20 year old greens. A discussion

20 YEAR OLD GREENS

What, why, and when changes should be made.

Questions to be asked in the next hour.

Who I wasWhat are the problemsWhat can be done to correctWhy should anything be doneWhen can it be done.

Who am I?

Glenmarie Golf & Country Club 1993 – 1996 Glenmarie Golf & Country Club 1997 – 2000 Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort 2000 – 2003 Kota Permai Golf & Country Club 2003 – 2007 Glenmarie Golf & Country Club 2007 – 2009 Mines Resort & Golf Club 2009 – 2010 On my own

Some people are old at 18 and some people are young at 90. Time is a concept that humans created.

Yoko Ono.

1. Slower speeds

2. Inconsistency between greens

3. Need to tailor-make maintenance for each green

4. Different changes happened to each green

5. Sizes/design differ from original

6. Not meeting current standards

7. Old and tired.

What are problems on old greens?

Let’s not judge too quickly…it could be a problem that can be easily fixed.

What causes problems?

Grass that are prone to diseases Mixed types of grass Poor construction Old design Poor maintenance practices over the

years

Older greens can be disease prone

Prone to disease; why?

Grass variety – not best choice Mixed grass Water not flowing / penetrating Compaction issues – surface or pan. Shade

Simple disease

Compaction over the years & shade caused by now-tall trees

Drainage problems

Poor maintenance

Bad construction

Black layer

Mixed grass

What can you choose to do?

Nothing. Extra cultural practice Change surface/grass Renovate parts of or only a few greens Rebuild all.

Do nothing if you get what you want

Extra cultural practice

More aggressive Deeper aeration Scarifying instead of just

dethatching.

Repair only parts of the green

Change only a few greens

This problem green

the worse three, six or nine greens.

Change all 18 greens

Maybe by doing two greens per year But your golf course is always a “work

in progress” until complete all 18 Or 6 or 9 greens a year: not too long. Ensure grass are from same source!

Do it in phases

T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # 11 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Temp Green at 14Earthworks & shaping x x x x xConstruction x x x x x x x x x xSodding/grassing x xGrow-in x x x x x x x x x x x x xPreparation x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xTemp Greens 10 & 11Make greensPreparation of greens x x Final green 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x Earthworks & Rough shaping x x x x xConstruction x x x x x x x x x xGrassing x xGrow-in x x x x x x x x x x x x xPreparation x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Temporary bridgeClearing & Earthworks(for holes 10, 11, 12, 13)Hole 11 Rough shapingConstructionGrassingGrow-inPreparation

Hole 12Rough shapingConstructionGrassingGrow-inPreparation

Hole 13Rough shapingConstructionGrassingGrow-inPreparation

August SeptemberFebruary March April May June July

Some clubs: Bite the bullet.

Do all 18 greens one shot Build temporary greens Or Close the course

Why need to do?

Because it may spread: disease Because it may spread: mixed grass. Because it will not go away on its own. Because it damages the club’s name Because it damages the GM, committee and Supt’s

reputation. Because it is annoying to members or regulars.

How?

Build temporary greens at all holes or, Turn one long par-5s into two holes:

one par-4 & one par-3, or Build a temporary hole (if you have

space)

Can also do half a green at a time.

But may end up with Same but different Tifdwarf on 1 green

Closing

Me. Who I was. Symptoms of a problem green. Usually old but not all Why greens give problems. What can be done. Options on how to do

Thank you

Normas Yakin bin Md. Arifin Turf Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. www.mynormas.com 012 511 3353 03 5131 0066