Mechanisation, efficient and expensive

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 27

Mechanisation, efficient and expensive

Fewer staff maintaining golf courses has increased the need for improved efficiency and,, to get this, many clubs are investing in mechanical equipment

The modern greens mower costs close to $30,000 and can efficiently mow 18 greens to a high standard in a quarter of the time it would

take one to mow them manually. These modem mowers have surface grooming attachments allowing brushing, and combing of the putting green, thus achieving levels of putting quality never thought possible some 12 years before. Other items of equipment such as topdressing and coring machines, fertiliser spreaders and mul-

tiple mini mole ploughs are probably equally or even more important for improving the putting quality of greens yet are seldom seen by golfers. Just as important, however, are efficient fairway and rough-cutting gang mowers, as well as ride-on-surrounds mowers, which cut down the time needed to maintain greens, allowing the

greenkeeper to devote more • time to improving the actual “playability” of greens and the golf course.

Possibly the most significant leap forward in improving golf courses in recent years, has been the installation of automatic pop-up sprinkler irrigation systems. This led to the advent of year-round golf — now widely accepted

as the norm, whilst previously it was impossible. Automation is the key to successful summer irrigation. Unsatisfactory irrigation systems with high labour input can virtually account for one greenkeeper working full-time to shift sprinklers and manual control makes precise watering impossible.

Automatic irrigation systems are expensive and second only in cost to the clubhouse, so strategic long-term planning is necessary to successfully complete the system.