April Golf Diary 2012

March 2012 had a definite feeling of 'déjà-vu' in terms of the lack of rain, and similarities to last year when March and April were almost devoid of any rainfall. With February also being very dry, much of the UK has experienced less than 30mm of rain in the past two months.

Drought orders are about to 'kick-in' for much of south east England, with other adjacent regions under constant review. As to what degree golf clubs are affected will largely depend upon the decisions reached by individual water companies and the source of available water on each course. With around 80% of golf clubs relying on the use of 'mains' water, it is very likely that restrictions will apply at some point.

Even those clubs with bore-hole licences for water abstraction may be subject as to how much water can be applied. However, the 'unexpected' warm and sunny conditions have generally been a welcome boost for golf clubs, with golfers enjoying 'summer-like' conditions and courses being fairly busy. Turf managers, too, have benefited, since it has allowed pre-season aerifying and topdressing work to be completed without the threat of rain.

Other than brief spells of early morning frost, March has been a good month for moving the courses forward, and those who elected to prime irrigation systems earlier in the month have had the added benefit of being able to lightly water in any pre-season fertiliser and top dressings. The only real 'downside' to the droughted conditions has been in terms of general recovery from winter wear to greens surrounds, tees and other areas where the flow of traffic is highest.

Any late turfing work completed around bunkers or on tees will definitely require water to avoid the turf from drying out and shrinking. In the absence of available irrigation, filling a spray tank or use of a water bowser will help to alleviate the problem as long as it is on a small scale. For the second year running, those turf managers who are well organised and prepared, have been better equipped to deal with the inconsistency of our climate.

Moving on, the key question for April is will it rain and be of a sufficient amount to make a difference? Both last April and that of 2010 were exceptionally dry, but most other recent Aprils (except 2009) haven't been too bad; being a fairly typical mix of wet and dry months but with temperatures slightly above the long term average.

April weather has, in the past, often been a 'sharp' reminder that summer is still some way off and, with it, the problems of cold soil temperatures, lack of growth, slow recovery and uneven putting surfaces. With the recently extended hours of daylight, April is the main month for transition from winter to summer conditions. Soil temperatures should be steadily on the increase although a late overnight frost can never be ruled out. Growth will be steady as long as there is sufficient moisture and by the end of the month, playing surfaces will be settling down to regular mowing routines with both playability and presentation improving on a weekly basis.

This however is unlikely to match the exceptional standards seen on television, which many have come to regard as the 'Augusta' syndrome. There are few real comparisons to be made so this one is best left as a viewing spectacle and to admire what can be achieved when presented with an almost unlimited budget, minimal and restricted play and considerably warmer temperatures, not to mention the desire for a bug and disease free manicured green sward.

Laurence Pithie MG
Turf Master One Ltd
www.turfmasterone.co.uk

If any major renovation work is planned this month such as coring or deep tining, it should be completed as soon as possible in order to maintain and present a suitable playing surface. For those who have already completed this work in March, a follow-up micro-coring program may be all that is required and this can be completed fairly quickly with minimal surface disturbance.

Once top dressed, cut and rolled, recovery will be fairly quick. Previous core holes may be slow to recover and this is often due to inadequate amounts of dressing being applied. Perhaps it is worth reminding ourselves that standard 13mm coring tines set at 75mm depth and at 50 x 50mm spacing requires about 3 tons of dry sand dressing per green to completely fill the holes.

For those opting to deep scarify for thatch removal, timing is essential, therefore it is preferable to wait until the end of the month or even early May. This is a far more disruptive process and for good recovery, soil temperatures really need to be at or above the 10° Celsius. If not using a sand injector or sand filler scarifying machine, immediate sand top dressing should follow and if the environmental conditions favour the introduction of new seed, then go ahead at the recommended rate prior to top dressing in order to get as much seed as possible into the open grooves.

If thatch levels remain high, then over-seeding is unlikely to be successful. As mentioned last month, a light spring start-up feed applied in advance will just give that extra benefit for recovery. For general over-seeding work, this can be achieved either via a slit seeder, sarel roll type seeder or just broadcast over the surface, but following a tining operation that has left thousands of open holes, albeit at shallow depth. Buried seed at great depth will not germinate. It can also be completed following a light scarify or deep verti-cut but as always, much will depend on individual circumstances and what are the planned objectives. An application of Primo-Maxx growth regulator 5 days in advance of such work at the recommended rate, will help to reduce competition from Poa annua.

April is generally the month for applying the main pre-season or base feed, usually in a granular form and supplying the plant with a small amount of Nitrogen and Potassium. Other ingredients in the mix likely to be included, are iron and seaweed extracts but no two courses are alike and feeding requirements must be based on the plants needs, supported by soil analysis which is usually carried out in March prior to products being applied. It is worth remembering that you cannot manage what you don't measure! Reducing mowing height should be treated with caution and with a regular check on soil temperatures and impending weather forecasts.

Depending upon the grass species present, growth may be 'patchy' where there are a mix of species, therefore avoid the temptation of mowing too low. Best to brush, groom and top dress to achieve a consistent surface and be patient! For most, mowing at around 4.5mm by the end of the month should be the norm. As far as irrigation is concerned, the least applied the better since water will be very cold at this time of year. However, if faced with continued dry conditions and/or cold temperatures, then small amounts of water will need to be applied in order to prevent surfaces from drying out.

Watering high spots, ridges and shoulders by hand with a cold east wind blowing is not for the faint hearted but may be the best option. Wrap up well, take turns and with hot drinks at the ready!

