Learning & DevelopmentLEA

RNING&DEVELO

PMENT

Greenkeeper Education and Development Fund

UnlockthedoorstoprogressthroughBIGGA’SEducationandDevelopmentFund–thekeytoagreatfutureforgreenkeepers,golfclubsandthegameofgolf.

GoldenandSilverKeyMembershipisavailabletobothcompaniesandindividuals.

Fordetails,pleasecontactRosieHancheron01347833834orviarosie@bigga.co.uk

Golden Key Supporters

Golden Key Company MembersCompany Tel:HeadOfficeAGCO(MasseyFerguson) 02476851286JohnDeereLtd 01949860491Kubota(UK)Ltd 01844214500PGAEuropeanTour 01344842881RigbyTaylorLtd 01204677777ScottsUKProfessional 01473830492RansomesJacobsenLtd 01473270000TheToroCompany/LelyUK 01480226800

Golden Key Individual MembersJHFry;JHGreasley;WJRogers;ChrisYeaman;AndyCampbellMG,CGCS;IainAMacleod;TomSmith;BruceCruickshank;FrankNewberry;AndrewCornes;ChristopherLomasMG.

Silver Key Supporters

Silver Key Company MembersCompany Tel:HeadOfficeBernhardandCompanyLtd 01788811600ErnestDoe&Sons 01245380311GeneralLegalProtectionLtd 01904611600HayterLtd 01279723444HeathLambertGroup 01132461313NovozymesBiologicals 01789290906Rainbird 01273891326Symbio 01372456101SyngentaProfessionalProducts 0041613233028TurftraxGroupLtd 01722434000

Silver Key Individual MembersCliveAArcher;DouglasGDuguid;RobertMaibuschMG;StevenTierney;RogerBarker;IanSemple;PaulJenkins;RobertHogarth;NichollasGray;TrevorSmith;IainBarr;RichardMcGlynn;AlexMcCombie;PaulMurphy;ReaseheathCollege;SteveDixon;IanBenison.

financialdecisionmaking;theflowoffinance;capitalandrevenuesbudgets;analysingriskandcostbenefitanalysis.Theworkshopleaderswillencourageactiveparticipationandwillillustratetheorywithpracticalexamples.

Managing Relationships at Work

Theroleofamanagerischallengingenoughwithouthavingtodealwithconflictamongmembersofyourteam.Thistwo-dayworkshopwillexamineandhelptoresolvethosechallengingrelationshipsthatcanoccurintheworkplace.Presentedinanengagingandinformalenvironmentthisisa‘mustattend’workshopforallthoseleadingandmanagingteams.

The Minefield of Appraisals!

Appraisalsarerecognisedbyleadingmanagementgurusasthemostpowerfulandusefultoolformanagingasuccessfulandefficientteamwhenconductedandusedinaneffectivemanner.Thisone-dayworkshopwillhelpdelegatestounderstandtheimportanceofappraisals,howtoconductthemandhowtousetheoutcomestomakeadifference.

Stress Awareness Workshop

Stresscancauseuntoldproblemswithintheworkplace.Thisone-dayworkshopwillhelpdelegatesrecognisestressinthemselvesandothersandwillprovideapracticalguidetodevelopingskillsandstrategiesforchange.

TheContinuetoLearnSeminarProgrammeTheSeminarProgrammecommencesonTuesday22January2008andoffersawidearrayofsubjectsforallwhoareattendingHarrogateWeek.Adiscountschemeisinplaceforbookingsoftwoormoreseminars:

Forafulllistofseminarspleasevisitwww.harrogateweek.org.uk

TocheckavailabilityforanyoftheContinuetoLearnWorkshopsandSeminarscontactRachaelDuffyon:01347833800ext:522.

SAMI COLLINS, HEAD OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDES AN UPDATE

It’sunbelievabletothinkthatChristmasandHarrogateWeekarebothjustaroundthecorner.Ihavelistsgaloreforeverythingyoucanpossiblyimaginesothathopefullynothinggetsforgotten!

TheContinuetoLearnEducationProgrammehasbeenverywellreceivedandplacesaresellingfastontheworkshopprogramme,keepingRachaelbusyprocessingthebookingforms.Wewillseethewelcomereturnofsomeofourbestsellingworkshopsandtheintroductionofnewsubjectsthataimtoensureyouareequippedtohandlethemanagementtasksexpectedintoday’scommercialenvironment.

