As the end of another busy golf season approaches, one trend that looks like it will continue for the foreseeable future is courses investing in improvement projects. Renovating bunkers, adding tees, replacing the irrigation system, expanding drainage or doing a major course renovation are all investments that may be long overdue for many golf courses. It is important to remember that golf course renovation is like performing major surgery and it takes time for renovated areas to recover.
There is often a belief that near-perfect conditions will be presented immediately after areas of a golf course are renovated. This is simply not the case. When projects like installing drainage or a new irrigation system are completed, scars will be visible where work was done. These areas will recover, but it takes time for sod to establish or for turf to fill the voids that were created in disturbed areas.
If new playing surfaces are established – e.g., rebuilding putting greens or regrassing fairways and tees – it takes time for the juvenile turf to mature. It usually takes around three years for renovated playing surfaces to reach maturity. Quality playing conditions will still be experienced while new surfaces mature, but thin areas are likely and new turf won’t be as resilient to stress – especially during the first year. Demands for firm and fast conditions must be tempered.
Adjusting the agronomic program for renovated playing surfaces plays a major role in promoting turf maturation. Fertility and irrigation needs will be different for seeded or sodded areas when compared to non-renovated portions of the course. For seeded areas, developing a proper mat layer helps promote the maturation of new playing surfaces and the cultural management program will need to be tailored to achieve this. When sod is installed, supplemental aeration will help disrupt the sod layer to encourage deeper rooting and allow water to move into the rootzone.
Investments in golf course improvement projects are made for their long-term benefits. Recovery from construction and the maturation of new playing surfaces are just some of the aches and pains that come with progress. It cannot be overstated how important it is for realistic expectations to be set prior to renovation work – no matter the size of the project. For support with your golf course renovation project, reach out to your regional USGA agronomist.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Tom Gould, agronomist – tgould@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
Contact the Green Section Staff