ResearchBentgrass variety trialsOrganic matter dilutionNative patch diseasesResearchBentgrass variety trialsOrganic matter dilutionNative patch diseases2011 Rugby World CupKiwi curators take centre stage2011 Rugby World CupKiwi curators take centre stagewww.agcsa.com.auWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 13.5 SEP-OCT 2011ISSN 1442-2697AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 1SUBSCRIPTION FORMI wish to apply for:One year™s subscription to Australian Turfgrass Management(Six editions per year) PLEASE TICK BOXONE COPY PER EDITION $55.00 O/S ONE COPY PER EDITION $95.00Prices include GST.Winner of 31 awards at the TOCA International Communicators Contest 2006 - 2011State of disasterQueensland™s summer of destructionState of disasterQueensland™s summer of destructionWarringah 10 years onWhat haven™t we learned?Warringah 10 years onWhat haven™t we learned?JOURNALwww.agcsa.com.auWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2010 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2010 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 13.2 MAR-APR 2011ISSN 1442-2697 Official Guide27th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade ExhibitionAdelaide13-17 June 201127th Australian Turfgrass ConferenceYour guide to Adelaide 201127th Australian Turfgrass ConferenceYour guide to Adelaide 2011South Australian spotlightKooyonga, Adelaide Shores, Riverside, AAMI Stadium,The GrangeSouth Australian spotlightKooyonga, Adelaide Shores, Riverside, AAMI Stadium,The GrangeCleaning up ChristchurchNZ turfies rally after quakeCleaning up ChristchurchNZ turfies rally after quakeResearchWarm-season turf adaptationManaging water repellencyResearchWarm-season turf adaptationManaging water repellencyPicture perfectSanctuary Cove™s new-look Palms coursePicture perfectSanctuary Cove™s new-look Palms coursewww.agcsa.com.auWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2010 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 13.3 MAY-JUN 2011ISSN 1442-26972011 Open ChampionshipRoyal St George™s flies the flag2011 Open ChampionshipRoyal St George™s flies the flagMetricon measures upGold Coast Suns™ home turf shinesMetricon measures upGold Coast Suns™ home turf shinesBaja beautyMexico™s El Dorado Golf and Beach ClubBaja beautyMexico™s El Dorado Golf and Beach Club2011 AGCSA and Sports Turf AwardsFrank Dempsey, Phil Ford, Colin Morrison, Troy MacLaren, Tim Fankhauser, Dan Oswin and Rebecca Dynon2011 AGCSA and Sports Turf AwardsFrank Dempsey, Phil Ford, Colin Morrison, Troy MacLaren, Tim Fankhauser, Dan Oswin and Rebecca Dynonwww.agcsa.com.auISSN 1442-2697WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 13.4 JUL-AUG 2011ORDERS CAN BE MADE SECURELY ONLINE THROUGH www.agcsa.com.auName: .............................................................................................................................................Company: ........................................................................................................................................Postal Address: ...............................................................................................................................Town/Suburb: ....................................................................State: .............Postcode: ......................I enclose cheque for (amount):.......................................................................................................Please charge my credit card: MasterCard .......................................................... 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Address: .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Signature:. ...............................................Funds have been paid by electronic transfer to Westpac BSB 033 380 Acc 385360Please send me more information about becoming an AGCSA memberForward to: Australian Turfgrass Management Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre, 752 Blackburn Road Clayton, VIC 3168 FAX: (03) 9548 8622 Australian Turfgrass ManagementPublished by:Australian Golf Course Superintendents' AssociationABN 96 053 205 888Production:Editor: Brett Robinson Ph:(03) 9548 8600 brett@agcsa.com.auArt Direction & Design: Jo Corne Ph: (03) 9548 8600 jo@agcsa.com.auAdvertising: Melissa Wallace Ph:(03) 9548 8600 melissa@agcsa.com.auAGCSASuite 1, Monash Corporate Centre752 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168P: (03) 9548 8600 F: (03) 9548 8622E: info@agcsa.com.au W: www.agcsa.com.auAGCSA BoardPresident: Allan DevlinDirectors: Darren Wilson Tony Fogarty Peter LonerganEvents and Education Manager Simone Staples simone@agcsa.com.auBusiness Relationship ManagerMelissa Wallacemelissa@agcsa.com.auMembership and AdministrationLyndel Conwayinfo@agcsa.com.auAdministrationAllison Jenkinsadmin@agcsa.com.auAccountsPhilip Horsburgh philip@agcsa.com.auAGCSATechAndrew Peart and John Gearyandrew@agcsa.com.aujgeary@agcsa.com.auHR & Best Practice ManagerDaryl Sellar daryl@agcsa.com.auProudly supported byPrinted By Impact Printing69-79 Fallon StreetBrunswick, VIC 3056Copyright © 2011 The AGCSA believes that material sourced and produced for Australian Turfgrass Management is accurate, but gives no warranty in relation thereto, and disclaims liability for all claims against the AGCSA, its subsidiary companies, its employees, agents or any other person which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within. No portion, in whole or part, may be reproduced without the written permission of the AGCSA.SUBSCRIBE NOW2 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTCONTENTSCOVER: Forsyth Barr Stadium: Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand is the world™s first permanently enclosed sports stadium boasting a natural turf playing surface.Photo: Phil Walter/Getty ImagesResearchBentgrass variety trialsOrganic matter dilutionNative patch diseasesResearchBentgrass variety trialsOrganic matter dilution Native patch diseases2011 Rugby World CupKiwi curators take centre stage2011 Rugby World CupKiwi curators take centre stagewww.agcsa.com.auWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE 2011 TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 13.5 SEP-OCT 2011ISSN 1442-2697FEATURESFlying the Aussie flag 14Among those turf managers taking centre stage during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, there is one who will be quietly hoping that Wallabies skipper James Horwill lifts the Webb Ellis trophy come the end of October. ATM catches up with ex-pat Melbournian Brett Sipthorpe who has been turf manager at Wellington Regional Stadium for the past five years and looks at the build up to the most anticipated sporting event in the country™s history.Trafalgar™s first-class turf-glass 18New Zealand Sports Turf Institute technical director Alex Glasgow looks at the reconstruction of Nelson™s Trafalgar Park, one of the smaller provincial venues to be used during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and the use of recycled glass sand as a rootzone material.Barwon Valley heads down new road 22The realignment of three holes at Geelong™s Barwon Valley Golf Club to make way for improved transport infrastructure seemed a relatively straightforward project on paper. As ATM discovers, unseasonable rain and challenging soil conditions meant the project was anything but. Eight years, seven courses, six tournaments 26English greenkeeper Simon Blagg has experienced more than most in the world of golf course turf management. Now back in Australia for a second stint, the 23-year-old looks back on his experiences and the role a US internship had in the development of his career.AGCSATECH UPDATEBents and benchmarking 32Andrew Peart reports the latest results from the AGCSA™s bentgrass varieties trial and looks at a new golf course benchmarking study.COVER STORY: Forsyth Barr Stadium Œ the undercover story 6 When the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off this month, New Zealand™s premier turf facilities will be under the spotlight during one of the biggest sporting spectacles the country has hosted. One of the most impressive new grounds is Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin which is the world™s first permanently-roofed stadium to house a natural turf playing surface. Agronomist Dr. Richard Gibbs, one of the key figures involved in the design and delivery of the playing surface, looks at how this unique facility has come about and the many agronomic challenges it presents.TIME FOR WATER QUALITY TESTING! Let us provide you with a truly independent water quality report Send samples toPh. 03 9548 8600Fax. 03 9548 8622Email. andrew@agcsa.com.auEmail. jgeary@agcsa.com.auSuite 1, Monash Corporate Centre752 Blackburn RoadClayton 3168 VicTechAnalytical, Diagnostic and Consultancy ServicesAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 3 Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management JournalVolume 13.5 (September-October 2011) Simon Blagg (Roseville GC); Ben Chambers (Golf Shapes); Craig Cox (Warwick GC); Allan Devlin (AGCSA); Erik Ervin (Virginia Tech, USA); Ben Evans (Wooloware GC); John Geary (AGCSATech); Dr Richard Gibbs (Sports Surface Design & Management, NZ); Alex Glasgow (NZSTI); Steven Hewitt (VGCSA); Peter Lonergan (GCSAQ); Steve McGarrigle (VicRoads); Jason Meeuws; Craig Molloy (NSWGCSA); John Neylan; Adam Nichols (Virginia Tech, USA); Andrew Peart (AGCSA); Luke Primus (Barwon Valley GC); Des Russell (GCSAWA); Sam Sherriff (SAGCSA); Brett Sipthorpe (Westpac Stadium, NZ), Tony Smith (TGCSA); Luke Spartalis (Royal Melbourne GC); Nathan Tovey (TGAA VIC); Phil Walter (Getty Images).As I write this it™s five days, 19 hours, 54 minutes and 23 seconds from the start of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Not that I™m counting or anything. I™m a nervous soul at the best of times, but this September and October you can effectively write me off. The RWC has a knack of turning even the most staunch Kiwi into a crumbling, drooling mess and given the world of abject pain I have had to live through for the past 20 years as my beloved All Blacks have gallantly choked when it matters, you can, surely, only but have sympathy (or am I drawing too long a bow with that one...).I was 12 Œ yes 12 bloody years young Œ when diminutive halfback David Kirk held the Webb Ellis trophy aloft after the All Blacks had convincingly dispatched the French in the inaugural final on the hallowed turf of Eden Park. Despite subsequent RWC failings, it still ranks as one of the country™s finest moments and one of a number of firsts that New Zealand can proudly claim during its relatively young history. Others include Ernest Rutherford splitting the atom (we™ll it had its positives, but also a few, shall we say, negatives...), while some chef in the 1920s invented the pavlova (get stuffed Australia, it has always been ours!) Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to set foot on top of the world when he conquered Everest (risky, but worth a gamble) and New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in 1893 (risky, but worth a gamble also). Such ingenuity extends to the 2011 RWC and of the 12 major stadia hosting matches, by far and away the most striking and unique is the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in the South Island city of Dunedin. Five years in the planning, design and construction, the 30,000 seat stadium opened in August and is the world™s first permanent closed-roof stadium to boast a natural turf playing surface.As this edition™s cover shows, the roof of the stadium is completely transparent and after rigorous testing and research to see whether turf could grow under such a structure, the green light was given for the $NZ198 million development. In this edition Dr. Richard Gibbs, who is the current vice-president of the International Turfgrass Society and who was one of the major players in the design and development of the pitch, looks back at this epic project and some of the distinct turf management challenges that operations manager Coryn Huddy has and will continue to have as the stadium™s ryegrass surface matures. The performance of the Forsyth Barr Stadium surface will not only be closely monitored by Huddy and those involved in its development, but also by their counterparts a few hours north in Christchurch. Already reeling following the series of devastating earthquakes to ravage the city and the subsequent moving of AMI Stadium™s allotment of RWC games to other venues, engineer reports have effectively condemned the ground and recommend that the main Hadlee Stand be demolished. The word is that a permanent indoor facility similar to Forsyth Barr Stadium is being eyed as a potential replacement for AMI Stadium with a view that it be ready for the 2013 rugby season. The innovation at this year™s RWC doesn™t just end with Forsyth Barr Stadium. At Nelson™s Trafalgar Park the surface was redeveloped in the summer of 2009/2010 using recycled glass sand derived from crushed bottles in the profile. As part of ATM™s RWC feature, Alex Glasgow looks at the Trafalgar Park project, the first of its kind in the country, while we also touch base with ex-pat Aussie turf manager Brett Sipthorpe who will be preparing Wellington Regional Stadium as it hosts seven matches. Hopefully, he won™t be among the tsunami of emails I™m expecting should the mighty ABs do the unthinkable and falter again. Quick, where are those tablets? Enjoy the read...Brett Robinson EditorOPINIONDoes the Award reward? 38 A recent survey of AGCSA superintendent members has revealed ongoing dissatisfaction over the set-up of the modern Award.RESEARCHOrganic matter dilution programmes for sand-based greens 40In March 2008, researchers at Virginia Tech in the US embarked on a three-year project to compare various cultivation approaches that removed between 10-27 per cent surface area and determine treatment effects on agronomic performance of a mature bentgrass putting green.Native patch diseases put to the test 44Two new fungal pathogens causing patch diseases in Australia have been studied to determine their temperature, moisture and pH requirements.TURF TECHNICIANSCertificate targets turf tech training 56Turf technician Luke Spartalis reports on a new training initiative introduced by the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association which it hopes will become the yardstick for equipment tech training the world over.Also in this edition–Foreword Thinking 4Tech Talk Œ Dollar spot 36Regional Profile Œ Warwick Golf Club, QLD 48News 52Around the Trade 54AGCSA Book Shop 58State Reports 60 LOOKING FOR GREENKEEPING STAFF?Advertise on the AGCSA website - the Australian turf industry™s LEADING online job resourcePost your job online now at www.agcsa.com.au/jobs or email info@agcsa.com.au4 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTFOREWORD THINKINGALLAN DEVLIN, PRESIDENT, AGCSAIt has certainly been an eventful few months since the 27th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition in Adelaide and without exception one of the most difficult I have experienced in my seven years representing the AGCSA. First and foremost I would like to reassure the members, the trade and the wider Australian turf management community that the AGCSA is working hard to make sure it continues to provide the normal exceptional standard of value and support. This has been easier to maintain due to the tremendous effort shown by the great team at the AGCSA headquarters. It is good to know that we, as a Board, can concentrate on some key issues while the day-to-day running of the association continues smoothly in the background.There are two important matters that the AGCSA Board is focusing its attention on at the moment Œ the first being the appointment of a new general manager following John Neylan™s resignation in July, and secondly the consolidation of the Board.As most of you are aware applications for the general manager position closed on 19 August and in the following weeks these have been heavily scrutinised by the interview panel and a shortlist finalised. At the time of writing the AGCSA Board is due to meet in mid-September where the shortlisted applicants will be interviewed. The quality of candidates is very high and the panel has a difficult task ahead of it.As part of the interview process we have asked Jon Griffin, from AGCSA auditors aplFinancial, to sit on the panel to give an ‚outside of industry™ perspective and provide an independent assessment of the candidates. I am sure this panel will have the expertise and diversity to select the best person to lead the AGCSA into the future.The second matter is far more complex I believe. At the Adelaide conference we unfortunately lost the services and experience of John Odell (Royal Sydney Golf Club) and Pat Pauli (Horton Park Golf Club) who both retired from the Board after providing the association with their priceless input. The two newly elected Board members, Darren Wilson (Wembley Golf Complex, WA) and Tony Fogarty (Club Catalina Country Club, NSW), will provide excellent knowledge and expertise as they are both consummate professionals in their own right. I was very happy that these two experienced superintendents offered their services to the AGCSA and together with Bryce Strachan we would soon establish a solid Board to develop the association. No sooner had we sat down for our first meeting in July than we suffered a further setback when Bryce informed us of his resignation from Pambula- Merimbula Golf Club. No longer a superintendent and as per the AGCSA Constitution, Bryce was unable to continue his tenure on the AGCSA Board.So not only did we have the enormous task of appointing a general manager, we now had the task of finding a new director. At the same meeting it was agreed to co-opt Paul McLean (RACV Royal Pines Resort) onto the Board, however, despite initially agreeing a few weeks later he had to turn down the opportunity. Fortunately, just as this edition was going to print, we were able to confirm that Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club superintendent Peter Lonergan had agreed to join the Board and will now serve up until the 2012 AGM in Melbourne. Peter has a vast amount of experience at state association level, having been a former president of the VGCSA and a current long-serving member of the GCSAQ committee. Business as usual during a period of transition||AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 5AGCSA MEMBERSHIPTo have Peter, who has been Queensland president since 2008, come onto the Board during such a time is a great boost for the association and his wisdom and experience will be invaluable.I know all of the above appears like a comedy of errors and may be seen by some as an AGCSA problem, but I can categorically state that it is not. It is an industry problem, unfortunately an increasing one, and shows that our industry is changing in many ways. What has become evident is that there is an increasing number of superintendents who are, for various reasons, unhappy with their current career. It has demonstrated to me that it is becoming more difficult to attract quality representatives to serve on the AGCSA Board and even when good candidates are nominated and join the Board, there is now a growing uncertainty of their tenure for the expected two year term. Over the last few years we have seen many highly respected and experienced superintendents who have, for different reasons, either left the industry or gained employment in another area of the turf industry. Why? I certainly do not have the answers but I do believe it is a subject worthy of further discussion and examination at future conferences or seminars.In closing, be rest assured the AGCSA will continue to forge ahead with its operations and initiatives despite the current transitional period and in the next edition of Australian Turfgrass Managment Journal I look forward to reporting on some more positive developments. CORRECTIONIn Volume 13.4 (July-August 2011), Australian Turfgrass Management Journal carried an article on Royal St George™s Golf Club, host venue for the recent 2011 Open Championship (‚The Royal Treatment™, pp12-16). Shortly after this article was written by Steve Symmons in 2010, head greenkeeper Neil Metcalfe left the club with turf management operations taken over by his former assistant Graham Royden. Graham (pictured) oversaw all preparations in the lead-up to and during the 2011 Open Championship. ATM apologies for any confusion created and congratulates Graham and his team on their successful hosting of the Open. Brett Robinson, EditorGraham RoydonAUSTRALIAN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS™ ASSOCIATIONMEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMHelping superintendents and their staff to achieve the best possible playing surfaces and adjacent environment within the limitations of the available resourcesSurname: ...............................................First Name:..........................................................Preferred Mailing Address: .................................................................................................City/Suburb: ...........................................State: .................................Postcode: .................Position: .............................................................................................................................Club/Organisation: .............................................................................................................Phone: Landline: .............................................................................................................. 