Useful Information for Greens

Articles		Products
	Aqualate Golf Course being well Groomed!		Golf Green Grass Seed

Main teeing areas will now be in play and any pre-season work, such as tining and dressing, should have been completed last month. Where separate winter tees were in use, these can now be fully renovated, over-seeded and left 'out of play' until recovery is complete.

A general granular compound fertiliser should be applied and here one of the many slow release products may prove to be the best option and in line with the desired objectives. Good root depth and turf density are key requirements and the choice of product used must reflect this aim. With playing levels now on the increase, marker change, divot filling and attention to detail issues re bins and ball washers etc will now be part of the routine daily/weekly program.

Watering on a limited scale may be required if dry weather persists but best left for as long as possible to avoid creating a wet or soft surface. Mowing height should now be nearing the summer norm, generally somewhere between 10 and 14mm and preferably with clippings being 'boxed-off'. Towards the end of the month, a follow-up over-seeding may be required but probably more on an 'as need' basis as opposed to on all tees.

An all too often situation is for little used back and front tees to be more fibrous, with varying levels of moss. In these circumstances, a more aggressive approach will be required whereby a combination of deep scarifying, coring and dressing will be required. The application of a suitable moss control product with a small level of Nitrogen can be applied from around early April, followed in about 10 days by scarifying to remove as much of the decaying moss as possible.

Useful Information for Tees

Articles		Products
	The Anatomy of a golf course: TEES		Fine Turf Fertilisers

Any remedial work to areas around the greens should have been completed last month but if recovery is weak then further dressing and seeding will be required, but that is likely to be dependent on there being sufficient soil moisture. Where ground conditions are poor and quite stoney, then use a compost mix to give more 'body' to the soil. If required, apply a fertiliser, probably similar to that used on the tees but only if turf density and vigour are weak.

Mowing will now be on a weekly basis with collars being cut at least twice per week at the same mowing height as the tees. Traffic control measures should be relaxed but only when turf density is good enough to accommodate the expected levels of wear. Should drought conditions prevail and applying water to these areas is not feasible, then retain mowing heights as high as possible and protect vulnerable areas from further damage or wear.

Fairways:-Playing surfaces should be improving each week as the frequency of mowing intensifies. For most, this will start with weekly mowing at a height of between 12mm & 17mm. By the end of the month and with reasonable growth, many will be mowing twice per week. Avoid mowing too short, since this can lead to drought stress and moss invasion, therefore best to leave sufficient grass cover which most golfers prefer. Whether or not to fertilise will largely depend upon individual circumstances such as soil type, grass type, turf density, fibre content, moisture levels and so on.

Should a more 'cosmetic' approach be required to add improved colour and definition, then a WSP (water soluble product) mix of Urea and Iron will suffice; this should cost under £300. Should a more general feed be deemed necessary to give the required stimulus of growth and density, then a more general outfield product can be used. Here the choice can be the coated slow release types giving varying degrees of longevity or the more general granulated types, often high in sulphur and giving up to 3 months of reasonable growth and colour. The former is cleaner, longer lasting but more expensive and can lead to fibre build-up.

The latter can prove 'messy' to apply but is cheaper and can give good results as well as acidifying the fairways (assuming a high sulphur content), thus encouraging the more desirable grasses. If temperatures are warm enough and growth is good, then thoughts can turn towards weed control, usually on a more selective or spot treatment basis unless infestation of broad-leaved weeds is high. Where clover is present in any large amounts, it may be due to poor nutrient retention, therefore a feed and weed mix may be appropriate. Generally weed control starts in May but there are always exceptions.

Useful Information for Sourrounds and Fairways

Articles		Products
	Llanymynech Golf Club - a gem on the Wales/England border		Seaweed

As mentioned last month, the emphasis should be on presentation and playability now that the season is fully underway. Other than raking, regular tasks such as brushing or blowing of sand from banks, trimming, tidying and sand replenishment around the bunker will be part of a regular program of maintenance. If growth remains weak, then fertilise as per the greens surrounds and consider whether to include a selective herbicide for a 'feed and weed' application. Recently re-turfed areas may require additional top dressing to fill any cracks or gaps otherwise playing conditions should be consistent.

Paths: Following on from last month's actions of filling in pot holes and applying path dressing where it is required, it should now be a case of completing work to any remaining sections of path and ensuring that any edging, fence rails or similar are in an acceptable condition. Path ends should have recovered by this month although odd areas may need further over-seeding, feeding and dressing to combat high wear.

Useful Information for Bunkers and Paths

Articles		Products
	The anatomy of a golf course - Bunkers		Sand

Disease: Low risk at this time of year unless conditions are particularly moist and warm but growth would be strong in any case which would tend to overcome any possible outbreak.

Pests: Leatherjacket activity may be noticeable, especially on greens and where this is most noticeable is where turf is showing a lack of vigour and poor colour.

The other tell-tale sign is old core holes that remain open. Closer inspection will reveal the tops of the holes being eaten, a sure sign that a grub is feeding on this during the hours of darkness and then slipping back under cover to the base of the hole. Fortunately, this pest can be easily controlled using the active ingredient Chlorpyrifos and then mixed with a suitable penetrant to give maximum effect.

Turf Disorders: The first signs of dry patch may be apparent towards the end of the month if conditions are dry and windy. For greens that do suffer, then best to apply a suitable wetting agent at full strength, then follow-up each month with half rate applications. This needs to be supported by light aerification to ensure the product penetrates the root-zone. Not all wetting agents are the same so best to check on the extent of the problem and what exactly is required. The supplemental use of a hand held hose with wetting agent gel will be a must for key areas.

Useful Information for Pests / disease and disorders

Articles		Products
	Managing Bentgrass Diseases		Fungicides & Turf Disease