Pollok Golf Club 1

POLLOK GOLF CLUB Advisory Report on the Golf Course incorporating the STRI Programme Report Date: 7th October 2013 Consultant: Richard Windows

Pollok Golf Club 2

CONFIDENTIAL

Date of Visit: 26th September 2013

Visit Objective: To review the early autumn condition of the golf course, take objective measurement of greens performance and confirm on-going maintenance requirements.

Present: Mr Willard Dougall – Vice-Captain Mr Bruce Wallace – Green Committee Mr Donald McKellar – Club Manager Mr Donald MacLeod – Head Greenkeeper Mr Mark Houston – First Assistant Mr Richard Windows – Turfgrass Agronomist – STRI Ltd

Weather: Warm, dry with a light breeze.

Weather conditions have generally been very dry with 41mm of rain through August and 13mm of rain in the 7 days leading up to the visit which includes 2mm on Tuesday 24th September.

Contents

Executive Summary 3

Key Observations 4 Greens 4

Greens Aprons & Surrounds 4

Fairways 5

Rough 5

Performance Data 5 Soil Moisture Content 6

Surface Firmness/Hardness 7

Smoothness & Trueness 8

Green Speed 9

Key Recommendations 10 Greens 10

Green Aprons & Surrounds 10

Fairways 11

Rough 11

Pollok Golf Club 3

Executive Summary

• The general condition of the golf course was very good with high standards of presentation, turf

quality and playing performance to all major surfaces.

• Objective measurements illustrate sustained and continuous improvement in response to the

maintenance programme implemented to the greens. Ball roll qualities in particular are

becoming smoother, truer with more consistent pace.

• Feedback regarding greens performance since the July visit has been excellent. Regular rolling,

slightly lower mowing, regular grooming and Primo-MAXX growth regulator applications have

retained green speeds around 8 ft 6 in to 9 ft 6 in throughout this period.

• Sward health has been sustained during this period of more intensive refinement meaning this

can be repeated again in the future.

• Dry patch was controlled well with Breaker Curative combined with monthly applications of

Osprey. A monthly programme should be repeated again next spring to prevent dry patch

developing.

• To complete the organic matter reduction programme, a further Graden sand injection

scarification operation should be implemented during the mid-October to early November

period. If the Graden cannot be employed, micro coring combined with kiln dried sand top

dressing will be the reserve strategy.

• A relatively minimal aeration programme can be implemented involving verti-draining to traffic

routes only and a couple of blanket solid tining operations to all areas of greens. This will be

sufficient to aerate the upper soil profile without causing excess softening for winter play.

• The green aprons remain soft in comparison to the greens and the extension of Graden sand

injection and routine top dressing is required to improve surface firmness. If Graden work

cannot be implemented, 12mm hollow coring, preferably followed by kiln dried sand top

dressing should be implemented.

• A full cover of grass has nearly been restored to the 8th fairway and a further divot patch with

overseeding and top dressing should complete the process over the next few weeks. The

weaker turf to the semi-rough should be re-turfed with appropriate material from elsewhere on

the course.

• Renovation work, combined with altered mowing practices to the bunker tops, is required to

restore and retain grass cover. In addition, certain green complexes should receive bunker

renovation involving removal of sand on bunker heads and replacing with better quality top soil

before re-turfing with an appropriate grass mix that will blend with surrounding material. In

some places this is likely to be dwarf perennial ryegrass combined with fescue.

• Rough grassland management will be a key operation over the autumn to winter. The initial task

should involve cutting and clipping collection to a 4-5m band followed by graminicide application

then scarification during the winter to early spring period.

• Bunker performance and consistency continues to be a problem and regular cultivation

combined with sand topping will continue to be implemented to optimise performance as much

as possible until full renovation and reconstruction can be implemented.

Pollok Golf Club 4

Key Observations

Greens

• The condition of the greens was excellent with a strong and healthy sward throughout all

surfaces even the 17th.