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For further information send your list of names and positions to info@agcsa.com.au6 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011The new $NZ198 million, 30,000-seat Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin has been a massive challenge not only from a political and budgeting perspective, but also because of the significant challenges raised by its design in terms of engineering and turf requirements. Now, five years since the original concept was first put to paper, the stadium is open for business and ready to play its part in one of the biggest sporting spectacles hosted in New Zealand Œ the 2011 Rugby World Cup.The story of Forsyth Barr Stadium originates back in 2006 when the Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust was formed. Carisbrook, affectionately dubbed the House of Pain by the local population, had been the city™s principal sports stadium for many years, but was beginning to show its age.With New Zealand being announced as host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup back in 2005 by the International Rugby Board, two possible scenarios were subsequently investigated for a new stadium in Dunedin Œ redevelop the existing Carisbrook Stadium or construct a completely new arena. A new stadium was seen as the better option because it could be combined with a proposed University of Otago development.A preliminary report completed by the Trust in October 2006 concluded that a new multi-purpose stadium was a feasible option and by February the following year a masterplan and feasibility report which investigated four redevelopment options at Carisbrook and two options for a new stadium had been produced.When the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off this month, New Zealand™s leading curators and their facilities will take centre stage in one of the biggest sporting spectacles the country has hosted. While a number of grounds have received upgrades in the lead-up to the event, by far the most impressive development has been the construction of Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin which opened in August. Dr. Richard Gibbs, one of the principal figures involved in this unique project, provides an insight into how the world™s first permanent closed-roof stadium boasting a natural turf playing surface came to being and the many agronomic challenges that needed to be overcome.Forsyth Barr Stadium - thestoryundercoverundercoverAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 7Dunedin City Council voted to proceed with the preferred multi-purpose stadium option in association with the university. The challenge was that the stadium brief required a design for a permanently closed roof under which natural turf was expected to grow, a feat that had not been achieved successfully before. Nevertheless, the report had highlighted that the development of clear cladding and roofing materials such as ethylene tetrafluoro ethylene (ETFE) represented a realistic option for constructing a fully enclosed stadium that could support a grass playing surface.Over the next two years, a formidable design team assembled by project managers Arrow International set to work on turning this concept into reality. The team included architects Populous and Jasmax, structural engineers SKM and services/ civil engineers Aurecon. Sports Surface Design & Management (SSDM), the consultancy division of Recreational Services Ltd, was engaged as turf consultant. Project stakeholders were Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, the University of Otago and the New Zealand Community Trust. TURF RESEARCH AND PITCH DESIGNOne of the early turf feasibility reports listed so many agronomic challenges that it was clear turf trials would be needed using a specially constructed ETFE rig. A proposed methodology was determined with input from ETFE manufacturer and supplier Vector Foiltec and submitted in June 2007 for consideration by Arrow International and the Trust.Turf trials started in July 2007 with the building of an ETFE test rig at Carisbrook™s turf nursery. SSDM was engaged to carry out the trials in conjunction with then Carisbrook head groundsman Coryn Huddy. Two formal trials were conducted in the test rig, the first one ending in March 2008 (spring and summer trial) and the second one ending in September 2008 (autumn and winter trial). From October 2008 until September 2009, testing continued in the rig but at a more informal level. By this time the first two formal trials had validated the concept that turf could grow successfully under ETFE, albeit with some challenges, and the final informal trialling carried out by Coryn allowed the testing of various maintenance techniques that were likely to be required in the real stadium (e.g.: fertiliser management). The trials also supplied two other important pieces of information for the design team. The first was the supply of data that was used to help model levels of photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) likely to be found in the real stadium, while the second was that the trials helped guide the pitch design process which started in March 2008.The pitch design process was split into three distinct stages to mirror those carried out by the wider design team. The preliminary design stage was a robust ‚bridging™ report that reviewed potential pitch designs and which brought together the results of the ETFE test rig work, the light prediction modelling work and budget and construction timing issues. The initial pitch design stage also included reviews of the availability of pitch construction materials in the Dunedin region, pitch designs used by other stadia around the country, artificial lighting and turf reinforcement systems, plus liaison with the project™s key stakeholders to ascertain pitch performance objectives. Forsyth Barr Stadium, or Otago Stadium as it will be known during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, will host four pool games during the tournament. Some five years in the planning and costing $NZ198 million, it is the world™s first permanently closed roof stadium with a natural turf playing surfaceOne of the early turf feasibility reports listed so many agronomic challenges that turf trials were needed using a specially constructed ETFE rigPHOTO: PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES8 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011The outcome of the above analysis was a decision-making process that addressed specific design challenges for the project from a turf perspective. Three of the most important conclusions were that; The pitch design should focus on growing turfgrass in the stadium as opposed to relying on any turf replacement for areas that might get worn out (it was at this point that the Desso GrassMaster turf reinforcing system was first recommended); The pitch should be designed with a perimeter of artificial turf to eliminate the significantly worse turfgrass growing conditions that would be found around the edge of the pitch; and The pitch construction budget (which had been set well in advance) was realistic. Preliminary design was completed in May 2008 and moved straight into the developed design phase. This stage required much more coordination with the wider design team to select the most appropriate pitch design option commensurate with the available budget. This was clearly no ordinary ‚off-the-shelf™ pitch Œ its design did not need to follow those used for conventional outdoor stadium pitches Œ and some fairly important design decisions had to be made including: What type of rootzone, irrigation and drainage systems would be best suited to the permanently enclosed stadium design? How would the environmental conditions within the stadium bowl be monitored and linked to pitch maintenance? Would the proposed design stand up to international peer review?By the end of the developed design stage in October 2008, design components for building the pitch, including subgrade and surface shape, subgrade drainage design, rootzone selection and profile design, irrigation system design, turfgrass species selection and establishment were complete. Serious consideration was given to establishing the surface using turf harvested from Carisbrook as a contingency in the event of construction delays, but a decision was made in late 2009 to establish the surface on site from seed.There were two other important components of the developed design stage. The first was international peer review, both at a scientific level and at a practical turf management level. This review included using the UK™s Sports Turf Research Institute to benchmark the predicted light levels for the stadium against Northern Hemisphere stadia known to suffer from turfgrass decline during the winter period. The second component was a visit to Gavin Darby at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne to gain a better appreciation of turf management challenges in a stadium with a retractable roof. This was then followed by a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, one of the most successful facilities growing plants under an ETFE structure.The final section of the pitch design stage involved the preparation of specifications and schedules for tender, which were completed in February 2010. By this stage the stadium was about eight months into the building contract. The pitch contract was awarded to Dunedin-based Delta Utility Services, using Parkland Products and Tiger Turf as irrigation and artificial turf subcontractors respectively.The essential design components of the Forsyth Barr Stadium pitch were: A 300mm deep sand profile placed over a drained subgrade, with the top part of the profile being made up of a sand/soil/compost rootzone specially blended off-site; A strategically located zeolite-amended sand rootzone layer; A subsurface irrigation and conventional pop- up irrigation system (designed by SSDM subconsultant Martin Payne of Water Supply Products);The transparent ETFE roof is supported by five arch trusses, each with a 105m span. A main truss, 130m in length and weighing 390 tonnes, supports one end of the five arch trusses along the southern grandstand, with the other end of the arch trusses connecting to the top of the northern standInstallation of drainage, irrigation and rootzone components in late December 2010 with access to the roof an ongoing (and sometimes unexpected) requirementRain Bird Australia10 Mareno Rd, Tullamarine, Vic, 3043. Freecall: 1800 424 044 Freefax: 1800 424 050www.rainbird.com.au Email: info@rainbird.com.au© 2011 Rain Bird CorporationSimplifying irrigation to get straight to the point.That™s intelligent.See the future of golf course irrigation at www.rainbird.com/ICSThe NEW Rain Bird® ICŽ System is a revolutionary control platform that directly links your rotors to your central control computer. This innovative integrated Control Technology uses up to 90% less wire and 50% fewer splices whilst also eliminating satellite controllers and decoders. It is easier to install and maintain, saves precious water and provides greater peace of mind. Even flood water posed no problems to the IC System at St Lucia Golf Links in Brisbane during the 2011 January floods. The system was found to be completely undamaged after the floods and working efficiently, exactly as it was intended to. Now that™s Intelligent.14 January 2011St Lucia Golf Links 12 September 201010 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011 Buried soil moisture sensors for optimum soil moisture management; Desso GrassMaster turf reinforcement, the first stadium in Australasia to use such a system; A 3m wide perimeter boundary of artificial turf that was to marry seamlessly with the natural turf; andPitch dimensions (including artificial turf boundary) 132m x 81m.SUPER STRUCTUREETFE was originally developed by German chemical company Hoescht in the 1970s as a film for solar collectors because of its unique properties and resistance to UV radiation and atmospheric pollution (Vector Foiltec, 2006). ETFE roof structures consist of pneumatic cushions comprising between two and five layers of ETFE. The material is extruded into thin films and supported in an aluminium perimeter extrusion which is supported on the building frame. A typical ETFE foil cushion weighs 2-3.5kg/m2 and the cushions are inflated to about 220Pa which gives the foil a structural stability and the roof high insulation properties. The material is acoustically transparent so the net effect of using an ETFE roof is that it is similar in feel to an open air venue. ETFE has 1 per cent of the weight of glass, is able to bear 400 times its own weight and can stretch 3-4 times its length before breaking. A total of 20,500m2 of ETFE has been used at Forsyth Barr Stadium, which includes the side walls as well as the roof. The roof itself is supported by five arch trusses, each with a 105m span. A main truss, 130m in length and weighing 390 tonnes, supports one end of the five arch trusses along the southern grandstand, with the other end of the arch trusses connecting directly to the top of the northern stand. The placement of the main truss took six hours to complete and used three of the biggest cranes in the country (one 400 tonne crane and two 280 tonne cranes). The internal roof clearance is 37m from the surface of the pitch. Stadium construction started in June 2009 and took just over two years. Pitch construction started in September 2010 with work initially confined to main drain installation as the playing area was still required for access to the roof. Once the first three roof trusses were in place, it was possible to start preparing the subgrade and installing drainage and irrigation lines.The pitch was built from west to east, the same direction as the roof arch truss installation. However, because of the layered design of the pitch and in particular the need for the subsurface irrigation system to run the full length of the pitch, the profile could not be built in multiple sections.Instead, rootzone material had to be installed in layers, which initially caused some concerns from a timing perspective as it meant the full pitch subgrade area had to be handed over for this purpose. In the end, it was possible to achieve this requirement by leaving only a small section of the subgrade at the eastern end of the pitch available for roof construction access.With the sowing deadline rapidly approaching, progress increased once the last roof truss was in place and the bulk of the pitch subgrade was available to the pitch contractor. Unencumbered by having to allow access to the roof, the rootzone layers could be spread with ease to the very tight tolerances specified. Almost overnight, a full size pitch began to take shape.TURF ESTABLISHMENT AND TESTINGThe bulk of the pitch was sown with a blend of three perennial ryegrass cultivars on 24 January 2011, with the final 3m wide eastern section being sown nearly two months later. The turf cultivars used were selected from eight industry standards used in the wear and recovery trials carried out in the ETFE test rig. Turf establishment was very rapid with a full and Final surface preparation and levelling in mid-January 2011 prior to the spreading of the organic-amended sand rootzoneThe pitch was sown with a blend of three perennial ryegrass cultivars in early 2011. A full and dense cover was achieved by 30 March 2011, the date of the first of two surface performance testsAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 11dense ground cover achieved by 30 March 2011, the date of the first of two surface performance tests. At that time, the pitch had not received any physical treatment and was understandably hard and dense at depth. In order for the planned GrassMaster turf reinforcement installation to proceed, the pitch was Verti-drained to a depth of 180mm, a few centimetres above the subsurface irrigation pipe.The GrassMaster system involves a 420mm length of artificial fibre folded in half and injected to a depth of 185mm on a 20mm x 20mm grid, leaving 20-25mm of artificial fibre exposed at the surface. Each length of injected fibre is made up of five strands, so that a single fibre results in 10 artificial ‚leaf blades™ at the point of injection. Once installed, about three per cent of the pitch surface is made up of artificial fibres. GrassMaster installation started on 21 April 2011 and had to be completed by 9 May 2011 when all machinery was required to be off the pitch to allow the sports lights to be set up and tested. Two GrassMaster machines were shipped to New Zealand from South Africa where they had been involved in reinforcing pitches used for the 2010 Football World Cup. The machines worked for 16 hours a day in two shifts of eight hours in order to meet the deadline. Results were dramatic, with the artificial fibres instantly providing the required reinforcement of the natural turf.ONGOING MAINTENANCEWith the pitch completed