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Published by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) Editorial Australian Brett Robinson Sports Turf Managers Office: (03) 9548 8600 Association Mobile: 0434 144 779 Email: brett@agcsa.com.au Advertising PREMIUM PARTNERS Mark Unwin Office: (03) 9548 8600 Mobile: 0438 320 919 The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association is indebted to the Email: mark@agcsa.com.au support of the following premium partner companies Art Direction & Design Jo Corne Office: (03) 9548 8600 Email: jo@agcsa.com.au Printed By PLATINUM Southernimpact AUSTRALIAN TORO Australian Sports Turf Managers Association Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre ASTMA ASTMA 752 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168 P: (03) 9548 8600 F: (03) 9548 8622 E: admin@agcsa.com.au W: www.agcsa.com.au ABN 96 053 205 888 JACQBSEN syngenta ASTMA Board Peter Lonergan (president), Chris Burgess (treasurer), David Thomson, Ben Tilley and Damian Hough Chief Executive Officer Mark Unwin E: mark@agcsa.com.au ASTMA SILVER ASTMA Membership Allison Jenkins E: admin@agcsa.com.au Accounts Philip Horsburgh E: philip@agcsa.com.au John Deere Events and Education Simone Staples E: simone@agcsa.com.au Pam Irvine L I y I N G TURF SCIENTIFIC TURF MANAGEMENT Ba/n^B/rd E: pam@agcsa.com.au AGCSATech Bruce Macphee (Senior Agronomist) E: bruce@agcsa.com.au Tim Fankhauser (Agronomist) BRONZE ASTMA ASTMA E: tim@agcsa.com.au Social Media Brown Brothers COUNTRY CLUB Keally Nankervis fl I Engineers CCI^ INTERNATIONAL david golf E: keally@agcsa.com.au W Australia Ltd GOLF COURSE SAFETY WATER •■-W EQUfFMENT FENCING MANAGEMENT www.facebook.com/TheASTMA rzjir^iT Hunter |Q www.linkedin.com CTEIgREENWAY Golf Solutions ..acutatwatharastl Y W” wNITURF SOLUTIONS Built on Innovation- www.instagram.com/the_astma @TheASTMA Husqvarna Where needs take us TURF culture 7 Copyright © 2020 The ASTMA 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 ASTMA, its The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association encourages all members to support 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 these companies who support your association written permission of the ASTMA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 1 CONTENTS COVER STORY SEASON SAVIOUR 6 When the AFL announced in early July that it was moving the 2020 Premiership season interstate due to the escalating COVID-19 crisis in Victoria, it meant huge changes for every facet of the competition, in particular scheduling. After hosting 10 games in 2019, Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast effectively became the competition’s premier venue in 2020, hosting a remarkable 44 games. Together with The Gabba in Brisbane, the two venues bore the brunt of a hastily revised fixture and in doing so saved the AFL season. ATM editor Brett Robinson catches up with Metricon Stadium’s Kerry Betihavas to look back on a season unlike any other and sees how the AFL’s traditional venues - the MCG (Michael Salvatore) and Marvel Stadium (Gavin Darby) - weathered a torrid winter wrought by COVID-19. Cover: Metricon Stadium ahead of the Richmond v St Kilda semi-final on 9 October 2020. Photo: Metricon Stadium/Gold Coast Suns Football Club ALSO IN THIS EDITION... Foreword Thinking 4 Regional Profile - Kingston SE GC 60 Around the Trade 66 Association Reports 70 Up the last... Not easy being green 72 2 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Standing by her man n 23 September, the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association teamed up O with its fellow superintendent associations around the globe for the inaugural international ‘Thank a Superintendent Day’. The social media campaign garnered huge traction, with those in the golf industry paying tribute to the men and women who unstintingly turn out their courses day after day. The campaign took on greater significance this year for obvious reasons, one in which COLUMNS superintendents - and all turf managers for that matter - have been challenged like never before. PETER MCMAUGH 44 Turf managers are adept at dealing with curve balls, but COVID-19 has truly tested the mettle JOHN FORREST 48 of all. The pressure placed upon them has been immense, not only having to worry about their KATE TORGERSEN 56 facilities but also their families, their own mental health and that of their entire staff. TERRY MUIR 58 In response, many have gone above and beyond to keep their facilities operational and deal with the never-ending challenges that have been thrown their way. They have had to juggle multiple requirements and in many instances have stepped up as true leaders at their club or facility. You only have to read this edition’s lead story on the recently completed AFL season and the incredible manner in which Kerry Betihavas and his team at Metricon Stadium pulled out all stops to host a remarkable 44 premiership games - a season saviour indeed. If ever there was a year where recognition has been more deserved it is 2020. It was therefore heartening to read the many posts that flooded our social media accounts during the #ThankASuper campaign. Of all the posts made on the day, there was one in particular that resonated with me and it didn’t come from a club manager, greens chair, a supplier or a superintendent. Amanda Lucas is the wife of Ben Lucas, who many ATM readers will know as the superintendent of the 36-hole Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club on the Murray River. Ben has been superintendent there for the past five years, returning to the club after spending three years in his first superintendent gig at Young Golf Club. Prior to Young, Ben was assistant at Toe for four-and- a-half years. Amanda, like any partner of a turf manager, only knows too well the sacrifices and stresses that come with the job, so just to make sure that her hubby knew he was appreciated for his amazing work, she put fingers to keyboard and hit ‘post’. Accompanied by a photo of a very proud-looking Ben standing on one of Toe’s perfectly presented greens, Amanda began... “Today is international Thank a Superintendent Day. A big shoutout to this legend Ben Lucas for his efforts at the Tocumwal Golf & Bowls Club. Through the toughest of times this bloke has stepped up and consistently put this golf course at the forefront of his existence - I’m sure it’s his mistress through and through! Our kids have been raised on course and all knew how to rake bunkers and hand water from a young age, it’s the only way they saw dad in the warmer months! “I would like to congratulate my husband, not only on his superior efforts as a super, but also mention his integrity and loyalty to this club when the shit has hit the fan lately with COVID. He has been bruised and battered but never gave in or gave up. I would also love to mention our boys, our extended family. Ben backs his staff WO per cent because they are amazing people and we would be lost without them. Their efforts, along with his leadership, make the perfect dream team and it shows in our two Championship courses’ surfaces. They are simply pristine. Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Journal Volume 22.5 (September-October 2020): Mark Angel “Greenkeeping is Ben’s passion and it is reflected in the product that he and our team put out (Kingston SE GC); Shane Baker (CSTM, GCSAWA); Gary for our community. Our course is one of the best on the Murray River sandbelt and I am beyond Beehag; Kerry Betihavas (Metricon Stadium); Martyn Black (Golf NSW); Gavin Darby (Marvel Stadium); John Forrest proud of his accomplishments. It’s not easy work and it’s never ever been just a stress-free 38-hour (Forrest and Forrest Horticultural Consultancy Services); week to achieve something of such high quality. It’s sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears... it’s his John Geary (Cape Wickham); Monina Gilbey (Glenelg GC); Shane Greenhill (VGCSA/Sorrento GC); Scott Johnstone life. Thanks a tonne babe for being the incredible human you are and for being a top super, hard (Hydroplan); Mick Kelly (Toowoomba GC); Matthew Lane worker and all round great man. ” (Scotch College, WA); Bruce Macphee (CSTM, ASTMA); Peter McMaugh AM (Turfgrass Scientific Services); Ashley Now that’s true recognition. Enjoy the read... Mead (OCM); Melbourne Cricket Club; Terry Muir (epar); John Neylan (SportEng); Mark Roberts; Kristian Robinson; Michael Salvatore (Melbourne Cricket Club/MCG); Kate Torgersen (Environmental Golf Solutions); Mark Unwin (ASTMA); Nick Wall (Airswing Media); William Watt (Caddie Productions); Michael Wood (Australian Turf Club/Royal Randwick). SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 3 FOREWORD THINKING WITH MARK UNWIN. CEO Sports turf managers deliver remarkably despite difficult year olf Australia recently released One such area that we have put a focus on G a report titled ‘Australian Golf over the past 12-24 months is memberships Competition Rounds - Trends and ensuring we have the right structure in and the Impact of COVID-19’. place and continue to offer significant and The report highlighted that the valuable benefits to members. In the recent golf industry is certainly enjoying a boom in September meeting with the ASTMA Board, rounds demand in many cohorts that are key a review of performance against our Strategic to the industry’s long-term health. The report Plan highlighted that one area that continues to highlighted that nationally all markets have perform very strongly is membership growth. Australian enjoyed a material uplift in rounds played, with We have heard frequently from members over Sports Turf Managers both male and female demand up by 21 per the past six months, in particular with such Association challenging times, that the assistance provided cent, metropolitan markets up 27 per cent and regional markets 17 per cent over 2019 results to be undertaken, whereas other facilities have by the ASTMA on HR and employment at the same point in time. been required to accommodate up to 20 times support, promotion of the profession, coupled As noted by many internationally and the regular activity. You only have to look at with government engagement and advocacy locally, this increase in demand creates a the likes those venues hosting AFL, NRL and efforts, has been enormously appreciated. tremendous opportunity for the industry and A-League matches as seasons were thrown Despite, or perhaps because of the the challenge at the administrative and facility into turmoil due to the pandemic. challenging times we find ourselves in, over level is to ensure this demand continues to be Sports turf managers and their teams the past 24 months we have continued to see an area of focus. Pleasingly for growth of the across all sectors have delivered remarkably an increase, with association membership up game longer-term, the report also indicates in what has been a demanding year. Golf, by over 30 per cent in comparison to 2018 that the 25-45 age group is engaging at a as the abovementioned report highlights, numbers. This growth allows us to continue greater level than in recent times, with rounds has increased substantially year on year, pushing for increased levels of awareness from this bracket up 22 per cent over 2019. creating additional challenges for these turf and promotion of the industry in advocacy The report also notes that the exception to management teams in maintaining their discussions and supports the approach that this is Victoria following extended periods of courses through extended and sustained our industry is an essential operation to sport course closures due to lockdown restrictions. rounds played. both at an elite and community level. While not a position many clubs would want to face, it has provided an opportunity for superintendents and their teams to bring Despite, or perhaps because of the challenging times we find forward some renovation work and prepare ourselves in, over the past 24 months ASTMA membership has courses in great shape for reopening (which for metropolitan Melbourne courses increased by over 30 per cent. ■ Mark unwm eventuated just as this edition of ATM was going to print). This situation we face does, however, bring As the second half of the year gets into Interestingly with summer approaching, with it a level of complexity for some sports a sense of ‘COVID normal (whatever that thoughts around this time of year often centre turf managers in relation to seasonal staff. For may mean), our attention at the association on renovations and transitioning from winter the most part, with extensive travel restrictions remains on working through the options and sports to summer. This year has been quite in place for international arrivals, the ability requirements for the turf industry’s flagship unlike any other in that there are some clear to engage seasonal and overseas staff to event - the 2021 conference. We are hoping distinctions between activities in various parts assist with turf preparation and management to have more clarity on the situation to of the industry and various parts of the country. is extremely limited, which in turn presents a communicate prior to the end of the year. On one hand, many facilities are in a difficulty for facilities that utilise seasonal staff. The warmer moths have also brought position that they’ve rarely experienced The ASTMA has engaged in discussions about an increase in the request for the before. Teams have been able to bring forward with a number of Federal Government AGCSATech team to provide independent activities to manage, prepare and improve departments on this topic and pressed the agronomic advice and testing services to playing surfaces while their facilities are increasing need for access or exemptions to support turf managers in decision making experiencing limited usage due to decrease in be reviewed and clarity provided. At the time of for their facility. Pending removal of travel training and playing of community sport. The this edition going to print, the situation remains restrictions across borders will allow the team other group are experiencing the opposite - unchanged from current advice, however, to increase their support to members and the an increase in usage unheard of prior to this discussions continue. industry in the weeks and months ahead. year and managing to work through rapid As we progress through a most changes in requirements. ON THE RISE challenging year, the ASTMA continues to Broadly, community sport requirements for As a member-based association with a national actively work with members and the industry training and competition on sportsfields and footprint, there are many areas of focus for the for ways we can assist. If there is anything you grounds is considerably down, allowing for team to continue driving to assist members would like to discuss or provide feedback on, important renovations and reconstruction work and the industry. please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 4 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 #ThankASuper goes global ednesday 23 September 2020 saw W the inaugural International Thank a Superintendent Day, with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association joining its global counterparts in the UK, Europe, US and Canada to recognise and celebrate the hard-working efforts of golf course superintendents and their teams. In past years the likes of the ASTMA, GCSAA, Richmond Ladies Golf is V feeling grateful. •®" 21 h 0 BIGGA and FEGGA have held separate ‘Thank What great work Mark and his team have been doing out on the course! Don't forget tomorrow is International "Thank A Superintendant Day". Thank the boys if you see them out on the course a Super’ days with great success, but this or post #ThankASuper on social media. year was the first time that the associations @2. Liked by eastlake_golf and others combined to spread the word globally. carnarvongolfclub#ThankASuper International Thank a On the Wednesday morning, all Superintendent Day 23 September 2020 associations released a short 30-second moonahlinksgolf ‘Thank You’ video through their social media channels which also appeared on the Golf Channel. Throughout the day golf clubs, organisations and golfers were encouraged to get active on social media using the #ThankASuper hashtag. In a tremendous show of support across Australia and overseas, social media was flooded with images of superintendents and their crews, accompanied by posts thanking © 20 1 comment them for the tireless work they do week in, week out. Looking at the stats just across the ASTMA’s social media channels, there were more than 14,000 views on the day, with some Liked by mark_holmes7 and others moonahlinksgolf Let's talk Golf Superintendents fantastic messages of support, as can be seen because ours is nothing shy of amazing. In the bitter in the posts below. cold winter to the scorching heat of summer, he and his team never cease to impress. Managing two championship courses, the Open & Legends., both are in immaculate condition 365 days a ( ®jj mooreparkgolf year. Kyle Wilson thank you and your team for your commitment and dedication that you have all done over the years. brookwatergolfcc © Brookwater Golf & Country Club <8*'*' Liked by turfirrigationservices and others brookwatergolfcc THANK A SUPERINTENDENT DAY! Liked by schtekpipa and others collierpark_golf #ThankASuper Day today. In recognition Our maintenance team led by Golf Course Liked by gcsaa and others of the 5am starts and the passionate work that goes in Superintendent, Matt Legge have been doing a great job to keeping our course in super condition all year round, mooreparkgolf Today is the inaugural International over the past 12 months with the presentation and we give a big shout out to our Super, Peter Beach and Superintendent Day! conditioning of our course. In particular during the past his hard working team. Well done and thank you! month the course has been superb for our Club We would like to give a shout out to our Superintendent Championships. We thank Matt and all his team, Ben, Mai and his team for all the amazing work they do to Alex, Andrew H, Andrew K, Brendan, Chris, Darren, keep our course looking tip top all year round. Thanks Lance, Nicky, Nigel, Ramand and Steve for the great job team! they do as a team! Keep it up guys! SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 5 AFL Metricon Stadium would end up hosting a total of 44 Season . saviour games in the 2020 AFL Premiership season, 42 of those coming in a 14-week stretch between 13 June and 20 September. Pictured is the ground ahead of the semi-final between Richmond and St Kilda, its final match of the season When the AFL announced in early July that it was moving the 2020 Premiership season interstate due to Melbourne’s COVID-19 crisis, it necessitated huge change for all facets of the competition, in particular the scheduling of games. After hosting 10 games in 2019, Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast became the competition’s primary venue, hosting a remarkable 44 games by the season’s end. Together with The Gabba, the two Queensland venues bore the brunt of a constantly daptability. It’s a hallmark that He landed at Metricon just as the evolving fixture and in doing so every professional sports turf venue began its transformation for the 2018 effectively saved the AFL season. ATM editor Brett Robinson catches up with Metricon’s Kerry Betihavas A manager must possess, one that inherently comes with the territory. Kerry Betihavas with the punches, especially having just experienced what has without question been one of the most unique footy seasons in a turf Commonwealth Games and after that was part of the massive project to resurface the entire ground. Later that year Metricon welcomed cricket for the first time with the introduction of knows all about the importance of rolling drop-in wickets to host Big Bash League (BBL) cricket. Add to that the often fickle nature of the Gold Coast climate and Betihavas has to look back on an unforgettable management career that has spanned some definitely earned his crust since taking over, 20 years. but nothing could quite prepare him for what season and sees how traditional It has been an eventful journey for the was about to transpire this football season. rugby-mad New South Welshman since When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia venues, the MCG and Marvel landing on the Gold Coast from Sydney in in March it forced irrevocable change in all November 2017. Having spent the previous 12 facets of work and personal life, with the turf Stadium, weathered a COVID- years working at the Sydney Cricket Ground management and sports industries hit hard. under Tom Parker, Betihavas was primed to For the country’s major sporting competitions ravaged winter by comparison. take the reins of his own facility. like the AFL and NRL, the upheaval of their 6 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 seasons was a dramatic manifestation of and away games in 18 rounds and six finals, COVID-19’s all-encompassing impact and non- including the Grand Final), almost half of the TABLE 1: MATC HES AND VENUES discriminatory nature. season’s 162 total games. And the majority of Ground 2020' 20192 For the AFL, headquartered in Melbourne, those were played in just a four month period. Metricon Stadium 44(1) 10 it was particularly devastating. Having initially Compare that to the MCG and Marvel. The Gabba 35 (5) 13(2) suspended the season for an 11 -week period Last season the MCG notched up 50 games Adelaide Oval 22 (2) 22 between March and June after just one round and Marvel 44. This season Melbourne’s Optus Stadium 17(1) 23(1) had been played, Melbourne’s second COVID- premier venues stood idle as COVID crippled Marvel Stadium 11 43 19 wave and eventual Stage 4 lockdown the city, the MCG hosting just nine games and MCG 9 50 (5) forced the AFL to make the unprecedented call Marvel 11. From the 17 venues the AFL used Giants Stadium 9 9(1) to move the season interstate. across 2019, in 2020 that dropped to just 12. SCG 5 11 It was a mammoth undertaking on so Continuing the theme of Queensland grounds Cazaly’s Stadium 4 0 many levels and in a hastily revised and stepping up in 2020, Cazaly’s Stadium in GMHBA (Geelong) 3 9 constantly evolving fixture, Brisbane’s The Cairns also hosted four late-season games in TIO Stadium 2 1 Gabba and Metricon effectively became the the space of 18 days. By comparison, it took Traeger Park 1 1 Queensland equivalent of the MCG and Marvel Cazaly’s the four previous seasons (2015- Key: Number in brackets indicates finals;1 18 round home Stadium. Between them, the two venues and away season;2 23 round home and away season 2018) to record as many premiership matches. hosted 79 premiership games (73 home 2020 was indeed one for the record books. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 7 AFL THE START OF THINGS TO COME Then came the announcement that Even before the AFL season landed on everyone had feared. Just minutes after the Metricon’s doorstep, Betihavas and his team opening round Hawthorn v Brisbane match comprising assistant Ben Greenaway and had wrapped up at the MCG, AFL chief Brandon Coles were already in the thick of executive Gillon McLachlan announced that it. As he jests, Metricon was probably the the AFL Commission was suspending the busiest stadium in the country in 2020 and he competition until 31 May (that date would probably isn’t too far off the truth. be later revised to 11 June). At the time After a second successful season of BBL, McLachlan called it “the most serious threat in which it hosted three games including a to our game in 100 years” and in the days New Year’s Day clash which drew its biggest that followed the AFL and clubs would make cricket crowd of 20,135, Metricon hosted drastic cuts as the game stared its worst three 50-over Australia A v England A games financial crisis in the face. in early February. England collected the first Like many across the turf industry, two games before the third was abandoned Betihavas and his crew felt the full impact as after the Gold Coast was hit by a deluge of the country plunged into its first lockdown a rain. That rain - nearly 600mm over a couple few days later. Seventy five percent of staff at of days - coincided with Betihavas needing the Suns were stood down or forced to take to remove two wicket trays in order to get the leave. Betihavas lost a casual staff member, ground up nine days later for its inaugural while Greenaway and Coles dropped to two Suns AFLW match. days a week, alternating their shifts between Seven days after the AFLW game, on Monday and Thursday and taking annual 22 February the ground hosted a double­ leave the rest of the time. Betihavas himself Kerry Betihavas has been in charge of the turf at header - the first AFLW QCIash and a Marsh already had four weeks’ leave planned, so Metricon Stadium since late 2017 Community Series AFL preseason match. As he effectively extended that to eight weeks soon as the final whistle had blown, Betihavas announced it intended to proceed with the until a season restart was confirmed. Budgets and his crew dropped the posts in readiness start of the 2020 season, albeit with no crowds. were also cut which necessitated some quick for Queen on 29 February. That set up saw the Indeed, it was an eerie sight watching a vacant rethinking and how cultural practices would be entire arena surface (all 22,000m2) covered in MCG hosting the traditional season opener managed. flooring to accommodate what would be a sell between Richmond and Carlton. “We have a total of 15 hectares that we out 42,000-strong crowd. For Betihavas and his team it was an look after here, so we had to prioritise,” says It was around this time that the equally strange way to kick off the season. The Betihavas. “The stadium and the adjacent looming threat of COVID-19 was well and Suns entertained Port Adelaide in an empty training field were only cut twice a week truly spreading throughout the national stadium and under strict COVID protocols that (18mm cutting heights were retained) and consciousness. Australia had recorded its the AFL had swiftly introduced. As they are we only cut the wicket trays once a week. first case on 25 January and a few days later employed by the Gold Coast Suns Football We normally aerate with solid tines every two the World Health Organisation (WHO) had Club, the crew had to remain segregated weeks, but we dropped that back to every four declared it a ‘global health emergency of from all Suns admin, coaching and playing weeks. Every four weeks we applied Primo to international concern’. By 11 March, with over staff, while PPE (masks and gloves) became reduce clippings and in that tank mix we also 100 countries having registered infections, mandatory. Temperature checks and COVID included a light liquid fertiliser. We didn’t want eight days out from the start of the 2020 tests also became part of daily and weekly to overfeed the couchgrass too much and AFL Premiership season, the WHO declared rituals (and would remain in place all season), as there was no traffic on it the grass wasn’t COVID-19 a ‘pandemic’. while on game day they had to be off the asking for much anyway. As major events in Australia started being ground much earlier and weren’t allowed on to “The big unknown was whether the season called off, late that Friday (13 March) the AFL divot until all players were off the ground. would come back at all and whether we would oversow. In a normal year we oversow with ryegrass in the first week of May, but because we didn’t know what football we were having we were in two minds. We ended up biting the bullet and put out a real low rate (100kg/ha) on 14 May. In hindsight we probably should have put more out given all the games we ended up having, but at that point we just didn’t know. Everything kept changing so quickly.” FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED The same week that Betihavas oversowed, the AFL announced that the season would resume on 11 June. Metricon’s first game back was Saturday 13 June, but it was from the Trying to remove drop-in wickets during a Gold Coast deluge of 600mm wasn’t Betihavas’s idea of a good time just nine days out from his first AFLW fixture 8 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 following weekend when things really ramped up as Victoria’s second COVID-19 wave started to take hold. By this stage discussions had begun about Metricon’s (and The Gabba’s) ability to increase its number of games to accommodate the constantly changing fixture, but even looking back now Betihavas still shakes his head at the number. Metricon would end up hosting a remarkable 42 premiership games in a 14-week stretch between 13 June (Round 2) and 20 September (Round 18). Thirty-four of those games involved teams other than the Suns, with North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs (eight) and Richmond (seven) playing the most games there after the home side. Seventeen out of 18 clubs played matches there, Collingwood the only team not to. In Rounds 3, 4, 6 and 16 Metricon hosted five same-day double-headers. In Round 6, After an 11-week layoff following the suspension of the season in late March, Metricon, like all other grounds, was looking pure for the resumption of play in early June which was played just days after McLachlan announced that all Victorian clubs would interchange). That area is always a challenge applications. He went out weekly in between be relocating to interstate hubs, Metricon each season. The other concern was the high games to try and promote as much leaf growth held four games in two days - back-to-back wear areas such as the centre square. We and recovery as possible. double-headers on Saturday 11 and Sunday have portable trays in our centre square so Aeration practices increased from 12 July. The early games on each day began we raised with the AFL the likelihood the turf fortnightly to weekly, with holes being punched at 12.35pm and 1.05pm followed by night time would need to be replaced. (12mm solid tines at a 90mm-100mm depth games at either 6.35pm or 7.40pm, barely “We knew as the season drew on the with a two per cent kick) in between games giving Betihavas and his crew enough time to ground would start to show signs of wear and and sometimes even the morning before tidy up the ground in between. tear and it did. The couchgrass can’t cope games. If bad weather was forecast, like the In the 10 days from 29 July to 7 August with that volume of games without adequate 100mm that fell before the Melbourne-Brisbane (Rounds 9 and 10) Metricon hosted seven recovery time. Sometimes we only had two game in late July, the aerator got a run as well. games, while from 2 September (Round 15) to days in between rounds and we had the bulk As Betihavas quips “greenkeepers don’t 20 September (Round 18) - a total of 19 days of our games in what is traditionally the coldest like replacing turf”, but with the volume of -the ground held 12 games. It would then part of the year in Queensland.” games it was inevitable he would need to in host the Richmond v St Kilda semi-final, all up Despite those challenges, Metricon the end. Ahead of the back-to-back double­ making it 44 games for the season, a more would hold up incredibly well to the fixturing headers on 11 and 12 July and then again than four-fold increase on 2019 (10 games). onslaught. To brace his turf, Betihavas after the Round 14 game between the Suns When it was first mooted that Metricon increased his foliar feeds by around 60 per and North Melbourne on 30 August, the crew would be lumped with the lion’s share of the cent in addition to normal six-weekly granular replaced the centre square and areas behind revised fixtures, Betihavas knew it could be the goals with turf trucked up from Evergreen done but did have a few reservations. In past in Sydney. Later on, during the two-day break years the ground has held AFL U16s and U18s in between rounds 16 and 17, an 800m2 strip carnivals in conjunction with a Suns home of 50mm Hero stabilised turf from HG Turf was game, which sees multiple games played laid on the broadcast wing. across consecutive days. But they were kids, “The ground handled the volume really not grown men. well considering,” says Betihavas, who gained “At one point there was talk that we may the services of an AFLQ groundsman from get 70 games,” reveals Betihavas. ‘Just to Brisbane after the season resumed. “Obviously keep the competition running the AFL threw aesthetically sometimes it didn’t look great some options at us, but we had to be realistic on TV, which you had to expect, but if you and say no we couldn’t do that amount. We walked the ground there was still some good used those U16 and U18 events as a bit of a couch even if the ryegrass was heavily worn. model and knew we could handle the increase Throughout all the games we never had any in fixtures. It was all a bit unknown as we issue with traction or player safety.” have never had that volume of games before, Somewhat fittingly, to cap off its season but we wanted to do what we could to get in the spotlight, Metricon hosted Richmond’s the competition back up and running. It was semi-final win over St Kilda in week two of the challenging too because the AFL would only finals. The Tigers, who had hubbed around release the fixture in small blocks, so we were the corner from the stadium at KDV Sports, effectively on standby most of the time. made it well known their love of the Metricon “From a turf perspective we had a few surface during the season and chose it as To set his turf up for the fixturing onslaught, Betihavas concerns, such as shade on the broadcast increased foliar feeds by around 60 per cent to try and their preferred venue for that final. Metricon will wing (western side in front of the player promote as much leaf growth and recovery as possible certainly hold a special place in the unlikely SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 9 AFL In what was one of the tighter turnarounds they’ve had to execute, in the space of three days they removed all six drop-in wickets over two nights (they only used six wickets last summer due to hosting less Sheffield Shield games), cored the entire ground, oversowed with ryegrass, topdressed with 30 tonnes of sand and then levelled and returfed the centre. They then had a week in which to prep the ground for the opener between Richmond and Carlton. Played in front of empty stands, it was one of the weirdest sensations Salvatore has had in his 13 years at the MCG - “It felt like a training run” - but come Sunday after the ground had hosted its second opening round match (Hawthorn-Brisbane), it was about to get a whole lot weirder as the season was officially suspended. Once the reality hit, Salvatore’s first priority In a cruel year for the iconic MCG, it not only lost the AFL season but also the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup was engaging with his staff given they were journey that led the Tigers claiming back- INCREDIBLE HIGHS AND understandably worried about their jobs and to-back titles, while for Betihavas he is just INCREDIBLE LOWS families. Staff were put onto JobKeeper in content that his team did their bit in a season While it was a challenging season for varying degrees and most initially worked a that will be long remembered. Betihavas and his Metricon team, for the likes staggered four-day week as the hallowed turf “It was certainly a unique one,” reflects of Michael Salvatore (MCG) and Gavin Darby was put into a holding pattern. Betihavas. “We were just one of many who (Melbourne Stadiums Limited) it was equally Usual practices such as a liquid feed played a part. Everyone in Queensland - from as demanding but for vastly different reasons. every week to stimulate growth in between the government to the hospitality industry - put Normally it’s their grounds that are front and games and aeration were reduced, while their hand up to keep the competition running. centre every AFL season, but in 2020 they growth regulators, not normally used at that When we were stood down from March became bit players and could only watch on time of year, were put out to keep growth in through to June it was a pretty scary time. from afar. check. The lighting rigs were still used but in We didn’t know whether we would be coming For Salvatore, executive manager of turf a different configuration. Usually they would back, so we were rapt to able to play our part at the MCG, the year had gotten off to a great be set up in quarters on the northern side of when it did. start, headlined by Australia’s commanding the ground (City End the first part of the week, “It has shown that we can definitely host win in the final of the Women’s T20 World then Punt Road End the second half), but they more games up here. If they can throw a Cup on 8 March. That match was played in were now being deployed where the shadow season like this at us, why couldn’t we host a front of more than 86,000 spectators, just of the stand was. As Salvatore notes it was “a Magic Round here for AFL like they do in the shy of a world record for a women’s sports much more controlled approach” to keep the NRL - I reckon that would be a great initiative. event, with pop star Katy Perry also adding ground “ticking along” in the eventuality that Most of all I think it proved the importance of to the spectacle with a mini concert. That the season would restart. being adaptable. As greenkeepers we have to match signalled the end of the MCG’s cricket One benefit of the 11-week hiatus was constantly adjust things and often very quickly. schedule and once the tournament and how the ground came back from that small The boys adapted as the situation changed concert had bumped out, Salvatore and his renovation after the T20 final. The lack of and stood up to the challenge and I was team got to work converting the ground back wear and tear meant the ground was pure, extremely proud of what we achieved.” for AFL. especially in areas that would typically show the effects of heavy traffic such as the interchange gates. When the call was made to restart, Salvatore immediately went out with a granular fertiliser to kick the ground along. By that stage the turf was looking a little lean, with the growth regulator having done too good a job even though it was put out at a medium rate. With staff back in full-time and the ground looking mint, there was a real positive atmosphere for the first game back - the Round 2 draw between Richmond and Collingwood - and for the next three-and-a- Despite only hosting nine games all season, the MCG did play a unigue part in the Grand Final build up. Utilising HG Turf’s new TurfPrint machine, the surface was turned into a giant canvas, displaying a good luck message to finalists Richmond and Geelong 10 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 half weeks (a total of seven matches) life was seemingly good again. It didn’t last. “We went into that period in really good condition,” recalls Salvatore. “In fact, all the grounds looked sensational after that first break. I was working what would end up being our last game of the year (Melbourne- Richmond) and remember thinking, ‘Gee, how good does the ground look for this time of year’. Obviously we try to have the ground at its best all the time, but I don’t think I have ever seen it in that good a condition. It was amazing to see 100 per cent coverage in July. “We had just started getting back into the swing of things and then it was all over again! We couldn’t believe it was happening and there was a lot more apprehension about Marvel Stadium was resurfaced in two stages in late 2019 and early 2020 (pictured) to provide a better surface for it than the first time. We had no idea when its wealth of 2020 sporting fixtures. Then COVID-19 hit... footy was going to come back and then as time progressed we started hearing talk of the One thing Salvatore didn’t let up on The second involved turning the surface season moving interstate and the prospect during this time (and the earlier hiatus) was into a giant canvas to display a special ‘good of no more games. All along we had planned his fungicide programme. With the ground luck’ message using HG Turf’s new ‘TurfPrint’ that we would be having finals and at least being a bit leaner in that first period, he did technology. The image, which measured 80m the Grand Final, but the longer it went on it notice a few early warning signs of fusarium, wide and 90m high, took around six hours to became more and more apparent that we were something he hasn’t seen in the arena for complete and is believed to be the largest ever fighting a losing battle.” years. It certainly reinforced that their usual placed on a sports field. practices (going out every 28 days during ONE MAN, ONE ARENA winter or when there are other triggers such as A MARVEL-LESS SEASON Sure enough, on 2 September the AFL temperature spikes) were working effectively. Dire. That’s how Salvatore’s cross-Melbourne announced that for the first time in the game’s “It has been a weird experience I can tell counterpart Gavin Darby succinctly sums up history the Grand Final would be played you,” states Salvatore. “It is quite eerie being 2020 in what has been the most inexplicable outside of Victoria at The Gabba. It was the in there with no one else around, but at least season he has experienced since arriving in final twist of the knife, one that had already we have been able to keep it ticking along. I’ve Australia from New Zealand in 2003. For the been wedged even deeper a few weeks been jumping on a mower and doing a few head of arena management at Melbourne earlier when the International Cricket Council jobs that I haven’t done for a while which has Stadiums Limited (MSL), which oversees not postponed the Men’s T20 World Cup. The been a nice change. All in all the ground is in only Marvel Stadium but a number of other MCG was due to host seven games during the good condition now and we will try and do a premier football grounds across the city, it has month-long tournament across October and reno before summer and get the wickets in. been a season where resilience has never November, including the final. “A big focus for me during the lockdown been more important. With Melbourne under harsher restrictions has been keeping the staff informed and It all began midway through last year than the first lockdown, staff cuts followed just being open and honest with them. We when the stadium had contracted a plethora of suit. Of the 14-strong MCC arenas team, 10 would chat weekly to see how everyone was summer events, among them USA v Australia were stood down with only Salvatore and getting on and as soon as any information basketball, UFC 243, RnB Friday, U2, Metallica three others allowed to stay on to manage the was forthcoming, no matter how small, I would (later cancelled), a three-day Jehovah’s facilities (the MCC also maintains Albert Cricket communicate that with the team. It could be Witness convention, motocross and the RMIT Ground, two bowls clubs in Hawthorn and something as simple as sending the guys a Graduation Ceremony which it has held every Beaumaris Secondary College). For the best photo of the ground after I’d given it a cut. You year since opening in 2000. Such is the nature part of the next 16 weeks Salvatore cut a lone underestimate how isolated people can feel by of a multipurpose venue like Marvel, but it did figure as the only member of staff allowed to not being able to go into work. raise concerns about the quality of surface that come into the MCG, without doubt one of the “Keeping them involved and also keeping could be produced for its full fixture of sporting weirdest experiences of his working life. that motivation up has been very important. events in 2020. Like before, the ground went back into Yes, we were building up to have the Grand The decision was made to replace the a holding pattern with a similar reduction Final, but after we lost that it was about looking entire Marvel Stadium surface for the first of practices. Having held seven games, a forward to the next thing we could build for time since opening. The new turf was planted renovation was carried out on the centre and the announcement that the Boxing Day in September and installed in two tranches, square. In a normal season Salvatore would Test will be back was wonderful news.” the first in December 2019 (comprising often replace the centre due to wear and tear, Despite having no games, the MCG the outfield) and second in February 2020 but with plenty of time on his hands and no wasn’t forgotten during Grand Final week (centre, pictured previous page) along with use, he opted to heavily scarify the area, seed with Salvatore involved in two rather unique the replacement of the synthetic boundary. and topdress it before putting the growth lights projects. The first saw AFL partner Rebel pay All existing turf and accumulated organic on. Within a month it had come back perfectly. for two 6m x 1 m strips of turf from the City End matter was removed and the profile cut 50mm Nutrition was backed right off and growth goal square to be harvested and shipped to below the design grade, with 50mm of a new regulators again applied, albeit at lighter rates The Gabba where they were laid outside the rootzone imported before the top 100mm was this time around. player races ahead of the Grand Final. blended and returned to design grade. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 11 AFL “There were no real changes, more just a reduced requirement for any overseeding, slightly lower nutrient inputs and reduced lighting hours,” explains Darby. “We reduced our lighting rig hours by about 30 per cent ■ September due to no use (see Figure 1). Typically we use ■ August a combined shade/wear pattern deployment ■ July strategy, but with no wear and tear we just ■ June ■ May used a shade analysis which reduced lighting ■ April hours and our fertility requirements. ■ March “We continued to maintain Marvel in match condition hoping that footy would return, but to no avail. Once it became apparent the season for Victorian venues was done, we cored all venues, this time being a little more aggressive Figure 1. Marvel Stadium lighting hour trends since the introduction of rigs in 2008. 