The Traditionalist Steve Oultram, Head Greenkeeper at the Wilmslow Golf Club in Cheshire, gets back to the basics in greenkeeping as he and his team implement The R&A’s sustainability programme at their facility. Course managers and head greenkeepers are facing complex and (quite often) conflicting challenges. They are expected to produce a course which can be played by hundreds of golfers for up to 365 days a year – no matter what the weather conditions may be. Yet the course should always provide consistently fast greens and healthy fairways which look as though they have hardly ever been played on. In addition to providing such conditions they constantly strive to improve turfgrass health and appearance while using less water and fewer (or even no) chemicals. And if that weren’t enough, course managers and greenkeepers must develop sustainable, ecologically acceptable courses despite their efforts to increase the enjoyment of playing the game. Sounds quite easy, doesn’t it? Currently in the UK, there are five facilities working with The R&A to produce sustainable conditions on golf courses. These are the chaps who decided to face the challenge! The R&A definition of sustainability as it relates to golf course development and management is: “Optimizing the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management”. “The challenge for golf is to maintain course quality and playability while respecting and positively contributing to the social and natural environment,” states Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A Five years ago, Tim Taylor, R&A committee and Wilmslow Golf Club member, approached Steve Oultram to see if would be interested in participating in the sustainable golf programme. Steve thought it sounded like an interesting challenge, so he signed up. “Practicing sustainability on my course has made me a ‘greenkeeper’ again. It is challenging,” states Steve. What does sustainability mean to Steve and the Wilmslow Golf Club? “Minimal amounts of water, chemical and fertilizers. Minimal amounts of everything, except aeration we still do lots of aeration. We also sharpen are cylinders and bottom blades frequently.” Steve knew that turfgrass species was going to be the key in making sustainability work at the Wilmslow. For that reason, Steve began a sward improvement programme to promote the native fescues on his course. The programme included scarifying fairways and hay bailing reducing the nutrients to turfgrass. As a result the bentgrass and fescues thrived, and his earthworm population diminished significantly. Fescues and bentgrass were chosen because of the low inputs: 50 kg/ha N per year or less on greens to established turf. They are fairly drought resistant, and require potentially zero pesticide.
Fescue generally benefits from regular mowing at or above 5 mm, and is the most environmentally sustainable cool season grass. The ability to raise cutting height without impairing surface performance, and reduced turf stress has been a large factor in the success of sustainability for Steve. Express Dual and Anglemaster 3000 grinders from Bernhard and Company have allowed the greenkeeping staff to maintain healthier, consistent turf at higher heights of cut. While grass health has thrived at the current height of 6 mil, green speed has stayed consistent for his members. Steve states, “Grinders make it much easier to attain sustainability. Especially while trying to establish a healthy bent and fescue sward. We had to raise the height of cut, but still maintain a good quality of cut, without the grinders it would have been very hard to do that.” Grinders compliment sustainability in that they ensure that all cutting units are sharp to reduce potential tearing and bruising of the grass leaf, which can result in discoloration, stress and disease. “Using Express Dual and Anglemaster grass blade tips have less damage. We don’t have to input substantial amounts of fertiliser, herbicide or fungicides. It has allowed us to be low input in the strictest sense”, reports Steve. Another benefit that the golf course has seen since implementing the R&A sustainability programme is the steady health of the turfgrass. By applying a good quality of cut and maintaining the chemical balance of the soil, turfgrass does not suffer massive highs and lows, but remains quite steady in its health and appearance. Golf depends on the qualities of the turf surfaces that make up the courses. Maintaining acceptable turf, within financial and environmental constraints, is a significant challenge. That means course managers and greenkeepers have to use sustainable turf, while recognizing economic and environmental concerns, and without sacrificing playing quality to a significant degree.