and turf established, the task of implementing an ongoing maintenance programme began. Using results gained from the ETFE test rig, a detailed maintenance specification was prepared by SSDM, in conjunction with Coryn Huddy, who had conducted an overseas stadium study tour in January 2009 in order to gather valuable maintenance experience.The maintenance programme has focused on taking into account the low light levels in winter and significantly reduced air movement and higher humidity levels in the stadium bowl that are likely to contribute to potential disease outbreaks. Actions such as a preventative rather than a reactive programme to disease management have been specified, at least initially until more experience with the management of the turfgrass surface is gained. Other maintenance aspects include routine turfgrass clippings removal, prevention of moisture build-up at the surface by regularly removing dew, carefully timed watering programmes to prevent excessive periods of leaf wetness and specialist fertilisation management using both foliar and granular applications. Ongoing maintenance will be reviewed as growing conditions become better understood. A key component of the pitch construction specification was the design and supply of a customised environmental monitoring system that Dr Richard Gibbs undertakes surface traction testing12 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011could measure various characteristics such as temperature, humidity and PAR. A portable wireless weather station located in the centre of the pitch, buried soil moisture sensors and external light capturing sensors are the basis of the system. This monitoring system will help establish how close the light modelling predictions have been, as well as help build an understanding of the actual environmental conditions that directly affect the growth and performance of the surface.ALL SYSTEMS GOHandover of Forsyth Barr Stadium, which will be known as ‚Otago Stadium™ during the 2011 RWC due to commercial reasons, occurred on time and on budget on 1 August 2011 following a very successful grow-in by Coryn Huddy (Coryn was officially appointed operations manager of the new stadium in late 2010). Two weeks earlier the pitch had received its second performance testing courtesy of a training session by the All Blacks who had nothing but praise for the surface. Pitch usage started in early August, first with a local university college rugby game followed quickly by a second tier provincial club rugby game. However, it was somewhat ironic that the first major rugby game scheduled for 17 August had to be postponed until 30 August because of heavy snowfall Œ it wasn™t the stadium that was out of action because of the snow, rather the airport was closed and the teams couldn™t get to the venue! It was therefore not until 20 August that the stadium™s ability to cope with a large crowd was fully tested, with more than 15,000 people watching New Zealand™s A-League side Wellington Phoenix take on the Brisbane Roar.EPIC PROJECTThis has been a visionary project. Throughout every stage the Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust and the project delivery team lead by Arrow International ensured that the turf remained at the forefront of the design in this ‚whole stadium™ solution. The stadium was built around the turf rather than the other way round.This was a project where the design process was driven by feasibility from day one and it was a rigorous and challenging process, especially with the words fino more time, no more money, find another solutionfl being a common phrase to the design team.Not surprisingly, in terms of turf consultancy, this project has been one of epic proportions. The huge time commitment, requirement to meet non-negotiable deadlines with clear decisions and recommendations and overall technical challenges may not be seen again in a stadium in this country for some time. It has been a most rewarding experience to have worked with such a dedicated team of project and delivery managers, consultants, contractors and individuals. As with any brand new stadium, initial pitch usage needs to be very carefully managed, particularly with four Rugby World Cup games scheduled in September. Managers of this new stadium will be treading very carefully as experience is slowly gained with its unique management requirements.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. Richard Gibbs is technical director of Sports Surface Design & Management, the consultancy division of Recreational Services Ltd. Dr. Gibbs wishes to thank Lale Ieremia and Mike McCleery of Arrow International and Coryn Huddy of Dunedin Venues for their assistance with this article. With the exception of the main photo on page 6, all photos supplied by Dr. Gibbs and Arrow International.REFERENCES Gibbs, R.J. and Jennings-Temple, M.A. (2009). ‚The Otago Stadium: a Unique Bridging of Engineering, Architecture and Sports Surface Science for Sustaining a Living Building™ Proc. 5th NZ Turf Conference and Trade Show, Auckland, June/July 2009, 11-17. Vector Foiltec (2006). ‚ETFE Feasibility Report Carisbrook Stadium™ Report to HOK SVE Architects (M06-020), Vector Foiltec, Australia, November 2006 (unpublished). Right: To reinforce the playing surface, Desso GrassMaster artificial fibres were injected into the surfaceFar right: The GrassMaster system involves a 420mm length of artificial fibre folded in half and injected to a depth of 185mm on a 20mm x 20mm grid, leaving 20-25mm exposed at the surfaceA customised portable environmental monitoring system helps to measure various characteristics such as temperature, humidity and PAR within the stadium˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘˘˘ ˇ˘ ˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘˘˘˘˘“…—˚˛˙˙˚˚”€˚™™˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ•14 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011As someone who grew up in the AFL heartland of Melbourne, Brett Sipthorpe knows all too well how a sporting code can galvanise a city. As any Melbournian will attest, the month of September is ingrained from an early age, but this particular September, and October too, Sipthorpe will be experiencing something very unique.Just as AFL is a religion to Melbourne and Victoria, rugby union is so deep-rooted in New Zealand culture that it borders on obsession and for the past seven years Sipthorpe has had a front row seat when it comes to witnessing just how fanatical Kiwi rugby followers can be. This September and October, however, he is expecting that fervour to hit unprecedented levels. In what is easily the most anticipated sporting event the country has hosted, the Rugby World Cup returns to New Zealand for the first time since it hosted and triumphed in the inaugural tournament back in 1987. Over the course of six-and-a-half- weeks starting 9 September, 12 of New Zealand™s major stadia will host a total of 48 matches and Sipthorpe will be right in the thick of the action as turf manager at Wellington Regional Stadium.Based in New Zealand™s capital city, Wellington Regional Stadium (it is better known as Westpac Stadium, but due to the RWC™s strict commercial guidelines the name has had to be dropped for the tournament) will host a total of eight matches, including six pool games and back-to-back quarter- final matches on 8 and 9 October. Of all the RWC venues, only Eden Park in Auckland will host more matches (11), including the 23 October final.Just as the 2011 RWC will rank as perhaps the biggest sporting spectacle New Zealand has ever seen, it will also rate as the highlight of Sipthorpe™s turf management career which began more than 20 years ago as an apprentice at Wesley College in Melbourne. After a nine year stint there, Sipthorpe moved to Punt Road Oval for four years before deciding on a change of scene. Heading across to New Zealand, for the first 18 months he was based at Okara Park in Whangarei, the main rugby venue in Northland which, as it happens, will also host matches during the 2011 RWC. In July 2006, however, Sipthorpe got the break he had longed for when he was appointed turf manager at Wellington Regional Stadium, which alongside Eden Park, AMI Stadium (Christchurch) and Carisbrook (Dunedin), ranked as the big four stadium venues in New Zealand at the time. (Carisbrook has since been superseded by the recently opened Forsyth Barr Stadium Œ see article on page 6 Œ while the future of AMI Stadium is in limbo after sustaining significant damage during the series earthquakes to devastate Christchurch earlier this year).Since starting at Wellington Regional Stadium, Sipthorpe has seen the ground™s event schedule increase significantly. With the advent of the Wellington Phoenix, which made its A-League debut in the 2007-2008 season, the ground is now used pretty much all year round with more than 40 event days scheduled for 2011. As well as a steady diet of international and domestic rugby and soccer, the ‚Cake-tin™, as it is affectionately called by Among those turf managers taking centre stage during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, there is one who will be quietly hoping that Wallabies skipper James Horwill lifts the Webb Ellis trophy come the end of October. ATM editor Brett Robinson caught up with ex-pat Melbournian Brett Sipthorpe on the eve of the tournament to check out preparations at Wellington Regional Stadium.Flying theflagAussieFlying theflagAussieAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 15Wellingtonians, also hosts cricket (the ground has a portable pitch system) and is the city™s premier stadium concert venue. Combine that with the nearby Basin Reserve, one of the country™s hallowed first class cricket venues which Sipthorpe also maintains, and it™s easy to see why the ex-pat Aussie has his work cut out.NO STONE LEFT UNTURNEDOf all the matches and events the stadium has hosted during Sipthorpe™s time, nothing comes close to the amount of preparation that has gone into hosting the eight RWC games. Those preparations began more than a year ago when the USGA-spec/Colosseum ryegrass surface was audited as per guidelines established for the tournament by the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute which focused on parameters such as turf composition, organic matter content and drainage rates. Over the past three years Sipthorpe has targeted organic matter levels within the surface which at one stage were up to 14 per cent. Such levels had come about due to the ground™s heavy scheduling which meant that renovations had always been problematic, but gradually over the past couple of years the levels had been reduced to around 7.5 per cent. With the RWC on the horizon, however, Sipthorpe had the luxury of a six week uninterrupted period during the middle of autumn which he took full advantage of. fiWith the winters in Wellington being quite harsh we knew we had to be ready for the RWC by the end of April,fl says Sipthorpe. fiWe had organised for the Hurricanes to play their Super 15 home games in the other provinces to allow us a six week renovation period from mid-March until the end of April. fiThis was the longest renovation I™ve had since starting here five years ago and we absolutely obliterated the surface. We used 18mm hollow tines at 60mm centres to a depth of 100mm and verticut as well. All up we removed more than 100 tonnes Œ I™ve never seen a pile so big. The field was then seeded, sanded and fertilised and was back in play by 30 April.fiMy seeding rates are pretty extreme here and in this instance we went out at 500kg/hectare. The reason for the high rate was twofold. First we only had the one opportunity to do it and if need be we could always verticut and thin it out later. And second, the biggest problem we have in Wellington is that our climate is so conducive to Poa annua that you need to have a very dense ryegrass sward to outcompete it. If there is any bare patch or area of weakness in the surface the Poa will take root in a heartbeat.fiGetting rid of Poa has also been a major focus over the past three years and we have been very successful. We have achieved control by using paclobutrazol every four weeks plus we individually scarify areas and constantly dimple-seed the field every 10-12 weeks. We are growing Colosseum ryegrass in a USGA sand profile so there™s nothing really underpinning it, so you have to keep a good grass cover to maintain the integrity of the surface.fiThe results from that autumn renovation were excellent and in all honestly it has probably added quite a few years to the life of the surface. The renovation has guaranteed our drainage rates and our organic matter levels are now down to 6.5 per cent which is a good level for us. With our sand we need to have some organic content in there or else it just turns to dust. fiSo, although we had to do some fairly drastic things this time, it has worked out really well and the surface is looking in great shape for the tournament.flTIGHT SCHEDULEAfter that successful renovation, the months leading up to the RWC have been all about carefully managing the surface through a hectic schedule of domestic and international rugby matches. With New Zealand™s premier provincial rugby tournament Œ the ITM Cup Œ condensed into eight weeks due to the RWC and starting almost a month earlier in the very heart of winter, Sipthorpe had to contend with two sets of three games in an eight day period as well as the All Blacks v South Africa Tri-Nations Test just for good measure.During the last three games in eight days Wellington experienced snow down to sea level as much of New Zealand was blasted by polar winds which broke all manner of minimum temperature and snowfall records. The last time snow fell to sea level in Wellington was in 1933 and on Monday 15 August the maximum temperature was 4oC which was for all of an hour.fiWe actually had quite a mild winter compared to recent years, but that short sharp hit was enough to remind us that it was still winter,fl says Sipthorpe. fiThis winter we have used Carbon Trader on the field for the first time and we put out an application in mid-July. It definitely stimulated growth and just kept things ticking over nicely and we were able to slowly repair areas that sustained wear.flFar left: Wellington Regional Stadium will host eight of the 48 matches scheduled during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New ZealandBrett Sipthorpe originally hails from Melbourne and has been turf manager at Wellington Regional Stadium since July 2006With eight international rugby games in the space of a month, the Wellington Regional Stadium surface is set to take a pounding CONTINUED ON PAGE 1716 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 201116 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTThe 2011 Rugby World Cup will see 12 of New Zealand™s principal rugby stadia host a total of 48 matches (40 pool games and eight playoff/championship games). The number of venues was originally 13, but due to irreparable damage sustained during the February 2011 earthquake, all seven matches scheduled for Christchurch™s AMI Stadium (turf manager Chris Lewis) were relocated. A further 47 grounds dotted around the main team base centres are also being used as practice venues, among them 18 rugby clubs and seven schools. As well as the three stadia (Otago, Wellington and Trafalgar Park) featured in this edition™s RWC feature, the following venues will also be taking centre stage during the tournament.EDEN PARK (AUCKLAND)Capacity: 62,000. Turf manager: Mark Perham. Turf: Perennial ryegrass, Motz TS11 stabilised surface. RWC games: 11 (five pool games, two quarter- finals, two semi-finals, 3 v 4 playoff and RWC final). Did you know... In November 2009 the top 40mm of the Eden Park surface was stripped to remove organic matter build-up. The Motz stabilising fibres were then road broomed with a total of 800m3 of material removed to achieve a clean sand profile. A further 10mm of sand was applied to correct surface levels and ryegrass sown at a rate of 450kg per hectare in December 2009. If dealing with 11 matches wasn™t enough for turf manager Mark Perham, the ground is also hosting the opening ceremony ahead of the tournament™s first game which covers the entire playing surface, runs for 25 minutes and involves 1500 people. Once the ceremony is over Perham has just seven minutes to get everyone and everything off the ground to allow the players on to do their warm-ups.NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM (AUCKLAND)Capacity: 30,000. Operations manager: Alan McKenzie. Turf: Sports Oval ryegrass, slit drain/sand carpet. RWC games: Four (including Australia v Italy).Did you know... Works to improve surface drainage were undertaken in late 2010 with gravel banding placed across the ground™s existing slit drains. Irrigation system was also overhauled and additional perimeter drains installed.WAIKATO STADIUM (HAMILTON)Capacity: 30,000. Turf manager: Karl Johnson. Turf: Perennial rye, Motz TS11 stabilised surface. RWC games: Three. Did you know... Waikato Stadium was redeveloped during 2000-2002 to the tune of $NZD38 million.ROTORUA INTERNATIONAL STADIUMCapacity: 26,000. Curator: Phil Wilkie. Turf: Perennial rye, slit drain/sand carpet profile. RWC games: Three. Did you know... Curator Phil Wilkie (54) has been in the turf industry for more than 30 years. STADIUM TARANAKI (NEW PLYMOUTH)Capacity: 26,000.Curator: Craig Hitchcock. Turf: Perennial ryegrass. RWC games: Three. Did you know... Stadium Taranaki was named the ‚third best rugby stadium on earth™ in 2009 by New Zealand Rugby World magazine (might have something to do with the stunning Mt Taranaki which acts as a backdrop).RUGBY PARK (INVERCARGILL)Capacity: 17,000. Curator: Russell Thomas.Turf: Colosseum ryegrass. RWC games: Three. Did you know... Rugby Park is the southernmost venue of the 2011 RWC and Russell Thomas will be hoping the recent polar blast to hit NZ doesn™t return. He™ll be well prepared if it does, however, as exactly a year to the day when Rugby Park is scheduled to host the Argentina v Romania Pool B clash, 20cm fell on the ground nearly forcing the cancellation of a Ranfurly Shield clash between Southland and Auckland. Snow had to be shovelled off the surface and then pumped off over the course of three days (160,000 litres a day).NORTHLAND EVENTS CENTRE (WHANGAREI) Capacity: 20,000. Curator: Ross Hart.Turf: Couchgrass base oversown with perennial ryegrass. Full sand profile.RWC games: Two.Did you know... As the northernmost venue of the 2011 RWC, the Northland Events Centre is the only venue to have couchgrass base. The stadium has undergone a recent NZD$16 million facelift. MCLEAN PARK (NAPIER)Capacity: 15,000. Curator: Phil Stoyanoff. Turf: Perennial ryegrass, sand-based surface. RWC games: Two.ARENA MANAWATU (PALMERSTON NTH)Capacity: 15,000. Curator: Russell Smith. Turf: Ryegrass, slit drain/sand carpet field.RWC Games: Two.NEW ZEALAND IN UNION - 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP VENUESEden Park turf manager Mark PerhamWhat™s on the line come 23 October Œ the Webb Ellis trophyAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 17Following the end of the ITM Cup Œ Wellington hosted its last game on 18 August Œ Sipthorpe and his crew of five had just 22 days to get the field ready