Aspects of Golf Course Maintenance
Author: Rich Marsiglia
Golf courses are always in a state of constant change
and evolution since they are growing! As the trees, grass and other shrubs grow,
they interfere with the width of the putting surface of the golf course. In
order to reduce the wastage of the surface, these elements forming the major
part of the course need to be maintained in a proper and orderly fashion thus
increasing the efficiency of the course itself.
Here are some tips and
tricks that you can use to maintain your golf course and have it looking lush
and beautiful.
Well-maintained golf courses provide plenty of the ecological
as well as community benefits. It not only provides recreation, but also cleans
the air and acts as a sanctuary for plants and animals. Fertilizers and
pesticides should be used but in moderation over the entire golf course to
maintain a healthy turf.
Trees are also an important and vital part of any
golf course. They cool the temperature, create shade and also filter the dust.
But their health should be closely monitored and they should not be allowed to
grow near the putting surfaces and the teeing surfaces as they interfere with
the growth and nourishment of these regions in particular. The overgrown limbs
of trees have to be trimmed as part of the tree maintenance program. Slopes must
be hand mowed with line trimmers or by using special mowing equipment. Softer
slopes are most cost effective and have less maintenance compared to steep
slopes. Trim work is the most difficult and crucial part of golf course
maintenance. It requires high labor especially during the growing season. Sand
Bunkers require the sand to be added and replaced constantly as well as raking.
If the sand bunkers are steep, after heavy rain, the sand will always need to be
shoveled back into the bunkers.
Maintaining the golf carts, which are
generally petrol or electric, is also very important. These require a minimum of
2 services annually. The batter terminals and water levels should be
checked every fortnight if you are using electric carts. If the weather is
dusty, it is good to hose out the car with specific attention to the car engine,
interiors as well as under the seat. Following these simple steps will greatly
reduce the general problems associated with regular usage of the golf carts.
The damage to the greens in the golf course can be reduced to a large extent
by using Soft spike golf shoes instead of the metal spike shoes. Using golf
clubs with new metal woods are also helpful as their heads are smaller and
shallow. The irrigation system of any golf course also needs proper care in
order to work to its full potential. If this system is maintained efficiently,
it will reduce the overall water wastage and improve the appearance and quality
of the greens in a big way. By following a few simple steps, you can keep your
golf course looking beautiful and well manicured thus ensuring a quality
experience for the players.
Rotor Maintenance- The arcs of the rotors should
be regularly adjusted and worn out seals and nozzles should be replaced
immediately. Clogged screens and cracked cases should also be fixed as soon as
it is observed. The rotor should also be periodically checked for thatch
build-up and improper rotation. These rotors should be examined annually or
half-yearly depending on whether you are in a northern or southern climate zone
respectively.
Tuning the Controller Program- In order to reduce water
wastage but still keep your course looking green and healthy, it is important to
follow the ?Triple A' approach which is Anticipate, Adjust and
Achieve.
Anticipate changes in weather and increase or decrease water usage
accordingly. This will help prevent dry spots at the same time lessen the risk
of over-watering the golf course. Adjust the irrigation schedule to increase or
decrease run time of station by a certain % as per the rise in temperature. This
will reduce turf stress and have a good effect or shrub and turf zones. Achieve
conservation of water as well as other advantages by following the above
procedure.
Maintain the other parts- Always ensure that all wiring is
connected properly and neatly stored. The cabinets should be checked for dirt
and debris and cleaned leaving no trace of any moisture as this will destroy the
circuits. The backup battery should be replaced as and when required and the
rain sensors should also be cleaned and adjusted. Ensure that the earth
grounding is not over 5 ohms.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/aspects-of-golf-course-maintenance-51586.html
About the AuthorAuthor Rich Marsiglia, Golf Course Maintenance
Making And Maintaining Golf Course - Facts You Never Knew
Author: Abhishek Agarwal
All of us love to spend a weekend taking a round of the golf course, playing a few rounds as well. But have you ever wondered what goes into making a golf course? There is a lot that goes into preparing and maintaining a golf course, maybe more than you may imagine. There exist a few companies in every state that focus on the styling and maintenance of golf courses in particular. Read on to find out what exactly goes into all that.
There is a basic outline that you need to work within when planning a golf course. The amount of land at your disposal will always have some limit, and you need to do your best to incorporate eighteen challenges into it. The average golf course is around five to seven thousand yards long, so you need to keep that in mind when planning the holes. The rest of it gets pretty interesting as you plan to include challenges into the field. You need to ask yourself where a water hole or a sand pit may be placed so as to make the game more interesting and things like that. It could be a lot of fun planning all these traps on the course.
Of course you will need to work within a budget. The vast area of a golf course tends to make it a very expensive field to plan and make, and you could end up with a one million dollar bill at the least, if you want a decent course. Not all of us are millionaires and so we need to plan every little detail beforehand. Make a realistic budget, not too low and not too high and make a plan outline before you go looking for a sponsor. Chances are you will find a financer if you have a decent plan put down on paper.
Once you are over the hurdle of getting the finance arranged, you will need to think of the equipment and manpower resources to get the job done. Here is where you need to work the hardest to bring your dream course to reality, and it is the most fulfilling part of the process as well. While you are constructing the course, it is a good idea to get started on the advertising aspect as well, so you will have ready customers by the time the building and layout of the course is completed. Make sure you have a few birds eye aerial photographs to include in the advertisements, and then you could start off by arranging a special get together or party with inviting possible future members as well.
