Old Course, New Bents

St Andrews Links has successfully transformed a damaged practice green affected by high traffic with Barenbrug's BAR All Bent grass seed mixture.

Gordon McKie, course manager of the Old Course, says that the small putting green by the course's first tee is subject to heavy traffic, and high levels of wear and tear. As a result, it was dominated by Poa annua and unable to sustain fescue coverage.

As part of his annual renovation programme, Gordon decided to try BAR All Bent browntop bent mixture to increase cover and improve wear tolerance. The mixture was sown in August by turf contractor R&K Kensett Limited using the Graden Contour Sand and Seed Injection machine to - says Gordon - great effect.

"The affected green is subject to heavy traffic and Poa annua ingression," Gordon explains. "It's part of the practice area and only five yards from the first tee, so we get a lot of people standing on it due to its location. We have sown pure fescue in the past, but the young sward can't cope with the traffic.

"That's why this year we decided to try to alleviate the problems and achieve a better surface by incorporating bent grasses. We overseeded in two passes with the Graden using the BAR All Bent and kiln-dried sand. We had a very successful take and it's done really well. It's something we will certainly consider next year in order to strengthen the sward on that particular green."

Although a traditional fescue course, Gordon says he is happy to incorporate bents in order to achieve a usable and hard-wearing playing surface. "With the bents in there, it's still a great surface to have," he adds. "We only closed the area for three weeks while the seed established, and have since opened it up and had above average play on it for the time of year. But in previous years, we had to stop play and close it off completely during the main playing season to allow the fescue to grow naturally to get that kind of result."

For more information on Barenbrug's specialist golf grass seed mixtures, call 01359 272000, email info@baruk.co.uk or visit www.barenbrug.co.uk.

Barenbrug UK headquarters is based at Rougham Industrial Estate, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9ND. Telephone 01359 272000, fax 01359 272001, email info@baruk.co.uk or visit www.barenbrug.co.uk.

Image : St Andrews Links has successfully transformed a damaged practice green affected by high traffic with Barenbrug's BAR All Bent mixture.