine Villaluna
 
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxPISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxEduSkills OECD
 
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationBenefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationMJDuyan
 
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?TechSoup
 
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.EnglishCEIPdeSigeiro
 
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptx
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptxUltra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptx
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptxDr. Asif Anas
 
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxAUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxiammrhaywood
 
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRA
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRADUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRA
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRATanmoy Mishra
 
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptxheathfieldcps1
 
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfDiploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfMohonDas
 
3.21.24 The Origins of Black Power.pptx
3.21.24  The Origins of Black Power.pptx3.21.24  The Origins of Black Power.pptx
3.21.24 The Origins of Black Power.pptxmary850239
 
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George Wells
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George WellsThe Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George Wells
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George WellsEugene Lysak
 
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...CaraSkikne1
 

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
 
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptxPrescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
 
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptx
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptxCAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptx
CAULIFLOWER BREEDING 1 Parmar pptx
 
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxEducation and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
 
Clinical Pharmacy Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptx
Clinical Pharmacy  Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptxClinical Pharmacy  Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptx
Clinical Pharmacy Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy, Concept of clinical pptx
 
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxPractical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
 
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxPISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
 
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationBenefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
 
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
 
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
 
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
 
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
 
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptx
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptxUltra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptx
Ultra structure and life cycle of Plasmodium.pptx
 
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxAUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
 
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRA
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRADUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRA
DUST OF SNOW_BY ROBERT FROST_EDITED BY_ TANMOY MISHRA
 
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 10pptx.pptx
 
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfDiploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
 
3.21.24 The Origins of Black Power.pptx
3.21.24  The Origins of Black Power.pptx3.21.24  The Origins of Black Power.pptx
3.21.24 The Origins of Black Power.pptx
 
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George Wells
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George WellsThe Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George Wells
The Stolen Bacillus by Herbert George Wells
 