for the RWC. Immediately after that last game the field was verticut, swept, seeded again and fertilised. Fortunately the polar blast had subsided by then allowing for growth to pick up. A week out from the first game the field was given a final vertidrain to ensure it was ready for the main event.fiIt™s an exciting time to be working at the venue and we are looking forward to the tournament,fl says Sipthorpe. fiLooking out across the stadium all the existing advertising is gone and the RWC signage is up and it™s now that it sort of hits you that there is a massive tournament just around the corner. fiBecause we have had events right up until about three weeks out from the tournament, it has been a mad scramble to try and get everything in place. All the corporate lounges have been gutted and transformed into rooms to house the international media contingent. Things like the outside broadcast area they have had to double in size and to do that they have commandeered half our wash down bay which is now taken up by portable buildings. We now have the situation where we need to get special clearance to go into the media area if we need to wash machinery or clean out spray tanks! fiJust getting into the place some mornings has been a challenge with containers arriving and signage people everywhere. The venue has to be free of all existing advertising for the duration of the RWC which was a tough ask in a two-week period. Everything inside the stadium and up to 500m outside the stadium had to be changed and even the sign on my work vehicle had to be removed!flWellington™s six RWC pool games kick off on 11 September with the much-anticipated clash between South Africa and Wales. That match could end up shaping the tournament quite dramatically because if South Africa loses Australia could cop them in the quarter-finals. Both quarter-finals to be hosted at Wellington involve the respective winners and runners-up in pools C and D which more than likely means that Sipthorpe will be preparing the ground for one of the Wallabies more crucial fixtures.fiHaving the eight games is terrific,fl says Sipthorpe, who just a week after last RWC match has to get the ground up for the Phoenix™s first home game of the 2011/2012 A-League season. fiOur games are over the space of a month and as far as the field goes we should be okay. fiAt international level the scrums are pretty intense so it™ll certainly tax the field, but now that the growth is starting to kick in and the roots are quite deep I think the surface should hold up well. The only area I™m a little bit worried about is around the middle of the ground. It only takes three or four balls to go out from the kick offs and they™re back in the middle for a scrum. You can cop maybe a dozen scrums in the one spot over your first three or four games, so there may be a little bit of wear and tear but we have a turf replacement contingency in place.CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15Wellington Regional Stadium has been in operation for 11 years and as well as hosting rugby, soccer and cricket it is also the city™s major concert venue (pictured is the AC/DC set)With a bit of luck Sipthorpe will get to see the Wallabies in action when the stadium hosts two quarter-finals back-to-back in the second weekend of October18 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011Shortly after New Zealand was selected to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) was asked to prepare objective standards that the tournament™s match and practice venues would be required to achieve. These standards specified the requirements for a range of key variables including surface firmness, surface levels and smoothness, drainage, traction, turf density and turf quality. In many cases, major upgrading of existing pitches would be required to meet the required standard. This was certainly the case at Nelson™s Trafalgar Park where the pitch was constructed from the local river silt soil. While the local soil had poor drainage, the old pitch generally performed well because of the region™s low annual rainfall.It was decided that a slit drain/sand carpet pitch was appropriate for the upgrade of Trafalgar Park, a method which has been widely used for many stadium pitches in New Zealand with good results. As the name suggests, a sand carpet profile has a sand layer between 50-100mm thick across the entire surface of the pitch. Extensive efforts were made to source a suitable sand locally but due to the strict specifications and quantity required there was no alternative but to use a sand imported from outside the region. It was at this stage that the NZSTI raised the possibility of using recycled glass sand however, such a rootzone material had not been used in a full sportsfield construction anywhere at that stage.Recycled glass sand is derived primarily from crushed glass bottles and among other things is used as a roading aggregate and blasting sand. Investigations into the use and availability of recycled glass sand as an alternative to normal ‚quarried™ sand were carried out and a possible supplier, CCC Two Ltd, was found in Christchurch. This option was presented to the Nelson City Council which gave the all clear for the use of recycled glass sand provided that it did not compromise the overall performance of the playing surface. RESEARCHWhen recycled glass sand was first considered for this project, there were very few published scientific research reports concerning the use of such a material in winter sports pitches. Three of the main pieces of research related to the use of such material on golf courses and were conducted by the Sports Turf Research Institute in the United Kingdom in the mid-2000s.Two involved comparing recycled glass sand to conventional sand for use in golf green rootzones (Baker et. al. 2005, Owen et. al. 2005), while the other involved using recycled glass sand as a topdressing material with the aim of reducing earthworm surface casting (Baker et. al. 2005). In their study Owen et. al. (2005) looked at the physical properties of recycled glass-derived for use in sand rootzones for golf. They found that recycled glass sands can be used to produce rootzones that conform with the performance requirements for hydraulic conductivity (drainage), total porosity, air filled porosity and capillary porosity commonly used in the sports turf industry (golf). Baker et. al. (2005) examined the performance of cool-season turf on rootzones constructed with recycled glass-derived sand compared to conventional sands. They found that rooting depth was lower in the glass-derived sand compared to conventional sand, however, rooting depths were still acceptable, exceeding 160mm at all measurement dates. They also found that the glass-derived sand rootzones had generally lower soil water contents, higher infiltration rates, greater porosity and lower bulk densities. Overall, they concluded that the physical properties of glass-derived sand rootzones supported healthy turf growth. From the limited amount of published research and other information gathered, it was concluded that the recycled glass sand would be suitable for construction of a sand carpet winter sports pitch. However, we were also aware of an element of risk based on the simple fact that, as far as the NZSTI was aware, it had never been done anywhere in the world. DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING The recycled glass sand manufacturer in Christchurch was provided with a particle size Trafalgar Park in Nelson is one of the smaller provincial venues to stage games during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. To bring the ground up to tournament standard, in the summer of 2009/2010 the existing soil pitch was replaced with a slit drain/sand carpet surface comprising recycled glass sand. NZSTI™s Alex Glasgow looks at the development of this unique rootzone material and how it has fared after two seasons of use.Trafalgar Park is situated in the South Island city of Nelson and will play host to three pool matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, including Australia™s rescheduled clash against RussiaTrafalgar™s first-classturf-glassturf-glassAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 19grading envelope that was required for the Trafalgar Park sand. They then produced test batches which were tested to identify whether adjustments were required. Several test batches were required to achieve a sand that was suitable for use in the pitch reconstruction. A range of variables were tested, including fertility, particle size distribution, hydraulic conductivity, particle shape, capillary rise, moisture release, porosity, penetrometer (stability), crusting, bulk density and particle density.Having approved a manufactured sample for the project, it was vital that quality of the sand produced remained consistent during the project. To this end, batches of sand were tested at regular intervals throughout the manufacturing process. Some needed to be rejected and re-processed because they did not meet the specification. Such quality assurance testing was one of the most important aspects of the entire project. Laboratory analysis of the recycled glass sand was carried out and some of the key aspects were: Particle size distribution (PSD): The recycled glass sand was manufactured to meet the PSD specification for the Trafalgar Park pitch. Some adjustment of the manufacturing plant was required to achieve this. Hydraulic conductivity: The hydraulic conductivity of the recycled glass sand samples tested was found to easily exceed minimum requirements for the sand carpet pitch. Particle shape: The particle shape of the dominant particles in the recycled glass sand is medium-low sphericity and very angular. This angular shape means that the sand has good natural stability due to particle interlocking. At the same time it is important that the porosity is not reduced excessively by particle interlocking. The very angular nature of the sand also raises the issue of whether the sand is potentially more abrasive than ‚normal™ sands. In skin abrasion tests conducted in our laboratory, no major differences in skin abrasion could be detected when recycled glass sand was compared to ‚normal™ sands. Therefore, it was concluded that skin abrasion on winter sports pitches with recycled glass sand was unlikely to be any worse than that already experienced with ‚normal sands™. Capillary rise: Capillary rise is the rise of water upwards through the material. The capillary rise of the recycled glass sand was typical of that found in ‚normal™ sands with a similar particle size distribution. Porosity: The porosity of the recycled glass sand was 38 per cent (void volume) which was greater than the required minimum of 35 per cent. Penetrometer tests: The recycled glass sand has good stability, which is an important factor for winter sports pitch use.To bring Trafalgar Park up to scratch for the 2011 RWC, the native soil pitch was reconstructed over the summer of 2009/2010 with a slit drain/sand carpet pitch that comprised recycled glass sand20 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRWC 2011RWC 2011Bulk density and particle density: These parameters were comparable with those of ‚normal sands™.The results of the laboratory analysis for the key characteristics of the recycled glass sand indicated that it was typical of ‚normal™ sands. There were no test results which indicated that the sand was significantly different from (and hence likely to perform differently) the sands traditionally used on winter sports pitches. Essentially, recycled glass sands are virtually identical, manufactured equivalents of silica sands which have been used widely and successfully for winter sports pitch construction.TACKLING TRAFALGAR Development of the slit drain/sand carpet pitch at Trafalgar Park consisted of the following steps: Removal of existing turf cover (top 30mm of the profile); Cultivation and establishing a new level on the surface of the pitch; Installation of irrigation system; Installation of perimeter collector drains; Installation of lateral drains at a 10m spacing across the entire pitch; Installation of slit drains at a 1.0m spacing across the entire pitch; Installation of a 100mm deep sand carpet layer across the entire pitch; and Sowing and establishment of ryegrass sward.Construction started in October 2009 and was completed in early February 2010 when the field was sown. Establishment of the grass went very well and a full cover was established six weeks after sowing. Use of the pitch started during New Zealand rugby™s National Provincial Championship in July 2010 but it could have been used prior to that. More recently, the Canterbury Crusaders played a number of Super 15 matches on the ground because of the unavailability of AMI Stadium in Christchurch following the February 2011 earthquake. The feedback to date from players has been excellent Œ the 2010 Canterbury NPC team said it was the best surface they played on all season Œ and the ongoing performance of the surface has been as we would have expected if it was ‚normal™ silica sand. If anything, the establishment process was easier with the recycled glass sand. The pitch is now in its second winter and its performance and its maintenance requirements are very typical of similar sand carpet pitches. When it was decided to use recycled glass to construct the sand carpet pitch at Trafalgar Park, there was an element of risk because recycled glass hadn™t been used in this way previously. However, because of the extensive laboratory testing carried out on the product we were confident that it would be successful. That has proven to be the case and it is clearly a viable option for sports turf construction, especially if natural sand supplies are or become scarce.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSNZSTI would like to acknowledge the support of Nelson City Council. Thanks also to Peter Gray of Nelmac who is responsible for the maintenance of the pitch. Full references for this article can be obtained from the AGCSA.Batches of the recycled glass sand were tested at regular intervals throughout the manufacturing process. Such quality assurance testing was an important aspect of the projectThe ryegrass pitch was sown in February 2010 and a full cover was established after six weeksFeedback from players on the new Trafalgar Park surface has been excellent as has the ongoing performance of the surface from a maintenance perspectiveFLAME4471_05/11ƒPythium, Dollar Spot, Winter Fusarium, Brown Patch.Syngenta Crop Protection Pty Limited, Level 1, 2-4 Lyonpark Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113. ABN 33 002 933 717. ® Registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Ž Trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All products written in uppercase are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. AD11-143.A first for turfHEADWAY MAXX.. The only fungicide that controls and prevents all major turf diseases ƒ in one.FLAME4471 Syngenta Headway Max Ad 287x210-F.indd 111/05/11 1:02 PM22 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRECONSTRUCTIONIn 2009 the Victorian Government gave the green light for the $63 million Breakwater Road project to improve traffic conditions along one of Geelong™s major transport routes. Breakwater Rd is one of five major roadways which traverse Barwon River and links the centre of Geelong to the suburbs, catering for more than 20,000 vehicles per day. Over the years Breakwater Rd has caused its share of headaches for the local community and VicRoads, the statutory authority which manages the state™s arterial road network. Due to minimal clearance over the river, the road has often been closed due to flooding after heavy rainfall in the river catchment, while the overhead Geelong- Warrnambool railway line has just a 3.5 metre height clearance which has caused issues for some large freight vehicles.To eliminate these issues and to improve access for the local community and industry, some five years ago it was mooted to realign the stretch of road and separate it from rail by constructing a new bridge over the Barwon River. However, in doing so it would have significant implications for the 18-hole Barwon Valley Golf Club. In order to realign the road, the 14th hole needed significant redesign due to safety concerns (the new road would be just 20m away) which in turn meant changes would need to be made to the 15th and 16th. Davey Shearer Golf Design principal Bob Shearer was engaged by project managers VicRoads to come up with a three-hole redesign that not only worked in with the new road but also met the requirements of the club and its members.Once the design had been approved, VicRoads then awarded the construction contract to Golf Shapes, with a project start date of January 2011. From the outset Golf Shapes faced some unexpected challenges and a combination of unseasonable weather and difficult soil conditions meant the project proved to be far more complex than first expected.fiWe thought we had worked on and dealt with just about every situation in golf course construction but what we were about to discover was a whole new ball game,fl says Golf Shapes director Darby Muller.ELEMENTS CONSPIREImmediately prior to the start of works more than 100 millimetres of rain fell in the upstream catchment of the Barwon River, causing it to flood and leave the course and its facilities half a metre under water. In addition, previous investigations revealed that an old tip lay under part of the project area and early excavations confirmed that it covered nearly three quarters of the job site. Test holes revealed a depth of about 500mm of suitable uncontaminated topsoil in an area near The realignment of three holes at Geelong™s Barwon Valley Golf Club to make way for improved transport infrastructure seemed a relatively straightforward project on paper. As ATM discovers, unseasonable rain, floods and challenging soil conditions meant the project was anything but. heads down a newroadBarwon Valleyheads down a newroadBarwon ValleyAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 23the 14th hole that was not being used which gave the scope to create a wetland and provide some of the fill material needed for shaping. An estimated 3000m3 of additional fill was still required to carry out the design, and with the site not allowing for any cut, material needed for building tees, green sites and topsoil had to be sourced.Getting material on site also threw up further issues for Golf Shapes and subcontractors Newcomb Sand and Soil Supplies. A new road across the adjacent construction site was not a viable option, but thankfully the City of Greater Geelong allowed access through a break in a flood bund and a road was built on the course from the council depot. It was soon discovered, however, that the ground was too unstable for heavy trucks due to the high water table, so the clay and topsoil was stockpiled and carted around the course using an articulated dump truck.No sooner had all the tee and green complexes been built than Mother Nature intervened again. A 45mm overnight dump meant work was suspended for three days and pumps were needed to dewater the site so work could recommence.Such delays had significant implications for the grassing