Greens Maintenance Communication

Recent maintenance to the putting surfaces has been undertaken following yet another wet and hot weather period causing excess growth, especially between the desirable Champion ultra-dwarf and the off-type couches. The weather is creating excess growth that regular mowing and chemical plant growth regulation is not keeping it under control. Near 500mm of rain has fallen since the January renovations (completed 6 weeks ago) which has added to the challenges.

This week a mow and groom was performed on the greens to suppress the scalping and chattering issues that is common this time of year due to years of built up thatch and grain. The constant pursuit to produce a true, smooth and consistent surface, that is rolling well has proven difficult for the months of February and March in recent years. Excess thatch, grain and the weather conditions – hot, humid and overcast weather, cause our greens to become ‘puffy’, therefore scalping when mown. Obviously not ideal, the immediate control of these issues is to groom the surfaces and scalp the puffiness and grain from the surface. This is what has been undertaken this week and will continue over the coming weeks.

Now that the more aggressive grooming has been undertaken, lighter grooming will continue as part of our regular mowing regime. The putting greens will recover quickly due to the ‘perfect’ conditions.

You can listen to a course update, by clicking here, which explains the issue with thatch, grain and off-type grasses from April 2022.

What is grain?

Grain is the growth habit of the above ground plant material – leaves and stems, to grow horizontally in differing directions rather than vertically. It is common in couch (Bermuda) grass due to its lateral growth habit.

It is common to see grain within a putting green, visually by two-toned light and dark. For us, the collapsing or rolling in of one side of the hole is evidence of grain.
Grain has an effect on ball roll as putts into the grain will tend to be slower than putts rolling with or across the grain. This makes it difficult to get a consistent ball roll on putting surfaces.

“There are many misconceptions about grain and how it develops on putting greens. Grain does not grow west toward the setting sun, nor does it always grow toward a lake or the ocean. The fact is, nobody knows for sure what conditions cause grain to develop in certain directions on putting greens. Grain can even be growing in several different directions all on the same putting green.”
USGA Course Care Advisory Article

Although modern turf type grasses and maintenance equipment have alleviated the grain factor, it is still a constant pressure that comes with mismanaged golf greens and putting surfaces with different grass types within them, as is the case with ours.

Lower mowing heights, once grain is eradicated will assist however grain control will require other management techniques, which will include changing of mowing and rolling directions daily, brushing, grooming, verticutting and some sand applications as dusting or light top-dressing will assist in helping to stand the grass up vertical, providing a better-quality putting surface.

As for our greens, whether its brown or green, the more consistent the colour of the surface the less the ball will be affected by grain. Click here to watch a video prepared by the USGA titled ‘The truth about grain’.

This is achievable to a certain point for the greens at The Brisbane Golf Club, and as the April 2022 video update shows, the off-type couch and blue couch grasses will continue to add a level of inconsistency and scalping in the putting surfaces.

As always if you have any feedback, please forward to our CEO, Geoff Kuehner via geoff@brisbanegolfclub.com.au. All feedback will be tabled at our monthly Course Sub-Committee meeting.

Regards

David Mason
Course Superintendent
The Brisbane Golf Club