Golf courses are always undergoing constant changes and evolution as they grow. The trees, grass and shrubs are always growing and they tend to interfere with the width of putting greens surface of the golf course. To reduce the wastage of the surface, these elements forming the major portion of the course needs to be maintained. The well maintained golf greens increase the efficiency of the golf course.
Well maintained golf courses provide plenty of community as well as ecological balance apart from helping for a good game. It adds to the natural beauty of the course and also provides good recreation.
- Trees should be maintained properly by taking good care as they are an important part of the golf course. They create shade, cools down the temperatures and also filter the dust on the golf course. However, they should not be allowed to grow near the putting surfaces and teeing surfaces. They may interfere with the growth and nourishment of these parts of the golf course. Overgrowths require timely trimming as it will maintain the beauty of the golf greens.
- Slopes on the golf courses require hand mowing with line trimmers or require some special mowing equipment. Softer slopes are very cost effective and require less maintenance then steep slopes.
- Irrigation to the golf greens is an important aspect of maintaining golf greens. Use of rain gauge is well recommended while applying water to the golf grass. Water logging may cause more harm than under watering the lawns. This is because the golf grasses can withstand short droughts but cannot stand flooding. Over watering may result in fungal infections like brown patches.
- Height of mowing is important as it determines the leaves and stems of the grass left. These are important as they are involved in photosynthesis and thereby affect the plant food. In summers, the height should be 3-4 inches while in case of spring or fall it should be 3 inches.
- The lawn mower should be in good condition with sharp blades. Blunt blades result in ripping the grass and causing injury to the golf grass. It may also lead to bigger wounds and fungal infection.
- To have an even surface, the mowing directions need to be changed for each cut to keep coarse grass under control.
- Fertilizer application should be followed after having a proper soil analysis done. Quick releasing nitrogenous fertilizers can be used for weaker golf greens while slow releasing fertilizers are normally used for golf greens.
- Weed, pest and disease management on golf course is an important aspect of maintaining golf greens. Proper cultural practices like watering, fertigation and mowing reduces incidence of these. Preventive applications and integrated pest management of pesticides and fungicides are to be done.
Other problems that cannot be foreseen can be controlled on curative or as needed basis. Only applications that are needed to prevent any damage to greens are to be made.