requirements of the project, in particular the line-planting of the fairways. The use of Santa ana couch was becoming unviable especially as planting was now not due to start until April so the project partners agreed to solid turf selected fairway locations and tees with the remaining areas to be seeded.As the site dried out things began to run more smoothly, however, during irrigation installation, ground water was struck as well as the dreaded tip. Concrete, bricks, bottles and old car parts were unearthed and volumes of foreign material meant some trenches had to be backfilled with recycled sand from the old greens. Advanced Irrigation was awarded the contract to install all irrigation which consisted of: 110mm poly mainlines with 63mm poly laterals; Rain Bird 700B heads on fairways, controlled by solenoid valves; Rain Bird 700E valve-in-head sprinklers on the greens and Eagle 351Bs on the tees; Maxi cable was run from the maintenance shed to automate the system and do away with manual watering.Once the irrigation components were installed and sand for the greens was spread, organics were carefully mixed into the soil with a light rotary hoe and then finished off with a York rake in preparation for grassing. Turf Renovation Australia was awarded the grassing contract with Santa ana turf supplied from South Australia. Mega rolls were used for the fairways and standard rolls for tees and greens surrounds. Greens were hydroseeded with Penn-A4 creeping bentgrass with all remaining areas sprigged and oversown with a mix of ryegrass, fine fescue and native bent.The day the Santa ana turf was harvested and loaded for the 10-hour interstate journey, the weather again turned with 30mm of rain falling that evening, leaving the site saturated and making it impossible to lay the turf. The turf was unloaded at the adjacent council depot and it stayed there as the rain continued to fall steadily for the next two days.A break in the weather enabled the laying of some rolls, however, after a couple of hours it proved too difficult and messy and the call was made to delay any further work until forecast fine weather. When the weather did eventually clear, saturated Barwon Valley Golf Club™s new 15th green. Holes 14-16 have been redesigned to accommodate the realignment of Breakwater Rd, one of Geelong™s principal transportation routes which runs next to the courseHeavy rain, flooding to the course and having to deal with an old tip site meant the project had many and varied challenges for all contractorsPHOTO: SHELLY TAYLOR (SEESHELLS PHOTOGRAPHY)24 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRECONSTRUCTIONlow areas of the site were track rolled with a dozer to squeeze as much moisture out of the soil. This proved successful and the next day these areas were prepared with a posi-track and York rake again. All up it had been a full week since the turf had been harvested and not surprisingly it was looking in bad shape when it came time to be laid. After discussions with Turf Renovation Australia it was decided to apply Carbon Trader at 80 litres/hectare and a week later the turf had recovered significantly.Led by Ben Chambers, Golf Shapes undertook the 13-week grow-in period and with some favourable weather finally in the last couple of weeks in April the Santa ana started to bed in. The A4 bentgrass had an excellent strike rate with rolling and mowing starting seven weeks after at a height of 10mm and reduced each week thereafter. Local superintendents Adam Lamb (Barwon Heads Golf Club) and Nathan Bennett (The Sands, Torquay) helped during this period by supplying additional mowing equipment. After the laying of the turf and line-planting of the rough areas, 1000 trees and shrubs were also planted and a new boundary fence erected and bicycle path reinstated.COLLABORATIVE EFFORTFor Barwon Valley course superintendent Luke Primus the project has certainly had its moments, but he and his team are looking forward to when the new holes will be open in time for the upcoming season.fiThe golf club had been in discussions with VicRoads for over five years previous to the works being started in early January, so to say we were grateful for it to begin was an understatement to say the least,fl says Primus, who has been superintendent at Barwon Valley for the past eight years. fiDespite the many problems and challenges that arose throughout the project, they were overcome through a collaborative approach from the club, contractors, designers and VicRoads. Golf Shapes and the other contractors went out of their way to keep me involved on an almost daily basis with every part of the construction process and throughout the grow-in. fiDue to outside demands on VicRoads™ behalf, the project did not start at the correct time of year which in turn led to trying to establish a full cover of Santa ana couch on fairways, tees, surrounds and roughs in mid-April, which was certainly an interesting project. As a result, the club has decided to wait until October to open the holes for play in an effort to further establish the couch areas so it has a turf-hardy three holes. fiOverall the club is happy with how the new holes have come up and the members are extremely keen to play them. Each of the new greens average about 500m2 and have more movement and interest than the former holes.fiFrom a superintendent™s point of view, the last five years has been a long process but the club now has three holes which have been built to the highest standards. The project has also given me an insight into how these projects operate which will stand us in good stead when we undertake further redevelopment works in the future.flACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis article has been produced with the assistance of Ben Chambers (Golf Shapes), Steve McGarrigle (Vic Roads) and Luke Primus (Barwon Valley Golf Club). Golf Shapes would like to thank Luke Primus and the Barwon Valley Golf Club and its members/ volunteers for their help and support throughout the project, and the efforts of contractors Turf Renovation Australia, Newcomb Sand and Soil Supplies and Advanced Irrigation.Below: Due to the many delays encountered it was agreed to solid turf selected fairway locations and tees with Santa ana and sprig the roughs Below right: While the Santa ana couch struggled due to the late laying, by contrast the hydroseeded A4 bentgrass greens had an excellent strike From left the Golf Shapes team of Darby Muller, Ben Chambers and Brad Willis˜˜ ˜˜36 hp Shibaura liquid-cooleddiesel engineXR-7 side-discharge decksrotate up 90 degreesHydraulic weight transferCruise control˜˜˜ ˜HyperDriveŽHydroSystemVX4ŽDeck Technology Petrol & Diesel modelsNew 60", 66", or 72" sidedischarge decksfiProvide you with the tools that will quickly and expertly mow your fairways, tees and greens, while requiring the bare minimum service and maintenance.flThe objective is simple.AtHustlerwetrytokeepthingssimple.Soifitdoesn't helpmowgrass,it'snotonthesemachines.Theresultis lightweightmowerswithminimumelectronicsandfewer problems.Hustler'sgolfseriesarenotonlyeasyto maintainandoperate,theydeliverasuperiorqualityofcut forabeautifulfinish.PLPGolfandTurfaretheproudnewdistributorsofHustlerGolfEquipmentinAustralia.Formoreinformationon specifications,accessoriesandtechnicalinformationplease headtoourwebsite.˜˜˜ ˜Bio-Hydraulic FluidReliable Briggs & StrattonVanguard engineEasy to maintainand operateEasy to adjustcutting units˜˜˜˜˜7 inch reels36HP 3 cylinder Shibauradiesel engineGear drive 4WD systemMinimal electronics forimproved reliabilityFront or Rearclipping dischargewww.plpgolfandturf.com.au1300 363 027powerup@rgs.com.au26 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTINTERNSHIPSI am Simon Blagg, a 23-year-old qualified greenkeeper from England. I guess I can thank my older brother for getting me into the turf industry as a 10-year-old when he handed down his unwanted weekly chore of mowing the family lawn! More than a decade on I have now cut greens on some of the world™s best golf courses during some of the game™s great tournaments and looking back it has ultimately been a fantastic and rewarding journey.After leaving high school as a 16-year-old, in 2003 I started down the road to getting my horticulture qualifications. I ended up graduating from Reaseheath College in Cheshire with a triple distinction in my final exams. During this time I had the opportunity to cut my teeth at various placements around the country including The Oval cricket ground during the 2005 Ashes victory as well as Keele Golf Course and Leek Golf Club.In 2007, however, I was faced with a tough decision. I could either stay on as a greenkeeper at Leek where I had learned so much working under a fabulous superintendent and assistant, find a way of pursuing a career as a cricket curator (at the time I was also maintaining the ground for my local club) or apply for the Ohio State University turfgrass internship programme in the USA.The thought of new environments and having the chance to explore a different country and pursue a career in greenkeeping at the same time ultimately led me to applying for the Ohio State Program. Although a huge step for any up and coming greenkeeper, looking back now it was a decision that I should not have even thought twice about.Sending my CV and application through, I was subsequently offered a ‚twin location™ internship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from March to October 2008 before moving south for the winter to the Doral Golf Resort in Florida. After a few days initial orientation in Ohio, I flew into Milwaukee airport and was taken to my first base at Whistling Straits, around 100km north of Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan. STRAIT INTO ITA Kohler Resort complex, Whistling Straits boasts two courses Œ the Straits course and Irish course. The Straits, which runs for about 3km along the lakefront, has hosted the 2004 US PGA Championship, the 2007 US Senior Open and the 2010 US PGA Championship which I was lucky enough to return to as a volunteer. In the coming years, it is scheduled to host the 2015 US PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup. Both courses at Whistling Straits are designed by Pete Dye, who also created the likes of Sawgrass and Harbour Town Links, and are very much in the mould of a Scottish (or Irish as the name of one of the course suggests) links course. During my internship, I worked on the Irish course with superintendent at the time Grant Davey and assistant superintendents Travis Schnelle and Emily Shircel. Whistling Straits was both an interesting and challenging course to work at, mainly due to At just 23 years of age, English greenkeeper Simon Blagg has experienced more than most in the world of golf course turf management. Now back in Australia for a second stint after working the 2009 Australian Open at NSW Golf Club, Blagg looks back on his experiences and the role the Ohio State Program has had in the development of his turf management career. Eight years,seven courses,six tournamentsEight years,seven courses,six tournamentsSimon Blagg™s first placement on his Ohio State University internship was at Whistling Straits, home to the 2004 and 2010 US PGA ChampionshipsAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 27the incredible amount of bunkers (roughly 1000). Some range from huge sand pro bunkers to tiny pot bunkers and provide a monumental maintenance challenge during the summer. The internship at Whistling Straits was truly outstanding and from the moment I arrived I was heavily involved with spring greens renovations. This was the first time I had ever seen extensive damage from ice. The winter period from 2007 to early 2008 was particularly bad due to persistent snow and ice cover which created several issues. The fairways on the Straits course are fescue, with a percentage of Poa annua. Depending on conditions, Poa will survive around 30-40 days under a cover of ice before the plant is killed, while the fescue will survive around 40 days and bentgrass 60 days. Due to the extreme weather, some of the low lying areas on the fairways of the Straits course were totally wiped out. In addition to general greenkeeping duties, I was also trained as an irrigation technician throughout the internship. Whistling Straits operates a Rain Bird system and with the cold weather the site is subjected to during the winter months it is a key management area. Due to the cold weather, the irrigation pipes often become brittle and when pressure is pumped back into the lines often a lot of swing joints can blow out. As well as undertaking a variety of repair work on the system, I was also in charge of ensuring that the playing surfaces had sufficient water, irrigation clock maintenance and arc adjustments. Other tasks performed included several chemical applications to the fairways. The Whistling Straits fairways were sprayed fortnightly with Daconil all weather stick, Banner Maxx and Trimmit, the latter acting as a growth regulator for the suppression of Poa annua. Towards the end of my internship in September, the long fescue rough had to be cut down. Some 21 hectares was cut short to enable a good seed production for the following season. This mammoth task was completed by large strimmer crews of Far left: After cutting his greenkeeping teeth in both cricket and golf in his native England, Blagg has since journeyed to the US, Scotland and is currently back in Australia for a second stint after working at the 2009 Australian Open at NSW Golf Club˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˚˛˜˘˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˜˚˛˝˚˝ ˆ˜˜˜˚28 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTINTERNSHIPSaround 10 and two Steiner rough mowers and hole by hole the course was cut and collected. My internship at Whistling Straits came to an end in October 2008 and before heading to Doral I spent two days at the Ohio State University™s short course turf seminar in South Carolina. The seminar included a variety of speakers and provided a great opportunity to meet the other interns as well as tour the famous Harbour Town Links golf course. RED, WHITE AND BLUE MONSTERThe second part of my Ohio internship was completed on the famous Blue Monster course at Doral (owned by the Marriot Hotel Group). The resort boasts five courses and as well as the Blue Monster tournament course there is the Great White course, a Greg Norman design which is the only course of its kind in southeast USA using a product called Coquina. This product comprises crushed shells and is used to replace the roughs giving the course a very unique and totally different appearance. Doral also has three smaller courses Œ the Red, Gold and Silver Œ and at the time of my internship the latter was being significantly reconstructed under the auspices of course architect Jim Mclean. From managing cool-season turf at Whistling Straits, Doral was all about the management of warm-season grasses such as TifEagle bermudagrass. Every March, Doral™s Blue Monster course hosts the World Golf Championship and my internship was based on this course, working under superintendent Ronnie Rooks as his second assistant. As soon as I began work here, I was in charge of changing holes for the tournament, as well as helping with the extensive preparation that occurred. Other tasks involved irrigation, fertility management and running the bunker crew. Having never worked on bermuda greens before, one of the more interesting aspects was the importance placed on plug relocation. Due to the heavy grain of the TifEagle, if you placed the hole plug back in the wrong direction it was very noticeable, so it was important to match it up with the surrounding grain (see photo on page 30).One of my career highlights was changing the finishing holes on the back nine during the tournament. This particular tournament was when Tiger Woods was making his return to golf following knee surgery. Thankfully, I had months of preparation to ensure that my hole changing was nothing less than 100 per cent. It had to be so perfect that the PGA insisted I lay all of my hole changing tools out on a towel first, just in case the television cameras happened to be shooting! LOCHED INIn the spring of 2009, following the completion of my Ohio internship, I headed back to the UK to take up a new position as a seasonal greenkeeper at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland. This had been researched and arranged earlier while still living and working in Florida and included a very interesting and sleepy 5am phone interview with superintendent David Cole. This was yet again another spectacular summer with Loch Lomond hosting the Barclays Scottish Open in July, the week before the Open Championship. Loch Lomond is in a truly spectacular location, with views of Ben Lomond from the loch shore. The climate in the west of Scotland was a world removed from where I had just come from. Average rainfall is around 2000mm per year and the weather is significantly cooler, moist and very inconsistent. Such conditions place a premium on the drainage system being very advanced in order to cope.Originally when the course was built, a lot of road spoil was used to construct the fairways and surrounds. A small amount of drainage was installed but not enough to deal with heavy rainfall, especially when the course was hosting a tournament. In order to improve the state of the course™s playing surfaces, in particular the fairways, the club had purchased a range of drainage equipment and was in the process of installing sand slit drains on a number of areas. Turf cultivars at Loch Lomond consist of browntop bentgrass/Poa annua greens, bentgrass tees and fairways and perennial ryegrass rough. The striking look of the dormant cool-season turf at Whistling StraitsWith the Whistling Straits site boasting an incredible 1000-odd bunkers, the bunker raking crew for the 2010 US PGA Championship had its work cut out AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 29May, June and July were the busiest months on the golf course in the lead-up to the Barclays Scottish Open. My main responsibility for the tournament was mowing the greens using a John Deere 180C walk-behind mower. This was my first experience of greens mowing in a professional tournament, so preparation was essential. The week before the tournament was very intense getting the greens up to speed with consistent double cutting and rolling. We recorded our clipping yield which gave us a great idea of growth rate and predicted whether we needed to give the greens another cut or roll. As requested by the European Tour management, the greens had be running around 10-10.5 on the stimpmeter. Thankfully, the weather, during the week was perfect and it was great to be able to sit behind the 18th green with the crew and watch the final groups.SOUTHERN SOJOURNHaving tasted tournament preparations in the Northern Hemisphere, throughout my summer in Scotland I set about making arrangements to venture Down Under to work at the Australian Open. This was an event I had really wanted to be involved with and once again I was lucky enough to be offered a position at New South Wales Golf Club by course superintendent Gary Dempsey. There is little need to explain to ATM readers this incredible Alister MacKenzie links course in La