• Feedback regarding performance since the July visit has been superb. More intensive

refinement involving regular rolling (3 times a week) closer mowing and on-going Primo-MAXX

growth regulator applications optimised ball roll qualities and delivered consistent green speed

around the 8 ft 6 in – 9 ft 6in for routine play. This operation did not have any negative effect to

sward health or turf quality showing this more intensive refinement strategy can be repeated in

the future to optimise green performance.

• Dry patch symptoms have been controlled excellently with Breaker Curative combined with

monthly applications of Osprey. Uniform soil moisture has been restored and a preventative

wetting agent programme should be repeated next year to ensure dry patch symptoms are

prevented.

• The 17th green has performed far more consistently with the others on the course this season in

terms of firmness and ball roll quality. The objective measurements (see later in the report)

confirm this to be the case combined with Donald’s excellent and regular measurements of

surface performance. The sward however was looking a little tired following the rigours of play

this season and additional fertiliser inputs should be implemented to boost vigour and sward

density to the autumn to winter period.

• Some fusarium patch activity was present to the greens and has been controlled well with an

application of Scorpio fungicide on a spot treatment basis over the past couple of weeks.

Regular applications of liquid iron with magnesium sulphate through the winter should keep the

sward healthy and disease at bay. However, prior to renovation operations, it would be prudent

to apply a preventative application of fungicide to protect the greens and ensure disease

scarring is avoided.

• Moss populations were far lower than in comparison to previous years, but further Graden sand

injection combined with appropriate nutritional inputs would be beneficial to further reduce

moss populations and provide healthy sward conditions to minimise moss ingress.

Greens Aprons & Surrounds

• The green aprons are softer than the greens meaning more intensive maintenance to reduce

organic matter accumulation and improve surface firmness is required into the aprons over the

next couple of years.

• The bunker tops have lost grass cover during the dry summer and regular mowing. While this

would have been difficult to totally avoid, it does detract from the general presentation of the

green complexes.

• To improve these areas requires some consideration to alternative mowing practices as the

initial step. In addition, renovation involving overseeding and regular wetting agent application

should be implemented to restore grass cover for next season.

Pollok Golf Club 5

• Where grass cover cannot be restored via renovation and the entire green complex can be

treated, a programme of turf stripping, sand accumulation removal, top soil replacement and re-

turfing with dwarf perennial ryegrass should be implemented. The priority for this work was

considered to be the 6th green complex.

Fairways

• The fairways were in excellent condition and have responded very well to the scarification work

implemented over the past few weeks.

• Clover has been treated with selective herbicide but should be repeated again next May/June

and September.

• The 8th fairway has progressed well throughout the summer and a full cover of grass has

practically been restored with the exception of the odd local area to the drain channels. Further

overseeding and top dressing is required and this should be sufficient to restore a full cover of

grass over the next few weeks.

Rough

• Rough grassland management will form a major focus of maintenance over the autumn to early

spring period.

• The drainage channels to the left of the 8th in the semi-rough should be turfed over with similar

quality material to restore grass cover to this area.

Performance Data

The full suite of STRI Programme measurements was taken during the visit to accurately determine the performance of the greens and inform ongoing maintenance work. The greens were single cut with the Triple mower and turf iron rolled prior to the measurements. The results are shown in the table and graphs below along with interpretation where necessary.

Performance Measurement Results

Green

No.

Speed

(distance)

Smoothness

(mm/m)

Trueness

(mm/m)

Firmness

Mean

(gravities)

Firmness

SEM (±)

Moisture

Content

(%)

Moisture

Content

SEM (±)

13 8 ft 3 in 20.0 6.4 100 1 25.8 1.8

8 9 ft 2 in 18.6 6.7 104 2 26.2 1.2

16 8 ft 8 in 20.6 7.2 105 3 22.7 2.1

17 8 ft 3 in 21.0 7.5 105 2 25.0 2.0

Pollok Golf Club 6

Soil Moisture Content

• Soil moisture values were all within the ideal target range with an excellent level of consistency

between each surface.

