Pro and avid players enjoy the lush fairways of South Africa’s 450 golf courses. While the players discuss business, catch up with friends and perfect their handicap, the greenkeepers’ work is on display, and can affect a player’s game.
The greenkeepers’ have to work hard to maintain the lawns, leafy trees and provide obstacle-free fairways, applying different techniques for different sections.
South Africa’s golf courses match international standards, thanks to expert landscaping teams implementing best practice solutions all year round.
Here is what you should know about the importance of golf course maintenance to prevent course damage and saving golf course owners money on costly repairs.
-
Water the greens
South Africa is a water-scarce country, which means greenkeepers have to take extra care to guarantee the grass is always green. Greenkeepers’ expert knowledge on soil, turf and the country’s rain patterns inform their decisions on watering.
-
Grass should be the right length
Long grass not only looks unkept, if left too long, it can make it difficult to get the grass back into playing shape. Greenkeepers are encouraged to follow the one-third rule, which results in perfect greens and precision putting. Too little or too much mowing, can cause long- and short-term damage. As a rule, the lawn should be mowed every three days, or maintenance teams need to reseed the grass, meaning the play area is out of bounds for at least eight weeks.
-
Repair the turf
Players can unintentionally damage turf with clubs or shoes, in which case, repairs should take place daily. Should greenkeepers’ wait too long, repairs can be costly. Damaged turf is also unsightly and will negatively affect a player’s game.
-
Clear ball marks
Golf balls can leave marks on the turf, making greens uneven. Clearing these marks daily is a must. Golf course maintenance teams should inspect the greens and use a ball mark repair tool to remove visible marks. Doing so will mean players will be happy with your greens and keep them coming back game after game.
-
Maintain bunkers
It takes a great deal of skill for players to move around bunkers and take the perfect shot. Maintenance teams should ensure bunkers are flawless by doing the following:
- Proper drainage system.
- Levelling the sand.
- Removing footprints.
- Mowing the turf around the bunker edges.
- Removing weeds and making sure the sand doesn’t get contaminated.
For golf course maintenance teams, there is always work to be done. Setting up a detailed maintenance schedule is essential to save golf course owners money and keep players happy with their game and your facilities. To learn more about how Servest’s landscaping team craft and maintain golf courses, visit https://www.servest.co.za/our-services/.