Perouse, Sydney which in 2009 was hosting its first Australian Open. In the years leading up to the event the course had gone through some serious renovation programmes, including changing all bunkers to a revetted style and tweaking the layout of the 18th fairway and green. The particularly cool spring in Sydney ahead of the Open resulted in the couch fairways taking longer than expected to come out of winter dormancy. Fertiliser rates were increased on all playing surfaces to tighten up areas and any weak areas that didn™t recover from the winter were plugged out and topdressed. How many people can you spot preparing this hole on the Blue Monster Course at Doral, host of the World Golf Championship each March?Golf ShapesGOLF COURSE SHAPERS AND BUILDERSBunker Restoration Works by Golf ShapesRESTORING THE PAST AND SHAPING THE FUTURENSW Darby Muller 0417 764 249VICBen Chambers0414 872 239www.golfshapes.com.auSee website for updates30 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTINTERNSHIPSA product that I had not come across before Œ Dynamic Lifter Œ was applied to all of the tees and specific wear areas, with its dark colour and high organic material encouraging faster recovery. Topdressing and Dynamic Lifter were applied to bunker surrounds to level out any undulations and ensure a smoother playing surface around the bunker. Not all of the golf course has irrigation in the rough so a system of impact sprinklers attached to a large section of poly pipe were setup and this could then be moved easily and used to water large areas of the rough after a fertiliser was applied . Unlike the previous tournaments I had worked at, greens preparation was a lot easier. As New South Wales is a links course and exposed to the elements, stimpmeter speeds did not need to be as high. Again, like the Scottish Open, I had the privilege of cutting the NSW greens during the tournament using Toro Flex 18s, although as events would transpire there wasn™t much cutting required.During the lead-up to the tournament the Poa annua greens had regular fungicide applications to ensure they were free of disease such as anthracnose and dollar spot. Light but frequent grooming of the greens was achieved using a Toro triplex followed up with a walk-behind mower. Regular dusting and growth regulator applications were also applied to encourage a tighter canopy. A lot of hard work and planning had gone into preparing the course for its first Australian Open and it was the first tournament that I had worked where even the members got their hands dirty! They assisted with divotting the fairways after one of the practice rounds. During the week, the greens were single cut and single rolled in the morning and if required we would cut them again in the evening. All was going well until a 75km southeasterly wind blew up on the Friday morning which caused havoc on some of the coastal greens and the second round was suspended. As greenkeepers we can control a lot of things but not the weather and to be subsequently hauled over the coals in the media the following day was extremely hard for the crew to take.One of the volunteers I met at NSW during the open was Roseville Golf Club assistant superintendent Steve Mallyon and together we worked closely alongside each other and became good friends. After my six months at NSW, I headed back to Loch Lomond for another season during which time Steve came over and volunteered for two weeks at the Barclays Scottish Open before moving on to St Andrews to experience the Open Championship. Thanks to Steve, I was able to secure a full-time position at Roseville Golf Club on Sydney™s North Shore with course superintendent Mark O™Sullivan arranging a sponsorship visa through the club. During the past winter I arrived back in Australia to start my second stint Down Under and have settled in at Roseville and am thoroughly enjoying the Sydney lifestyle again. I am hoping to be here for a few seasons, and look forward to watching Roseville develop through its current projects.I guess what my story proves is how important networking is in this industry and how it can really take you places if you are game enough to take a punt. I wouldn™t be here today if it weren™t for a group of people who have taught me some outstanding skills and encouraged me to continue with my hard work. Sure the hours can be long and hard, but the benefits more than outweigh the hard work and it has truly been a life-changing journey.Editor™s Note: For more details about the Ohio State Program, contact director Mike O™Keeffe 00 01 614 688 5653, email okeeffe.1@osu.edu, or visit www. ohioprogram.org. Simon is also available to discuss his experiences and can be contacted by email simon.blagg@googlemail.com What happens when you replace a hole plug on a TifEagle green with the grain not matching upCutting greens at the 2009 Australian Open at NSW Golf ClubThe iconic par 5 5th at NSW Golf Club Œ one of the best settings in the game32 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTAGCSATECH UPDATEIn this instalment of AGCSATech Update, senior agronomist Andrew Peart reports on the AGCSA™s bentgrass varieties trial which is coming up to the end of its second year and unveils details of a new golf course benchmarking study set to start this spring.TechAnalytical, Diagnostic and Consultancy ServicesThe AGCSA™s creeping bentgrass varieties trial (HAL Project TU08002) has now been running for just under two years with a total of 11 assessment dates completed across the three trial sites at Keysborough Golf Club (Melbourne), Cromer Golf Club (Sydney) and Royal Adelaide Golf Club (Adelaide). To recap, the trial is assessing, over a three year period, the following varieties for their performance under Australian conditions: Tyee, 007, Dominant Xtreme, SR1150, SRP1RH93, T-1, Penn G2, Authority, Penn A1, Cobra 2, CY 2, Shark, Declaration, Mackenzie and SRP1GMC. A vegetative selection, called AGCSA1, has also been included as part of the trial, while an RAGC blend and Mariner are included at the Royal Adelaide site.During the 11 assessments a variety of data has been recorded and includes: Turfgrass colour; Turfgrass density; Surface hardness; Thatch accumulation; Green speed; and Overall quality as a putting surface. Generally there have been specific seeded varieties that have performed better at each venue with the vegetative variety (AGCSA1) a consistent performer at all three locations to date. TURFGRASS COLOURAt Keysborough, the seeded variety T-1 has provided the darkest green colour when averaged over the 11 assessment dates. It has provided a significantly darker green colour than all other varieties apart from Cobra 2. At Cromer, the seeded varieties T-1 and SRP1RH93, as well as the vegetative variety AGCSA1, were significantly darker green than all other varieties when averaged over the 11 assessments. There was no significant difference in turfgrass colour between the remaining 13 varieties during the same period. At Royal Adelaide there has been no one variety that has provided a significantly darker green colour since assessments began. TURFGRASS DENSITYAt Keysborough, there were four varieties that were not significantly different from each other in terms of providing the densest turfgrass coverage, when averaged over the assessment dates. Those varieties were the vegetative variety AGCSA1 and the seeded varieties Shark, Authority and Declaration. At Cromer there were also four varieties that were not significantly different from each other. The vegetative variety AGCSA1 was again among those as well as the seeded varieties SRP1RH93, Tyee and Shark.At Royal Adelaide, there were 14 varieties that were not significantly different from each other in terms of providing the densest coverage (there are a total of 18 varieties being tested at Royal Adelaide). It is interesting to note, however, that the additional two older varieties being assessed at this site Œ Mariner and an ‚RAGC blend™ which consists of Seaside, Highland, Penn G2 and Penncross bentgrasses Œ are exhibiting poorer turfgrass density, although not significantly sparser than six of the newer varieties. Overall turfgrass density results from this site are presented in Table 1. TURFGRASS QUALITYAt Keysborough there has been very little difference in the overall turfgrass quality produced by all 16 varieties being assessed. There is no significant difference between 11 varieties in terms of providing the best turfgrass quality, while the three varieties with At Keysborough Golf Club, one of project™s three trials sites, the plots are being subjected to wear treatments to provide further information on which varieties are able to tolerate a greater amount of wear and tearandBentsbenchmarkingBentsbenchmarkingAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 33the poorest turfgrass quality are only significantly less than Declaration, SRP1RH93, Authority, Shark and Mackenzie. At Cromer, the vegetative variety AGCSA1 along with the seeded varieties SRP1RH93, Tyee, Shark and T-1 are not significantly different from each other in terms of providing the greatest turfgrass quality when averaged over the initial assessment dates. Dominant Extreme provided the surface with the poorest quality although it was not significantly less than six other varieties. Overall turfgrass quality results from Cromer are presented in Table 2.At Royal Adelaide there was some significant difference observed in the overall turfgrass quality of some varieties on two assessment dates (9 July 2010 and 30 November 2010), however, there was no significant difference between varieties when averaged over the 11 assessment dates. THATCH ACCUMULATION There has been no significant difference at either Keysborough or Royal Adelaide golf clubs during the two years of the trial for thatch accumulation. Due to an irrigation failure during the first summer of the trial at the Royal Adelaide site, nine plots have been excluded from the ratings for thatch accumulation due to them being re-sown at a later date. Seven varieties have only two replicates being assessed while Shark has just one replicate.At Cromer Golf Club there was only one assessment date (27 October 2009) that provided a significant difference for thatch accumulation. At that assessment the vegetative variety AGCSA1, had accumulated more thatch than all other varieties with the exception of 007, Shark and SRP1GMC.SURFACE HARDNESS There has been no significant difference at any of the trial sites for surface hardness over the six assessments that have been made to date. It was expected that there may be some correlation between thatch accumulation and surface hardness. Therefore as there has been little difference in thatch accumulation, the lack of any difference for surface hardness is not unexpected.GREEN SPEED The results for green speed (ball roll) have been variable at all sites. At Cromer there was no significant difference recorded for green speed for the first, second and fourth assessments, however, for the third (28 September 2010) the variety Penn G2 provided the furthest ball roll and it was significantly more than the varieties 007, Dominant Extreme, SR1150, SRP1RH93, T-1 and Tyee. During the May 2011 assessment, Penn G2 again provided the furthest ball roll, although it was only significantly further than the varieties AGCSA1, SR1150, SRP1RH93, Tyee, T-1 and Shark. During that assessment it was very noticeable that the six aforementioned varieties had rated the TABLE 1. OVERALL TURFGRASS DENSITY Œ ROYAL ADELAIDE GOLF CLUB Variety 29/10/09 16/12/09 11/03/10 22/04/10 9/07/10 15/09/10 30/11/10 3/02/11 21/03/11 24/05/11 14/07/11 AveAGCSA 1 6.8 8.8 9.0 8.3 8.8 8.0 3.0 7.7 7.7 7.8 8.2 7.5Shark 6.8 8.5 8.0 7.5 9.0 8.0 5.0 7.7 7.2 7.5 7.8 7.4Authority 6.8 7.0 7.2 6.8 7.3 7.0 6.0 8.0 7.7 8.3 8.3 7.3007 7.2 6.8 7.7 7.0 7.0 6.8 5.7 7.8 7.5 8.3 8.2 7.3Penn G2 7.0 6.8 7.8 6.8 7.8 7.5 5.3 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.7 7.2SRP1RH93 6.8 6.8 7.3 7.3 8.3 7.8 5.0 7.3 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.1Penn A1 6.8 7.2 7.8 6.8 6.7 6.8 5.7 7.8 7.2 7.5 8.0 7.1MacKenzie 6.8 6.8 7.5 6.8 7.3 6.8 5.5 7.5 7.3 7.7 7.7 7.1Tyee 7.0 7.5 7.0 7.0 7.8 7.3 4.5 7.3 7.3 7.5 8.0 7.1SR1150 6.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 7.5 7.0 5.5 7.5 7.0 7.3 8.0 7.1CY 2 6.8 7.0 7.7 7.0 7.2 6.5 5.0 7.2 6.7 7.0 7.8 6.9SRP1GMC 7.0 6.0 6.5 6.5 7.2 6.5 5.3 7.3 7.0 7.8 8.3 6.9T-1 7.2 5.7 6.7 6.5 7.7 6.5 5.3 7.2 7.0 7.3 8.0 6.8Cobra 2 6.8 6.7 7.3 6.7 6.8 6.3 5.0 7.5 7.0 7.5 7.2 6.8Declaration 7.0 5.7 7.2 6.3 6.7 6.3 4.3 7.2 7.0 7.0 7.2 6.5Dominant Xtreme 6.7 5.3 7.2 6.5 6.7 5.8 5.3 7.0 6.7 7.0 7.0 6.5RAGC blend 6.5 5.5 7.5 6.5 6.8 6.0 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.7 7.3 6.3Mariner 6.8 6.5 6.8 6.3 7.3 5.8 5.0 6.3 6.3 6.0 6.5 6.2LSD (P<0.05) ns ns ns ns 1.0 0.8 ns ns ns ns ns 0.7 NB: Rated on a scale where 0 = open appearance, 9 = tight surfaceThe Cromer Golf Club plots showing differences in quality after they had been sprayed a month before the May 2011 assessment date with a pesticide combination that caused significant phytotoxicity34 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTAGCSATECH UPDATEhighest for surface quality. During the previous month the trial area had been sprayed with a pesticide combination that had caused significant phytotoxicity to the plots, with some varieties being more affected than others. The six varieties that were significantly slower than the Penn G2 on this occasion suffered far less and had much greater turf vigour and hence far less ball roll. The photo on page 33 illustrates some of the differences in turfgrass quality that were observed at Cromer. At Keysborough and Royal Adelaide there has been no significant difference recorded for ball roll for the two assessments undertaken during 2011.YELLOW TUFT DISEASEDuring the assessments undertaken in March 2011 and May 2011 at Keysborough, yellow tuft was observed in many of the plots. Yellow tuft, otherwise known as downy mildew, is caused by a water mould fungus Sclerophthora macrospora. It occurs on most turfgrasses and is often seen during periods of wet weather when the area remains wet for prolonged periods of time. Symptoms on bentgrass initially appear like individual Poa annua plants, however, on closer inspection they are bentgrass plants that have just turned a green/yellow colour. They often develop excessive tillering caused by the production of hormones by the pathogen at the crown of the plant. There was a variance to the susceptibility of all varieties to the yellow tuft during the autumn, although not one variety had significantly more yellow tuft than any other (Table 3). WEAR TRIALSAs well as the above measurements, another round of wear trials has begun at the Keysborough site in an attempt to provide further information on which varieties are better able to tolerate wear. This work is being conducted by the maintenance staff at Keysborough with each plot receiving 30 passes twice a week using a specialised wear machine. It is hoped that by the next bentgrass trial field day to be held at Keysborough in late spring 2011 that there will be a noticeable difference in the wear tolerance of each variety. RECOVERYRecently 50mm core holes were taken from the corner of each of the plots at Royal Adelaide and backfilled with sand. This is a similar process which occurred at Cromer last year and is designed to provide an indication on which of the varieties has the best recovery rate or lateral movement.GOLF COURSE BENCHMARKING STUDYIn September 2011 the AGCSA will start a benchmarking study to investigate the performance of selected greens and fairways on nine Victorian golf courses over a 12 month period. The aim of the project, which has received part-funding from Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL Project TU11003), is to determine the most appropriate test criteria for providing data on course quality as it relates to climate, maintenance and budget. On greens, the trial will investigate, on a monthly basis, aspects such as green speed, surface firmness, moisture retention, infiltration rate and root depth. Organic matter accumulation will also be measured using a loss on ignition test, however, this will only be conducted at the beginning and end of the trial. As well as the nine courses in Victoria, the project will also assess similar parameters at three golf courses in NSW and Queensland but not on a monthly basis.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe AGCSA thanks the course superintendents and maintenance staff for their continued maintenance of the bentgrass trial sites and Horticulture Australia Ltd for their financial support of project TU08002. TABLE 2: OVERALL TURFGRASS QUALITY Œ CROMER GOLF CLUBVariety 27/10/09 15/12/09 15/3/10 18/5/10 15/7/10 28/9/10 11/11/10 20/1/11 24/3/11 19/5/11 2/8/11 AveSRP1RH93 7.0 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.8 6.8 7.2 7.2 6.8 7.2AGCSA 1 7.7 8.0 7.2 7.0 7.2 6.8 7.3 6.7 7.0 6.2 6.7 7.1Tyee 7.3 7.0 6.7 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.7 7.0 7.5 6.7 6.0 7.0Shark 8.0 7.5 6.8 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.7 5.5 6.8 5.8 6.3 6.9T-1 6.8 6.5 6.7 7.0 7.3 6.8 7.7 6.3 7.0 6.0 6.3 6.8SR1150 6.7 7.0 6.3 7.3 7.2 6.8 7.3 5.8 7.0 6.0 6.5 6.7SRP1GMC 7.5 7.2 6.8 6.8 7.0 7.0 7.3 5.2 6.8 4.3 5.8 6.5Mackenzie 6.7 6.8 6.3 6.8 7.0 6.3 7.2 6.2 6.8 5.7 6.2 6.5CY 2 6.8 6.2 6.5 7.0 6.7 6.7 7.5 5.2 6.5 5.5 6.0 6.4Cobra 2 6.7 6.7 6.3 6.5 6.5 6.7 7.3 5.7 5.8 5.2 6.3 6.3Penn A1 7.2 6.