• The soil moisture values are reflective of the dry weather recently, but also lack of moisture

retention in the upper soil profile due to the high sand content and excellent drainage qualities

of the greens.

• Consistency of moisture through each surface was far superior to the July visit and all dry patch

symptoms have been appropriately controlled with wetting agent applications.

• One or two drier sections of the 17th remained present illustrating the importance of a high

quality wetting agent programme to this surface, as well as the others, in the future.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

28/09/2011 07/03/2012 28/05/2012 15/08/2012 06/03/2013 30/07/2013 26/09/2013

VO

LUM

ETR

IC S

OIL

WA

TER

CO

NTE

NT

(%)

MONITORING PERIOD

SOIL WATER CONTENT MEASUREMENTS

8

13

16

17Target

Pollok Golf Club 7

Surface Firmness/Hardness

• Firmness values to the greens were excellent and all within the ideal target range with a superb

level of consistency between each green.

• Following the high firmness values obtained the main summer and feedback indicating these

firmness levels were not too hard for routine play; the upper end of the firmness target has been

increased to 130 gravities. This would be a similar value to that achieved on a links course. It

was felt the architecture and strategy of the course is appropriate for such firm greens.

• Analysis of previous results shows the greens are becoming increasingly consistent between

each surface and the 17th no longer stands out as in previous years. The organic matter

reduction strategy to improve the firmness of the soil based greens is the reason for such

improvements.

• It was interesting to hear the surfaces soften down minimally in response to rainfall events

during the course of the summer and again this is attributable to the organic matter reduction

strategy.

• The consistency of firmness through each individual green was good, but, as a general rule, high

trafficked areas, e.g. front left of 16, were significantly firmer than low trafficked areas, e.g. back

right of 16. We need to continually address this via more pin placements to areas of low traffic

and deep aeration into areas of high traffic only.

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

28/09/2011 07/03/2012 28/05/2012 15/08/2012 06/03/2013 30/07/2013 26/09/2013

HA

RD

NES

S (G

RA

VIT

IES)

MONITORING PERIOD

HARDNESS MEASUREMENTS

8

13

16

17

Target

Pollok Golf Club 8

Smoothness & Trueness

• Smoothness and trueness values were excellent and all within the ideal target range for routine

play.

10111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940

28/09/2011 28/05/2012 15/08/2012 30/07/2013 26/09/2013

VER

TIC

AL

MO

VEM

ENT

(MM

/M)

MONITORING PERIOD

SMOOTHNESS MEASUREMENTS

8

13

16

17Routine Target

Tournament Target

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

28/09/2011 28/05/2012 15/08/2012 30/07/2013 26/09/2013

LATE

RA

L M

OV

EMEN

T (M

M/M

)

MONITORING PERIOD

TRUENESS MEASUREMENTS

8

13

16

17

Routine Target

Tournament Target

Pollok Golf Club 9

• There is a significant and definite trend of improvement smoothness and trueness during each

visit in response to the sward refinement and general maintenance programme in place. The

greens are simply getting better due to the work implemented.

• We need to keep the pressure on with regard to sward refinement to optimise ball roll qualities

throughout the main season, but also during the autumn to winter period. The regularity of

rolling is particularly important in this regard.

Green Speed

• Green speed values were good and all within the ideal target range.

• There was a good level of consistency between each surface, but 13 & 17 were a little slower

and were a littler grassier.

• Regular measurements of green speed by Donald have shown speeds were consistently around

the 8 ft 6 in to 9 ft 6 in mark from July. It was felt these speeds were most appropriate for

routine play and provided a good and enjoyable challenge.

• Sward refinement operations should therefore be tailored to ensure these speeds are achieved

routinely next season.

