Checklist for the best Golf Playing Surface
Tips to produce your ultimate golf playing surface.
Checklist:
Spring treatment
12mm hollowtine and backfilled with the same material your greens were constructed with.
Dusting
Every 21 days from September to April will give you a smooth, firm playing surface. Be careful not to dust too heavily as this will result in layering.
Irrigation
Make sure every sprinkler has been serviced fully. This is a time-consuming but very necessary task.
Pumps
Have your annual services been done? Regular servicing will save you money and downtime.
Equipment
Do your reels need grinding if you don't own a grinder?
Spares
Make sure you are stocking all the necessary items as there are still serious delays on imported parts for both equipment and irrigation.
Mowing patterns
Lines need constant tweaking.
CSU
Training on how to change a cup. This can truly make a green look so bad. Take the time to teach your team to knit a cup, ensure the levels are perfect and water the cup after changing.
Whoever marks the cups, PLEASE don't paint a big dot on the green...
Remove the cap of the paint and keep it at 5 mm and give the superintendent the measurement of the pin. IF you do have painted cups ensure you knit it together BEFORE you change the cup.
Bunkers
Sand levels and edging checks should be done by the bunker raking team every 3 months. I like using the guys that rake the bunkers for this task. Consistency is key on bunkers. Tough with irrigation to ensure all or none are irrigated. Most importantly, make sure your faces are maintained so that the ball rolls down to the base of the bunker. If your bunkers are too firm then purchase a "Fluffy" from Charl Blaauw at St Francis Links - a cheap and effective tool. Any soft bunkers should be compacted with a wetting agent - 200 ml in a knapsack and watered in every Monday. Greenside bunkers should have a fluff of 2.5 cm and fairway bunkers a fluff of 1,25 cm.
Staff training
We are only as good as our teams. I love training in small huddles - green mowers - be with your mowers in the morning. Check the dew for disease and check the mowers for operator errors and clippings - by doing this you truly understand your plant health.
Watering will ultimately determine your plant health - ensure you are watering at the right time with the right amount. I love simple hand-held moisture meters for every staff member using a hose pipe - it removes the guess work.
Soil tests
We review our clients' soils annually and draw up new programmes according to their soil needs.
IPM
We then add integrated pest management to the programme allowing you to produce your ultimate playing surface. By applying the right product at the right time you will save your budget, operate in a sustainable manner and look like the hero.
"I love seeing the joy on our clients' faces when it all comes together. We are blessed to do what we love.
If you have any questions about my checklist, or if you would like to discuss a more detailed and personal approach for your specific facility, please feel free to reach out."
Contact Sue or a member of the team at Talking Turf, just click here