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 6.3 7.0 5.7 6.5 4.0 6.3 6.3007 6.8 6.7 6.5 7.0 6.3 6.2 6.8 5.5 6.3 5.3 6.0 6.2Declaration 7.2 6.5 6.3 7.5 6.8 6.3 7.0 5.2 6.2 4.8 6.0 6.2Authority 7.3 6.8 6.3 6.7 6.8 6.5 7.0 5.2 6.2 4.0 5.8 6.2Penn G2 7.0 6.7 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.3 7.2 5.0 6.5 4.2 4.5 6.1Dominant Xtreme 6.0 5.7 6.3 6.3 6.5 6.2 6.7 5.2 5.8 5.2 6.3 5.9LSD (P<0.05) 0.5 0.5 0.5 ns ns ns ns 1.0 0.5 1.3 0.7 0.4 NB: Rated on a scale where 0 = poor quality, 9 = best qualityThe machine used as part of the wear tolerance trials at the Keysborough siteTABLE 3. YELLOW TUFT DISEASE INCIDENCEVariety 17/3/11 17/5/11007 1.0 1.2Penn A1 0.7 0.8Authority 0.3 0.7CY 2 2.0 2.8Cobra 2 0.7 0.8Declaration 0.0 0.7Dom Xtreme 1.0 2.2Penn G2 1.0 0.8Mackenzie 0.3 0.8AGCSA 1 0.3 1.3Shark 1.3 1.7SR1150 1.3 1.8SRP1GMC 0.3 1.5SRP1RH93 0.3 1.7T-1 0.7 0.7Tyee 1.0 2.5LSD (0.05) ns ns NB: Rated on a scale where 0 = no incidence to 9 = complete infestation 36 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTTECH TALKDollar spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa) disease is a troublesome recurring problem for golf course superintendents. Although originating as a spot disease, it can quickly form large patches in favourable environmental conditions, and according to Vargas (2005) more money is spent on fungicides to control dollar spot than any other disease of turf. Dollar spot is identified as small, circular patches which cause small depressions in the turf. These depressions are rarely larger than 5cm, however, they may coalesce into larger patches. These lesions are a tan colour, where the individual leaf blades bear distinct blighted bands, tan to reddish brown, of an hourglass shape. A silver, grey mycelium (see photo opposite) is present on the surface of the grass when the disease is active. Dollar spot produces a fluffy, white mycelium under controlled conditions, which is felt- like to the touch and turns a shade of grey. The disease attacks a wide range of turfgrasses including creeping bentgrass (Agrostis spp.), winter grass (Poa annua), couch (Cynodon spp.), seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) and zoysia (Zoysia spp.), while in Australia it has also been observed on kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum). Bentgrass varieties Penncross, SR1020 and Crenshaw are among the most susceptible to dollar spot, while the variety L-93 exhibits strong resistance to the fungus. The 2008 NTEP bentgrass trials in America found Declaration as one of two varieties, to be highly resistant to the disease. CAUSESThe dollar spot fungus survives as a mycelium in infested plants and plant debris, such as thatch. When temperatures reach 15°C or more, dormancy breaks and the mycelium within the previously infected tissue colonises the foliage. The build- up of disease may be rapid, and the disease has tremendous persistence once established. As the mycelium extends outwards into the air, it comes into contact with neighbouring leaves and ‚bridges™ between them. When the mycelium contacts a neighbouring leaf, it may; Enter through the stomata; Enter through leaf cuts or mown portions; or Cause direct penetration The sexual parts of the fungus, that is the conidia and ascospores, are of minor importance in the spread of the fungus. Movement is largely brought about by the relocation of diseased and infected materials via human foot traffic and turf maintenance equipment.The disease is active from spring through to late autumn and is favoured by temperatures from 16°C-32°C, with optimal temperatures between 21°C-27°C. High humidity in the leaf canopy is also required for growth of the fungus and in particular stimulates the spores to germinate. Dew plays a key role in the infection process and dollar spot increases dramatically when dew presence increases. It is this thin film of moisture on the leaf which facilitates many common turf diseases because fungi need a film of moisture in order to germinate, and also to liberate spores from sporophores. In the case of dollar spot, this process only occurs in the presence of water. By limiting the amount of time a leaf blade is wet reduces disease severity significantly, as it hampers the fungi™s ability to germinate. Leaf wetness is perhaps the environmental variable that permits an infection event, but temperature determines the rapidity and extent of that event. Increased periods of leaf wetness also facilitates the bridging process and the spread of disease.MANAGEMENTTurfs with low nitrogen contents are particularly susceptible to dollar spot invasion. Beard (1973) and Liu (1995) suggest high nitrogen contents Above: Dollar spot attacks a wide range of turfgrasses including creeping bentgrass, Poa annua, couchgrass, seashore paspalum and zoysia, while in Australia it has also been observed on kikuyuPHOTOS: BEN EVANS, BRETT ROBINSONIn this instalment of Tech Talk, Ben Evans takes a closer look at the causes of dollar spot and techniques superintendents can employ to manage this debilitating disease affecting a wide range of turf species.Making sense ofdollar spotdollar spotAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 37stimulate leaf growth causing the host to outgrow and avoid disease development. There is little evidence to suggest phosphorous or potassium levels influence dollar spot and alterations to pH have shown no effect.In order to control the disease, opinion is divided as to the reliance on cultural control with minimal fungicide use or the insistence on chemicals as a vital tool in controlling the fungus. Research has demonstrated changes in microclimatic conditions conducive to dollar spot disease can markedly reduce dollar spot infestation. Dernoeden (2002) argues the need to ensure the climatic conditions for growing turf are as sound and healthy as possible and a turf manager should resort to chemical control as sparingly as possible. Ensuring proper air circulation and sunlight is a key consideration in dollar spot prevention. Koh (2003) found more dollar spot disease occurred in shaded and air flow restricted plots than on plots exposed to full sun. By allowing sunlight, particularly morning sunlight over a turf, allows for dew to evaporate readily. Proper air flow over a turf canopy produces a mixing action, which not only lowers the temperature above the turf but reduces the humidity as well. Dew management is a key consideration in controlling dollar spot germination and movement. Guttation water is rich in amino-acids and carbohydrates which increase the infection process. Leading turf researchers argue that the turf should never be irrigated late in the afternoon, since this will prolong leaf wetness, particularly in humid weather. Dew should be removed by any or all means, whether by mowing, rolling, squeegeeing or poling. Ellram (2007) conducted an experiment where dew was removed at different times of the day and found that early morning dew removal reduced dollar spot significantly. Removing dew after 10am had little to no effect because the sun had evaporated most dew already. Daily removal of dew resulted in the lowest infection of dollar spot, irrespective of the method of dew removal. The authors believed this was due to the mechanical disruption of hyphal growth on or between the leaf surfaces. Ellram also found that dull mowers did not appear to increase the incidence of dollar spot compared to sharp mowers. However, mowing turf achieved significantly better dew removal than a squeegee. Sanitation practices such as washing mowers and equipment before entering a non- infected area should also be adhered to.When disease pressure is high, application of chemicals such as chlorothalonil, propiconazole or triadimefon is recommended. However, resistance is a significant issue in controlling dollar spot, with resistance to benzimidazoles, anilazine and iprodione chemicals widely reported (Couch 1994). Chlorothalonil is a contact fungicide and when applied at 14-day intervals is considered to be highly effective in combating dollar spot particularly when applied to dry foliage. Chlorothalonil has exhibited low susceptibility to developing resistance to disease.Recent research suggests that the use of composts may reduce the over-reliance on chemicals. The use of organic amendments attempts to produce a long-term change in the soil environment whereby the activities of the indigenous disease-suppressive microbes are favoured (Boulter, 2002). The research indicated that the reduction in disease activity was enough to suggest a viable alternative when disease pressure was low. However, this treatment was not successful when the disease pressure was high. Fry (2004) argues that the reduction in dollar spot damage was not due to the proliferation of beneficial microbes which antagonise dollar spot, but the increased nitrogen delivered in the composts and fertilisers in the compost products. Fry also discusses an experiment of nine nitrogen sources in controlling dollar spot. Urea suppressed the infestation, while all seven organic sources saw marked increases and outbreaks of disease. Davis (2002) reported similar results where it was found that none of the natural organic fertilisers consistently reduced dollar spot infestation, compared to synthetic organic nitrogen sources.Smiley (2005) reports on the possibility of biological inoculants. Although, research is not yet to the point of commercialisation, the fungi Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus lichenoformens and Pseudomonas aureofaciens show promise. Vargas (2005) reports that when Pseudomonas aureofaciens was applied five times a week directly onto a green it was successful in reducing dollar spot damage. However, when nine biostimulants were trialled against urea in reducing dollar spot, all nine of the biostimulant treatments increased dollar spot symptoms compared to fortnightly applications of soluble nitrogen (Fry 2004). Editor™s Note: At the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference, Michigan State University green speed authority Dr Thom Nikolai outlined some of his research which found that lightweight rolling of greens three days a week instead of mowing on those days reduced the incidence of dollar spot. Full references for this article can be obtained from the AGCSA email info@agcsa.com.auA silver, grey mycelium is present on the surface of the turf when the dollar spot disease is activeDollar spot is identified as small, circular patches which cause small depressions in the turf, however, they may coalesce into larger patches38 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTTHE PULSEA recent survey of AGCSA superintendent members continues to show dissatisfaction over the modern Award set-up.In August 2011, the AGCSA conducted a short survey of superintendent members to gauge their thoughts on the current modern Award set-up. As of January 1, 2010 the Federal Government™s Award modernisation came into effect, the key objective of which was to reduce the number of Awards in the system by creating those with national coverage across industry and occupational lines. For the golf industry this has seen greenkeepers covered under three Awards, the most relevant being the Registered and Licensed Clubs Award. The Gardening Services Award and the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award also cover some sectors of the turf maintenance industry. In 2009, the AGCSA put forward a submission to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission regarding the draft Awards, outlining the inclusions thought necessary to bring greenkeeping Awards up to date and more reflective of the skills and knowledge required and existing within the industry. While a separate Award was not granted, the Registered and Licensed Clubs Award created two levels of ‚horticultural management™ in the same framework as club managers, the first of which relates best to assistant superintendents/foremen, the second covering superintendents. There were also some important exemption clauses as well as adjustments to the hours of work and related matters which have subsequently had an impact on course operations, in particular in relation to overtime rates. Following an AGCSA members survey in late 2010, a number of issues were raised in regards to employment and wages. That prompted the AGCSA to release its 2011 AGCSA Salary and Wage Survey Report (see the breakout opposite for more on this), while more recently the survey on the modern Award set-up sought feedback on how the new Awards were actually being interpreted by golf clubs and whether there were any particular problems and areas which need addressing. This edition™s Pulse differs slightly in that we look at some of the results to emerge from this survey and include some of the comments made by superintendents. In a subsequent edition of ATM, AGCSA HR and best practice manager Daryl Sellar will delve more into the Awards in light of the survey results and will also touch upon other human resourse matters including communication skills and clarifying KPIs/maintenance standards.OUT OF TOUCH?Overwhelmingly, respondents to the Award survey made the comment the new Award set-up, which has been in place for 18 months now, was still out of touch with the modern day requirements of the profession. Some of the key stats were: 74 per cent of survey respondents believed the modern award didn™t provide suitable coverage for the golf course maintenance industry; More than half of all respondents said that working conditions hadn™t improved under the new Award set-up across the various levels (i.e.: superintendent, assistant superintendent, qualified greenkeeper, apprentice greenkeeper). More than a quarter said they were unsure.When asked to give comments on whether there was any section of the Award they would like to see amended, here is a selection of some of the many responses by superintendents: I feel it was written by managers for managers. It needs to be totally revisited. Creating a reasonable base rate to start from is essential to help retain staff, especially those keen honest workers. There should be an allowance for wet weather days (e.g.: five per year). The turf industry is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year business and requires a workplace agreement to cover all the areas where you go outside the Award. Does thereward?AwardAwardAGCSAAGCSASERVICEProviding expert advice for superintendents and golf clubs to improve course maintenance standardsContact AGCSA HR and Best Practice ManagerDaryl Sellar 0408 322 397 daryl@agcsa.com.auAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 39 Saturday morning overtime has been reduced to single time. Staff members are no longer interested in working overtime on Saturday mornings to prepare the course for what is generally the most important day of the week. It™s hard to keep good staff on smaller courses and I would love to see the Award for qualified greenkeepers and apprentices rise to be more comparable to other trades. Our profession is not recognised to the level of others, especially when considering the amount of multitasking and skills required. I would like to see the Award adapted to the areas in which the course is located. Higher Awards for areas that have higher rents, mortgages. Award wages don™t reflect pay rates within golf industry. Pay rates are too low for 2nd and 3rd year apprentices. Weekends should always be paid overtime not time in lieu. Every time the Award has been changed, it looks like a win to the clubs, not the workers. The responsibilities of a superintendent far outweigh the remuneration they are offered under the modern Award. Being accountable for the safety of personnel and also the environmental sustainability of a workplace on the scale of the size of a golf course is a major responsibility. I understand that there are some golf courses that pay above the Award but there are also many clubs that continue to pay Award rates and for superintendents it™s grossly unfair. I think a far better way to set minimum rates would be to set it against each club™s budget. For example, a superintendent™s minimum wage should be not less than 10 per cent of course budget with the cap being around $45k for budgets less than 450k. Assistants could be 6.5 per cent, qualified greenkeepers 5 per cent etc... Wages are a big problem for the average club. You cannot keep a tradesman in the job unless you pay them over the Award in a big way. Superintendents and assistant superintendents should be a lot higher than what it is now and that will also increase the tradesman wage. If a tradesman™s minimum wage is $40k plus overtime, an assistant minimum wage should be $50k with no overtime and a superintendent minimum should be $60k with no overtime. For the amount of hours we do in summer and the time you have away from the family during this time, you sometimes wonder if it is worth it. More flexibility to working hours such as starting times for tournaments and summer rosters. I think each club should have its own agreement with the staff. With the GMA we should be looking at a purpose-built Award. The spread of ordinary hours worked is restrictive Œ 5am-5pm would be better. During excessive hot weather, starting at 6am does not prevent exposure to oppressive heat. Spraying pesticides in front of golfers and after daylight is also restrictive due to the current spread of hours. Time off with pay equivalent is also restrictive and needs to be a longer period of 6-12 months, not within four weeks. On our current agreement the superintendent and assistant superintendent salaries have had a total increase of 10 per cent over the past six years, while the remainder of the staff have seen a 21 per cent increase. Doesn™t seem right. AGCSA SALARY AND WAGE SURVEY REPORTSalaries, wages and conditions of employment have been a key topic at both state and national conferences for many years and unfortunately these discussions rarely conclude with positive outcomes and better wages and conditions for employees due to the lack of reliable data. Course superintendents are frequently enquiring as to what is appropriate remuneration for their position and that of their staff, but the lack of such data has always been a problem. Earlier this year the AGCSA released to members the 2011 AGCSA Salary and Wage Survey Report which was compiled in conjunction with Golf Management Australia. The report provides an up to date review of salaries and wages information for four key golf course management positions Œ course superintendent, assistant superintendent, qualified greenkeeper and mechanic. The survey also presents information based on several different parameters including club revenue, club membership fees, maintenance budget and location. The report is only available to current financial AGCSA members and is available as a download through the HR and Best Practice section which is housed in the members area of the AGCSA website Œ www.agcsa.com.au/members. Providing expert advice for superintendents and golf clubs to improve course maintenance standards40 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRESEARCHUS researchers investigated several spring and autumn cultivation treatments to minimise both organic matter in the thatch/mat layer and recovery time of bentgrass putting green turf from renovations. USGA-sponsored research by Dr. Bob Carrow and his colleagues at the University of Geor-gia in the 1990s provided data for cultivation and topdressing recommendations for sand-based greens commonly known as ‚organic matter dilution™ programmes. O™Brien and Hartwiger (2003) sum- marised the details of this approach recommend- ing annual cultivation practices that removed 15- 20 per cent surface area and incorporated 40-50ft3 sand/1000ft2 (1.2-1.5m3/100m2), with the ultimate goal of maintaining surface rootzone organic matter at 4 per cent or less. Aggressive organic matter dilution programmes are intended to slow loss of aeration porosity and subsequent infiltration rates, thereby allowing superintendents to more easily manage their putting greens and lessen the effects of summer decline. In March 2008, researchers at Virginia Tech embarked on a three-year project to compare various cultivation approaches that removed between 10-27 per cent surface area and determined treatment effects on agronomic performance of a mature bentgrass putting green. The ultimate goal was to determine which organic matter dilution programme maintained mat layer organic matter at less than 4 per cent while providing the fewest days of putting quality disruption each year. MATERIALS AND METHODS Research was done on 10-year-old Penn A4 practice putting greens at the Independence Golf Club, near Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, which has a humid subtropical climate characterised by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. Prior to starting the research project, analysis of four randomly selected cup-cutter cores revealed a thatch/mat layer (0-2fl deep) with 5.8 per cent organic matter. Various combinations of small tines (¼fl inside diameter), big tines (½fl inside