Materials used to manage the golf course will include water, wetting agent, fertiliser, growth regulators, pesticides, top dressing and bunker sand. By focusing on producing dry, firm and healthy surfaces, the materials necessary to achieve objectives, both in terms of quality and quantity, can easily be identified.
Getting the best value from purchased materials can be achieved by:
- producing an accurate course map to determine the exact area of surfaces to be maintained in order to minimise waste
- producing a specification so that suppliers can quote on a like-for-like basis
- buying in bulk in so far as the continuity of your programme, storage capacity and shelf-life of the product allows
- sourcing locally, where possible, to reduce transportation costs and to support local businesses
- avoiding unnecessary, excessive use of water and fertiliser. Promoting lush, green turf is wasteful and will increase the need for other materials such as pesticides and top dressing
- storing and handling materials correctly to reduce wastage
- applying materials effectively, at the right time and with the right equipment.
Producing a ‘Course Policy Document’ is the first step to identifying objectives for the course and the materials needed to achieve these. Keeping records of all materials required for course management will facilitate development of the most efficient maintenance strategies.
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Good planning is essential, in order to make sure that you have the necessary materials in place when the time, and weather, is right to do the job.
Utilising waste materials from on-course maintenance work reduce purchasing requirements.
Appropriate storage facilities will reduce waste, while also enabling easier accessibility to materials for efficient delivery and handling.
Using the correct equipment will make the most of the materials applied to the golf course.