2020 has seen a reduction of with scarifying and including an oversow at around 30 per cent due to the lack of use 200kg/ha. At North Port Oval we were able to Due to the tight timeframes, the maturity of maintained the five grounds and assisted Brett get in a month earlier than last year with some the turf wasn’t ideal heading into the stadium’s Sullivan at St Kilda’s RSEA Park with product Group B herbicides to take out the ryegrass 2020 fixtures, but presented well for the likes of applications on his two surfaces. This included and start the transition to couch for the an AFL Marsh Community Series match, two deploying lighting rigs in the stadium weekly. impending cricket season. Melbourne Victory A-League games, an AFLW “It was a fairly manic period, but looking “It was amazing to see the benefit to the game and the AFL State of Origin which were back now I’m amazed at what we achieved,” surfaces having no use. We got to consolidate all held prior to a triple-header opening round says Darby. “No meetings, minimal emails, no what we had and made incremental of the AFL season. reports, no use, no traffic on the roads and no improvements each week. We had no “The ground came up pretty good for that line marking certainly helped. We pretty much backwards steps - no triple-header weekends first weekend,” recalls Darby. “We had played kept everything on programme in terms of with the roof closed for three days, curtain- on it every week from the day the new turf had inputs, but we did increase our Primo rates. raisers, kids clinics or kick-to-kicks which in been installed so it hadn’t really had a chance “The lack of use obviously had a July can send you from travelling okay to to set. We did have a lot of grass, but it just considerably positive impact on the surface at being behind the eight ball all within 72 hours. needed some time to mature. Little did we Marvel. We had the roof open and the Victorian The ground is in pretty good shape and it is a know we were about to get a lot of it. climate is generally pretty good through April real shame no one can play on it.” “It was certainly a different week with all and May for ryegrass growth. Aside from that As with all his fellow turf managers, Darby the guidelines and processes implemented earlier coring and topdressing, we didn’t do can point to plenty of lessons learnt from by the AFL that we had to adhere too. All the anything else as we were too flat out covering the past season - what can be achieved entry points to the stadium were locked and the essentials. All the grounds improved when backs are against the wall, the everyone had to enter via the service entrance. immensely due to no use and were in great importance of your staff and their wellbeing, All staff had to have daily temperature checks shape when the players returned.” not to mention just how much wear and tear and fill in an app-based questionnaire. Like impacts a surface, especially one as heavily most places we stopped working in teams and BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW scrutinised as Marvel. Darby is under no increased hygiene protocols. Between the season resuming and then illusions though that while Marvel now has “Everything happened so fast after that first Melbourne going into a second lockdown, a nice healthy mature sward, that will only round and it all became very real very quickly Marvel hosted a further eight games (double­ last until the next concert comes along and when staff begun being stood down across headers across four consecutive weekends), the ground is covered and roof closed for a our entire stadium business. Looking back we with its last game coming on 4 July. The week. The biggest revelation for Darby this certainly underestimated the longevity of the ground presented and performed to a very season, however, has been the importance of situation.” high level, with Darby welcoming the positive appreciating the simpler things in life. Thankfully, in that first week after the feedback on the stadium surface as well as the “Being back on the tools full-time is season was suspended, all staff were kept training venues from the players. something that I have really enjoyed to tell on. That enabled them to core (5/8” tines at Such comments made the announcement you the truth,” says Darby. “I reckon I have cut 2.5” spacings), harvest and topdress Marvel that the season was moving interstate a much more grass in the last six months than I have in Stadium, while on Friday Primo was applied more bitter pill to swallow. What also made it the last 10 years! It has been quite refreshing at high rates to all the other surfaces the team confronting for Darby was the knowledge that and therapeutic actually. Personally, the lowest manages - Whitten Oval, Ikon Park, Princess his team, which were all back on deck, would point was losing the Bledisloe Cup which I was Park No.1 and North Port Oval. again be stood down and the impact that really looking forward to and not being able By the following week, however, the would have on them and their families. to utilise season tickets at GMHBA Stadium changes had been rung, with an 80 per cent Before that was implemented, Darby’s watching the Cats. Hopefully I can sit in the head count reduction and remaining staff team cored Ikon Park and Whitten Oval, even stands next season and eat some meat pies at taking a 20 per cent pay cut. Darby’s turf though it was July. When the cuts came, Darby half-time with my son!” management team was slashed to just himself and Jordan remained on similar terms as Editor’s Note: Understandably due to workload (on normal hours) and Marvel Stadium arena before, but this time they retained two staff on and time constraints, Dave Sandurski (The manager Troy Jordan (four days a week), a three days a week (30 per cent of pre-COVID Gabba) was unable to contribute to this article. reduction from 50 days labour a week to just levels) which enabled them to maintain as ATM hopes to have a story on The Gabba’s nine. For the next four weeks the two of them normal a programme as possible. immense role in a coming edition. 12 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 TINES DIRECT, com.au "Tiny Tine" exclusive to Tines Direct Visit tinesdirect-com-au tiny to view our full range MADE IN GERMANY tine Royal Randwick reaching new heights The fourth instalment of the world’s richest race on turf - The Everest - was recently held at Royal Randwick. Track manager Michael Wood, who took the reins at Sydney’s premier racecourse last August, looks back at his first year in charge and how new technology is playing an emerging role in the management of this unique facility. n the turf sector you don’t start at the top the playing surfaces and facilities as an A FINE STABLE and my story is no different. Beginning opportunity to develop my leadership and The Australian Turf Club (ATC) is made up I with an apprenticeship push-mowing and whipper-snipping rock-infested, barely grassed areas, it is quite difficult to see yourself progressing to maintaining the hallowed turf of Sydney’s prestigious Royal Randwick racecourse or writing an article for the Australian Sports Turf Managers management skills. An involvement in racing continued to linger in my mind and fortuitously a role as an assistant racecourse manager at The Australian Turf Club, Canterbury Park arose. This was where I identified the different world of managing racing surfaces and of four key racing venues - Canterbury Park, Warwick Farm, Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick - and is the only racing jurisdiction in the Sydney area. All tracks are kikuyu based that are oversown with annual ryegrass through the winter months. All venues now have a Polytrack training surface made Association. its challenges. It really is a different beast from sand, fibres and a wax component in During the early days of my career with all together from all other disciplines of its arsenal to reduce the load on our grass a contract maintenance company, I was able turf management. Preparing a sports turf surfaces. to develop and hone my skills within multiple environment with the correct moisture content In total, ATC venues comprise 278 disciplines in our industry. Along with attending for both turf health and horse cushion while hectares, 27 tracks totalling 64 hectares of Richmond TAFE, exposure to cricket wickets, running those 550kg animals over it and an racing and training surface for 1700 stabled tennis courts, croquet lawns and sporting expectation the turf won’t kick out is without horses across our venues, each with their own fields enabled firm understanding of turfgrass question difficult. character and elements that affect racing style principles and how they can be transferred Due to the improved practices of and patterns. between situations. This exposure has been racecourse managers around the country, the Canterbury Park, managed by the catalyst in trying to change the mindset of expectation placed upon racing surfaces today Greg Carmody, is a tight-turning 1550m maintaining racing surfaces like a ‘paddock’ is as high as any other sports turf situation circumference track that doesn’t hold training which has been the norm for so long. and I for one am proud and looking forward to and has excelled in the night racing space My passion for racing definitely grew continued improvement and innovation in turf through the summer months. Greg has been over time as my first recollections of the practices applied to racing. at Canterbury for 34 years and was my initial sport were listening to my uncle’s radio and I couldn’t stand it. However, the older I got the more interest I took in the ‘Sport of Kings’ and it pushed me into racecourse maintenance directly out of my apprenticeship to the Australian Jockey Club and Warwick Farm racecourse in Sydney. Two years there and I was drawn back into sports fields at Cabramatta Rugby League Club to manage Left: Sydney’s Royal Randwick racecourse will forever be linked to iconic mare Winx who won 20 races there during a storied career, among them three successive Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes, four consecutive TAB Chipping Norton Stakes, three Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes, The Star Doncaster Mile in 2016 and the TAB Epsom in 2015 Right: Royal Randwick racecourse manager Michael Wood (centre) has a team of 25 staff that ensure the various tracks, gardens and lawns are maintained to world-class standards SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 15 RACING Royal Randwick’s spectacular Theatre of the Horse As part of the ATC tracks master planning undertakings, there are plans to rebuild our major centres’ Course Propers in due course to ensure we provide the best tracks possible, however, I believe with the correct maintenance processes we are now undertaking a marked improvement will be seen. TAKING THE REINS August 1,2019 saw a changing of the guard of sorts at the ATC with Lindsay Murphy (former general manager of racecourses) moving on and Nevesh Ramdhani and myself assuming new roles as general manager of racecourses and Royal Randwick racecourse manager. Lindsay was without doubt the racing man’s racecourse manager. His racing mentor while I was his assistant. It is often land - Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Peter knowledge was unparalleled and ability to referred to as the training ground for future and Paul Snowden, Anthony Cummings and walk into any racing centre and know a dozen managers as multiple former assistants have John O’Shea to name a few. people was uncanny. Lindsay moving on after progressed to hold racecourse manager In late 2017 I moved across from such long service to the industry (42 years) positions following their stints at Canterbury Canterbury Park to the assistant’s role at was well earned and as it stands he is still Park. Royal Randwick and during that time I thought the chairman of the Australian Racecourse Warwick Farm, led by Mark Jones, also a I threw myself at all aspects and was well Managers Association. He was a good former Canterbury assistant, is predominately prepared to take that next step to become a sounding board when decisions needed to be a mid-week racing venue, however, holds the racecourse manager. To an extent that was made around race day preparation and this is most amount of horses in training in NSW correct, however, the parts you don’t see something Nevesh is also very adept in. at 750. Rosehill Gardens manager Shaun are the relationships and interaction with In his new role, Nevesh (the former Royal Patterson has progressed from apprentice stakeholders (large and small) that are the key Randwick racecourse manager) oversees all to racecourse manager at the home of the to succeeding in a role like this. Being able to ATC tracks and 90 staff which is a challenge he Golden Slipper and emerging races such be fluid and problem solve are things you learn has taken head on and from my perspective as The Golden Eagle. With a Course Proper on the run and interacting with trainers is a has been a great appointment. He has brought circumference of 2048m it is our other prime example of how important this is. in a sense and focus on collaboration between Saturday racing venue with 23 meetings and The Kensington track has been rebuilt two managers which enables us all to share issues also home to 400 horses. times in the past five years. Multiple issues and discuss as a team. Royal Randwick ‘headquarters’ has the were identified with the initial rebuild thus The notion of tracks are treated like most tracks, races and carnivals within the the second build was undertaken. A more paddocks could not be further from the truth ATC. With two racing surfaces - the Course traditional sandy loam profile with a male and I am thankful that Nevesh and I share the Proper (9ha and 2224m circumference) sterile kikuyu turf type has been used in the same view. Applications of white urea and and Kensington track (4ha and 2100m current track. I began at Randwick one week potash as a balanced fertiliser programme circumference) - we conduct 47 meetings per after completion of the track. It certainly has its no longer cuts it. The Randwick fertiliser racing year. There are seven training surfaces challenges but show me a surface that doesn’t. programme has a continual base of controlled- open for use - the Polytrack (3.5ha), Steeple track (grass, 3ha), B track (grass, 2.8ha), Sand track (1.5ha), Jumps track (1.7ha), Sand Trotting track (1 ha), Bullring (0.5ha) - along with an equine pool which ensures a high workload is ever present. Thankfully I have a fantastic, skilled and highly motivated team of 25 staff that ensures our surfaces, gardens and lawns are maintained to the world-class standard that is expected. It is a seven-day-a-week, 365-day- a-year operation as we have 550 horses in training for the 16 trainers at Randwick, some of whom are the most famous trainers in the Like all ATC tracks, Royal Randwick is kikuyu based and oversown with annual ryegrass through the winter months. With the extension of Royal Randwick’s Spring Carnival and addition of The Everest, a new variety of ryegrass - Duraturf Bolta - was used this season 16 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Sydney’s Royal Randwick racecourse is the headquarters of The Australian Turf Club. It comprises two main racing surfaces - the Course Proper (9ha and 2224m circumference) and Kensington track (4ha and 2100m circumference) release fertiliser backed up by foliar fertilisers microclimate within that sward and also the for irrigation. This can so often be the root around need, dependent upon upcoming ability to put product where you want it. Mite of many turf issues and I’m lucky to have racing fixtures. This balanced programme has control and preventative insect pest control is a a very good water source. Irrigation cycles seen a reduction in fungicides and more a major focus of our IPM programme due to the must be completed when conditions are most proactive/preventative fungicide programme high impact and damage to the turf following favourable due to the overwhelming need for introduced. I also attribute this to the meetings and ensuring the ability to recover consistency and constant use of the word elimination of excess rolling of the track and isn’t inhibited. ‘bias’ in racing. Thus the majority of irrigation increased frequency of mowing. Re-introduction of wetting agents proved takes place between 11 pm and 4am when the A typical week would see mowing occur invaluable for me through last year’s brutal wind is low before track work begins. three times at an average heigh of cut of summer. Working with a 20-year-old Course This season also saw a change in the 85mm with that height to decrease as we show Proper, perennial dry spots will quickly become ryegrass used at both Randwick and Rosehill. participants that the kikuyu will provide a better evident, however, utilising Tricure last season Traditionally an Italian ryegrass named Tetila quality surface at lower heights. Using three I was very happy with the results. For a long was used, however, with the extension of our 72”deck zero turns this will take five hours to time wetting agents held a certain stigma Spring Carnival and the eyes of the world complete the Course Proper and is one area I from either misuse or misinformation, but I on Randwick for Everest day, I needed a rye am investigating efficiencies and quality of cut have found it a useful component of my track that would still be in good condition and not moving forward. management programme. transitioning before this carnival. So far I am Cutting at such a high height presents One blessing I have at Royal Randwick more than happy with the Duraturf Bolta which its own challenges, namely around the is the quality and availability of bore water was seeded back in April. OUT OF THE GATES The Championships in Autumn and Everest Carnival in Spring are the major milestones that we work towards each year. In the autumn major races including the Doncaster Handicap (1600m), Australian Derby (2400m), Queen Elizabeth (2000m) and TJ Smith (1200m) make up the three week straight carnival. The Everest Carnival in the spring is fast becoming Royal Randwick hosts 47 race meetings during the year with The Championships in autumn and Everest Carnival in spring the major milestones Wood and his team work towards SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 17 RACING a strong competitor to the Melbourne carnival 20.5ha of grass surfaces and review it within which I have always loved. Holding the richest minutes is an invaluable tool in my opinion and race in the world on turf - The Everest - at will continue to be rolled out to all ATC venues Randwick is an immense thrill as the eyes to help improve our tracks. of the world descend on your patch of turf. During these peak periods we are able to REACHING THE SUMMIT call on staff from other venues to aid in the Everest Day 2020 came around pretty quick maintenance of our facilities. this year and certainly had a much different The beauty of having a fixed racing feel than this year’s Championship which programme allows you to prepare your was held under strict lockdown. Although, programmes and get your timings correct to racing has been relatively COVID unaffected, have the track and surrounds at their peak for apart from the impact of loss of crowds to our key dates. Each major carnival requires over events, the racing and training component 10,000 annual plants to fill spaces within our have been as hectic as ever. gardens and around the Theatre of the Horse. Over the past season we actually picked While all carnivals are always in the back up meetings from other venues who weren’t as of your mind, the majority of my planning will well equipped to adhere to COVID protocols commence on the back of the previous one. which put added pressure on our racing I find that early planning allows you to firstly surfaces that were already badly affected by an This past season has seen Wood using drone learn from any mistakes or things you could overly wet winter. I am happy with the current technology to assist with his track programmes. NDVI have done better and make those changes imagery can quickly pinpoint turf under stress condition of my surface and our planning has it within the plan in the present. It also allows you in as good a condition as possible considering to manipulate and alter that plan with added photos are also extremely useful in day-to-day our busy racing programme. time to reflect on what works. Dealing with a observations and as a way of comparison from Post Everest, we then look forward to living thing, Mother Nature (who loves to throw month to month and year to year. renovations in November after Melbourne Cup a curve ball from time to time) and the odd As a rule, I will have it flown over the Day which is always a great time of the year. pandemic to boot, certainly accentuates that course on the Thursday prior to a race meeting We will spray out our ryegrass eight days prior, need to be fluid in planning. and again on the Monday or Tuesday to break scarify, one-inch hollow tine core, sweep then down the wear and damage from the meeting topdress with about 750 tonnes of sand. The NEW HEIGHTS and ensure our efforts are concentrated where requirement is to race on the Course Proper One new tool we have used since February most required. The pre-race day flight identifies again on 12 December giving us a five-week 2020 is the Double 4K Multispectral Sensor possible drainage or irrigation requirements turnaround start to finish. from Sentera. Brought to me by John Legge that can be adjusted before the race meeting Being the racecourse manager at Royal who is part of our AV team, it was something I and ensures no significant sub-surface issues Randwick is, like all turf manager roles, knew about however never really gave it much are arising that we may not see with the naked rewarding and full of pressure. But pressure thought. As the ATC had its own drone for eye. It has also been useful in the justification is privilege and being able to see your work other uses within the business, I purchased the of rail moves which are sometimes called into as a platform for these elegant animals to sensor and it was easily fitted. Being someone question by participants and this imagery is perform upon is a pressure that I will gladly who loves new techniques and trialling new irrefutable. undertake. The best part of my role is talking products, I jumped at the opportunity to utilise I have heard plenty of chat about why to others about it and teaching them some of this piece of kit as John could fly it upon don’t you just walk the areas yourself and I can the idiosyncrasies within it; my door is always request. To my knowledge no other racecourse guarantee you that still happens. But to cover open.