BUDGETS BUDGETS
Above right: A winning team is commonly a mix of experienced veterans combined with the youthful enthusiasm of new staff members Above: The value of experience is often underestimated when it comes time to reduce the budget. When cost savings are necessary, carefully consider the many ways experienced staff members contribute to the success of the golf facility
4. CUTTING BACK ON ESSENTIAL AGRONOMIC PRACTICES To provide healthy, dependable golf turf, all essential agronomic programmes should be continued, even when cost cutting is necessary. Forced budget reductions should instead be applied to secondary practices. Core aeration and topdressing of putting surfaces are good examples of what should not be cut back. If soil physical analysis and past performance of the greens dictate the need for two core aerations every year, this need will not change simply because cost savings are needed. If core aeration or sand topdressing is suspended or reduced, organic matter can accumulate, which will hold moisture and compromise soil physical properties. The greens then become soft underfoot while being more prone to disease and pest activity.
Pulling back on anything that directly impacts water management is a mistake that will set the stage for compromised dependability, especially during harsh weather. There is no question that the short-term elimination of core aeration to appease an outing will facilitate some level of increased income. However, such short-sightedness, if it becomes a trend, will eventually cost significantly more than the income from the outing. Written maintenance standards provide the best means of avoiding the mistake of cutting back essential agronomic programmes.
5. PLACING AESTHETICS ABOVE PLAYABILITY A golf course is maintained to play the game of golf. It is not a park, playground or botanical garden. Uniformly emerald green turf is not only unnecessary for playing the game, it will actually increase maintenance costs by compromising turf health and playability. Certainly, it is possible to kill turfgrass by withholding irrigation at the wrong time,
USGA RELEASES 2018 GREEN CONSTRUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS UPDATE
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n February 2018, the USGA released its updated Recommendations for a Method of Putting Green Construction which includes new information about material testing and modern construction methods. Over the past year, a team of scientists, laboratory technicians, golf course builders, architects, superintendents and USGA agronomists worked together to revise the recommendations. The review team met frequently to identify and evaluate possible updates to the last revision released back in 2004. The process included trips to research facilities, testing laboratories and putting green construction projects. The 2018 USGA Recommendations are not drastically different from the 2004 version. The changes reflect advances in putting green research, technology, testing methods and construction and maintenance techniques. Additionally, the potential benefits and pitfalls of alternative construction methods are recognised and discussed in the USGA publication titled ‘Building the USGA
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Putting Green: Tips for Success’. A variety of text, video and multimedia resources have also been published to communicate the principles and methodology behind the recommendations. Some of the notable revisions to the USGA Recommendations in the 2018 version include; l The Micro-Deval abrasion test (ASTM D6928) has been identified as the preferred method to evaluate the mechanical stability of gravel under ordinary construction. This test replaces the L.A. Abrasion test (ASTM C131); l Expanded discussion on selecting gravel is now included. There is evidence that placing low-pH rootzone mixtures over high-pH gravel materials may contribute to the formation of iron oxide layers at the rootzone and gravel interface. If given the option, selecting a neutral-pH gravel is recommended; l
Perimeter drains are now to be located at all low points along the perimeter of a green cavity, not just the lowest point;
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 20.2
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Cleanout ports should be installed upstream and downstream of the putting green on the main drainage lines; The recommended infiltration rate (Ksat) does not change, but the section discussing the physical properties of the rootzone mixture has been enhanced to better explain the waterholding characteristics of a rootzone mix. The infiltration rate of the mix is de-emphasised while the importance of moisture retention is highlighted; The confidence interval for the infiltration rate has increased to 25 per cent to account for the variability of this laboratory test; There is expanded information on utilising various organic amendments, along with specifics regarding their chemical and physical characteristics; There is more explanation regarding the importance of quality control testing and appropriate testing intervals. – Addison Barden (USGA)