December Golf Diary 2011

For much of the country, November continued with the autumn theme of being mild and dry. However, parts of the north and west of the UK experienced significant rainfall; therefore conditions have continued to vary throughout.

Overnight frosts were down to just a handful and the month ended on a mild, albeit stormy end compared to the late snowfall last year. Dampness, fog and a lack of sunshine were much in evidence, resulting in disease pressure being high, along with increased worm activity. The application of fungicides and other disease control measures were at the fore for many turf managers, as it proved a challenge to keep disease at bay.

With so much surface dampness and lack of air movement at times, some turf disease was inevitable, and it was a case of protecting the turf as best as possible, using all means within an IPM strategy. With grass still growing, at least in some areas, routine maintenance was still much in evidence while leaf clearing and project work was also underway.

The emphasis centred on making the best of these conditions, while never being sure of what lies ahead. With no immediate sign of any dramatic change in weather, at least the start of December should start favourable for most and largely a continuation of the past month. On average, turf conditions are usually dictated by the amount of rainfall and hours of sunshine in December. During the last decade, there have been two very wet Decembers, 2002 and 2006, and who can forget the amount of snow and chaos that ensued last year.

Ironically, most people will remember December 2010 as the year when large volumes of snow brought a halt to golf as well as many other activities, but who can remember it as being a near drought? After the snow, a freeze set in and any rain was negligible. However, and on average, December is usually interspersed with early morning frosts and periods of high rainfall. As such, playing conditions can vary considerably, with those courses on open and free draining sites faring much better than those on heavier soils and shaded environments.

The levels of light are at their lowest at this time of year, therefore the grass plant is largely relying on its energy reserves, therefore any additional stress imposed on the plant is unwelcome. Playability is the key requirement at this time of year and disease control, traffic control measures, light sanding and aeration will play a major part in most if not all maintenance programs in the UK.

With average UK temperatures in December of 3.8 Celsius, growth will be largely dormant except for odd days when temperatures remain mild. Under normal conditions, the key requirement is to maintain a dry, firm and open surface as best as possible. As mentioned earlier, the risk of Fusarium Patch disease remains at a peak this month, therefore all measures within an IPM strategy need to be implemented.

Mowing is likely to be a weekly requirement, preferably with walk mowers to avoid any turf stress, but staffing levels may dictate that this is not feasible. The use of smooth rollers and care with turning is essential, and mowing height is likely to be around 5mm, higher on any fescue dominated surfaces. Regular aerifying at varying depths is the ideal, but should only be contemplated when ground conditions are suitable.

A mix of solid and deep tining with 12mm tines are the most common type of aeration, but other types such as a rotary decompactor can be used depending on the objectives being sought. Following any aerification, light rolling and a moderate sand dressing of about 5 to 8 tons per 18 greens can help 'settle' the surface, but care must be taken not to smother the surface when there is an absence of growth. With low light intensity, algae and moss may also present themselves where the growing environment has been compromised, eg shade, surface drainage, low fertility, low mowing height etc.

If this is the case, then seek to remove the problem as well as applying the appropriate treatment, otherwise any improvement in turf quality will be short lived. If nutrient levels are constantly leached through the rootzone following heavy rain, then applying a very small amount of nitrogen and a higher amount of Potassium will help to give strength to the plant, but too much then the risk of Fusarium attack becomes greater.

Maintaining the right balance is the key. A useful practice at this time of year, especially over the holiday period is to apply a dew dispersant to help maintain drier surfaces; this, along with the more traditional application of sulphate of Iron in one of its many formulations. Any fungicide should be applied a few days in advance, otherwise the active ingredients within the fungicide will be less effective at controlling the pathogen in its parasitic mode of attack. A useful ploy, but correct timing is essential.

Ensure that hole positions are spread throughout the green, and again a good practice is to cut two holes per green, thus ensuring that pin placement can be changed if surfaces remain temporarily frozen. More about winter play next month.

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Tees:- The main challenge with all teeing surfaces in December is to maintain a firm, dry and level surface as best as possible. The ideal is to use separate but designated tees constructed with a sand base. This should be the long term objective if not already in place. Newer and larger courses will generally have this facility in place but, for many, it is a case of making the best of what is available. Many courses suffer from restricted space and therefore may have to rely on artificial turf, especially on par 3 holes.

