In order to make objective assessments of playing quality, collating data on how surfaces have been performing will be very helpful for reviewing past trends, monitoring current performance, and also predicting future changes.
Keeping records will allow you to demonstrate to your customers that they are receiving a quality golfing experience and good value for money.
Record keeping will help you to:
- show that the frequency of main green closure is reducing each year, so you are offering customers more golf for their money
- demonstrate the effectiveness of your management approach. Examples might include being able to open the course faster after heavy rain due to upgraded drainage or limiting disruption to play from frost by reducing shade problems
- demonstrate turf firmness. Greens and fairway landing areas can, of course, be either too soft or too hard. Establishing optimum firmness provides quality surfaces for the golfer, healthier turf, increased revenue and reduced management costs
- monitor organic matter content. Excessive levels of organic matter produce soft and water-retentive surfaces, which are costly to manage
- monitor soil moisture content. This has a direct bearing on firmness; soft surfaces are often too wet, hard ones too dry. Soil moisture content is a useful indicator of the effectiveness of your irrigation programme
- demonstrate smoothness and trueness. The level of vertical and lateral deviation of a golf ball is an indicator of the consistency of putting surfaces.
There are tools available to measure firmness (Clegg Impact Hammer and USGA TruFirm™), soil moisture content, smoothness and trueness (STRI Trueness Meter®), and speed (Stimpmeter). To demonstrate trends, assessment of these parameters should be made at least once a month. Soil organic matter content should be measured at least annually by laboratory analysis. Interpretation of these results should be related to weather, season and maintenance practices. Establishing optimum ranges for each measurement is an essential component of a strategic management plan.
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The Clegg measures firmness, which is affected by organic matter, management practices and the weather.
Measuring smoothness and trueness with the Trueness Meter™ at The Open Championship 2010.
Green speed is a reflection of firmness and smoothness/trueness.
Frost and snow cover will last longer to heavily shaded greens, thereby reducing days available for play.
Good drainage is essential to prevent loss of play after heavy rain.
Overly soft greens reduce the quality of playing performance, while also highlighting serious organic matter problems.