Golf Greens Use of Pesticides

Where pesticides and other chemical products are used, this must be in a responsible way and one in which all other actions have been undertaken to reduce the need for their use in the first place. The use of Integrated Pest / Turf Management, or similar, in reducing the need for pesticides and then only as a last resort should be foremost in managing a golf course, even though the focus of pesticides is usually on the greens. Whilst many course managers will use pesticides as a last resort, many also apply them as a matter of routine, without questioning their need, efficacy or cost effective
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Golf Greens Weeds

Weeds on a golf green can detract from the production of a very fine uniform surface. Small weeds such as clover/trefoils, pearlwort, yarrow, have been called the “Troublesome Trio” (Sutton, M.A.F. (1962) ‘Lawns and Sports Grounds’, pp105-109) and also parsley piert can be routinely weakened and reduced by scarification and verticutting.
Where selective herbicide is to be applied then it should be when the grass plant and weeds are growing strongly: typically, this will be during May to early June on established swards, and the minimum period stated on the herbicide label for newly sown tu
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Golf Hole Location

The position of a hole on a golf green in which a golf flag stick (often called a golf pin) and flag is located. The term pin location is also sometimes used.
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Golf Rough Aeration

Aeration of the semi-rough, primarily with the use of slit tines as these can often cover the ground quite speedily, might be carried out occasionally, possibly in the early spring and then again in the early autumn. Other tines and aeration equipment can obviously be considered as well.
Grounds maintenance vehicular traffic as well as golfers will not be using much of the semi-rough, but most likely localised areas that are used for short cuts or commonly areas for mishit shots. These localised area of use and wear will be those that are targeted for more intensive and frequent aeration,
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Golf Rough Fallen Leaves

Autumn can see an abundance of fallen leaves, especially where there are considerable numbers of mature deciduous trees present on a course.
A tractor operated leaf sweeper or vacuum would typically be in use on a regular basis to continually remove the fallen leaves.
October and November would be key months, as well as some weeks in December, plus also in September if leave fall was early, which can happen when a particularly dry summer has occurred.
Golf Rough Mowing

There will typically be a transition of sward heights from the fairway to the deep rough. These areas will be maintained to keep the grass under control and to act as a punishment for a wayward golf shot.
The height of cut will vary quite significantly, with semi-rough areas typically being cut at heights from 25mm to 75mm, whilst golf course rough areas might be cut at heights from 75mm to 175mm, but there can be quite a variance in practice. The actual heights of cut used will often be stated in a golf course policy document.
If scrub, such as gorse, starts to encroach or become estab
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Golf Rough Other Maintenance Practices

The use of fertilisers or irrigation on the semi-rough would not usually be carried out, except maybe in the most highly manicured and rare situations, however, there should be little need to carry out these activities on any areas of rough.
Drag brushing might be considered in helping to stripe a semi-rough, especially when mowing is not required or suitable, although for some greenkeepers and golfers, but not others, this might be taking manicuring of a course too far.
Golf Rough Scarification

To help reduce the development of a soft thatch layer, scarification should be carried out to keep the base of the sward open, although this will primarily be in the semi-rough rather than rough.
The use a chain harrow with tines pointing downwards will also tear out loose and decaying vegetation helping to maintain the desired more open sward.
Where excess vegetative arisings are produced then these will need to be raked or vacuumed up and removed to a compost heap or disposed of in some other suitable way.
The use of a verticutter might also be considered on a semi-rough, especial
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Golf Rough Weed, Pests and Disease

Weeds, or more likely the flowers of weeds, especially those with predominantly white flowers such as daisy and yarrow, can be a problem in semi-rough areas at flowering time as their presence can make it much harder to find a ball mishit into the semi-rough. Keeping play moving, without unnecessary delays may require the use of a selective herbicide in certain areas of the semi-rough.
The use of herbicides in the standard or deep rough is more questionable as there can be significant environmental and wildlife benefits, especially by reducing the harm done to insect food sources, in not
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Golf Tees Aeration

Aeration will be carried out on a regular basis, using a variety of methods and changing the depth of aeration where possible.
Maintaining a well rooted, stable, and resilient sward is essential if divot recovery is to be optimised and good sward coverage is to be maintained.
A range of practices might be employed, and a ‘typical’ programme might be along the following lines, although this will be influenced by soil conditions as aeration will want to be carried out in dry to moist soil conditions, not when the soil is moist to wet:
• Slit tine: fortnightly to monthly during Se
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