AGRONOMIST, PROJECT MANAGER
& EXPERT WITNESS

Maintaining grass in the summer is a matter of common sense – so many of the uninformed believe.  It simply incorporates a combination of mowing, aerating, soil conditioning, fertilisation, top dressing, pest control and irrigation – all standard operations.  However, with today’s exacting demands of grassed sporting surfaces, the planning and execution of general maintenance has become so exacting that many competent greenkeepers and groundsmen fail where others succeed.  So where is the complexity?  Is there more to cost-effective maintenance than carrying out a sequence of standard set of treatments when felt to be necessary?

Objectives

While treatments and applications may appear to be standard undertakings they need to be specific in planning to achieve what is desired.  The objective must be clear.

The condition of the equipment, its capability, the settings and the actual application determines the success of the undertaking – not to mention the proficiency of the operator. 

Understandably, the operation must achieve what is intended.  Scarifying means the removal of significant top growth and thatch and yet so often the result is little more than a light verticutting.  Aeration objectives must be clearly defined before selection of equipment.   Close spaced deep pencil tines, shallow solid tining, star slitting, use of the sarrel roller, earthquake and vertidrain all create a degree of aeration but to different depth and intensity.

Applying chemicals whether fertilisers, biotic stimulants, soil conditioners or pesticides is a precise task.  Success with an application depends on the right equipment, proper calibration and competent application as well as the choice of the correct product for the task.  Preparing a seedbed whether on bare ground or into weakened grass cover demands special attention.  Distributing seed without adequate soil cover or not into clean or sufficiently set-back grass cover has little chance of success.

In all, however simple the operation, a sensibly thought out plan of action is vital if an application or treatment is to achieve in a single effort the objective envisaged from the start.

Recording the full details

What is done in soon forgotten – yet the treatment or application is an integral part of year-round maintenance needed to create the best grass cover possible.  So many factors determine the success or failure of the operation.  Recording can be painful but tabulated essential information is as important in a scarifying or fertilising operation as it is in a COSHH controlled application of a pesticide.  Apart from the date, type of equipment and name of operator, the settings however basic become essential if future treatments are to be repeated or adjusted.

It is a simple fact that some undertakings are not as successful as others and lessons can only be learnt and improved upon if all pertinent information is recorded.  The selection of chemical formulation, its precise contents, and the rate of application must be clearly recorded for later reference.

Prevailing grass, soil and weather conditions

Every treatment or application, however well planned and executed is influenced by the prevailing environmental conditions.  Few seem to realise the importance of regularly measuring rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, the soil temperature, humidity and wind.  Yet all have a profound effect on the treatments and applications made to grass cover.  Whether scarifying, fertilising or applying a pesticide, all these measurements will to a degree influence the result.

The condition of the grass cover too can strongly influence the result.  Grass cover under stress suffers when an added shock is given – whereas strong vigorous growth is stimulated and responds to even drastic cultural treatment.  The soil condition, particularly the upper depth in which roots are active, further sets the stage for success or failure in many instances.  The moisture content and health of the top 100mm should be recorded facts.  Knowing and recording the soil and weather conditions along with the grass cover and pertinent details of the application all form a sound base on which to later judge the result.

Monitoring results

Seldom is inference made to the outcome is recorded information of a treatment.  Simple and unnecessary as it sounds, a few comments provide valuable information for further application of the treatment.  Judging the time in which the objective is achieved and particularly the degree of effectiveness that resulted becomes vital for future planning.

Tabled treatments in chronological order allows easy reference.  Mixed notes in a diary, often without the pertinent facts, offers little help when it comes to diagnosing the failure of a treatment or application.  Thought should be given to the setting out of the details of the application and prevailing conditions in a way that monitoring can be comparative.  The judgement of one treatment over another can only be properly assessed when all the facts are clearly tabulated in an easy-to-read format.

Monitoring essential criteria such as thatch depth, root growth, vigour, shoot density, root zone condition and moisture content at least four times a year gives a good indication of progress made.  Hence, being able to quickly assess the reasons for success or failure of treatments carried out provides a final ‘tool’in judging the maintenance performance.

Maintaining grass cover can be a simple undertaking but to be cost-effective, planning, recording and judging are three vital considerations that should always be made if desired progress is to follow.

At last the weather has changed though now into April the soil temperatures are only now rising above 10ºc.  Anyway, after a wet winter and the recent dry spell there is much to be done.  We have a short spell when good growing conditions with the increased warmth are still accompanied by moist soil conditions when the gains from rainfall exceed the losses from evapotranspriration. 