An Introduction to Golf Course Design

Thisinteractive,two-dayworkshopwillstudydetaileddesignmethodsforgreens,tees,bunkers,constructionandirrigation.LeadbySimonGidmanandHowardSwan,delegateswillprepareanine-holelayoutofagolfcourseandalsolookatoneholefromtheirowngolfcourse,analysingitsdesignandhowimprovementscouldbemade.Onedesignwillbeselectedanddelegateswillbegiventheopportunitytoproducetherenovatedgreeninmodelform.

Environmental Management

Thistwo-dayworkshopwillprovideapractical,holisticandinteractivelookatEnvironmentalManagement.Tacklingareasincludingthedevelopmentofanecologicalmanagementplan,wastemanagement,energyefficiencyandenvironmentallegislation.Delegateswillalsohavetheopportunitytorequesttopicstobeincludedinthecoursebycompletingapre-workshopquestionnaire.

Health and Safety for Greenkeepers

Aninteractivetwo-dayworkshopdesignedtoaddresscurrenthealthandsafetyissues.ItwillfocusonhowtoenhanceyourHealthandSafetyplanningandrecordingandwillidentifycommonhazardsandtheissuessurroundingthem.ApracticalsafetytouroftheQueen’sSuiteandanoverviewoftheBIGGA/GCMASafetyManagementSystemwillbeincluded.

Are Your Finances Below Par?Thisone-dayworkshopisforGolfCourseManagers,GolfProfessionalsandClubManagersandwillexplorethewidercontextoffinancewithinthegolfindustry.Theworkshopwillcoverissuessuchastheimpactofexternalforceson

No.ofSeminars

1 2 3 4 5 6

FullPrice £25 £50 £75 £100 £125 £150

YouPay £25 £40 £55 £60 £65 £72

Discount% 0% 20% 27% 40% 48% 52%

Discount£ £0 £10 £20 £40 £60 £78

GreenkeeperInternational11

Membership

MEMBERSHIP

BIGGA WELCOMES

VANESSA DEPRE, MEMBERSHIP SERVICES OFFICER, PROVIDES AN UPDATE

BIGGA E-Newsletter Wewillbelaunchingane-newslettersoontokeepyoualluptodateonBIGGAaffairs.

IfyouwouldliketosubscribetoourE-Newsletterjustsendmeanemailon:vanessa@bigga.co.ukwithE-newsasthesubject.

Anysuggestionsconcerningthecontentwouldalsobeappreciated.

Time’s Running Away Don’tforgettogetthoserenewalsinassoonaspossibleifyoudon’twanttolosetheBIGGAmembershipbenefitsyouarecurrentlygetting.Ifyou’velostyourrenewalformjustringusandwe’llsendyouanewone.

Ifyoudon’twanttopayyoursubscriptionfeeallinonegoyoucanpayusinfiveor10instalmentsbyDirectDebit.IfyouwantaDirectDebitInstructionformgetintouchwithuson:01347833800andwe’llgetonetoyouimmediately.

IfyouarepayingyourownBIGGAMembershipsubscriptionfeesyoucanapplytothetaxofficeforarefundof23%ofthesubscriptionamount.IfyouareaHeadGreenkeeperorCourseManagerpaying£121thenthiscouldsaveyounearly£28.

ThisisbecauseBIGGAisrecognisedbytheInlandRevenueasalegitimateprofessionalbody.Membershipfeestosuchbodiesareeligiblefortaxrelief.Allyouneedtodoisgetaformfromusandsendthecompletedformtoyourlocaltaxoffice.

Ifyouareretiringorleavingthetrade,youdon’thavetosaygoodbyetoyourBIGGAMembership.TherearemanydifferenttypesofmembershipsthatBIGGAcanofferyou-

SCOTTISHREGION

GRANTDAVIS East

JAMESADAMSON East

JOHNMULLEN Central

CHRISTOPHERROSE Central

NORTHERNREGION

LIIONKERRY NorthWales

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CHRISTOPHERKIRK NorthWest

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SOUTHWEST&WALES

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MARKDAVIES SouthWales

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ASSOCIATE

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CORPORATE

PATALLAN Ayrshire

STUDENT

CRAIGHARRISON NorthWest

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CHRISJOYCE SouthCoast

GOLDKEYMEMBER

BRUCEDAWSON EastMidland

ForretiringgreenkeepersBIGGAoffersRetiredMembershipwithfullbenefitsorRetiredMembershipwithlimitedbenefits.

