As most members and guests have no doubt noticed, comprehensive course renovations have again been undertaken this year. We again thank our members for their understanding and patience at this time of year, as it is greatly appreciated.
This work has been scheduled for early September for over 10 years now, and while there is some disruption to the course for a period, the benefits have been there for us all to see for the majority of the year over the past decade. It is an essential part of the course management plan, and helps to prepare our playing surfaces for the pressure of high course use and summer heat in the months ahead, which in turn means these areas go into winter in better condition.
In a climate such as Adelaide’s we have to be very mindful of efficient water use, and the quality of water we apply. Course renovations are critical in this area, as are the routine, less disruptive practices we undertake throughout the year. It is also a fundamental part of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. This is a fancy way of saying we aim to maintain the best possible growing environment for our turf so that is stays as healthy as possible and is less reliant on fertilisers and pesticides to achieve the quality of surfaces we desire. This makes the course healthier and safer for everyone, and is good for the budget too!
Throughout my career, I have spoken to and heard of numerous Superintendents who choose or are pressured not to renovate. I have to say I have never found a good end to these stories. They usually revert back to more traditional renovation practices after some time, suffer some significant turf loss, or have a program of greens surface replacement every 3-6 years. There is always a trade off, because we are striving to maintain a perennial crop with no opportunity to cultivate the soil as we do in agriculture. Without some way of relieving the compaction (and associated problems) created by golfing and maintenance traffic, the turf is inevitably going to suffer.
We have produced a number of articles on the benefits of course renovations over the past decade, so we thought it would be good for members to hear the message from someone different. Below is an article written by one of the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) Senior Agronomists, which focuses on the need for coring greens, but supports many of the reasons we undertake the practice at Glenelg. I hope you enjoy the read.
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