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

28/09/2011 28/05/2012 15/08/2012 30/07/2013 26/09/2013

GR

EEN

SP

EED

(FT

)

MONITORING PERIOD

GREEN SPEED MEASUREMENTS

8

13

16

17

Routine Target

Tournament Target

Pollok Golf Club 10

Key Recommendations

Greens

• To complete the organic matter reduction programme to the greens, a further Graden sand

injection scarification operation would be very beneficial to all the greens (except 17) during the

mid-October to early November period.

• Before the operation, apply Instrata fungicide and the 4:0:8 granular feed to avoid disease

scarring and accelerate turf recovery.

• If Graden sand injection cannot be implemented due to budgetary constraints, micro hollow

coring combined with kiln dried sand top dressing would be the alternative. It should however

be said this would not be as effective as the sand injection scarification.

• The 4:0:8 granular fertiliser should be applied immediately to the 17th green to boost sward

vigour and density and a further application of Everris Sierraform GT with analysis 6:0:27 (or

similar) should be made to this green to retain vigour and density throughout the autumn to

winter period.

• Regular applications of iron sulphate with magnesium sulphate should be made to the greens

every 6 – 8 weeks during the autumn to mid-spring period to harden and condition the turf

thereby maintaining sward vigour and colour. Each nutrient product should be applied at

20kg/ha.

• Aim to place as many pins as possible in low trafficked sections of the green to help improve

surface firmness, but also minimise moss ingress.

• The aeration programme can be reduced this winter and in the future due to the excellent soil

conditions, healthy root development and lack of soil compaction. Therefore, the strategy

should involve localised verti-draining to areas of high traffic only once this winter using 13mm

tines.

• Solid tining to a depth of 75-100mm using 8mm tines should be implemented twice to the entire

putting platforms to aerate the upper soil profile and allow appropriate gas exchange.

• Following each aeration operation, roll the surfaces to settle and restore ball roll qualities.

Green Aprons & Surrounds

• Aim to Graden sand inject all green aprons. If this cannot be achieved, 12mm hollow coring

followed by kiln dried sand top dressing to fill the holes would be the secondary alternative.

• An application of 4:0:8 granular fertiliser should be applied prior to the renovation to optimise

rapid recovery.

• Renovation of all bunker heads should be implemented involving granular fertiliser application,

dwarf perennial ryegrass overseeding and rest as much as possible.

• Certain green complexes should be earmarked for more intensive bunker renovation involving

turf stripping, sand removal, top soil replacement and returfing with dwarf perennial ryegrass.

The priority for this work is the 6th green complex.

Pollok Golf Club 11

• Consideration to alterations of mowing practices around certain surrounds and bunkers is

required for next year to avoid damage wherever possible.

Fairways

• The usual programme of verti-draining should be implemented to the fairways combined with

on-going scarification to reduce organic matter and optimise surface drainage.

• A further divot patching and top dressing operation should be implemented to the 8th fairway to

fully restore grass cover to the drainage lines.

Rough

• A 4 - 5 m band of rough should receive cutting and clipping collection as soon as possible. The

Amazone should be set to achieve a cutting height of 25-30mm.

• Prior to cutting, an application of graminicide should be made to help remove the coarse grass

species. Areas dominated by Yorkshire Fog should be avoided, but rather treat sections where a

good proportion of finer grasses are present interspersed with Yorkshire Fog.

• Once the cutting and graminicide has been applied, scarification should be implemented during

the late winter to early spring period.

Signed

Richard Windows Turfgrass Agronomist

Official Agronomist to the R&A Championship Committee

E-mail: Richard.windows@stri.co.uk Mobile: 07968 263204

STRI is completely independent and has no alliances to commercial products, services or contractors. This ensures that our

design, project management and advisory services provide the best solutions for each individual client.

The STRI Programme provides golf courses with measurements and data that help to monitor and assess golf course performance. The R&A has recently developed CourseTracker (www.coursetracker.org), a free, online business management tool

for golf courses, to record, review and analyse golf club performance across many areas of your business, including the golf course. STRI believes The R&A CourseTracker combined with the STRI Programme provides the tools you need to

objectively monitor and assess your golf course performance.