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The best playing conditions with the fewest inputs

The best playing conditions with the fewest inputs

This presentation, at the Thailand Golf Paradise Seminar in Khao Yai, is a discussion of what type of playing conditions we try to produce on golf course turf. Then for the specific conditions of Thailand, in very plain terms, I explain how those conditions are produced with the fewest inputs of water, pesticides, mowing, fertilizer, etc.

Micah Woods

July 20, 2017
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Transcript

  1. The best playing conditions with the fewest inputs Micah Woods

    25 July 2017 Chief Scientist | Asian Turfgrass Center www.asianturfgrass.com
  2. 1. Thailand has an amazing variety of golfing surfaces 2.

    Characteristics of these surfaces 3. Five ways to improve conditions and reduce inputs
  3. Growth in response to nitrogen and water Table 1: Clipping

    yield response per unit of nitrogen and water supplied. Data from TISTR experiment (https://ashs.confex. com/ashs/2017/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/27386). Grass % N response % H 2 O response zoysia (nuan noi) 154 130 paspalum (salam) 121 110 bermuda (Tifway 419) 100 100
  4. About water, the USGA say “it is essential for everyone

    involved in the game to strive to conserve and protect the world’s most vital resource.”
  5. Sustainability in golf: “Optimising the playing quality of the golf

    course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management.” – The R&A
  6. “Turfgrass management is managing the growth rate of the grass

    to create the desired playing surface for golf.” – Micah Woods
  7. 4. Use less nutrients Use only what the grass requires,

    for the growth rate necessary at your course.
  8. “The fundamental principle of successful greenkeeping is the recognition of

    the fact that the finest golfing grasses flourish on poor soil and that more harm is done by over-, rather than underfertilizing.” – Alister MacKenzie
  9. 5. Do less topdressing and less core aeration Once the

    organic matter and growth rate are under control, one shouldn’t need to topdress and aerate as often.