Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Tees should be irrigated somewhat less than are greens, and they
should be kept somewhat drier to provide a firm stance for golfers and
more tolerance to divot damage.
Tees need frequent cultivation to relieve compaction, control thatch
and smooth the surface. Cultivation practices used on tees are the same
as for greens. Frequencies of top-dressing and coring are usually lower
than for greens, and vertical mowing should be deeper and less frequent
than for putting greens.
Extensive divot repair is usually required. Golfers frequently repair
divots themselves if a container of sand and a scoop are placed nearby. If
the tee becomes extensively worn and damaged, areas may have to be
taken out of play and resodded.
The Fairway
The fairway is the turfed area between tee and the putting green. Fairway
widths and lengths vary greatly depending on the total length of the golf
course and its design. Fairways are frequently between 30 and 60 m wide
and 100-500 m long, and they sometimes include features such as water
hazards and bunkers (Fig. 9.8). The turf-grass on a fairway must be
relatively dense, uniform, smooth and free from excessive thatch. The
surface should be firm enough to provide a proper amount of roll after
the ball lands on it and should not be grooved by maintenance equipment
or golf carts.
The same turf-grasses adapted for use on tees are also used on
fairways. In tropical areas fairways are usually planted with common
cynodon, hybrid cynodon, Z. japonica, paspalum or serangoon grass.
Hybrid cynodon has been the most common, but in recent years paspa-
lum has received more attention, especially in locations irrigated with
effluent or brackish water.
Fairways are mowed relatively low and quite frequently so as to
provide the required density and firmness. Most turf-grasses on fairways
are mowed to a height of 15-20 mm with reel-type self-propelled mow-
ing units or gang mowers pulled behind tractors (Fig. 9.9). Mowing
frequency is based on the one-third rule and in the tropics usually ranges
from two to three times a week. Alternation of mowing pattern is en-
couraged but is not as critical as on greens or even tees. Mowers must not
be driven at a speed that causes the mower to bounce. Bouncing, besides
risking mower damage, produces a rippling effect in the mowing pattern
that makes fairways look ugly. Turns should be made at reduced speed
and in a wide arc so as to prevent tearing of the turf.
Unlike those on tees and greens, clippings on the fairway should be
left in place. This practice reduces fertilizer requirements and usually
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