Maintaining a golf club requires you to hire people on salary basis, so you will have to take care of that beforehand. Golf as we all know is associated with style and finesse, so make sure you have personnel who have good customer care experience working for you ? people who have served in hotel industries would be perfect candidates for the job..
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/making-and-maintaining-golf-course-facts-you-never-knew-776438.html
About the AuthorAbhishek is an avid Golfing enthusiast and he has got some great Golfing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 63 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Enjoying Golf" from his website http://www.Golf-Skills.com/97/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
Golf Course Irrigation Systems
Author: Rich Marsiglia
A golf course might be a dream place, but unless it is well irrigated with a sophisticated irrigation system, it will not only lead to water wastage but will do harm to the quality of the ground. Therefore a wise decision must be taken when deciding which system to adopt. The golf course irrigation system usually consists of sprinklers, field controllers, central control systems and valves. These are the components of an automatic sprinkler system. Each has a function of its own and each plays a vital role in proper irrigation. It is always advisable to use irrigation systems that manage water efficiently.
The central control system offers automatic
monitoring thus it saves water and benefits the environment. An automatic
controller will have multiple start times, multiple independent programs and
automatic shut on / off. This is a great option, because you have the
flexibility to irrigate only when necessary. You can also use nozzles that allow
water to be spread evenly. By doing this, brown spots can be avoided and the
course will look a lot better. Precipitation nozzles have been said to reduce
water wastage by 30%.
Sprinklers come in retrofit conversion units, modular
controls and hand held units. Companies today are manufacturing sprinklers
keeping customer requirements in mind. All sites are different thus they need
sprinklers, which will cater to the irrigation requirements of the site. There
are also sprinklers that offer precision coverage for the ground. This is
especially beneficial to irrigate tee boxes and other areas that will be
difficult to reach. A small-bodied sprinkler is apt for small spaces. With
proven toughness and durability sprinklers come with low maintenance
requirements.
The central control system is the central processing unit. It
is the intelligence behind the irrigation system. You can get graphic based
software to make your job easy. This system gives direction to the valves. It
tells the valves when to irrigate and when to stop. The sprinkler just directs
the flow of water once it receives instruction. A watering station is a set of
sprinklers, which is controlled by a single valve. The type of water station
depends on the quality of the lawn and the type of plants used. The valves are
operated in a certain order and not all at once. Therefore, only when one
station has completed work, the next one will start. A watering program controls
the watering station.
A watering program is developed to determine the
timetable for the watering and how much of water to use. Different plants need
different watering timetables. Some plants do not need to be watered every day
but some others require daily watering. Thus the system should be pre-programmed
to take care of different situations.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-course-irrigation-systems-51589.html
About the AuthorAuthor Rich Marsiglia, Golf Course Maintenance
Maintain A Golf Course
Author: Josh Santebanes
A golf course is a place that needs to be
kept well. Most people really appreciate golf courses on how the developers has
laid them out. These have become attractions to some people. The maintenance of
the golf course is one important thing that needs to be done. The fairways,
tees, greens and even the hazards need to be improved all the time. There are
surely some tips that will help you do this. It is very important that you
follow them so that the golf course will be a place that is not only relaxing to
the spirit but also pleasing to the eyes.
AERATE
One thing that
must be done in the golf course is aeration. Most experts recommend that it must
be done for at least twice a year. This helps in keeping the growth in the turf
in good speed. This is also a good way to alleviate water runoff. Look at ping
golf clubs.
CHECK DIVOTS
It is very important that you
check the fairways for divots. Inspect the area for you to see it. Try to
replace the divot as soon as possible so that the turf root can be reattached
easily. Sometimes these cannot be replaced easily. One thing that you can do is
to patch it with the mixture of turf seed and water.
GREEN AND
IRRIGATION
The greens of the golf course must be maintained carefully. Make
sure that you will do the maintenance for at least once a day. Carefully replace
the turf on the greens. One thing that you can do to keep the greens in good
state all the time is to maintain proper irrigation of the area. The water
system must be checked to ensure that these are functional. The water helps in
keeping the greens in the golf course. It must be done for at least once a
day.
BUNKERS AND WATER HAZARDS The bunkers must be raked for at
least once a day. This will help remove the club marks and the foot prints that
may stick to it. Keep in mind that the rake must be in one place where it will
never cause any distraction in the play. Water hazards must also be maintained
all the time. Make sure that it is on the appropriate level and there are no
debris floating in it. See callaway gold clubs
also.
LITERS
Sometimes, you will find liters around you while
you are in the course. These will surely cause so much mess in the area. Make
sure that you will pick them up and place them in one container. One good thing
that you can do is to remind the players and as well as the spectators about
proper waste disposal while inside the course.
It is very important
that the golf course is maintained well. This place is a good for someone who is
looking for a place to relax his mind while playing golf. A well maintained golf
course is a good place to play. Keep the tips in mind for you to have a
guide.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/maintain-a-golf-course-3747820.html
About the AuthorJosh Santebanes is a father
who likes to play golf and billiards. He is also fascinated with airplanes and
helicopters. Being a man does not stop him from doing household chores
especially in choosing the best tools and accessories that will match the house.
He is a father of 3 cute children.