^ in the world has been using this as part of its maintenance and who doesn’t love being the first! Without having used this software previously it was hard to set an exact scope for what data I was looking to extract and how it would help with my practices. However, the more we used it the more we take from it. Having the ability to view the surface using the NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index) filter allows me to identify turf health broken down significantly to see variances and what may be making that occur. It also educates my decisions on fertiliser practices, irrigation needs and potential disease related issues. Traditionally racecourses were sprayed in their entirety if disease or other issues were found and while in some cases this practice remains, there have been several times already where we have identified exact areas and treated them alone, saving plenty of money in the process. NIR (near infra-red) and RGB Mite control and preventative insect pest control is a major focus of Royal Randwick’s IPM programme 18 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Fully dissolved in the bottle Fully dissolved in the tank Fully dissolved out of the nozzle Fully dissolved on the leaf For the Control of Couch Mite in Turf Thumper turf Insecticide culture 20 g/L Abamectin REDEVELOPMENTS oint Lonsdale is a coastal would be equivalent to about $400 in today’s members) and the largest membership outside township on Victoria’s Bellarine money. The greenskeeper was assisted by a of metropolitan Melbourne. Three quarters of P Peninsula, about a 30 minute drive east of Geelong. Point Lonsdale is one of the headlands nine-member volunteer team each given the responsibility of one green to tend for. The fairways were originally sown with a mix of which, along with Point Nepean on theKentucky blue, Indian and common couches. It Mornington Peninsula side, frame the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. A nine-hole course at Point Lonsdale is unknown what the greens mix was, but can only assume it would have been similar to the blend seeded on the Melbourne Sandbelt at a the way through the current redevelopment the club is quickly approaching that original number. A LONG ROAD The original course at Lonsdale had changed numerous times throughout the 1980s and was opened for play in 1922 after 30 acres of similar time in history. 1990s, mostly to do with safety problems land was purchased between the coast and In 1937 the club purchased an additional associated with roads and some residential Lake Victoria. The land featured rolling sand 52 acres and added four new holes which boundaries. The last major changes occurred dunes covered in scattered Moonah forests. were designed by the Morcom’s (Mick and when some holes down by Lake Victoria were Thousands of years ago the land would have Vern of Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath added on land which was once mined for shell been atop the primary sand dunes when Lake fame) and opened in 1939. The remaining grit to use in bird cages. (As an aside, when Victoria was linked directly to Bass Strait. holes to make up a full 18-hole layout came we renovated these holes as part of the current Originally called Point Lonsdale Golf into play in 1954. It is interesting to note that redevelopment, many shells came to the Links, it employed its first ‘greenskeeper’ Point Lonsdale Golf Links once had one of surface. The shells are quite visible on these in 1932 for three pounds per week, which the largest memberships in the state (1250 lake holes and will become a unique feature 20 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 PHOTO: NICK WALL7AIRSWING MEDIA Under construction over the past two years, Lonsdale Links (formerly Lonsdale Golf Club) has undergone a dramatic transformation by course architects OCM. Director Ashley Mead outlines some of the intriguing design elements which are a deliberate throwback to an earlier age of course design. of the new course and something that ties the instead relying on quick coupling valves and The permitting process to get to where we land back to the original industry that once travelling sprinklers. Over recent years couch are now has been very long and challenging, occupied the ground.) encroachment had also become an issue in a with approvals required from local, state and During this time the club had limited few of the greens. federal governments. A large amount of the resources with low course staff numbers It was around 2000 when the club approvals were based around the orange- and limited machinery, but despite this the embarked on its current redevelopment path. bellied parrot and its environment, hence course was always maintained to a good The redevelopment involved subdividing some almost 15 years in the development and standard. In terms of its playing surfaces, the of the existing course to make way for a 102- planning phases. During that time the property course was relatively low maintenance. Being lot residential subdivision and purchasing boundaries changed along the way which predominately on sand meant that fairway turf some additional land from a neighbouring forced us to look at alternate concepts and was often lean with a mix of different grasses farmer. We became involved around that time at one stage we even did a plan for a 12-hole which played almost links-like. A couple of and originally looked at another parcel of land course. holes had unfortunately been taken over to replace the holes that had been earmarked The new 18-hole golf course which has by kikuyu which meant they didn’t play as for redevelopment. This land was very low eventually come to life over the past two firm and linksy. The finer dune sand of the lying and even though it had been mined for years is essentially a new course, with a Bellarine Peninsula is very conducive to being shell grit, a lot of indigenous vegetation had new clubhouse designed by Wood Marsh able to create firm conditions. The irrigation regrown. As part of the negotiations with the Architecture. Due to COVID-19 and the system was also quite basic and the club authorities it was deemed that this land would restrictions imposed in Victoria, it has been a had no automatic irrigation in the fairways, be difficult to get a permit for golf holes. little difficult to plan for a grand opening, but SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 21 REDEVELOPMENTS PHOTO: WILLIAM WATT/CADDIE PRODUCTIONS Lonsdale’s new 16th takes inspiration from St Andrew’s famous 17th Road hole, with a post-and-rail fence behind the green and deep bunker at the front which is fed by the surrounding contours. Lake Victoria can be seen at the top of the photo everything is scheduled to be completed by inspiration we have incorporated some of • Sandy terrain; the end of 2020. As a part of the rebranding their famed templates - such as the Biarritz, • Close to the water - Lonsdale has of the club, its name has been changed to Redan, thumbprint and cape style greens expansive views across Lake Victoria, something that closely reflects the original - and holes - into the new Lonsdale Links as whereas National Golf Links looks over Lonsdale Links. a deliberate throwback to an earlier age of both Bulls Head and Peconic Bays; course architecture. • Minimal tall vegetation throughout the A UNIQUE LAYOUT Such an approach had been discussed course and expanses of golden rough; The Bellarine Peninsula boasts some great at OCM prior to this project and in Lonsdale • Rises and falls in elevation - Lonsdale courses and from the very early stages of this we finally found a site and a client that suited has a large elevation change allowing for project we wanted to do something different. the concept perfectly. The site at Lonsdale expansive vistas across the course. The To create another course similar to those has many similarities to National Golf Links of National Golf Links view from the Alps (3rd already nearby would have not only been America, a course we visited and studied in hole) or its famous windmill is also quite challenging for the club and its long-term 2012. Among them are; expansive. viability, but it also wouldn’t assist the region in creating a golfing destination with varying golfing experiences. We had always discussed with the club the importance of trying to be unique from their competitors and to the Board’s credit they have been really supportive of the concept we presented to them. The works of iconic golf course architects C.B. Macdonald (founder and architect of the National Golf Links of America) and Seth PHOTO: NICK WALL/AIRSWING MEDIA Raynor have always been of interest to us at OCM. Their work was much different to that of the Sandbelt - a simpler looking design with straight lines, rolled in bunker faces and some quirky features. Using their work as Much like C.B Macdonald’s original sketch of Chicago Golf Club, OCM have gone with straight lines to define Lonsdale’s fairway and green shapes and bunkering 22 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Lonsdale’s ‘cape style’ 15th (right of photo) plays around a large salt marsh to a sguare green measuring 520m2 9 A mix of land forms - both have sections that are quite low and almost feel tidal and quite close to the water table. PHOTO: WILLIAM WATT/CADDIE PRODUCTIONS When we discussed the design templates as a group, it was never the idea to try and replicate them, rather it was more about getting inspiration from them. For example, Lonsdale’s new 16th hole - a drivable short par four tucked up against the boundary (see main photo left) - takes inspiration from St Andrew’s famous 17th Road hole. At Lonsdale a post-and-rail fence has replaced the stonewall, while the Road hole bunker is more central on our green. The bunker carries similar characteristics - it is quite deep with a fairway is then played over a large hazard. was quite challenging given that we typically steep face - but it is all about the surrounding A Moonah tree in the middle of the fairway go with long flowing shapes that reflect the contours and making them feed the ball helped define our concept here as it wasn’t ground contours. Many of the shapes are towards the bunker, thus making its influence permitted to be removed and now sits perfectly marked out with a string line which is keeping much greater than the small section of sand. in the middle adjoining the ground hazard. the groundstaff on the ball when mowing! The punchbowl green on Lonsdale’s Other templates or distinctive features we new 11th actually came about by the need to have gained inspiration from include; OUT OF THE GROUND screen the irrigation dam. An approach to the • A ‘cape style’ hole on the 15th which plays The construction period for the new course 11th is played from the highest point on the around a large salt marsh; was two years, roughly broken down to a year property and you look towards the township • A Biarritz green on the 2nd hole; per nine which included grow-in. It has taken of Ocean Grove in the distance. Unfortunately, • North Berwick’s 15th, known as the original about six months longer due to some delays being quite high also allowed you to see into ‘Redan’ hole, was used as the concept for with permits, but at the time of writing (early the dam where the water levels will fluctuate the 14th; October) we are on the home stretch now with the seasons. The solution was to actually • A ‘Hell’ bunker protects the approach to with construction just about completed, which cut the green down lower, raise the bank of the the par five 13th green; should give us about two months to groom the storage facility to look more like a dune and • The 12th green is inspired by the course for opening. nestle the green at its base. A couple of ridges ‘thumbprint’ greens of Chicago Golf Club’s As with all our national projects, we tend have been built at the front that will be covered 10th or the 18th at The Greenbrier; and to build them ourselves with our own staff and in fescue to enclose the punchbowl. • A ‘principal’s nose’ bunker on the long par equipment. Often this includes utilising some Lonsdale’s 1st is based on the ‘Alps’ five 3rd. of the existing course staff during construction. template. A tee shot high over the hill on the Much like the original sketch of Chicago We find this is a good learning experience for left will finish close to the green, whereas a Golf Club, we have gone with straight lines many who have never had the opportunity to tee shot to the lower shorter right section of to define the fairway and green shapes. This work on a construction site. Borehole/Submersible Pumps IRRIGATION, WATER TRANSFER Have complete control of your borehole water with the Lowara e-GS Series and Z Series range of pumps. • Stainless steel • Robust design and hard wearing • Corrosion I abrasion resistant • Longer lifetime and reduced lifecycle costs Contact us to find the right solution for your irrigation and water transfer requirements. Brown Brothers £1 J Engineers W Australia Pty Ltd SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 23 REDEVELOPMENTS and re-turfed the faces and hopefully they will hold up better through the summer months approaching. Point Lonsdale is an incredibly windy site and this is something that has made the grow-in quite challenging. PHOTOS THIS PAGE: WILLIAM WATT/CADDIE PRODUCTIONS COMMUNITY HUB An important component of the redevelopment has been to instil a community feel to the facility. To this end a public park and walking track has been added adjacent to the clubhouse and a children’s playground has been constructed next to a kiosk that will sell takeaway coffee and wood-fired pizzas. Multi-purpose spaces have also been created within the clubhouse which can be used for community activities such as yoga. As part of the redevelopment we have also The success of any project is always a • Greens: An A1/A4 blend was chosen designed a short course within the new driving result of the quality of the staff and we are based on the success of those grasses on range. We have always thought driving ranges lucky at Lonsdale to have a great team. Onsite the Mornington Peninsula and that they were a bit one dimensional given the space the project has been led by Rob Swift who has require less intense maintenance than that they occupied, so we have built a six-hole acted as the grow-in superintendent/project Pure Distinction. Also we like the mottled par three course inside its boundaries. When manager/design sounding board and Heath appearance a blend gives, especially in the range is in play the greens will double as D’Altera has been our superintendent who coastal locations. targets as they have been built to accept balls came across from Kingston Heath Golf Club • Fairways: Santa Ana couchgrass from multiple directions. mid-2019. established from sprigs. The old fairways The par three course will be called All the greens are constructed with an had large amounts of kikuyu which we ‘Mulligans’ (yes, you will be able to have one imported sand that varies in depth between have almost eliminated. Once this is under mulligan a round) with each hole measuring 300-400mm depending on the base material. control we will look at oversowing the under 100m. The greens are quite undulating If we had a heavy base sand we installed fairways with fine fescue. as we want people to have fun. The hope is 400mm of sand and included some sub­ • Roughs: Fine fescue and common couch. during school holidays and daylight savings surface drainage, whereas if it was a free- Revegetation has also been a key part that this area becomes a hangout for families draining base sand we installed 300mm of the redevelopment with around 100,000 and local kids. Things like local food tasting of sand. The infiltration rate of the sand is indigenous plants contract grown by station nights, food vans, music and movie between 250-300mm per hour and was Environmental Golf Solutions and installed. nights are something we would like to see on sourced from a nearby quarry. With works split across nines in different Mulligans in the future. For our grassing strategies we worked with years, we did make a few adjustments during Together with the unique design of the agronomist John Neylan who has continued to the second stage. In the first stage we seeded main course we hope the new Lonsdale Links advise us throughout the construction process. the rolled down section of bunker lips with a facility adds another great golfing destination After plenty of discussion, we have gone with fine fescue blend which established quite well option for the Bellarine Peninsula. The greatest the following varieties; through the cooler months but struggled in the satisfaction ultimately will come from the fine sand during the warmer windier months. project’s success and to see a club that was For the second stage we had some Santa once struggling turn into a vibrant sustainable Ana oversown with the fine fescue contract facility. To steal a line from when the original grown and have solid turfed all the bunker course was opened in 1922, Lonsdale Links is edges. To keep the grassing consistent, we “a place where the wild sea waves gives a zest have gone back to our stage one bunkers for golf.”^ 24 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 INTRODUCING the ALL IR530 ROUGH MOWER BEST EVER SMALLER DECKS FOR SIMPLIFIED TRACTION TIGHT UNDULATIONS MAINTENANCE Built for your success <2 V A GROUND-UP REDESIGN of a GREAT MACHINE ue re just made EVEN BETTER f f LEE ERIE, JACOBSEN PRODUCT MANAGER, AUGUSTA BOOK A TEST DRIVE NOW AT: JACOBSEN jacobsenbuilt.com I +44 (0)1473 276287 Cm. The fact that annual rainfall is now well below the long-term average in many areas of Australia ;C means there is an increasing demand for water to irrigate sports turf surfaces fter what has already been The efficient and effective On projects where water has been a a difficult year for many turf limiting factor, they challenge conventional A facilities around the country, turf managers across all sectors are now gearing up for the management of water continues to be one of the most critical aspects warmer months and the many challenges that can present. Foremost in the minds of turf managers will be the irrigation season and managing their water resources to sustain their facing all sectors of the Australian turf industry. Over the next three thinking about irrigation. On these projects it is all about “this is all the water that will be available”. In reviewing the water requirements for such projects the key factors have been; • Cost of water - this is probably the single most important influence on how much water will be available; and turf surfaces to acceptable levels. • Security of supply - that is, in times of low The judicious use of water has without articles, ATM columnist John rainfall will there be water available? question become one of the industry’s greatest It then becomes an exercise of modern challenges. Climate change is seeing Neylan joins with AGCSATech’s determining; an increase of the irrigation season across • How much water do we actually require to many states, while water availability and quality Bruce Macphee to look at the many achieve a desirable turf quality? It could be issues have forced many to undertake major that some projects become unsustainable reassessments of where they derive their water ways turf managers can effectively and should not be undertaken. from and their irrigation strategies. Golf clubs • How do we better programme our and turf facilities continue to invest serious utilise, enhance and secure their irrigation applications? capital into improving irrigation infrastructure • What are the minimum water quality and safeguarding their future water sources, most precious resource. requirements? with water management planning now a critical Over this and the following two articles step for all to ensure future viability. • There has been a decline of around 11 ATM looks at the topic of water management, As this and the following two articles were per cent since the mid-1990s in the April- providing a review of the fundamentals of being penned, the Bureau of Meteorology October growing season rainfall in the irrigation, water quality and alternative water (BOM) announced in September that Australia continental southeast. sources, as well as case studies that highlight is entering a period of La Nina. A La Nina cycle • Rainfall has increased across parts of the challenges that turf managers faced and typically results in an increase in the chance northern Australia since the 1970s. how they have been addressed. of above average rainfall across much of the • Soil moisture is projected to decrease and This information has been derived from the country during spring and above average future runoff will decrease where rainfall is in-depth Irrigation Workshop which featured on summer rainfall across eastern Australia, with projected to decrease. the final day of the 2019 Australasian Turfgrass the indicators suggesting the remainder of The purpose of this report was to Conference in Brisbane. The authors thank 2020 will be wetter than average. provide the science to help inform a range of those who participated in that session and for Interestingly, in the same statement the economic, environmental and social decision­ allowing this series of follow-up articles. Bureau highlighted the influence of climate making and local vulnerability assessments by change and that Australia’s climate has government, industry and communities. The IRRIGATION SCHEDULING AND warmed by around 1.4°C since 1910, while turf industry certainly fits within these interest WATER REQUIREMENTS southern Australia has seen a 10-20 per areas and highlights the need for localised At the core of effectively irrigating sports turf cent reduction in cool-season rainfall (April- reviews of the impacts of climate change to surfaces is the ability to calculate annual October) in recent decades. Reading between be undertaken. Initiating a site specific water water requirements and having a thorough the lines it is a subtle reminder that while we management plan will be a key undertaking by understanding of how much water they require may experience higher spring/summer rainfall all turf water users to understand how much on a monthly basis. this year, we are still in a drying climate. water is available and how best to use it. Turf managers are blessed with the range At the 2018 Australasian Turfgrass The single biggest ‘take home’ message of technology available nowadays to assist Conference in New Zealand, John Neylan from the climate change reports is how the turf them in the decision-making process on how presented a paper that reviewed the possible industry will manage the impacts of a changing much water to apply and when. Soil moisture effects of climate change on turf management. climate on water management planning and sensors, hand-held moisture probes and The literature on climate change consistently conservation. This is particularly the case weather stations linked to irrigation computers references the effects on rainfall and therefore where there is increasing competition for the are just some of the tools at a turf manager’s water availability. That is, the changing climate available water. disposal. In addition to this, having a good will affect water demand and availability by; • Rainfall being more spasmodic; • Increased periods of drought; • Increasing temperatures; and • Increasing evaporation rate. As part of that presentation he referenced the “State of the Climate 2016” report, a joint publication by the CSIRO and the Bureau. In it, Australia’s climate was summarised as follows; • The duration, frequency and intensity of extreme heat events have increased across large parts of Australia. • May-July rainfall has reduced by 19 per cent since 1970 in southwest Australia. Use hand-held TDR moisture probes to identify and hand-water dry spots only rather than over-irrigate areas SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 27 