Page 37 - Transitioning Turfgrass

6 ETS Field Days
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Photo 2 Fairway conversion to Bermuda grass. Photo 3 Spring dead spot.

ter a European Union directive on pesticide use with weekly averages being approximately 10mm
was introduced into Italian law with the National in rain free periods. The Bermuda grass greens
Action Plan (PAN). The club decided to convert are hollow cored once a year using 16mm tines
the greens and surrounds on the Verde course into at 5cm centers. Topdressing is applied to greens
bermuda grass in 2016 using Miniverde on the every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season.
greens and Patriot in the surrounds. The Verde Topdressing is applied to fairways only after au-
course is maintained in accordance with Biogolf tumn overseeding. No herbicides, fungicides, in-
protocols. Management practices are divided secticides or plant growth regulators have been
into normal maintenance on the Bianco and Ros- applied to the greens, fairways or tees. A wetting
so courses and Biogolf protocols on the Verde agent is applied to the greens on a monthly basis
course. The major limiting factor in maintenance throughout the year. Spring dead spot damage
is manpower and the maintenance programs (Photo 3) was observed on all turf areas two years
are adjusted to this limit. Fairways and tees on after conversion. The overall area affected by the
all courses are mowed at 14mm on average twice disease is small although disease patches have
a week with verticutting every two weeks. Clip- been heavy in certain areas. The disease though
pings are dispersed by blowing cut areas. Bermu- unsightly has so far not affected playing condi-
da greens are mowed daily during the growing tions adversely. There are no fungicides currently
season at 2,5mm with light verticutting every registered in Italy against this disease. Localised
two weeks. In the normal maintenance programs aerification on affected areas has increased re-
fertilizer applications are applied using visual ob- covery. All bermudagrass areas are overseeded
servation and soil analysis. In the Biogolf main- in September. The fairways, tees and surrounds
tenance program fertilizer is applied on a year are overseeded with perennial ryegrass and the
round basis due to the slow availability of organic greens are overseeded with rough bluegrass.
nitrogen. It has been necessary to apply mineral Cutting heights are raised on all areas and light
fertilizer when growth has been unacceptable at applications of fertiliser are applied to aid estab-
peak growth periods of the year. A maximum of lishment. In the spring, the overseeded species
four non organic product applications are permit- are transitioned out by lowering cutting heights
ted under the Biogolf protocols. Irrigation is ap- and minimum use of irrigation. No herbicides are
plied as necessary based on visual appearance currently registered in Italy to aid with spring or

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