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
 

Thinning the sward april

  • 1. 42 www.horticulture.ie / April/May 2014 10 Eamon Kealy, turfgrass specialist and lecturer in horticulture at the Institute of Tecnology Blanchardstown, sets out a concise strategy for managing areas of heavy rough on Ireland’s golf courses I ncreasing pressure on golf course budgets has made superintendents reconsider how they manage their heavy rough grass and out of play areas. It is no longer feasible to intensively manage all the grassland areas on a golf course due to the increased cost of diesel, equipment and labour. Members and green fee paying golfers expect challenging conditions, yet enjoyable rounds of golf. Unmanaged rough areas can spoil a round of golf. They can frustrate players due to lost golf balls or injuries caused to golfers from playing heavy lies. The ideal rough penalises a poorly struck shot but does not prevent the golfer from locating and advancing the ball to some degree. The heavy rough or deep rough on a golf course is the most important grassland habitat from an ecological point of view. It is usually allowed to grow throughout the season and only cut once or twice annually. It provides refuge for mammals and insects and can form part of the broader wildlife corridor throughout the course. Greens, tees and fairways are all intensively managed and provide little protection for mammals. Collectively woodlands, hedgerows, water courses and heavy rough can be viewed as a precious sanctuary for flora and fauna. Poor management and maintenance of these long grass areas can lead to a general thickening of the sward over time. Prolonged instances of wet weather can have an undesirable impact on the sward composition, favouring grasses like Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata and Holcus lanatus. In such cases efforts to encourage finer species can be to no avail. In recent years, superintendents have become proactive in developing management strategies and plans to reduce the density of the heavy rough on the golf courses. Approaches have revolved around reducing the soil fertility by harvesting grass and preventing the breakdown of nutrients back into the soil, effectively starving the coarser grasses. In 2009, a new selective graminicide, Rescue, was introduced onto the market targeting Lolium perenne and other coarse grasses. When used in combination with cultural techniques it can reduce the density of heavy rough areas. It can also be used on Festuca spp. golf greens. THE MANAGEMENT The objective of a management plan should be to alter the sward composition of the heavy rough over a period of time, by a combination of cultural and chemical techniques. Encouraging finer grass species and reducing sward density should be a priority. When developing a plan, areas along the fringes of play should be prioritised, as they have the most impact on play and subsequently the speed at which the game is played. Superintendents must survey and record the species of grasses in the areas to be treated. Any subsequent treatments will be based around their recordings. If the survey reveals high levels of desirable grasses like Festuca and Agrostis spp., then the strategies should revolve around maintaining and increasing these levels. However, should the survey reveal high levels of coarse grasses such as Lolium, Holcus and Dactylis spp. then all efforts should target reducing the prevalence of these grasses. Getting the ideal sward composition doesn’t happen overnight. The superintendent must have the full backing of the golf club’s committee or owners. Plans may need to be in place for five to six years in order to be considered successful. With regard to informing the members of the club, communication is key. Often new management techniques can be misunderstood by the golfing public if they are not properly informed. During transition phases, areas of heavy rough can look weak and unkempt. It is at these times that a good management plan which has a solid basis in good agronomical practices is worth its weight in gold. There are a number of approaches that a superintendent can take regarding implementing a plan.
  • 2. 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / 43 10 The following management plan is an example of a combination chemical and cultural strategy, although I am not implying that a cultural only strategy would be less successful. IMPLEMENTING THE Surveying the Areas Superintendents must have good turfgrass identification skills to survey and record the species of grass that dominate the rough on their golf courses. Applying chemicals to reduce grass species that don’t exist in the sward would be a waste of time, energy and money. Two good reference sources for superintendents and greenkeepers looking to increase their knowledge of grasses are: ‘Grasses’ by CE Hubbard and ‘Plant Material of Agricultural Importance in Temperate Climates’ by MA Farragher. Both contain comprehensive identification keys for both the vegetative and inflorescence stages of the grass’s life cycle. When carrying out the survey, superintendents should use a quadrat to sample the areas to be included in the plan. Photographic records should be taken of the quadrats in position and percentage cover of both coarse and fine grass species should be recorded before any treatment takes place. The locations of each quadrat should be marked from two fixed points to ensure that follow up surveys are in the exact same position. Data collection is crucial to the successful execution of the plan. Following a survey of the areas, in late summer/early autumn existing vegetation is cut and harvested to a height of 50mm. Ten days later, Rescue is applied at a rate of 1.0 l/ha when the grass is actively growing. The next spring, the vegetation is once again cut and harvested by March. Rescue is applied at a higher rate of 1.33 l/ha. The following autumn, the grass is collected and harvested again to reduce fertility. It should be noted that a maximum of two treatments of Rescue should be applied per annum. Depending on the amount of undesirable grass in the sward, overseeding with finer grass species may be necessary after treatment to help the areas recover quickly. The area can be treated with a plant growth regulator such as Primo Maxx or Clipless before germination takes place. The plant growth regulator will give the germinating grass a better foothold in the first few weeks. After the initial targeting of small trial areas across the golf course in the first two years has been deemed a success, the management plan can be fully rolled out across the course with confidence. Continued monitoring and surveying by staff will be needed to ensure that the sward does not regress. The plan may need to be modified to adjust cutting times, rates of chemicals and harvesting plans should regression occur. EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO The heavy rough and out of play areas can make up a large portion of the entire golf course. Tackling large areas requires machines capable of cutting at low heights of cut (50mm) “Increasing pressure on golf course budgets has made superintendents reconsider how they manage their heavy rough grass and out of play areas” ABOVE LEFT: A DEMONSTRATION OF THE AMAZONE GROUNDKEEPER AT NAAS GOLF CLUB IN MAY 2012 ABOVE RIGHT: DESIRABLE ‘WISPY’ FESTUCA SPP WITH EVEN CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT
  • 3. 44 www.horticulture.ie / April/May 2014 10 and harvesting the material. Many golf courses hire local agricultural contractors to carry out this work, as staffing levels are inadequate to complete in-house. Care should be taken to ensure the ground is sufficiently dry to take the weight of such machines and all access routes into and out of the course should be clearly defined to prevent damage to areas of high value turf. When implementing the plan on a smaller scale, combination machines like the Amazone Groundkeeper would be sufficient. Equipping the machine with scarifying blades to clean out the base of the sward will encourage the finer grasses to prevail once nutrient levels have been decreased. Such equipment also has the capability of harvesting grass clippings which can then be composted on site if the facilities are available. In Scotland, some links courses have brought sheep back to maintain Sites of Significant Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). In such areas invasive species are kept under control and rare plants can flourish. In future, Irish golf course superintendents may revert to using sheep for grazing the heavy rough, thereby reducing the reliance on the use machinery. POTENTIAL Bracken: Heavy roughs can often have issues with invasive plants, such as bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). Asulox (a selective herbicide for treatment of bracken in grassland) was withdrawn from the approved pesticide register in December 2011 with a use by date of December 2012. However, a temporary licence was granted for emergency use from 19th July 2013 to 16th November 2013. Bracken is extremely hard to control due to its reproductive mechanism. It spreads by underground creeping stems (rhizomes) and spores. Chemical treatment alone has varied success. Crushing of bracken is a method of control that has been used by land managers for decades. Crushing of the bracken plant has been shown to reduce the overall vigour of the plant by up to one third. The crushing of the bracken causes the plant to bleed sap for a number of days. This reduces the plants photosynthetic vigour and ultimately causes the death of the plant. There are many beneficial effects of having bracken on the golf course. These include habitats for birds and cover for ground flora such as bluebell and violet. Dead bracken fronds provide cover for plants that otherwise could not compete with grass competition. Bracken is also used by badgers as bedding. However, from a golfing point of view, it is unsuitable due to its invasive characteristics. ABOVE: A DEMONSTRATION OF THE AMAZONE GROUNDKEEPER AT NAAS GOLF CLUB IN MAY 2012. ABOVE RIGHT: YOUNG BRACKEN PLANTS IN EARLY APRIL ON THE GOLF COURSE EAMON KEALY M.Hort.Sc is a lecturer in horticulture, specialising in sportsturf management at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. ITB offers part-time and full time courses in horticulture. For more information see www.itb.ie or email info@itb.ie IN CONCLUSION For any plan to be successful it must be implemented in full and supported by staff and members alike. If the golf course is dependent on contactors for harvesting of material, a good relationship should be developed with a contractor who understands the quality of work required on the golf course. Along with economic benefits, implementation of this type of plan can also have the following advantages for a golf course; The speed of the average round of golf decreases as golfers spend less time looking for golf balls in the rough. Biodiversity increases as flora and fauna flourish. Time spent cutting heavy rough areas decreases throughout the growing season.