IRRIGATION understanding of the local environment and pass beyond the rootzone through drainage. environmental stewardship and may assist in weather conditions is critical. Based on the above factors, effective rainfall is negotiating access to this vital resource. There is a great deal of information generally considered at 50 per cent of the total Estimating your water requirements using available on the BOM website (www.bom. recorded and needs to be taken into account the method above is an excellent starting point gov.au) in relation to historical weather data, when calculating irrigation requirements. to understand your monthly and annual needs. annual rainfall and evaporation (or Epan) Average monthly rainfall data, including long Regular monitoring and recording of water data. This information is the vital first step term averages, can be located on the BOM use using flow meters will allow adjustment of in calculating annual water requirements. website. irrigation scheduling and keep water use on Information on evapotranspiration results for target. Using local weather station data or an your nearest weather station can be found at SYSTEM EFFICIENCY onsite weather station linked to your system www.bom.gov.au/watl/eto/. Plant water use Inefficiencies in irrigation delivery, which will be will allow fine-tuning of irrigation scheduling or evapotranspiration (ET) can be calculated discussed in the following articles, also need based on daily ET rates. using local climatic data from the BOM website to be taken into account when calculating A key factor in fine-tuning the irrigation and using a crop factor, based on soil types, water requirements. Losses can be attributed scheduling is regular monitoring of turf health turf species, management practices and to uneven application, wind, misting and and playing surface quality. Keep in mind the desired level of turf quality. evaporation. These factors all result in water following points: The crop factor calculation will vary not reaching the target area which needs to be • Technology allows accurate monitoring of between warm- and cool-season grasses and factored in to water requirements. A minimum water use and should be encouraged; the intended use of the surface. A couchgrass irrigation efficiency of 80 per cent is considered • It is simply too easy to overwater at the fairway may produce an acceptable surface acceptable under ideal operating conditions, push of a button; with a crop factor as low as 0.4, whereas however, for the purpose of this exercise 75 • The introduction of in-ground soil a bentgrass golf green will require a much per cent has been used as the minimum moisture sensors will allow more effective higher crop factor (up to 0.8) to maintain an efficiency. monitoring of plant water requirements and acceptable surface. Another way to describe The table below has been set up using irrigation efficiencies; this is that you would need to replace 40 per BOM data collected for Sydney Airport. Mean • Encourage staff to work in millimetres not cent of the total water lost to evaporation monthly rainfall and evaporation (Epan) totals minutes. Understanding ET and irrigation (Epan) for couchgrass or 80 per cent for are used to provide base data for monthly delivery in mm brings it all together. bentgrass to maintain an adequate surface. ET irrigation requirement calculations. These • Use hand-held TDR moisture probes to is calculated by the following equation; are multiplied by the desired crop factor identify and hand-water dry spots only Evaporation (Epan) x Crop Factor (CF) to estimate the volume of water required rather than over-irrigating the entire area. = Evapotranspiration (ET) per hectare to maintain turf at the desired • Providing conditions where water can enter Rainfall data is also taken into account standard. This figure can then be multiplied the profile without the barrier of excessive when determining monthly water requirements. over the total area for each surface to give an thatch or compaction. The amount of rainfall that can actually be estimate of the annual total water requirement. • Apply wetting agents to assist even water used by the plant is referred to as ‘effective movement through the profile. rainfall’. Unfortunately, rainfall does not always FINE-TUNING SCHEDULING The turf industry has been proactive in occur at the time of year or in the volumes Access to water for golf and sports turf utilising alternate water sources and should and the frequency required. Heavy downpours irrigation will continue to be placed under continue to improve the efficient use of this that exceed the soil infiltration rate will often greater scrutiny with a variable climate and a precious resource. A big part of this is also result in run off, whereas light rainfall in the limited resource. Knowledge of annual water education and getting clubs to change their peak of summer often evaporates before being requirements and the ability to manage and perceptions of what is acceptable turf quality taken up by the plant. Sandy profiles with monitor water use effectively will demonstrate and what is an acceptable playing surface limited storage capacity will often see water responsible management practices and given the available resources.^ Sydney: Sample Water Budget - Average Year Warm Season Turf CF = 0.4 Warm Season Turf CF = 0.5 Warm Season Turf CF = 0.6 Warm Season Turf CF = 0.7 Effective Evap Pan Net Evap Irrigated Irrigation Irrigated Irrigation Irrigated Irrigation Irrigated Irrigation Rain mm Rainfall mm mm Evap Crop Area Required Evap Crop Area Required Evap Crop Area Required Evap Crop Area Required Sydney Net Evap x Irr. Deficit / Net Evap x Irr. Deficit / Net Evap x Irr. Deficit / Net Evap x Irr. Deficit / Sydney Airport Evap - CF (0.4) Irr.Effic x CF (O.5) Irr.Effic x CF (0.6) Irr.Effic x CF (0.7) Irr.Effic x Area Formula Airport 0.5 Average Effec Rain mm Area Ha Area (ML) mm Area Ha Area (ML) mm Area Ha Area (ML) mm Area Ha (ML) January 94.1 47.1 226.4 179.4 71.7 1.0 0.96 89.7 1.0 1.20 107.6 1.0 1.43 125.5 1.0 1.67 February 114.2 57.1 206.8 149.7 59.9 1.0 0.80 74.9 1.0 1.00 89.8 1.0 1.20 104.8 1.0 1.40 March 118.1 59.1 181.8 122.8 49.1 1.0 0.65 61.4 1.0 0.82 73.7 1.0 0.98 85.9 1.0 1.15 April 106 53.0 123.4 70.4 28.2 1.0 0.38 35.2 1.0 0.47 42.2 1.0 0.56 49.3 1.0 0.66 May 95.3 47.7 123.8 76.2 30.5 1.0 0.41 38.1 1.0 0.51 45.7 1.0 0.61 53.3 1.0 0.71 June 124.8 62.4 70.1 7.7 3.1 1.0 0.04 3.9 1.0 0.05 4.6 1.0 0.06 5.4 1.0 0.07 July 69.2 34.6 103.4 68.8 27.5 1.0 0.37 34.4 1.0 0.46 41.3 1.0 0.55 48.2 1.0 0.64 August 75.5 37.8 137.0 99.3 39.7 1.0 0.53 49.6 1.0 0.66 59.6 1.0 0.79 69.5 1.0 0.93 September 59.7 29.9 155.0 125.2 50.1 1.0 0.67 62.6 1.0 0.83 75.1 1.0 1.00 87.6 1.0 1.17 October 70.1 35.1 213.4 178.4 71.3 1.0 0.95 89.2 1.0 1.19 107.0 1.0 1.43 124.8 1.0 1.66 November 79.9 40.0 268.4 228.5 91.4 1.0 1.22 114.2 1.0 1.52 137.1 1.0 1.83 159.9 1.0 2.13 December 72.8 36.4 241.6 205.2 82.1 1.0 1.09 102.6 1.0 1.37 123.1 1.0 1.64 143.6 1.0 1.92 Total 1079.7 539.9 2051.1 1511.3 604.5 8.06 755.6 10.08 906.8 12.09 1057.9 14.11 28 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 GOLF RELIED ON BY THE BEST COURSES ON EARTH AND TAKING AUSTRALIA INTO THE FUTURE OFFICIAL GOLF COURSE John Deere have been committed to golf for generations. 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JohnDeere.com.au/Golf PHOTO: Southern Pines Golf Course, USA JNDGA62778_AU_275OE-CutHybrid_ASTMA IRRIGATION Turfgrass irrigation reguirements on golf courses can vary greatly over the area of one irrigation station due to design and topography Down to the In the second part of this edition’s last drop ore than ever, turfgrass sporting surfaces are climate to ensure we can continue to maintain sports surfaces at the high standard user look at irrigation and water management, Bruce Macphee outlines ways turf managers can improve their irrigation system’s M under greater scrutiny to be more environmentally responsible with the vital resources they have, in particular common misconception, particularly during periods of drought, is that anything green is environmentally irresponsible, irrespective of groups have come to enjoy. Maximising irrigation efficiency will reduce the volume of water required to maintain a quality sports turf water. surface.The The effective use of available water resources for irrigating all turf areas is a combination of the following; the water source. • A good system design with a high degree efficiency. Improving water use efficiency must be of delivery uniformity; a priority for all turf managers in this current • Flexible control (e.g.: valve in head); 30 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Pipe work has a limited serviceable life with glue joints usually being the first to give way. Over time, leaks in the pipe network can become frustrating and time-consuming to repair. Valves and wiring also become less reliable over time, particularly if valve boxes become full of soil or water. The length of irrigation seasons also has an impact on the life expectancy of an irrigation system (i.e.: with a longer irrigation season there tends to be a shorter life expectancy). With every irrigation system there comes a time when the cost of maintenance and down time lost to repairs outweigh the risk to the club of lost turf. Keeping detailed records of your maintenance costs in relation to repairs can also help build a case for system replacement. It is important to include system down time and costs for labour and components to provide the full picture. The American Society of Golf Course Architects summarises the expected life cycle of an irrigation system as follows; • Irrigation system - 10-30 years; • Irrigation control system - 10-15 years; • PVC pipe (under pressure) - 10-30 years; • Pump station - 15-20 years. SYSTEM ASSESSMENT There are many variables that effect the efficiency and effectiveness of an irrigation system. Topography can vary considerably throughout irrigated sports turf surfaces, from uniform rectangular surfaces where sprinkler banks or stations are the most appropriate, through to golf courses where each individual sprinkler location can have multiple influences on water delivery and turf requirements. Understanding the requirements of your turf areas and the capabilities of your system will assist in improving irrigation efficiency and • Regular maintenance and auditing of the idiosyncrasies that need attention just to keep overall turf quality. irrigation system; the system going. Replacement of an irrigation Turfgrass irrigation requirements on golf • A good understanding of plant water use; system, including pumps and controllers, can courses can vary greatly over the area of and be a hard pill to swallow for many clubs and one irrigation station due to course design • Appropriate turf management. budgets don’t often allow for major upgrades and topography. Exposed ridges, mounding While we can’t always address all of the to be completed. While this problem won’t be and hollows will usually have very different above points, significant improvements can be solved overnight, completing a full assessment water requirements, sprinkler throw aspect made without complete system replacement. of your system and its weaknesses can help and exposure to wind and therefore delivery In most situations turf managers are not you make significant adjustments for the time rates between sprinklers on one station can dealing with the latest state-of-the-art system being and help build a case for replacement vary greatly on the ground. Understanding and have to deal with infrastructure which is down the line. the various requirements for each station often old, outdated and nursed through each within the irrigation system, the influence of season just to keep the turf alive. HOW OLD IS YOUR SYSTEM? seasonal winds and the actual delivery rates Something that should not be A good starting point is to review the age of each sprinkler can assist in identifying areas underestimated is the level of stress this can of the various components of your irrigation requiring additional irrigation, providing the place on the turf manager, with sleepless system - sprinklers, pipes, valves, fittings plant with adequate amounts of water when it nights spent worrying if the system is going to pumps and controllers. As an irrigation is needed. make it through the evening irrigation cycle. system ages, more frequent breakdowns A system audit prior to the start of the Bores, transfer pumps, tank levels, old wiring, are experienced. Irrigation heads have many irrigation season is essential to ensure a glue joints, stuck valves and broken sprinklers moving parts that can wear over time, gear smooth-running system when it is required are just a sample of the possible failures. rotors, impellers and nozzles also wear over during peak times. Before an audit is Most turf managers get to know their time and rotation times can start to vary which undertaken, the system should be run through system intimately and understand all the little greatly affects water distribution and uniformity. and checked which will often highlight issues SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 31 IRRIGATION required. Catch cans should be evenly set out in a grid pattern between the sprinkler heads being audited in each station or zone. The spacing will depend on the surface and the level of detail required. Typically, a sports ground or fairway could be spaced between 3-5m starting from around a metre from the first irrigation head. A golf green may require a spacing as close as 2m to identify issues of uniformity on greens with complex shapes or where bunkering influences the degrees of rotation. Each station or zone being audited should be run for 20 minutes to allow enough time to collect a reasonable quantity of water for the required calculations. While the sprinklers are in operation, observe all sprinklers to see if they are operating correctly; rotation speed, arc and distribution should all appear even visually. The pressure at each head can also be assessed at this point using the pitot tube. Simply checking and rectifying issues with sprinklers, such as leaking heads, incorrect height, alignment or The tube is placed in the stream exiting the rotation speed, can dramatically improve the efficiency of an irrigation system head and the operating pressure can then be that can be easily fixed. Simply checking and photograph. A drone, such as the one that checked against manufacturer specifications. rectifying the following issues can, in some AGCSATech utilises, can efficiently survey Once the cycle has finished, record the volume cases, dramatically improve the efficiency of an a sports oval in under 10 minutes with the of water in each catch can. Setting out your irrigation system; results provided within hours, while an 18-hole recording sheet to mirror the set out of catch • Heads with leaking seals or failing to golf course can be surveyed and the results cans (like below) can assist in identifying any retract into the body after operation; provided in as little as 24 hours. problem areas. • Sprinkler heights - are they at the • 3 4 5 5.5 4 3 • appropriate height so the stream clears the AUDITING YOUR SYSTEM turf during operation? A full irrigation audit of an entire golf course • Vertical alignment of the head; is a time-consuming venture and it may not • Correct alignment of the rotation so only be essential to audit every sprinkler or station. the target areas are irrigated; However, it is a worthwhile process particularly • Nozzles - are the correct nozzles fitted to if the system has never been audited each head? previously. It can also be of great benefit to • Sprinkler rotation speeds - are they even the staff involved in gaining a greater practical on each station? understanding of the principles behind • Any obvious leaks which need repairing; irrigation and the relationships between soil, • Valves - are they fully operational? plant and water. An irrigation audit is the process of A QUICK FLYOVER assessing the precipitation rate (how many With access to satellite images via Google millimetres per hour) and the uniformity of Once the audit is completed, an average Earth or dedicated sites such as Nearmap, an water distribution (i.e.; how evenly water is for the precipitation rate can be calculated overhead image of your turf facility is easily being applied) over a particular area. Audits and these figures used to calculate the accessible. A lot can be gained from an aerial should be carried out under ‘normal’ system distribution uniformity (DU) using the ‘lowest photograph or image, even if it is not in the operating conditions and target those areas quarter method’. The DU is calculated using peak of summer. Irrigation uniformity, drainage which have been identified as problematic. the average figure for the lowest quarter of lines, traffic and wear patterns are just the start Irregular irrigation spacing, poor sprinkler readings and the precipitation rate. From of what can be observed. While these images uniformity due to pressure and noticeably dry the figure above we can work out the DU as are great, they are not always available at the areas should all be assessed. Below is a very follows... time of year you require or updated regularly brief outline of the audit process... Overall average = 4.2mm enough to be current. This is where a drone Equipment you will need; Lowest quarter average = 3 (lowest can be a highly useful tool to quickly scout the • Catch cans - 20 to 30 containers (available seven numbers) turf area and provide up-to-the-minute visuals from the Irrigation Association or irrigation Equation: (3 x 100)/4.2 = DU 71.4% and data. suppliers for around $110 for 24 cans); 20 minutes = 4.2mm or 12.6mm per hour A drone fitted with an NDVI camera can • Measuring tape and flask (ml_); Using this method, a DU above 80 per quickly survey an entire facility and identify • Pressure gauge and pitot tube; cent is considered very good to excellent areas where irrigation distribution may be • Stopwatch; and as a minimum should be above 75 per uneven or require further investigation. The • Recording sheet for can readings. cent. Anything less than 70 per cent generally NDVI camera can pick up turf stress well While other containers can be used as requires attention. before it is visible to the naked eye and catch cans, using purpose made cans makes it Setting out audits as above can also beyond what can be observed from an aerial easier and reduces the number of calculations provide a clear demonstration of areas 32 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 which do not receive adequate irrigation over an irrigation season which can lead to excessively dry areas or, conversely, overly wet areas. The auditing process can highlight areas or zones which receive more or less than the median amount. The results are also a good communication tool to highlight issues with irrigation systems to committees. Staff will also get the added benefit of a greater understanding of areas which require additional attention and this can be reinforced with the use of moisture probes to highlight moisture variations within a turf surface. CASE STUDY TOOWOOMBA GC, OLD The following case study was presented by Scott Johnstone (Hydroplan) and Toowoomba course superintendent Mick Kelly as part of the Irrigation Workshop conducted at the 2019 Brisbane conference. Toowoomba Golf Club is located about an hour and a half west of Brisbane on the crest of the Great Dividing Range. It receives annual average rainfall of NOVI images (pictured left, taken by the AGCSATech drone), can highlight areas of irrigation stress (showing as around 940mm, with the warmest months yellow and red). Similarly, aerial photographs (Nearmap, right) can show up uniformity issues and peak irrigation demand being between • Unreliable rainfall and limited catchment water allocation, with the level of detail going October and May. area. down to millimetres of water required on a After many years of struggling with a poor A thorough analysis of the course was weekly and monthly basis for each area. This irrigation system, it was replaced in 2016. undertaken to determine the pumping and budget took into account monthly ET rates, Part of the process prior to its installation was design requirements for the system. Historical priority areas, turf species, soil types and water to engage a qualified irrigation consultant to ET and rainfall data for the region was storage capacity of soils. develop the most cost-effective and efficient collected from the Bureau of Meteorology With the limitation of available water, the system for the club. The primary issues (BOM) which highlighted the peak requirement total area to be irrigated and with a course identified were: times for water and the volume required based in a region prone to drought, a highly • The club had a limited water allocation of (monthly and annually). efficient irrigation system that could deliver 80-100 megalitres p/a; With limited water available, the course water accurately and efficiently was needed. • Water was drawn from three bores on the was broken down into priority areas with The new irrigation system utilised valve­ property with limited capacity; greens, tees and approaches considered in-head sprinklers with back-to-back heads • There were two small dams on the high, surrounds and fairway targets medium around greens so greens, approaches and property with a total storage capacity of and secondary fairway areas low. A water surrounds could all be irrigated separately 2ML; and budget was developed based on the limited according to their requirements. A detailed SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 33 IRRIGATION • Utilise surround sprinklers in particularly dry areas by adjusting degrees of rotation or adding back nozzles which apply additional water to drier areas on greens. Programming • Irrigation scheduling should be based on daily ET rates. • Understand your system and use mm for all calculations, ET, water applied. • Calculate run times to deliver desired irrigation in mm not minutes for all greens. • A simple adjustment to water budget percentage is all that is required to increase the volume of water applied. • Monitor actual water use against budget regularly. Monitoring • Use moisture probes or in-ground moisture sensors to assess if adequate water has A catch can audit is an effective way of assessing precipitation rates and distribution uniformity of sprinklers. Such been applied. a test should be carried out under ‘normal’ system operating conditions • Assess infiltration rate of various surfaces monitoring system was also developed to to improve efficiencies. Understanding what and ensure delivery rate does not exceed track water use against the budget allocation, influences poor irrigation performance and infiltration or run off may occur. forecast usage and actual water use figures. distribution at your facility is vital. • Split or soak cycles can apply irrigation These figures are checked regularly and Equally as important is understanding the over a longer period to match infiltration water budgets adjusted accordingly to ensure various soil and turf types as well as cultural rate. adequate allocation is available through the practices which may improve the delivery of Cultural practices peak requirement times. The new irrigation water into the rootzone and the amount of • Regular aeration to assist infiltration system is run by a central computer/control irrigation required to effectively water each should be utilised throughout the irrigation system and has the flexibility of being surface. These can be applied across all turf season. Needle tines can be utilised controlled anywhere on course by hand-held facilities, new or old, and will improve your regularly without interference to play. remotes. irrigation efficiency and turf quality. • The use of wetting agents in combination Some of the key take home points Here are some final points about irrigation with aeration can be quite effective. highlighted by Johnstone and Kelly in this case efficiency to remember and consider... • Wetting agents alone will not overcome study include; Check sprinklers physical barriers to infiltration. • Use technology to assist in the decision­ • Audit system before irrigation season, While conducting an irrigation audit can making process - weather stations, BOM check efficiency of coverage. be a time-consuming and daunting task, it data, in-ground moisture sensors, flow • Use catch cans to determine actual can be very rewarding in terms of improving meters can all assist in programming delivery rate in mm per hour. turf quality, utilising water resources in a more and monitoring the effectiveness of your • Identify those areas which receive more or sustainable manner and improved efficiencies. system. less than the median amount. Preparing your irrigation system well ahead • Maximise the information programmed into • Check nozzle sizes against specifications, of the summer period can provide the peace your irrigation computer. Today’s modern operating pressure, arc adjustments. of mind that you will be ready when the time irrigation programmes are powerful tools • Modify or adjust sprinklers to apply more comes with a more effective system. which are only as good as the information even distribution across dry areas. The savings in labour dedicated to provided to them. • Where possible, adjust run time for each hand-watering, time spent repairing broken • Standardisation of the data for flow and head (wet and shaded areas will require components, not to mention the reduction of precipitation rates entered into the system less water than sunny or dry areas). stress, make such a process truly worthwhile.