Into May and the reverse happens when the losses in moisture begin to become greater than the gains.  On standard coarse turf areas such as football and rugby pitches, normally not equipped with irrigation much will depend on the rainfall over the next six weeks.  The period between stopping play at the end of the season and the beginning of the following one is very short.

The narrow window makes the outcome of this immediate task on sports pitches a very difficult one.  Initially, scarification is needed to remove accumulated debris and as much of the annual meadow grass that has invaded during the season.  It is also vital to prepare the surface for over-seeding.  Decompaction with the earthquake or vertidrain is also essential to loosen the top 200mm after heavy use.  The seed must be drilled to at least 8 to 10mm to ensure good warm moist conditions vital for germination and establishment.  Most over-seeding implements capable of drilling the seed satisfactorily are limited to 50 to 70 mm row spacing and the density of grass cover can just not be obtained unless there are at least two passes in two directions to reduce the effective spacing. 

To create any density of grass sward, plants need to tiller and harden before full use and in the case of football and rugby, this renovation treatment determines the grass cover that can be expected in the autumn.  Records show that May warms significantly and unless there is sporadic rainfall during the month, over-seeding remains a lottery.  This is a major concern and the delay in this treatment also influences spring fertilisation.  Ideally, nutrition should be available once active growth begins in April.  However, with over-seeding only possible in May it is preferable to knock back the competition and gain successful germination before applying fertilisers.  It is a case of one or the other.  Favourable conditions before it becomes too warm favour the earlier application but there can be no real gain before soil temperatures rise above 10ºc.

To summarise one thing is clear – the need to concentrate all expertise available for the renovation procedures as soon as possible during this narrow window.  Secondly, where scarification is carried out, every effort should be made to carry out the operations properly with adequate opening of the surface for over-seeding.  Thirdly, the proper placement of the seed after reducing the competition is vital.  Finally, judicious mowing and the use of controlled release fertilisers will help to attain the most dense cover possible for the new season.

The first reaction to poor drainage and cancelled games is the installation of additional drains.  However, the real cause of failure can often go back to the construction and to lack of thought in the future use.  The following are a few considerations that have a major influence on future performance of the sports pitch.

1. The gradient and grade of the pitch is vital to promote surface run-off.
2. The attention given to the subsoil after grading – together with the proper assessment of the nature and depth of the materials in the profile below.
3. The methods of spreading the topsoil – these influence the degree of compaction and ultimately the condition of grass cover and the ability of the soil to drain.
4. The classification and depth of the topsoil has a bearing in view of its infiltration and permeabiliy potential.
5. The performance requirements are important – namely, must play be possible today after good rain yesterday or can play be postponed until the surface dries out.
6. What degree of usage is required – the number of hours of active play per week – particularly in the wet winter months

7. Will the budget cope with attention needed in maintaining a intensive drainage system – in particular annual sand dressings at the cost of in the region of £2500 per application.

8. Will essential maintenance be carried out during the playing season and the proper renovation completed in the short period between the end of play and the beginning of the next season starting in August/September.

In general most golf clubs simply extend the previous year’s expenditure in preparing forward annual estimates of course maintenance costs.  It is strange that in an enterprise where the income for the year can be fairly well estimated an agreed allocation towards course maintenance cannot be arrived at.  The attitude of keeping the budget as low as possible when trying to maintain a set standard is puzzling.

In view of the magnitude of the task and the challenge to maintain a set standard preparing a five or ten year capital programme becomes a priority.  Sure, new priorities will emerge but major expenditure items should be planned ahead in a systematic programme that should not be changed.  The main capital expenditure involves the equipment and course improvements.

Annual on-course maintenance costs are numerous and are best controlled when they comprise a comprehensive list of the main items of expenditure.  However, it is the further subdividing of these items by the course manager that is the key to the controlling of costs – namely material costs to include fertilisers, soil conditioners, pesticides, seed etc

The value of good well maintained equipment

Equipment determines the outcome of the maintenance exercise.  Without good working units and minimum down time the task facing the greenkeepers can become impossible.  Most of the reasonably well equipped golf courses have in the region of £250000 worth of equipment in the shed.  Depreciating at 20% per year (some hard working equipment should realistically be 33% while others may well be less), at least £50000 must be considered an amount for depreciation and an allowance of this sum annually is essential to maintain the standard or upgrade the equipment.  Yet how often do we see dramatic cut back in this vital investment – with clubs often only purchasing a unit when there is a critical need. 