diameter) and verticutting (3mm blade) were imposed in late March (Northern Hemisphere spring) and early September (Northern Hemisphere autumn) to provide a range of seasonal surface removal from 0 per cent to 26.6 per cent (Table 1). The seven treatments were: Treatment 1: Control (sand-only); Treatment 2: ¼fl coring, two passes (spring and autumn); Treatment 3: Verticutting (3mm blade) (spring and autumn); Treatment 4: ¼fl coring + verticutting (3mm blade) (spring); ¼fl coring (autumn); Treatment 5: ½fl coring (spring); ¼fl coring, two passes (autumn); Treatment 6: ½fl coring (spring and autumn); Treatment 7: ½fl coring (spring); verticutting (3mm blade) + ¼fl coring, two passes (autumn);Verticutter blade spacing was 1 inch and depth 0.75 inches. Coring tine spacing was 1.33x1.5 inches, with a coring depth of 2 inches. Heavy sand topdressing of about 12ft3/1000 ft2 (0.4m3/100m2) was applied on both days of cultivation, supplemented by four light topdressings (0.004m3/100m2) every 4-6 weeks between cultivations, for a seasonal total of 24.6ft3/1000ft2 (0.75m3/100m2).Cultural management of these greens was identical to all others on the golf course, receiving preventive pesticide applications, daily mowing at 0.125 inches (3.175mm) and annual nitrogen fertilisation of 4.4, 3.3 and 4.3lbs N/1000ft2 (2.15, 1.6 and 2.1kg/100m2) in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. programmes for sand-based greens Organic matter dilutionOrganic matter dilutionResearch was carried out on 10-year-old Penn A4 practice putting greens at Independence Golf Club (Richmond, Virginia) with various combinations of small tines, big tines and verticutting imposed to provide a range of seasonal surface removal from 0-26.6 per centAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 41To track per cent cover or recovery rate following cultivation treatments in 2009 and 2010, digital images were taken every 7-14 days with a light box and analysed with SigmaScan software. Linear regression was then used to predict the number of days required for each treated plot to return to 99 per cent cover or a non-disrupted putting surface. RESULTS The focus is on measurements of per cent organic matter (from loss on ignition tests) in the thatch/ mat layer at the end of each season as affected by the various cultivation treatments, and on estimates (from digital image analysis) of days required to achieve 99 per cent turf cover following cultivation treatments. At the end of 2008, only those coring treatments that removed 14.8 per cent to 19.6 per cent (treatments 5 and 6) significantly reduced per cent organic matter compared to the topdressed control (Table 1). Use of smaller tines alone (treatment 2), verticutting alone (treatment 3) or combinations of the two (treatment 4), failed to reduce per cent organic matter in 2008. At the end of 2009, all treatments, except verticutting alone, significantly decreased per cent organic matter in the thatch/mat layer compared to the topdressed control (Table 1). Coring spring and autumn with ½fl tines on a tight spacing to remove about 9.8 per cent surface area to a depth of 2 inches (treatment 5) resulted in the least organic matter (3.1 per cent) over the three years. Data also suggest that verticutting to 0.75 inches does not remove enough material for adequate organic matter dilution, even though this procedure removes a large amount of surface area (11.8 per cent) with each pass. Very little change in per cent organic matter was measured due to treatments between 2009 and 2010. The only changes of note from 2009 to 2010 were an increase from 3.7 to 4.5 per cent in treatment 4 (verticutting + small tine cultivation) and a slight increase (3.4 to 3.8 per cent) in treatment 2 (small tines, twice over). Only where large tines were used to remove 14.8 per cent or greater surface area (treatments 5-7) was it observed that per cent organic matter levels were kept at significantly lower levels (3.1 to 3.3 per cent) compared to the topdressed control (Table 1). Fastest spring recovery (averaged over 2009 and 2010) of 29.5 days was measured for treatment 3 (verticutting) (Table 2). Large diameter coring (treatments 5-7) or small diameter coring + verticutting on the same day (treatment 4) required 35.5 to 40 days for spring recovery (Table 2). Late summer/early autumn recovery data were very similar for cultivation treatments that remained the same as their spring counterpart. In particular, treatment 3 (verticutting) recovered in only 25.5 days (Table 2), while large diameter coring alone (treatment 6) required six fewer days of recovery (34 days versus 40 days) in the autumn compared to the spring coring. Fastest autumn recovery of 8.5 days was observed with treatment 4 where only 2.5 per cent surface removal occurred. Data interpretation for treatments 2, 5, and 7 is confounded by irregularities in how the treatments were applied. For treatments 2 and 5, when the second ¼fl coring pass was made, surface tearing and furrowing occurred, causing a higher per cent TAKE-HOME POINTSThe control plots finished with the greatest thatch/ mat organic matter (4.3 per cent), but this 0.5 to 1 per cent increase compared to more aggressive treatments did not result in lower visual quality. At the end of 2008, only those coring treatments that removed 14.8 per cent to 19.6 per cent significantly reduced per cent organic matter compared to the topdressed control. At the end of 2009, all treatments, except verticutting alone, significantly decreased per cent organic matter in the thatch/mat layer compared to the topdressed control. Using large tines (0.5fl) at a close spacing both spring and autumn each year (19.6 per cent surface removal) worked best in terms of reducing final organic matter at 3.1 per cent, but required approximately 5-15 extra days of each season for recovery compared to the small tine and/or verticutting treatments. Annual removal of 15 to 20 per cent surface area should be the goal for adequate dilution of organic matter in creeping bentgrass greens.TABLE 1. TREATMENT DETAILS AND ORGANIC MATTER PERCENTAGE Treatments Surface Area Removed (%) Thatch/Mat (%OM) Nov Nov Nov March Sept Total 2008 2009 20101 Control (sand-only) 0 0 0 5.2a 4.3a 4.3ab2 ¼fl coring, two passes (S+A) 5 5 10 4.9ab 3.4c 3.8cd3 Verticutting (3mm blade) (S+A) 11.8 11.8 23.6 5.0ab 3.9ab 4.0bc4 ¼fl coring + verticutting (3mm blade) (S); 2.5+11.8 2.5 16.8 5.2a 3.7bc 4.5a ¼fl coring (A)5 ½fl coring (S); ¼fl coring, two passes (A) 11.8 5 14.8 4.8b 3.3cd 3.3de6 ½fl coring (S+A) 9.8 9.8 19.6 4.8b 3.0d 3.1e7 ½fl coring (S); verticutting (3mm blade) + 9.8 5+11.8 26.6 5.1ab 3.3cd 3.2e ¼fl coring, two passes (A) LSD(0.05) 0.38 0.42 0.49 NB: Table shows surface area removed (%) and organic matter content (%, wt/wt, loss at ignition) of A4 creeping bentgrass as affected by various cultivation treatments. Tine size shown is inside diameter. S= spring, A=autumn, S+A=spring and autumn. Values with the same letters are not statistically different. March is Northern Hemisphere spring; Sept is Northern Hemisphere autumn42 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRESEARCHsurface damage than the calculated 5 per cent. Our plots were in 6 foot wide (1.8m) lanes that did not allow us to run our second coring pass at an angle to the first pass. Thus, many holes were being hit twice. Interpretation of the recovery time for treatment 7 should be tempered by the fact that verticutting could not be completed over the top of plots that received two passes of the ¼fl tines. Undue sod heaving was occurring, so verticutting was delayed until three to four weeks after coring, greatly extending the time required for recovery. Visual quality ratings at various dates in 2008 and 2010 (Table 3) show that the control plots (sand topdressed only) did not suffer summer decline as might be expected without core aeration or deep verticutting for three consecutive years. Statistically, the control plots finished with the greatest thatch/ mat organic matter (4.3 per cent), but this 0.5 to 1 per cent increase compared to more aggressive treatments, did not result in lower visual quality. These results point to the importance of sand topdressing in diluting organic matter and maintaining a high quality putting green. Would only applying sand topdressing of at least 24ft3/1000 ft2/yr (0.75m3/100m2/yr) continue to provide acceptable putting green quality at this site for another one, three, or five years? Unfortunately this information is unavailable and this data cannot be used to confidently predict if this would be the case. These results demonstrate the need for conducting long- term (5-15 year) field research trials. The ultimate goal was to determine cultivation treatments that are sufficient to adequately reduce thatch/mat per cent organic matter, while also disrupting putting surface quality for the least amount of time. The least disruptive treatment in terms of per cent surface removal (treatment 2, 10 per cent) healed relatively quickly (32 days) and reduced thatch/mat organic matter to an acceptable level of 3.8 per cent after three years. However, the fact that ground was lost between 2009 (3.4 per cent) and 2010 (3.8 per cent) may point to this practice not being sufficient in the long-term. Verticutting alone each spring and autumn (treatment 3) resulted in the second fastest recovery of any treatment (27.5 days), but failed to significantly reduce organic matter to a level below the untreated. Treatment 4 resulted in the fewest average days of disruption over the season (22), but finished 2010 with the same amount of organic matter (4.5 per cent) as the topdressed control. Verticutting and small tine coring may heal fast, but appears to be insufficient for organic matter dilution. Using large tines (½fl) at a close spacing both spring and autumn each year (19.6 per cent surface removal, treatment 6) worked best in terms of minimising final organic matter at 3.1 per cent, but required approximately 5-15 extra days each season for recovery compared to the small tine and/ or verticutting treatments. Finally, being very aggressive by removing 26.6 per cent surface area (treatment 7) per year did not work in this trial. Recovery time was significantly delayed without achieving greater organic matter dilution compared to treatments that removed 15-20 per cent surface area. In summary, three years of data indicate that various coring approaches can be combined with verticutting and consistent sand topdressing to Prior to start of the study, analysis of four randomly selected cores revealed a thatch/mat layer 0-2fl deep with 5.8 per cent organic matterTABLE 2. AVERAGE DAYS OF DISRUPTED PUTTING QUALITY (2009 AND 2010) Treatments Spring % Days to Autumn % Days to Total % Disrupted removal 99% cover removal 99% cover removal Days1 Control (sand-only) 0 0 0 0 0 02 ¼fl coring, two passes (S+A) 5 32.51 5 311 10 323 Verticutting (3mm blade) (S+A) 11.8 29.5 11.8 25.5 23.6 27.54 ¼fl coring + verticutting (3mm blade) (S); 2.5 + 11.8 35.5 2.5 8.5 16.8 22 ¼fl coring (A)5 ½fl coring (S); ¼fl coring, two passes (A) 9.8 38.51 5 30.51 14.8 34.56 ½fl coring (S+A) 9.8 40 9.8 34 19.6 377 ½fl coring (S); verticutting (3mm blade) 9.8 38.5 5 + 11.8 41.5 26.6 40 + ¼fl coring, two passes (A)NB: Table shows total estimated days of disrupted putting quality in 2009 and 2010 (averaged) as affected by per cent surface removal by various core cultivation and verticutting treatments. 1Two passes with the ¼fl tines resulted in undue tearing, hole overlap, and furrowing on the putting surface that served to delay recovery in treatments 2 and 5 in Autumn.AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 43achieve the goal of organic matter dilution. Annual removal of 15-20 per cent surface area should still be the goal for adequate dilution of organic matter in creeping bentgrass greens. While verticutting alone provides fast healing, data from this project indicates that it needs to be combined with at least one annual 10 per cent coring for adequate organic matter dilution. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSAuthors Erik Ervin and Adam Nichols wish to thank the Virginia Agricultural Council, Virginia Turfgrass Foundation, the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, and USGA™s Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program for funding provided. Thanks also extended to Dan Taylor, superintendent at Independence Golf Club, Chris Bassett (Smith Turf and Irrigation), Kehua Wang and Derik Cataldi (Virginia Tech), Brandon Horvath (University of Tennessee-Knoxville) and Jason Henderson (University of Connecticut). Erik Ervin is associate professor, Turfgrass Culture and Physiology, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences. Adam Nichols is from Turfgrass Research Associate, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. ATM thanks USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online for allowing publication of this research project (Vol. 10, No.8: April 15, 2011).REFERENCESCarrow, R. N. 2004. Surface organic matter in creeping bentgrass greens: Controlling excessive organic matter can lead to healthy greens in summer. Golf Course Management 72(5):96-101. Carrow, R. N. 2003. Surface organic matter in bentgrass greens. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 2(17):1-12. O™Brien, P., and C. Hartwiger. 2003. Aeration and topdressing for the 21st century. USGA Green Section Record 41(2):1-7. Annual removal of 15-20 per cent surface area should still be the goal for adequate dilution of organic matterOrganic matter sampling was carried out over a three year period. Using large tines (½fl) at a close spacing both spring and autumn each year worked best in terms of reducing final organic matter at 3.1 per cent, but required longer to recoverTABLE 3. RATINGS OF PUTTING GREEN VISUAL QUALITY Treatments Total % Visual Quality Rating1 removal July ‚08 Sept ‚08 Aug ‚10 Nov ‚101 Control (sand-only) 0 6.5ab 7.5ab 7.1ab 7.8a2 ¼fl coring, two passes (S+A) 10 6.3b 6.9c 6.8b 7.8a3 Verticutting (3mm blade) (S+A) 23.6 6.3b 7.1bc 6.6b 7.5ab4 ¼fl coring + verticutting (3mm blade) (S); 16.8 6.3b 7.3abc 7.3a 7.6ab ¼fl coring (A)5 ½fl coring (S); ¼fl coring, two passes (A) 14.8 6.5ab 7.8a 6.6b 7.5ab6 ½fl coring (S+A) 19.6 6.1b 7.1bc 6.8b 7.5ab7 ½fl coring (S); verticutting (3mm blade) 26.6 6.8a 7.8a 6.8b 7.4b + ¼fl coring, two passes (A) LSD (0.10) 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 1 1-9 (where 1 = poor, 9 = best). These ratings represent putting green quality either before cultivation treatments or after complete recovery from cultivation44 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRESEARCHTwo new fungal pathogens causing patch diseases in Australia were studied to determine their temperature, moisture and pH requirements in the hope that the information leads to practical methods to manage their impact.Diseases caused by fungi occur year round and detract from the visual appeal of fine turf surfaces. For such diseases to occur, there are three key factors which are needed Œ the actual pathogen, a susceptible host and favourable weath-er conditions. By understanding this disease triangle, we can gauge what conditions favour the development of two new native Australian turf pathogens, Wongoonoo patch (Gaeumannomyces wongoonoo) and an undescribed Magnaporthe sp which have been isolated and discovered by Dr Percy Wong from the University of Sydney.Both of these diseases are ectotrophic root-infecting fungi, or ‚ERI fungi™, which is a generic name given to fungi which cause a number of diseases in turf, such as Take-all patch (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae) and spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella namari). These fungi typically produce a black mycelium on the surface of the roots, before they invade the roots inciting disease. As they grow below the turf surface chemical control is often difficult to achieve.METHODOLOGYTwo isolates of G. wongoonoo (GW1 from Perth, WA and GW5 from Brisbane, QLD) and three isolates of the undescribed Magnaporthe sp. (TS99 from Indooroopilly, QLD; TS124 from Mackay, QLD; and Dan from Dandenong, VIC) were studied as part of this project to determine their growing requirements. Such knowledge can help turf managers in the future better anticipate and hopefully combat these two diseases. Essentially, an isolate is the term given when an identical species is found in a different site, usually separated by great distances. It is also interesting to see how these species adapt to different environments, such as different tolerances to heat/cold. For all experiments there were three replicates. Three experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions and for each experiment the fungi were measured every two days to determine their mean radial growth. The experiments were: Experiment 1: Fungal growth measured between 10oC-35oC at 5oC increments; Experiment 2: Osmotic potential of the fungi, in particular, how moisture influences the growth of fungi (the lower the osmotic potential, the ‚drier™ the conditions are); and Experiment 3: Response to pH changes from 5.0 to 8 at 0.5 unit increments. (This is an interesting experiment as many turf diseases have been shown to be effectively controlled by altering pH, with the prime example being Take-all on golf greens.WONGOONOO PATCHWongoonoo patch is caused by Gaeumannomyces wongoonoo (Wong 2002). The symptoms of this patch disease look very similar to Take-all patch of golf greens. Visual symptoms include patches of unthrifty grass exhibiting yellowing of the leaves, stunting and eventual death of the runners (especially in the centre of patches). These patches can measure up to 50cm in diameter. Under a hand lens, the roots are dark in colour which occurs as a line in the centre of the roots rather than occurring throughout the root.The disease was originally found on ST1191 buffalograss in Perth, Western Australia and it has also been found on buffalograss in Brisbane, Queensland (Stenotaphrum secundatum cv. ‚Velvet™) and has been identified by Dr. Percy Wong as the cause of a patch disease of common couch in Parramatta, New South Wales. The results of this research project showed that this disease is favoured by warm weather conditions, with optimum growth at 25°C-30°C. Below this range the pathogen did not grow well, so it can be deduced that the turf will out-compete the fungus in these situations. G. wongoonoo also favours a wet soil. As with many fungi, constant irrigation will germinate the fungal spores, which not only incite disease but may also facilitate its spread. The fungus also grew in extremely dry soil conditions, albeit very slowly. This is likely to be an adaptive mechanism of the fungus to accommodate new environments.Above: Two new native Australian turf pathogens, Wongoonoo patch (Gaeumannomyces wongoonoo) and an undescribed Magnaporthe sp, which are ectotrophic root-infecting fungi which is a generic name given to fungi which cause a number of diseases in turf, such as Take-all patchpatchnativenativeNewdiseases put to the testpatchAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 45This study found the pathogen grew very well on neutral to slightly acid pH ranges (pH 7-6.5) and poorly under acid conditions (Figure 1). As the solution became more acid (