^ will not provide the most accurate results in terms of actual delivery to each station. • The more detail provided the more efficient a system can be, ultimately providing higher quality, more consistent surfaces. The results of Toowoomba’s new system have been dramatic with an increase in efficiency of water use and the standard of course presentation being raised year-round. This has not only reduced the superintendent’s stress levels each summer but gone a long way to securing the club’s future. CHECK, ADJUST, MONITOR An audit prior to the start of the irrigation season is essential to ensure a smooth-running system when it The Toowoomba case study highlights a range is reguired during peak times of practices and adjustments that can be made 34 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 It's not just a game. It's not just grass virv Smart Approved WaterMark tiftuf ‘Excluding Western Australia and Northern Territory WHY CHOOSE TIFTUF™? • Can take root in less than 7 days in the right conditions. • Needs a fraction ofthe water other Varieties require to establish. Plus outstanding drought tolerance requiring up to 38% less water than other varieties. • 25 plus years of research has gone into TIFTUF™'s development. Sir Grange t WHY CHOOSE SIR GRANGE? • Sir Grange requires 75% less nitrogen and up to 50% less mowing compared to other grass-types. • Sir Grange's superior density also makes it difficult for weeds to invade. • The superior shade tolerance of Sir Grange makes it ideal for shaded greens and fairways. Exclusive to: LAWAI SOLUTIONS P1300 883 711 LAWN SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA Australia's largest network of turf specialists lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au SPORTS TURF Fit for purpose In the final article of this series on water management and irrigation, John Neylan looks at the issue of water quality and availability and assessing the suitability of alternative water sources. here is little question that the lack counteract the adverse effects. At the top of Warm-season grasses are inherently more of a constant, good quality water the list is undertaking a water testing regime salt-tolerant compared to the cool-season T supply is the greatest threat to the long-term sustainability of turf areas. Having been involved with so as to understand the chemical constituents and then developing a water management plan to minimise the impacts of these turf management and water quality for over years, I have noted that the turf industry has had to increasingly find ways of using water of deteriorating quality. constituents. 35 The management techniques that can be implemented to create a sustainable system include; Introducing more salt-tolerant grasses: grasses and may be the only sustainable option in some situations (e.g. change from creeping bentgrass to a hybrid bermudagrass). Constructing high permeability profiles: Well-drained profiles provide the best opportunity to leach accumulated salts and sodium from the rootzone and to maintain it The Australian Golf Industry Council There are significant differences in the salinity at a sustainable level. Fine-textured, poorly- water survey conducted in 2007 determined tolerance of turfgrass species, with some drained soils are extremely difficult to manage that reclaimed effluent is a major source of differences between cultivars. The change where there is high salinity and sodium. irrigation water and there were increasing to a more salinity-tolerant grass may come Subsoil drainage: Having a subsoil drainage issues identified with water quality including; at the expense of reduced turf quality and system is critical in enabling the removal of • Increasing salinity; presentation. This is particularly the case salts and sodium as they are leached through • High sodium resulting in increased soil among the cool-season grasses. the rootzone. sodium; In reviewing the available research, there Irrigation leaching fraction: Applying • Moderate to high bicarbonates that require has been some screening of bentgrass for a leaching fraction or water in excess of water modification through the use of improved salinity tolerance where Koch and plant needs is a good management tool acidification; Bonos (2011) identified several creeping for managing high salinity water. It is a • Increasing cost; bentgrasses as having improved salinity well-adopted technique in agriculture but • Modifications to irrigation systems; tolerance. In recent correspondence with these there is often a reluctance to do this in turf • Increased need for renovations; and researchers there has been little salt tolerance management because surfaces may remain • Potential health issues. work undertaken since. wetter and softer. Even using high salinity It is not only the quality of reclaimed water In research undertaken by Neylan et. water will dilute the salts that will accumulate in but also the deteriorating quality of bore water al. (2009), they demonstrated that 27 local the upper rootzone. supplies that is creating additional challenges selections of bentgrass had better turfgrass Application of gypsum and other in turfgrass management. Whether the water quality than the commercially available amendments: In two recent trials that supply is reclaimed water, bore water or even bentgrass cultivars at the salinity regimes of assessed the effects of gypsum, surfactants storm water runoff, the main water quality 4dS/m and 8dS/m. In this research ‘Mariner’ and other amendments on the impacts of parameters that are creating the greatest turf creeping bentgrass had the best salinity salinity, there were minimal improvements management challenges are total soluble tolerance and reflects the breeding of this identified. Young (2020) determined that no salts (salinity), chloride (Cl), sodium (Na) and grass which was bred as a salt-tolerant cultivar. cultivation practice or product combination bicarbonate (HCO3) From my recent experience, the increasing TABLE 1: IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT OPTIONS chloride levels appear to be the single Chemical parameter Impact Treatment options biggest change in water quality. As water Salinity Stunted growth Reverse osmosis quality deteriorates there are several factors Wilting (wet wilt) (see Sorrento Golf Club to consider including the changes in soil Leaf burn case study next page) chemistry, the direct impact on turfgrass health Ion toxicity (Cl and Na) and the potential environmental impacts. Table Sodium Affects soil structure Calcium (gypsum) injection 1 summarises the impacts of water quality and Nutrient imbalance the potential treatment options. Na toxicity As water quality deteriorates the intensity Growth reduction of turf management has to increase to Chloride Chloride toxicity Reverse osmosis Leaf burn Bicarbonate Forms insoluble Ca compounds Acid injection Left: As water quality deteriorates and becomes Affects soil structure Sulphur burner unusable or the volume of water available decreases, Increased soil pH there is a need to source alternative water sources or Nutrient imbalance to undertake treatments that improve water quality SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 37 IRRIGATION was effective at moving salts without applying key assumptions were that the course’s bores leaching fractions of irrigation. would supply a continuous amount of usable Schiavon and Baird (2019) tested 30 water with acceptable levels of salinity for the commercial and experimental products for fairways, while water harvested off-course their ability to alleviate salinity stress on from local stormwater flows would supply high bermudagrass. These treatments included quality water for the greens. calcium-based products as well as wetting In the years that followed, a number of agents and supplemental nitrogen fertilisation issues arose that prompted the planning and/or biostimulants. The most effective and installation of a desalination plant. They product consisted of a combination of included; carboxylic acids and foliar fertilisers. It was • High salinity bore water feeding the fairway thought that the benefits were due to the irrigation dam would deteriorate rapidly positive effects on soil characteristics and the when called upon to supply large volumes supplemental nutrition that the programme of water. provided to the turf. • Where rainfall was less than 600mm for Soil cultivation to improve permeability: As the year, stormwater supply for the greens noted above, soil cultivation is not particularly dam would be depleted by the end of effective without a leaching fraction or high January and then potable water (town rainfall event to flush the salts. water) had to be purchased. Water treatment: Desalination or acidification • With less low salinity water being harvested may be the only option for improving quality. through the stormwater harvesting system, As the irrigation season approaches, there this resulted in less low salinity water for are several important tasks to undertake as it Kingston Heath Golf Club uses a sulphur burner to treat the fairway dam to dilute the salts from the its bore water which is used solely on greens relates to water quality: bore water. • Testing of all water sources for at least be used to improve water quality. Where water • Fairway dam water analysis in 2016 salinity, sodium, chloride and bicarbonates. is high in total soluble salts the only realistic returned salinity results between 3600- • Take soil samples from representative turf method of improving water quality is by 5200mg/L. areas to determine salinity and sodium removing the salts. Desalination has become • Water testing of stormwater indicated concentrations. Adjust as required (e.g.: more common in the turf industry though it elevated E.coli levels after rainfall events. apply gypsum to counteract sodium does present several challenges, including; • Fairway soil testing indicated a cyclical rise accumulation). • High capital and operating costs; in soil salinity over the summer months • Maintain adequate soil permeability • Disposal of the highly concentrated saline (2-3 times greater than the optimum range) through subsoil aeration and thatch waste; and which returned to normal levels after control. • Meeting ERA requirements by preventing leaching winter rains. • Irrigate at night to avoid salt burn. leachates from moving into the subsoil and • In December 2016 new bunker and fairway • Ensure that irrigations are deep and water table. works on the 9th hole suffered significant beyond the rootzone to leach salts out of The following is a case study of how turf deterioration during turf establishment the rootzone and to prevent accumulation. Sorrento Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington due to highly saline irrigation water. • Irrigate with freshwater whenever possible Peninsula worked through the process of With future construction works planned to aid leaching. developing a water improvement strategy and on the golf course the need for change As water quality deteriorates and becomes provides a good template for any organisation was obvious. In January 2017 a water sub­ unusable or the volume of water available considering such a system. committee was formed with key members of decreases, there is a need to source alternative As a background, over 10 years ago the general committee and staff and chaired water sources or to undertake treatments that Sorrento completed what it called its ‘Two by the club’s treasurer. As part of the process improve the water quality. During the Irrigation Dams’ project which saw the construction of the golf club commissioned various reviews Workshop at the 2019 Brisbane conference, two separate dams - one for fairway irrigation and opinions from Andrew Peart (then several case studies were provided that and a smaller one for greens. At the time, the AGCSATech), John Neylan (now SPORTENG) highlighted the planning required so as to understand the viability of the project, the costs associated with it and the implementation strategy. Two of these - Sorrento Golf Club, Vic (superintendent Shane Greenhill) and Cape Wickham, Tas (superintendent John Geary) - we will now look at in more detail. CASE STUDY 1 - DESALINATION SORRENTO GOLF CLUB As shown earlier in Table 1, reverse osmosis (RO, or desalination) is one method that can Over the past decade, Sorrento Golf Club has worked through the process of developing a water improvement strategy based around increasing water storage capabilities and investing in desalination 38 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 and Bruce Macphee (AGCSATech). Several The cost of producing the treated water is alternative water supplies were considered around $850/megalitre (ex GST) which is the including: running costs only (power and chemical use). • Grey water from South East Water’s Boneo Other costs include; Treatment Plant (but no return pipes exist • Membrane replacement (about $1100 each to Sorrento). with a lifespan up to five years each); • Treated effluent from the Gunnamatta • Pre-filter cartridges ($20 each with a total outfall (as above). of 10 in the system, changed every four • New deeper bores, but advice was that months); even higher salinity was likely (e.g: Portsea • Membrane clean ($1500, twice per year); at 5000 mg/L at 20m depth). • Glass media filters ($50,000 for media • Potable (town) water - very expensive at refresh for the four units, lifespan 15 years). $3240 per megalitre. The potential cost • Activated carbon filters ($10,000 to $15,000 for the club’s annual water usage (about to refresh the two units, lifespan four 50ML) would equate to $162,000 per years). annum and would be subject to water restrictions. CASE STUDY 2 - WATER In March 2017 the decision was made MANAGEMENT PLANNING to construct a water treatment plant to solve CAPE WICKHAM LINKS both the salinity and E.coli issues. Contact The impact that using high salinity irrigation water can King Island, situated in Bass Strait between was made with prospective desalination plant have on couchgrass turf during establishment Tasmania and Victoria, is a unique location for manufacturers who were provided with a brief a golf course. Cape Wickham was designed of the issues. In June 2017 the club appointed • Injection with sodium hypochlorite, which by Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver with Desai Systems as the preferred company to oxidises the water enabling the glass construction of the course completed in late begin work on the water treatment plant. Over media filters to extract iron and manganese 2015. Greens, tees and fairways are all seeded the next six months details and scope of the from the water. Sodium hypochlorite has with fine fescue, following in the footsteps of project took shape which included; a chlorine base which sanitises the water the old traditional links courses in Scotland • Council requirements for permit approval; and kills the E.coli. and Ireland. • Tour of other golf club RO plants - Barwon • Water then passes through glass filters King Island has a maritime climate which Heads, Huntingdale and Royal Melbourne; and then through activated carbon filters to is cooler in summer and warmer in winter • Water treatment plant location (electricity remove the chlorine. compared to Melbourne and with an average availability, bore water access); • Before the water enters the RO rainfall of 773mm is not particularly wet. The • Shed and tank sizing and engagement membranes, it is injected with an soils consist of calcareous yellow dune sand with builder; antiscalant which prevents deposition of to varying depths over limestone and granite • Brine discharge options; particles which can block the membranes. and dark sandy loams, with the pH in the high • GPS survey of the site to be constructed; • Discharged water is then treated with 8s to low 9s. • On-course connecting pipework design; caustic soda to raise the pH. All turf areas at Cape Wickham are seeded • Council permit application. The club’s • Brine waste is produced in this process in fine fescue with slender creeping red fescue submission for a permit to the Mornington roughly the same volumes as permeate. and Chewings fescue on the greens and Shire Council was aided by a club member • A mobile phone app enables the plant to slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, who was a town planner. be monitored remotely, but still requires creeping red fescue and hard fescue on the The council permit was approved in July twice weekly visits to top up chemicals. fairways and roughs. 2018, however, no works could commence until $3031 in brokered vegetation offset costs were paid. It is important to note that the planning process and compliance requirements for a project of this scale and cost can be quite lengthy and long-term planning is an essential component. THE SORRENTO SYSTEM With 101 megalitres of storage available, a low- yield, 365-days-a-year production plant was chosen (i.e.: no winter shutdown). The plant currently produces 211,000 litres of permeate (treated water) per day (77 megalitres per year) and is designed to treat both bore water and harvested stormwater. Bore water is brought into the plant and undertakes several processes including; The planning and compliance requirements for a project like installing a reverse osmosis plant can be quite lengthy. Long-term planning is essential SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 39 IRRIGATION Where golf course watering reguirements exceed available water, priority zones for irrigation may be necessary. Cape Wickham uses priority zones, with recently seeded areas, greens and greens surrounds at the top of the list and fairways lower down available water. In the Toowoomba Golf Club case study highlighted in the previous article (pages 33-34) the same process of prioritising turf areas was also undertaken. In addition, each zone or priority needs to have some key turf parameters associated with it in terms of presentation, playability of surface and turf health as descriptors. This becomes an important document when dealing with club management and where expectation can potentially exceed practicality. POTENTIAL WATER SOURCES Irrigation of the golf course relies on There is 25 hectares of irrigated area and Given the current shortfall in water, ideally a storage in a 7ML dam which is fed by a series the water requirement works out to 200ML/ new source of water needs to be developed. of springs/wells located on the golf course. irrigation season (33.3ML/month). As part of longer term planning for the golf The water supply is limited and considerable • Step 3: This final step compared the course and to guarantee a secure water efforts have been made to determine the water calculated demand with the amount of supply, Geary has undertaken an extensive requirements for the golf course. water available. This was... Estimated analysis of the water supply options for the golf When superintendent John Geary total water requirements (33.3ML/month) - course. The three best options identified were; was first employed at the golf course the volume of water harvested (9.3ML/month) • A spring located 4km away; immediate priority was to better understand = 33.3 - 9.3 = -24ML/month (shortfall). • Pump water out of the ocean; and water requirements and the amount of water Clearly there is a significant lack of water • Pump out of Lake Flannigan (freshwater available. This involved a three-step process; available to maintain the golf course in its lake, about 5km away). • Step 1: Determine how much water is optimum condition and presentation and Each option has its pros and cons and being harvested onsite. It was estimated therefore some detailed water management they are detailed in Table 2 (below). As can that around 300,000 to 400,000 litres planning was required to optimise the use of be seen, all water sources have significant per day (9.3-12.4ML/month) was being the available water. Turf areas were prioritised challenges to overcome whether it is the harvested from the onsite springs/wells. according to the importance of the playing distance water has to be piped, capital and • Step 2: This step is the critical requirement surface (e.g: newly-seeded areas and greens running costs and government approvals. as outlined by Bruce Macphee in the have the highest priority) with the golf course Geary has identified that the most viable option earlier article in this series on estimating separated into zones according to the priority is desalination and that detailed planning is total water requirements for the golf order as follows: required to get such a scheme off the ground, course. This was based on theoretical • Zone 1: Recently seeded areas; similar to the experience at Sorrento. water budget calculations using local • Zone 2: Greens and green surrounds and The Cape Wickham experience provides weather data. The estimated water practice area; an excellent study of the processes required use assumes that the grass is well • Zone 3: Tees; to understand the water requirements for a established and it was noted that the water • Zones 4 and 5: Fairways; golf course, the balance between incoming requirements were even higher for a grow- • Zone 6: Practice fairway. water versus outgoing water, how to prioritise in scenario. Based on the water budget This process of prioritising areas is the use of the limited water supply and the calculations, it was estimated that between a critical step in the process of water investigative process to find additional water 7.9-9ML/ha/irrigation season was required. management to make the best use of the supplies.