With the value and sophistication of modern equipment employing a full time fitter/mechanic is fast becoming a real consideration.  Down time becomes easy to value when essential tasks just cannot be done.  Currently a cost effective approach incorporates the adoption of leasing packages now available.  Having a full fleet of good up to date equipment at all times at a reasonable monthly cost ensures the course manager  that he has the resources to do the work.

There is always a need for improvements on the course

To maintain a set standard with all the competition of other local courses annual improvements become an essential consideration.  Whether it is increasing tee surfaces, upgrading the irrigation system, renovating bunkers, extending pathways or improving drainage in greens – there is always something.  Realistically, an amount should be allowed annually and this amount should be part of a five year programme.  Attending to an urgent unplanned need becomes a strain on cash flow.  Furthermore there is often dissension when sudden improvements are at the whim of the current club captain or green committee.

The ever increasing array of materials

Today there is an ever increasing variety of products, services and treatments that can be of benefit on the golf course.  The range of fertilisers, soil conditioners, biotic stimulants and organic supplements alone make the choice for the course manager a difficult one.  In addition to pathway materials, bunker sand, drainage piping and aggregates there is too the full set of golf course equipment of furniture.  The annual shows at Harrogate and Saltex reveal a range of products, services and equipment that can become baffling in their enormity and choice.  The decision is invariably left with the course manager or secretary but the need for the priority budgeting and monitoring of expenditure can become crucial in the management of available funds.

The number one expense – the staff

Labour costs will always account for the major proportion of course maintenance costs.  With the average of five or six green keepers employed on an 18 hole golf course, their well being alone instils the motivation needed to make the maintenance programme a success.  Course managers today play a different role to the head green keeper of the past.  Like a managing director answering to a board, the course manager must produce the results and be accountable.  To do this he must be given full rein to use his initiative within the bounds of management decisions.  Daily directive from the secretary and/or green committee undermines his responsibility and lowers his confidence.  Good green keeping staff produce the results and should be adequately compensated for their work.  They too respond to acknowledgement and the budget should cover adequate presentable protective clothing and scope for further education and capability testing.

  Today, with the increasing awareness of health and safety regulations, the maintenance facility has become a focal point.  Providing neat and comfortable mess facilities as well as adequate and safe storage and workshop space for equipment are now prime requirements.  In fact the upgrading of maintenance facilities has been neglected for far too long.  There is no doubt that a well planned maintenance building contributes much to the moral of the staff – and it is their performance on the course that determines the final presentation.  As in any smooth running operation daily housekeeping plays a major role too.  This too takes time and involves a cost.  A well maintained maintenance facility suggests a well managed golf course.

On-course administration is now vital 

With all the items compiling the annual costs to maintain the golf course, the monitoring and control of costs is as vital to progress on the course as it is to the club’s cash flow.  With annual expenditure varying from £150000 to £500000 proper control can only be attained where a sound recording system operates and the essential facts are collated so that they are immediately available for management decisions.  Relying on inadequate diary entries cannot be satisfactory.  Reporting back to the main club committee on the performance and financial expenditure over the last month is an essential responsibility of the course manager.  Comparing actual costs with budget costs must be the basis of a sound costing system and the correct allocation of item costs can only initiate in the maintenance shed.  .  The whole budgeting exercise takes much time but if done properly it gives greater insight into realistic costing and priority planning.  There are software programmes available but individual requirements differ and the most practical examples seem to be those developed in-house by someone fully involved.

Many have frowned on the application of nutrition in winter – especially nitrogen.  Observing the establishment of a new golf tee that had suffered from inadequate nutrition in the autumn there was healthy and vigorous growth in the location of rabbit droppings.  The grasses sown were a bent and fescue mixture.

Creating adequate surface gradient on sports pitches has been found to be vital to promote surface drainage.  However, existing built-up surroundings and reasonably level locations often make this endeavour impractical.  There are countless examples of cambering pitches in the US and there is limited adoption in some premier football clubs in the UK.  Nevertheless, this simple and economic method of soil profiling is seldom considered in lower level grassed pitches.  Drainage is an essential requirement on winter pitches but the high costs of installing primary and secondary systems and maintaining them with the annual sand dressing required is a major concern to local authorities and private clubs.  Installing a camber becomes a positive initial means of shedding surface water to each side of the pitch before it saturates the topsoil to a significant depth.   The created  outward slopes from the generally level central camber running between goals limits puddle formation, prevents flooding ever occurring and does not affect the game.  With the gentle camber linking side slopes of 1:70 players hardly notice the outward cross gradient.  

Key words: grassed sports pitches, surface drainage, camber, gradient .