Whatever the outcome, maintaining surfaces free of leaves, divots or other debris is paramount, followed by regular sanding of the surface. Where aeration can be carried out, then it should be done so, as often as deemed possible. Any worm control should have been completed prior to this month but, in severe cases, a repeat application may be necessary. Attention also needs to be given to banks and nearby walkways to ensure an adequate surface. Mowing may only be required every fortnight, and preferably above 12mm in order to give the grass as much protection as possible. Where ground levels are inconsistent, the turf can be stripped clear, the surface re-levelled and then replaced within a relatively short period of time. This, and possible tee extensions, should form part of the overall course development plan.

Surrounds:- Requirements this month should be a continuation from that before, with the emphasis of installing traffic control measures by greens and possibly tees to alleviate any potential wear patterns; usually where bunkers restrict access. This aspect was covered in sufficient detail last month. The other main priority is to sand dress key walk-off areas to maintain a firm and improved draining and playing surface.

Aeration and worm control are other aspects of this planned programme which is very much an on-going requirement. Each hole on each course will have its own potential 'pinch-points' and wear patterns, therefore it is in these areas where such measures need to be targeted. The aims should be twofold; namely to provide adequate playing quality and to limit any turf damage prior to the new season.

Achieving both will allow the course to be presented in better playing condition in spring. Any severely worn or damaged areas, possibly as a result of summer drought, should be repaired and re-turfed by the end of the year.

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Fairways:- Once any leave clearing is complete, the only real maintenance requirement is for aeration in the form of deep slitting or tining when ground conditions are suitable. Again, the use of a rotary decompactor may prove effective to remove water from areas between drainage laterals or into suitable outlets. Mowing is more likely to be a periodic requirement and nearer to 17mm in height, but essential to choose a dry day if possible, even it means spreading this task over more than one day. Brushing in advance will remove any wormcasts and allow for a cleaner cut.

Roughs:- It is unlikely that any mowing will now be required, but there are always exceptions. Where areas of out of play and deeper rough are present, this work can still be contemplated during settled dry and windy conditions. Any cut down deep rough should be collected and removed using either a 'hired' machine or one that is purchased for this type of work, and be part of the overall environmental plan. Areas near trees or adjacent woodland will inevitably have a final leaf clearing requirement, but this work should be completed well before the end of the year.

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Playability and consistency are the two main requirements at this time of year, and this will largely depend on the effectiveness of drainage and removal of water. Since December is usually a wet month, the bunker's ability to deal with excess water is paramount.

Apart from ensuring that sand is distributed evenly throughout the bunker, including any faces, the checking of any drainage outlets will depend largely on whether or not any water remains. During periods of heavy rain, much time and labour may be spent moving sand and removing loose debris; this inevitably leading to sand contamination and poorer performance.

Renovation work, which is likely on most courses to some degree, should be in full swing by December with the aim of completing as much of the turfing work as possible. The earlier that faces can be re-turfed the better, thus giving maximum time for recovery.

Where this work is carried out, it is essential to dig out all excess sand and replace with a good quality soil or compost mix in order to give the turf maximum chance of establishment. On steep slopes, ensure that the turf is 'pegged down' and that any gaps that subsequently appear due to slippage are filled with compost dressing.

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Disease: During December, disease pressure from Fusarium in particular is likely to remain high for many inland courses. Much has already been written in previous articles regarding conditions favouring this disease and the cultural practices recommended to limit any damage. The key with all disease control is to avoid putting the turf under stress from both an environmental and management aspect. As soil temperatures fall, then the mode of action from chemical control needs to be one of curative as opposed to systemic, as well as preventing further attacks. Select a product that is appropriate for this time of year, containing active ingredients such as Chlorothalonil, Iprodione and Fludioxonil which will give the best degree of control.

Pests: Earthworms are by far the most common pest to affect turf quality at this time of year. It is not the earthworm that causes the damage, but the cast which is brought to the surface that causes all sorts of problems which have been listed previously. Recent updated studies reveal no real progress on their control other than the use of Carbendazim. Regular sand dressings will help to reduce numbers, but that is a long term process and one that only yields a reduction in activity. Acidifying the surface using sulphur based products eg Sulphate of Iron in solution, can also help, but this should not be over-used since it can lead to other problems such as leaf burn and fibre build-up. The use of Carbendazim still remains under threat from the EU and, to date, there is no suitable alternative. Leatherjackets, or rather the grubs, are the next most common pest than can afflict damage on turfgrass whereby emerging larvae feed on the roots of turf. See previous article for more information regarding their control.

Turf Disorders: Both Algae and Black Layer continue to be the most likely turf disorder at this time of year, and both have been mentioned in detail in previous articles. Both are a symptom of poor growing conditions caused by poor drainage and a lack of oxygen in the soil. Both can be treated chemically, but it is the condition in which they exist that needs to be changed.

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