^ TABLE 2: CAPE WICKHAM WATER SUPPLY OPTIONS Option Pros Cons Verdict A - Spring Good water flow Need to liaise with landowners Worth further consideration Water quality is expected to be good Long pumping distance Need to work with landowners Cost Time to implementation B - Ocean water Unlimited water supply Requires reverse osmosis plant Potentially best long-term option Need government approvals Needs government support High running costs Requires detailed planning Time to implementation C - Lake Flannigan Marginal/poor water quality Requires reverse osmosis plant Unlikely to be viable due to the money Need government approvals spent by the Island/DPI to recently fill the lake High running costs Overall cost Time to implementation 40 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 YOUR CUSTOM SAFETY NETTING SOLUTIONS. WE ME VERY EXCITED TO AHHOUHIX THE UUHCH OF tHIR HEW WEBSITE! CCI - Safety Fencing were established in 1992, and has been at the forefront of developing designs and engineering systems for high safety screens in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia - particularly for sporting fields, golf Industry applications, and the industrial market. SECURITY QUALITY VERSATILITY With over 25 years of experience Complete project design and Expertise across a large range of in the industry. construction from start to finish. industries. GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAM TODAY: SAFETY CCI FENCING info@countryclub.com.au I 1300 138 804 ccisafetyfencing.com.au RESEARCH he Australian National Turfgrass AGCSATech senior agronomist ryegrass which has been oversown into an Evaluation Program ryegrass existing couchgrass surface. T trial (ANTEP 5) is well underway at Evergreen Turf’s Pakenham location in Victoria. Despite the Bruce Macphee (CSTM) provides an update on the ANTEP 5 and STA restrictions imposed by Melbourne’s COVID- 19 lockdown as well as some significant rain periods, the trial has progressed well throughout the winter period. Victoria ryegrass trials and flags a new two-year couchgrass variety Sporting surfaces which are commonly used for both winter and summer sporting seasons are often oversown with perennial ryegrass in Victoria to provide a surface capable of tolerating wear and providing recovery throughout the winter period. The cool-season grass is then removed in spring As mentioned in the May-June 2020 to allow the surface to transition to a more edition of Australian Turfgrass Management trial set to start in November. drought-tolerant warm-season surface. Journal (Volume 22.3 - ‘ANTEP 5 gets The purpose of the trial is to assess the green light’, p36-37), the trial consists of an various chemicals available and the most oversown section, where ryegrasses have appropriate timing of application to assist the been oversown into an existing stand of Santa cv > Australian Seed Federation transition back to a warm-season surface. The SOWING SEEDS Ana couchgrass, and a permanent section application for each treatment has been split where varieties have been sown into bare soil. into two separate applications, one in early Wear has been applied to the trial plots using AGCSATech spring when soil temperatures are cooler and AGCSATech’s wear machine which consists of a later application when soil temperatures have 15mm football stops on a rotating drum (see Wear will continue to be applied to all increased, allowing warm-season grasses to photo opposite page). plots throughout the spring and summer start moving. All varieties have been assessed for; period, while half of each ryegrass plot in the Throughout the duration of the trial, half • Rate of establishment; oversown section will be sprayed out and the of each plot is also being subjected to wear • Seedling vigour; other half allowed to transition out naturally to assess the influence this may have on • Colour; over the summer. This will allow us to assess the transition back to a warm-season grass • Quality; the influence the presence of ryegrass has on surface. Both treatments have been applied • Density; the ability for couchgrass to persist under a and an update on progress will be included in • Texture; range of conditions, including wear. an upcoming edition of ATM. • Cutability; Running concurrently to the ANTEP trial is • Winter growth; a ryegrass transitional trial being conducted on COUCHGRASS VARIETY TRIAL • Wear tolerance; behalf of the Sports Turf Association (Victoria). In addition to the ryegrass trials, in recent • Winter recovery from wear; and This trial is assessing the efficacy of the range weeks a trial site has been developed at • Presence of diseases. of chemicals available to remove perennial Sorrento Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington 42 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 The STA Victoria trial site showing initial treatment of oversown plots with herbicides The new couch variety trial site at Sorrento Golf Club Peninsula by course superintendent and VGCSA president Shane Greenhill and his other and with well-known industry standard staff. The club have generously provided an varieties such as Santa Ana. This is an exciting area on the practice fairway for an important new trial which will provide benefit for both couchgrass variety trial to be undertaken golf course superintendents and sports turf in Melbourne’s climate. The trial will run for managers alike, with assessments to include; a period of two years with establishment • Rate of establishment by sprigs; assessed in the first growing season and • Colour, quality and density; drought tolerance the following year. • Wear tolerance and recovery; In recent years there have been a number • Winter colour retention; of new couchgrass varieties released onto • Disease resistance; the Australian market and it has been some Wear has been applied to the ANTEP 5 trial plots using • Drought tolerance (2nd summer); AGCSATech’s wear machine which consists of 15mm years since an independent trial has been • Recovery from drought. football stops on a rotating drum undertaken to assess any of these new Along with the couchgrass plots, a number varieties side by side. The trial will be planted Legend, along with several new varieties from of single zoysia plots will also be established in the first week of November and consist of both Peter McMaugh and Don Loch. for observation in Melbourne’s climate. Regular a range of older and new varieties including A total of 10 varieties will be trialled, with updates will be provided in ATM as the trial Tahoma 31, Santa Ana, TifTuf, Grand Prix, the new varieties to be assessed against each progresses.^ With the Rain Bird IC system I have control of the entire course in the palm of my hand Everything is “real time” so I know exactly what’s going on and I have the confidence that everything will work as it should. ■ ■ David Mason, Course Superintendent, The Metropolitan Golf Club LI I N G T U R F* SCIENTIFIC TURF MANAGEMENT Rain^Bird Discover your winning formula at Living Turf 1300 556 116 | livingturf.com.au SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 43 PETER McMAUGH AM Harmony in data-taking is very important. All too frequently we are presented with data sets which are simply not comparable because they were not collected in the same standard way data-driven world took the time to sit down and listen has led to nitrogen and especially phosphorus to the recent ASTMA webinar with A famous statistician once noted pollution of the rivers and ground water I Cornell University’s Dr Frank Rossi. I didn’t take notes from it the first time so I watched it again and made a few jottings. He rambled over quite a few areas and towards the end of his discourse he made one supremely important point - you can’t compare apples with oranges. His that without data you are just another person with an opinion. As Peter McMaugh AM writes, data is sources. Turf has been a big target crop for the EPA, so much so that the USGA has funded or co-funded many studies into leaching rates from greens and total runoff from golf courses. One such study in Texas conducted over three years and reported in the USGA Green Section Record in July-August 2006 call for harmony in data-taking was a very important but it is how you interpret (p20-25) shows very clearly the true nature of good one, because all too frequently we are the problem and how far back it goes. One presented with data sets which are simply not it and apply it that really matters. has to wonder why it has taken 14 years for comparable because they were not collected that Texas trial data to work its way into the in the same standard way. collective consciousness of the USGA turf For data to mean anything scientifically it had a big shotgun out and his very clear aim scene. has to have a defined starting or ‘reference’ was the dubious way that soil nutrient analysis Dr Rossi then takes aim at the SLAN way point. Any data for a treatment has to have a has been used for decades not primarily as (sufficiency levels of available nutrients) of measured control set of numbers to which all an information tool but more as a sales tool interpreting soil test results. I have no problem of the others are compared. This is even more to encourage the purchase and application of with that because that interpretation base in critical when you move into using any data set excess levels of fertilisers to turf. the US is based on ‘ideas’ of the perfect soil as a reference base for an industry standard. We all know that, especially in the US, the ratios which came to ‘Dr’ Reems after a period Let us take a look at what he had to say EPA has long been worried about the excess of fasting and prayer. The often-quoted Dr about nutrient testing and its interpretation. He nutrient contained in crop runoff water. This Albrecht, who picked up and ran with those 44 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 divinely inspired ratios, cemented these into But now let us come back to the alternative the psyche of US soil testers. interpretation that Dr Rossi enthusiastically That they do not make any rational sense embraces, MLSN and its main proponent is not surprising. When you look at the US Dr Micah Woods. Let us look at the words, literature’s recommendations for the levels of because the words matter. MLSN - minimum nitrogen required for turf, you find extremely level of sustainable nutrient. Two words need high levels recommended. These are based careful examination here - ‘minimum’ and on multiple university studies where the guide ‘sustainable’. is the turf ‘beauty contest’ between varieties When I was an ag science student, we based on visual scoring. Despite this system, studied the growth curves of many crops, in use prior to but accepted more widely in both grain and fodder. In these studies you the 1930s, being comprehensively debunked For data to mean anything scientifically it has to have were looking for the maximum economically- in 1984 in an excellent paper by Drs Horst, a defined starting or ‘reference’ point. Any data for predictable yield. Most of the field trial work a treatment has to have a measured control set of Engelke and Meyers (Agronomy J. July-August numbers to which all of the others are compared looked at was where the nutrient level of each 1984, p619-622), it is still the main system nutrient intersected to produce the maximum used in US universities and NTEP trials. find varying times of extraction being used. yield. You then look at the cost of getting to Let us go back to SLAN. Yes, Dr Rossi There doesn’t seem to be a standard. This is that maximum and often the maximum yield is quite right, it does have a flawed base. obviously because no seminal data has been did not equal the optimum yield. The maximum It has no truly definable starting point for developed to support its use. Every change yield was the luxury product, not the best turf. It probably has a well-defined one in in proportion of chemicals or extraction time return on investment. So it is very important US agriculture where objective crop yields using the ‘Mehlich’ system means you have for us to get our heads around where we are for various soil types are well related to multiple Mehlichs, not a single one. This in maintenance turf as opposed to production some defined testing methods for different means you can’t compare lab to lab data. The turf. agricultural crop areas. This is exactly the harmony that Dr Rossi wants to see is simply In both production turf and maintenance same as in Australian agriculture where soil not there. turf it is important to keep the establishment testing is well correlated back to specific crops By now you probably think I’m being rather phase as short as possible. To do this in on specific soils. boring and petty, but that is what real science production turf of warm-season grasses, the Now enter the Mehlich III extraction is. It is the minutiae that matter. use of a line-planting machine for broad areas solution used almost universally in the US So, Dr Rossi blames SLAN for the is one of the best investments you can make. laboratories for soil nutrient testing in turf. It excesses of fertiliser. I see it a bit differently, Used properly to get a really good plant means has now been taken up by commercial labs because I see the fundamental flaw as the cutting irrigation needs by probably 80 per in Australia specialising in turf. I have never ‘beauty contest mentality’ that determines cent. This in turn means less fertiliser leaching. seen any correlation data with Mehlich III for the way grass quality is assessed. It simply In maintenance turf, this technology allows Australian soils or turf growing media. When encourages use of excess fertiliser to mask the easy changeover of the total grass sward. On you question the laboratories using it, you true quality of a turfgrass. sites where any form of erosion is a problem PHOTO: PENINSULA KINGSWOOD CGC When you are selecting grass types it is very important that you see the data about their various gualities, especially their establishment rate and their maximum density. We typically use much higher rates of fertiliser at establishment than we do once the plant is mature, but do we really need to do this? SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 45 PETER McMAUGH AM this can be a big advantage. The same can The main problem with this is that if you barrier into the leaf tissue, but not into the be said for using vegetative establishment have mature or near mature turf sitting in the nucleus - yet. techniques at greens establishment. paddock for too long then its harvest quality I don’t think humble fertiliser, however When you are selecting grass types starts to decline. soluble (as ions), can yet get through the it is very important that you see the data Maintenance turf on the other hand needs epidermis in the mass flow needed to get a about their various qualities, especially their to be held at a stage where it is readily able 90 per cent penetration. I know that surfactant establishment rate and their maximum density. to expand quickly on demand - but at what technology has dramatically changed in We typically use much higher rates of fertiliser rate? Herein lies a conundrum because what recent times but I don’t think it yet has magical at establishment than we do once the plant is the rate is for greens differs from tees and both qualities. mature. Do we really need to do this? Take the differ from fairways. You can add into this that Another aspect of foliar feeding is of following typical growth curve for any crop... the growing medium is probably going to be course that the initial levels of nutrient are different for all three. Their CEC is going to very small and a 30 per cent level of these is be different and it is possible that there could even smaller. The results are consequentially be different grass types for each group. Also very short-lived. You also need deep pockets add to that the vagaries of shade, wind and and a luxury staff level to turn this into any kind of programme. You wouldn’t want me on ILLUSTRATIONS THIS PAGE: MARK ROBERTS drainage and you are very quickly getting to see any golf venue as a jigsaw puzzle. your committee if you were putting up such a Then comes the biggest impact factor - programme in your budget! wear. What is the greatest need here? A quick The traditional way of fertilising in the growth recovery response. Where will that home of golf is the ‘spoon feeding’ approach. come from? Quickly available nutrient and This is highly successful and inexpensive. sufficient levels of it. So either you have to have However, in climates different from the a very quickly accessible bank of slow-release ‘home’ country where annual renovations of energy (e.g. rhizomes) or you have to supply organic manures formed the ‘bank’ of reserve a quickly available source of soluble elements nutrients, some alternative thinking along with that are going to stay in solution in the soil and new technology came up with slow-release Both production turf and maintenance turf be quickly available to the plant to make more fertilisers. Along with the new technology came want to see an explosion of growth in the feed. Both the commercial turf producer and a steep learning curve and the integration of establishment phase, but there is a sleeping the greens manager are trying to keep their these into management programmes often danger here. Too much water applied means turf in a juvenile state from which they can get produced some painful experiences. ideal disease conditions and also maximum the quickest and easiest growth response to a What these do give you is a management leaching. When you are pushing plants you stimulus based on a new demand. tool which works in what I would label ‘ALSN’ get long growth but with thin cell walls. This with the word ‘adequate’ replacing ‘minimum’. is prime disease territory especially at new At least with ‘adequate’ you have a buffer when greens establishment, where care is needed any stress over and above the norm comes to get the balance right between adequate along. With a MLSN mental approach you are fertiliser and optimum water. The new plant living on the knife-edge. Not a good place to can’t use the fertiliser until it has the roots to be mentally or practically. do so but only if it is still there. MLSN is based on experimental data of Commercial growers want to control the more than 16,000 soil samples taken from golf rate of the expansion phase to meet their courses and analysed in laboratories in the market demands. They hope that the market US. These samples were selected as ‘good demand will be such that they keep the looking turf’, whatever that means. It excluded expansion phase going as fast as possible, diseased or obviously nutrient-deficient turf. but reality controls that and sometimes if the This ad hoc approach may seem common market slows they need to put their crop into a sense, but it is not a sound scientific approach. holding pattern. They will keep the crop at say It is obvious that any sand profile (and MLSN 85 per cent of complete cover by controlling Enter the would be superhero, ‘leaf applies itself there) is not going to have a large fertiliser and moisture inputs. As such the feeding’ not spoon feeding - foliar feeding. Are ‘bank’ on its CEC. But as I have said, this can production curve will look more like this... you pulling my leg!? One prominent contender be there from either natural or synthetic slow- in this market segment claims to have a 90 per release approaches. cent absorption rate of applied nutrient into the And finally a word to the turf world in the tissue of the leaf. I’d love to see not only the US. In Australia, our fertiliser practices on golf data but the ability to replicate the experimental courses have never approached the luxury results under controlled conditions. levels that have given the US EPA cause for Of course foliar is an option and has been concern. And we have been doing it for over traditionally used as a short-term treatment 50 years. The same might not be able to be when desperation calls. But for foliar feeding said for the turf production industry, but I’ll the generally accepted maximum found in leave it at that. leaf tissue from well controlled trials has been Editor’s Note: If you have a particular question 30 per cent. Technologies do change and or a topic of interest that you would like Peter there is recent work indicating that you can McMaugh AM to address in his ATM column, successfully move DNA attached to nano please send through to ATM editor Brett particle carbon through the leaf epidermis Robinson brett@agcsa.com.au 46 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT ADD CELLULAR TO YOUR ACC2 MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Gain more freedom and flexibility to manage your ACC2 irrigation controller on the go with the new A2C-CELL-E module. A2C-CELL-E enables powerful Centralus™ central control capabilities from your cellular device to maximise water savings and receive instant alarms and flow histories. That's the power of innovation. residential & commercial irrigation Learn more. Visit hunter.direct/acc2 Built on Innovation® Hunter National Free Call: 1 800 HUNTER Tel: 1300 856 368 Suite 7,202 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, NELSON Toll Free Fax: 1 800 651680 www.hrproducts.com.au hrsales@hrproducts.com.au E AUSTRALIA Fax: 1300 856 369 www.nelsonirrigation.com.au info@nelsonirrigation.com.au Melbourne, Victoria, 3168, Australia Tel: 61 3 9562 9918 Fax: 613 9558 6983 Oi JOHN FORREST Lane cuts his Bl own path After learning the ropes at the iconic I/I//O ground, Matthew Lane is now in charge of the impressive playing surfaces at one of Perth’s pre-eminent private schools. he turf industry can appear a difficult Then an opportunity arose as a casual at the and assist in the development of his own road for young turf managers with WACA before being offered an apprenticeship approaches and methodologies. ambitions to take the reins and run in 2010 under well-known WACA curator Cam While at the WACA, Lane experienced their own turf facility. The path may Sutherland. many highlights, among them five Test depend on a bit of luck and being The position saw him as a bit of a swing matches (four men’s and one women’s), all of in the right place at the right time, but more man between the WACA and the Murdoch which confirmed to him that producing high than anything it is about being a good decision Campus oval which had two centre wickets quality sports turf surfaces was a goal that