Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia...

WORKING FOR GOLF

Sustainable Turfgrass

Management in Asia 2013

Setting up a Golf Course for a Championship

March 2013

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Key Initial Planning Requirements

1. Start planning well in advance and develop an action list, budget and timeframe.

2. Establish good communication with and expectations from the Tournament Director.

3. Obtain a list of Course Preparation Guidelines from the Tournament Director.

4. Arrange a schedule of inspection visits.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

General Rule of Thumb

Courses shouldplay FIRM and FAST

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Brown is the New Green

The USGA has adopted a policy to apply less water on courses in the lead up to championships with courses being presented with firm, fast and brown fairways

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Brown is the New Green

The R&A has always had such a policy.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Benefits of Brown Courses

1. Excellent Lie

2. Firm and Fast

3. Mowing Equipment Lasts Longer

4. Fewer Resources Used

5. Weed Control Simplified

6. Faster Spring Greenup

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Important Preparation Considerations

1. Definition of Areas

It is important that all areas on the course are well defined including fairways, hazards, bunker edges and the rough.

2. Drainage

Ensure that the drainage system works well and that bunkers drain well. Carry out a full system check.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Important Preparation Considerations

3. SandIs there enough sand in all the bunkers and is the depth and composition consistent?

4. Greens It is essential that all greens are firm and have a consistent coverage of grass. They also need consistent stimpmetre spots on greens.

5. RoughTidy up the rough and trees.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

1. Greens

-Survey and create consistent stimpmeter spots per green.-Clear, definitive mowing line between green and green collar.-Avoid using tournament hole locations two-three weeks prior to tournament.-Double-cut and roll greens as necessary to reach targeted green speeds.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

2. Collars

-1/4” height or lower.

-Avoid high rough cut immediately adjacent to collar.

-Rough cut must not be present in the approaches to greens.  Approaches should match fairway height.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

3. Tees

-Remove any obstructions that may interfere with the player’s intended area swing. -Avoid tournament tee settings in advance of the tournament.-Maintain a firm dry turf (3/8” height); do not over water.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

3. Tees

-Have a green divot mix prepared and available for players and caddies on all par three holes.-Be prepared to drag morning dew.-Ensure all tees are level.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

4. Practice Green

-Cut an adequate number of holes.-Change cups the evening prior to the next day’s play.-Have any practice flagsticks removed for the week of the tournament.-Mow daily prior to play. (Should be mowed first in the AM rotation.)

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

5. Practice Facility

-Mow teeing area each evening at same height as fairways.

-Move hitting line to new area each evening for the following day.

-Divots to be sanded only.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

6. Fairways

-7/16 – ½”-Establish tournament mowing height in advance to avoid scalped areas during the event.-Gauge irrigation applications well in advance to provide firm, fast surfaces.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

6. Fairways-Be prepared to drag dew from fairways and collect divots

-Establishment 30 yards of widths and contours.

-Establishment of fairway collars and walkways from tees to fairways.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

6. Fairways-Determined the desired mowing pattern with the TD – cross or parallel.

-Weather permitting, mow every night or morning, before or after tournament play.

-Remove stones and pebbles.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

7. Rough 

-Intermediate rough should be 1.5”.  Suggested widths are 42” around greens and 66” around fairways.-Top off primary rough at 3”.-Remove stones and pebbles.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

8. Bunkers

-Remove stones and pebbles.-Establish 3-4 inch grass lips on greenside bunkers and a clean edge in sides of bunkers.-Check for uniform sand depth. If more sand is needed, add this at least 4 months prior to the tournament.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

8. Bunkers

-Place rakes on outside of bunkers in line with play.-Grass bunkers should be closely mowed to avoid hanging lies.-All bunkers should be raked in direction of play.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

9. Trees

-Remove all non-essential stakes and support wires in playing and spectator areas.-Level to grade all tree basins in playing areas.-Trim or remove all low, overhanging branches and shrubs that interfere with spectator movement, player walkways or ball flight corridors.

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

10. Other Considerations

-Generally, have the course free of markings. Referees will mark the course and determine hole locations of each hole.-Provide the TD with a list of hole locations from previous championships.

-Have a quantity of pointed stakes (red, yellow and white). 

Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2013

Course Preparation Guidelines

10. Other Considerations

-Have a number of rubber roller based squeegees in good repair, with team ready.

-Have at least two gasoline pumps in good working order to remove water from bunkers.

-Prepare tournament flagsticks and tee markers for on-course placement for the beginning of tournament week.-Have a stimpmeter.

Japeri – the First public golf course in Brazil

R&A Holing Out Test

http://www.greenstester.comhttp://golfcoursemanagement.randa.org