maker. There is always plenty of advice, but it and was also used as a WACA training facility. had not changed. His first Ashes Test came is about choosing what suits and what does Rohan Mathews was the curator at Murdoch, when he was a casual before the start of his not. who also had experience overseeing the apprenticeship in 2010 under Sutherland. At the age of 27, Western Australian turf WACA. Working under two such experienced That match at the WACA was the only manager Matthew Lane feels he has been curators and seeing the different ways they bright spot in a otherwise dismal summer for in the industry for a while, but 10 years is approached their management roles with Australia who would go down 3-1 to England. not long to move from work experience at a both people and wickets provided a great Mitchell Johnston put in a man-of-the-match local golf course to be the facilities grounds grounding for Lane. performance at the WACA, with an impressive coordinator at one of Perth’s leading private The third head curator Lane worked under 6/38 off 17.3 overs in the first innings which schools, Scotch College. was Matthew Page, the current wicket curator included the prized top-order scalps of Cook, Playing cricket and an interest in at the MCG, who took the reins at the WACA Trott, Pietersen (for a duck) and Collingwood. greenkeeping steered Lane to a work after Sutherland moved to Perth Racing. His nine wicket haul for the match saw experience job at Marri Park Golf Course From these experiences Lane was exposed Australia win their only match of that series by under course superintendent Steve Smees. to another style of leadership to learn from 267 runs. 48 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Once an apprentice the Tests continued. India was next during their 2011-2012 Tour, followed by South Africa in the summer of 2012-2013, both under Sutherland. A second Ashes Test followed in 2013 under Page when Australia won back the Ashes for the first time since 2006/2007 with a 150-run win. That was followed by a women’s Test match between England and Australia. While under Sutherland, Lane attended three Australian Turfgrass Conferences and during each they spent a day visiting top facilities and talking to turf managers at each venue. It was an educating experience that increased his desire to manage his own high- profile facility. ON THE MOVE In 2014 things started to change rapidly for Scotch College boasts three wicket blocks and 11 practice wickets Lane when he was offered the role of head wicket curator at the highly respected Scotch of Australia’s elite private schools with quality Management at South Metropolitan TAFE. College in Perth, a private school known sports grounds that often host visiting high Looking for more of a science-based skill for its sporting endeavours. It was also the profile teams looking for a training facility set, it was fitting that there was a Diploma year he was to finish his TAFE studies and when staying in Perth. Lane’s initial position as research unit as part of the Certificate IV apprenticeship, which turned into a life­ wicket curator in 2014 saw him tending to the programme. The next step was then moving changer when he was bestowed the 2014 WA school’s three wicket blocks and 11 practice from mate to manager and developing his Sports Turf Apprentice of the Year Award. wickets. man management skills while turning Scotch Winning the state award was another It was not long until the next opportunity into the number one school as far as sporting opportunity to challenge himself with a arose, with Lane eager to manage his own grounds go. presentation as a finalist for the national award, facility and entertaining the possibility of Scotch has eight hectares of one hour after he arrived in the Hunter Valley moving in order to find that. Lane was highly predominantly kikuyu sporting grounds for the 2015 Australian Turfgrass Conference. valued by the school who wanted him to accommodating rugby union, AFL, hockey, While he did not win the national award, Lane stay, so in a generous move his boss Rob tennis (couchgrass courts) and cricket. Cricket says it was a great experience to be a part of, Fenwick stood aside (but stayed on the staff) wickets are an important part of the school especially getting the chance to talk to Graeme as he could see the benefit of giving Lane the grounds and Lane was lucky to get Lewis Logan (ANZ Stadium) one-on-one. facilities grounds coordinator role. Dienelt, an apprentice at the WACA the same The attraction of the Scotch College Lane also wanted to improve his time he was but a year ahead, to come on role was pretty obvious and Lane took the management skills and knowledge and duly board as Scotch’s curator of wickets. Dienelt opportunity with both hands. Scotch is one completed the Certificate IV in Sports Turf brought with him a wealth of knowledge and Scotch has eight hectares of predominantly kikuyu sporting grounds accommodating rugby union, AFL, hockey, tennis (couchgrass courts) and cricket SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 49 Hl JOHN FORREST skill and it gave Lane the chance to focus on • 19mm hollows at 130mm spacings; making the changes and adjustments he saw • Depths with the larger tines are 250mm to necessary. 300mm. Over time the grounds had built up an Larger diameter tines are not used as they accumulation of organic matter creating soft lift the surface slightly. Hollow-tining is done surfaces due to moisture retention during in the Christmas school holidays after a low winter. The other problem was salt levels in mow and vertimow, usually with a 5mm sand the bore water and the sodium in particular topdress which is rubbed in. A Peruzzo flail building up during the irrigation season. is used continually to reduce thatch on an as Organic accumulation under kikuyu on a sand required basis and during winter sand dusting base is common in WA. is a regular process with high wear areas To explain to the school what was required targeted. to improve the surfaces, or at the very least Lane uses a product called Solu-Cal, prevent them from going backwards, a a calcium/gypsum product to help flush comprehensive report was needed to explain sodium, which is applied post renovations what renovations were required and the in conjunction with Terraplex. Sodium frequency. The report paved the way for real levels dropped during winter 2020 from change in management practices. A larger 468ppm in February to 85ppm in September tractor was essential and equipment that demonstrating the practices are working. could remove a hollow tine to 300mm and Part of the overall programming at get through the organic layer critical. It was Scotch includes close attention to nutrient important to get sand intermingled into the management. The alkaline pH at Scotch organic matter to increase the levels of oxygen creates an environment where micronutrients to help break down black layer forming in the such as iron and manganese become less organic layer and encourage microbial activity soluble. The pH is close to 8 at the end of to assist. The Scotch College brains trust - Mathew Lane (right) winter when it would be expected to reduce A Kubota M9540 was purchased with and head wicket curator Lewis Dienelt (left). The duo slightly from winter rainfall. Foliar applications plenty of power to drive the Vertidrain and served their apprenticeships together at the 14/4 CA are applied approximately 10 days before any Peruzzo flail. In addition, mowers have been for Scotch at the moment is the bore water granular NPK fertilisers to ensure there are no updated and a new spreader and sprayer measurements of electrical conductivity, deficiencies of micronutrients that may inhibit added to the equipment list. With more sodium and chloride in September 2020 are the nitrogen response. efficient equipment comes better productivity similar to the end of the irrigation season in As a young turf manager Matthew Lane is and improved safety and operator comfort, all 2017 and 2018. producing high quality turf sporting surfaces integral ingredients to producing high quality • Sodium 240-250ppm; and has developed his man management surfaces. • Chloride 415ppm; and communication skills since becoming the • EC dS/m 2.3; boss. Communicating with the school about WATER QUALITY AND • Bicarbonates 419 ppm (which is close to wear management and them coming on board RENOVATION PRACTICES severe for irrigation water). has been another positive in the ground’s Normally salt levels in the soil reduce over On the positive, to counteract this the maintenance. In the future Lane is looking winter on sand-based surfaces due to no renovation programme consists of: to increase his science-based skills and salt being applied through irrigation and the • 12mm solids at 65mm spacings; incorporate them with furthering his business flushing occurring from rainfall. The concern • 19mm solids at 130mm spacings; management.^ Due to the alkaline pH of the soils, foliar applications are applied 10 days before any granular fertilisers to ensure A key focus for Lane has been remedying organic there are no deficiencies of micronutrients that may inhibit nitrogen response matter accumulation in playing surface profiles 50 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 A quality For the Control of Metalaxyl-M Pythium in Turf product.... at a reasonable Micro Emulsion (ME) Formulation price Active Constituent 240 g/L Metalaxyl-M Registered for use on all Turf species Mayfair Fungicide TURF 240 g/L Metalaxyl-M culture In the first of a two-part article, Peter McMaugh AM and Gary Beehag discuss the use of mechanised rolling as a key cultural practice long used on bowling greens and cricket wickets but only in recent years on golf greens. echanised rolling of golf was transferred to wheels for ground traction, The choice of drum diameter is directly greens using lightweight, with a much lighter rear roller for stability and related to the nature of the material being M multiple-head small diameter rollers is a practice which has developed in the current to control evenness of cut. As more sophisticated tractors and small engine technology developed, so did the era of golf course management. Indesign we discuss its origins in Australia and look at the engineering and turfgrass industry personalities behind widespread adoption of of mowers change greatly down the this article years. When you look at company brochures of years gone by, there are huge differences in size between single cylinder machines, with rolled. The more plastic the material (e.g.: cricket wicket clays), the more likely a ‘bow wave’ effect will develop directly in front and behind the roller’s direction of travel. Research conducted in the UK investigating the relationship between rolling on cricket wicket soil over time, has shown the soil will attain the modern turfgrass roller. engines powerful enough to tow a seated maximum density, depending on soil moisture Our hypothesis for this examination is that driver, and the machines of today. The at a certain time, after which no advantage of rolling of putting greens has always been a exceptionally large diameter of the rollers rolling is gained. de facto result of mowing with walk-behind under the operator seat are not something we The very comprehensive research greens mowers having a ‘fixed’ front and see today, except for certain wicket rollers. published in the 2008 PhD thesis of Peter rear roller until the advent of triplex greens Shipton from Cranfield University was mowers, which deprived greens mowed in CRICKET WICKET ROLLERS conducted on Marl soils. These are relatively this way of the rolling factor inherent in walk- Rolling of cricket wickets has long been high level but silty clays which are mostly behind mowing. This was detrimental to the practiced to gain bounce of the ball by single lattice clays (smectites). In Australia quality of golf green surfaces in terms of ball compacting the underlying clay-based soil. For we mostly use double lattice clays which are roll in relation to both distance, firmness and cricket, the heavy mechanised rollers used for much stronger. The UK research needs to be smoothness. developed Macadam road surfaces (bitumen) repeated on Australian soils with a range of were widely adopted and, in essence, the moisture content to find the optimum point for PRE-DATING MOWING basic design principles have barely changed rolling these soils. The developmental history of the designs of over many decades. There may be more To avoid the bow wave effect, small rollers used on turfgrass begins a long way sophisticated drive mechanisms today (see diameter rollers need to be used in multiple back with the use of horse drawn rollers, photo below), but the essential nature of the racks with an overall spread of load to an mostly brought across from agriculture, to large diameter drum (generally a split dual increased surface area rather than having their smooth fairways for golf and to prepare cricket drum on the rear with a smaller drum of lesser full load on a single roller. Back in the 1930s, wicket squares for play. In the case of golf width under the steering arms) is still the the Toro Company (USA) manufactured a fairways, much of the damage in the ‘home same. Tractor-drawn, large-diameter rollers are petrol-driven, ride-on roller machine having of golf’ came from frost heave during freezing routinely used on racecourses. two chain-driven 30cm diameter steel rollers winters. This also occurred on golf greens but specifically for tennis courts. was mostly repaired there by tamping with GREENS AND COURT ROLLERS The aim of rolling bowling and golf greens wooden beaters. Bowling greens, cricket wickets, golf greens is controlled consolidation or firming of the The following quote from James B. Beard and tennis courts require frequent close surface, not soil compaction. Rollers attain in “Turfgrass History and Literature” (2014 p65) mowing, (judicious) controlled nutrition and consolidation by pressure. Pressure is quite sums up the history of rolling... “Smoothing irrigation to present high quality playing different from weight and the weight of the and Rolling: Mechanical smoothing by rolling surfaces. Frequent rolling has always played roller is just one component of pressure. is one of the earliest cultural practices, dating a large part in the final preparation of bowls, Turfgrass leaf stiffness, whether bentgrass, back to the 1700s. It predates even mowing. cricket and tennis surfaces but less so in golf fescue, couchgrass, seashore paspalum or The heavy manually pushed rollers were hand- until the current era. cotula, and the physical architecture and carved from stone. Just when rolling was first In the absence of any authoritative moisture content of the thatch-mat region all practiced on putting greens is unclear. Rolling standard or specification for bowling and golf impact on degree and time period of applied with manually pushed, lightweight, wooden green rollers, the dimensions, weights and pressure; thus ball roll. rollers was being used on putting greens by the configurations of their drive and steering rollers Judgement about the time spent rolling mid-1880s, and metal, water-ballast rollers were between manufacturers vary widely, largely greens is largely one of the unique skills a in use by the late 1890s. Larger horse-drawn based on engineering rather than science­ competent greenskeeper needs, related to rollers also were used during the late 1800s on based criteria. Whether these machines are as his/her understanding of what research is fairways. The main function was to smooth out fully fit for purpose is the question we want to available. On bowling greens, the long time surfaces after sand patching of filling of rabbit engage within this article. often spent rolling achieves more in the public burrows and scrapes as potential problems relations area than in green speed. Periodic with soil compaction were recognised. ” As we use of a jack before and after rolling is a shall discuss later, Beard wrote and promoted worthwhile practice to test green speed. the virtues of so-called lightweight rollers for Cast iron, large diameter rollers, often putting greens. referred to as ‘heavy rollers’ especially on As golf courses themselves changed bowling greens, were often made heavier by with the times, the horse-drawn, helical spiral filling them with water. These water ballast mowers (derived from the carpet industry) rollers date back to the 1800s. They were very were replaced by mechanical, self-propelled cumbersome to use and by the early 1970s tractors. Having a relatively heavy roller inbuilt were sitting in the corner behind the shed into the mowing unit for stability, and a stable much more often than being seen on the source of power to drive the cylinder, took green. greens mower design in a direction different Also in common use by turf farmers in the from fairway mowers where the drive function Example of an Australian-designed wicket roller 1960s were large diameter vibrating rollers SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 53 ROLLING brought in from road base consolidation. They were introduced in the 1930s by Worthington were generally used prior to harvesting to (USA) then Ransomes (UK). These machines compact the surface soil so that poor quality comprised three, friction drive design cylinder turf could be lifted with less breakage. This mowers attached to a two-wheeled tractor-type practice caused serious compaction far deeper unit. into the profile than non-vibrating rollers. This The concept of a ride-on triplex greens generally ruined the next turfgrass crop and mower was realised in 1968 with release of the the practice is rarely seen today. Jacobsen Greens King triplex. Other mower Electrical-powered rollers of varying manufacturers, such as Toro, Ransomes designs and number of individual rollers have In addition to frequent close mowing, frequent rolling and Hahn West Point, soon developed ride- has always played a large part in the final preparation long been used on bowling greens throughout on triplex mowers. The first ride-on triplex of bowls, cricket and tennis surfaces Australia and New Zealand. In contrast, greens mower (Greens King) sold in Australia routine adoption of mechanised rolling on rolling distance was measured using a bowls (see photo below) was purchased by Royal golf greens only became worldwide more jack on an inclined plane. Sounds familiar to Canberra Golf Club, ACT. Other golf clubs recently following development of so-called the modern stimpmeter used on golf greens. throughout Australia soon followed suit. lightweight, multiple roller units. However, most Importantly, while several mathematical Like their predecessors, ride-on triplex people associated in the turfgrass industry are formulae of rolling factor have been published, mowers had an independent system of unaware design and construction of lightweight the authors are unaware of any applied ‘floating head’ cylinder and front and rear turfgrass rollers having multiple diameter drive research correlating rolling factor formulae rollers. In other words, the cylinders moved and steering rollers was conceived by an and actual degree of consolidation on bowling independently from the machine. Considerable Australian engineer, Ron Kaye. or golf green surfaces. Surface factors discussion among American turfgrass contributing to ball roll distance and retention consultants and superintendents ensued WALK-BEHIND, FIXED DRUM period are shoot density, leaf stiffness and around the pluses and minuses of floating CYLINDER MOWERS: PRECISION rate of leaf regrowth and degree of initial head design of triplex mowers as opposed to CUTTING AND ROLLING surface consolidation as affected by thatch-mat the fixed head design on walk-behind mowers. Let’s go back in time and set the scene accumulation and moisture content. All vary Main criticisms of long-term exclusive use for turfgrass rollers. Widespread adoption over time. of triplex mowers has been lack of concise, throughout Australia of the Australian-made precision mowing, a propensity of greater Scott Bonnar 30” Queen electric-driven INTRODUCTION OF RIDE-ON thatch-mat accumulation and surface tyre bowling green mower developed in the late TRIPLEX GREENS MOWERS impression. Tournament preparation on golf 1950s heralded not only the era of precision Initial adoption of ‘floating-head’ single-cylinder greens has seen utilisation of walk-behind mowing but also significant width of downward mowers later followed by universal adoption mowers to gain more precise mowing and force or pressure on bowling green surfaces. of triple-cylinder mowing heads (or triplex rolling factor. Adoption of dedicated roller head Exceptionally low height of precision mowers) for golf greens reduced mowing time and scarification cassettes for triplex mowers is cutting (less than 2.0mm bench setting) on individual greens, but not without some a relatively recent development to gain a rolling combined with a total machine weight (around controversy and debate. factor and manage thatch accumulation. 160kg) resulted in significant downward force Debate centred on the independent or rolling factor across a 76cm width. The Scott ‘floating head’ separating cylinders and rollers Editor’s Note: In part two of this article, Bonnar 30” Queen electric mower (pictured from the weight of the mower, as attested by the authors will discuss the science in the page 52 and above) and later variant models the number of American articles subsequently development of lightweight, multiple bowling became so well-known they were exported published. Mind you, walk-behind triplex and golf rollers and discuss how this has been worldwide where lawn bowls is played, even to mowers called the ‘Overgreen’ for golf greens applied by the main personalities involved.^ the United States. Variant Australian designs of this mower are still manufactured today. The point here about electrical-driven, bowling green mowers is the rolling factor contributed by their fixed front and rear rollers. After all, the ‘alternative striping’ effect attained on bowling greens results from the rollers, not the cutting cylinder. The same holds true for golf greens and other closely-mown surfaces. Green speed, or more correctly ball rolling distance, remains a contentious issue among bowlers and golfers alike. Several studies have indicated bowlers and golfers have different perceptions about differences in green speed and the actual ball rolling distance. Nonetheless, the distance attained by a rolling bowl or ball is related to the frictional effects of the ball/surface interface. Investigations of the effects of mowing and rolling on ball rolling distance on bowling greens was first conducted in Australia by the senior author in Sydney during the 1960s. Ball Royal Canberra purchased the first ride-on triplex greens mower in Australia - a Jacobsen Greens King 54 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.5 Enjoy peace of mind this Holiday season, knowing Lexicon” Intrinsic Fungicide has you covered M Lexicon Intrinsic* Brand Funfl^ ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS: 167g/LFLUXAPYR0XAD 333 0/L PYRACL0STR08IN J Lexicon* Intrinsic® Brand Fungicide group MET! fungicide A broad spectrum preventativean