IfyouareleavingthegreenkeepingprofessionwhynotjoinBIGGAasanAssociateMembersoyoucanstillbeapartoftheAssociation.

Formoreinformationonanyoftheaboveyoucangiveusacallon:01347833800

British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2008Please complete fully in BLOCK CAPITALS

YOUR DETAILS

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FEES AND PAYMENT DETAILS Please complete both sections below

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION

UPGRADED MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION

Unqualified Member (aged 21 years and over) £59

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Have you gained NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in the past year? If yes you canupgrade to Greenkeeper Membership by completing the section below,however you must send a copy of your certificate.

Course Manager £121 Head Greenkeeper £121

Deputy Course Manager £93 Deputy Head Greenkeeper £93

First Assistant £69

Greenkeeper (aged 21 years and over) £69

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International Members £83

Silver Key - annual donations of £140 or over

Golden Key - annual donations £185 or over

PLEASE CHECK THE ABOVE CAREFULLY, IF ANY OF THE DETAILS ARE INCORRECT, PLEASE AMEND IN THE SPACE BELOW

Use this form only ifyou are renewingyour Membership

Return to: British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association,BIGGA HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York YO61 1UF Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833801

I hereby apply to renew my membership of the British and International Golf GreenkeepersAssociation and confirm that I am currently working as a keeper of the green on a golf course.I agree to abide by the constitution and rules of the Association.

YOUR SIGNATURE

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The information on this form may be reproduced in a directory of members. Please tick this box if you wouldlike your email address included. Please tick this box if you do not wish your details to be disclosed.

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British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2008PLEASE CHECK THE DETAILS ON THIS FORM CAREFULLY

IF ANY OF THE DETAILS ARE INCORRECT, PLEASE WRITE THE CORRECT DETAILS IN THE SPACE BELOW

Company/Golf Club

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Return to: British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, BIGGA HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York YO61 1UF Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833801

The information on this form may be reproduced in a directory of members. Please tick this box if you wouldlike your email address included. Please tick this box if you do not wish your details to be disclosed.

I hereby apply to renew my membership of the British & International GolfGreenkeepers Association and confirm that the details on this form are correct.I agree to abide by the constitution and rules of the Association.

Associate member £83(includes 12 months subscription to Greenkeeper International)

Silver Key Annual donations of £140 or over

Golden Key Annual donations of £185 or over

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PAYMENT DETAILS2007 SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Please tick this box if you would like to subscribe to our E-newsletter

British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association

GREENKEEPER MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2008Please complete fully in BLOCK CAPITALS

YOUR DETAILS

Mr Mrs Miss Ms Other (please state) Surname

Forename(s)

Address

Postcode

Tel (inc code) Mobile

Email Do you play golf? YES NO

YOUR EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Job Title Golf Club Name

Golf Club Address Postcode

Tel (inc code) Tel (GK Dept) Email

FEES AND PAYMENT DETAILS Please complete both section below

FEES FOR 2007 SUBSCRIPTIONS

Which category of membership are you renewing?

Course Manager £121

Head Greenkeeper £121

Deputy Course Manager £93

Deputy Head Greenkeeper £93

First Assistant £69

Greenkeeper (aged 21 years and over) £69

Greenkeeper (aged 20 years and under) £39

International Members £83

Silver Key - annual donations of £140 or over

Golden Key - annual donations of £185 or over

Use this form onlyif you are renewingyour GreenkeeperMembership

PLEASE CHECK THE ABOVE CAREFULLY, IF ANY OF THE DETAILS ARE INCORRECT, PLEASE AMEND IN THE SPACE BELOW

I hereby apply to renew my membership of the British andInternational Golf Greenkeepers Association and confirm that I amcurrently working as a keeper of the green on a golf course. I agree toabide by the constitution and rules of the Association.

YOUR SIGNATURE

Admin No Expiry Date Magazine O/C Section CO ref Receipt

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Return to: British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, BIGGA HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York YO61 1UF Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833801

The information on this form may be reproducedin a directory of members. Please tick this box ifyou would like your email address included.Please tick this box if you do not wish yourdetails to be disclosed.

I enclose payment of (tick as appropriate):

I wish to continue paying by Direct Debit

I wish to set up a Direct Debit and enclose a mandate form

Cheque payable to BIGGA for £

Postal Order payable to BIGGA for £

Credit card payment (do not complete if wanting to pay by direct debit)

Visa / Mastercard / Switch / Delta for £

Card No. (Debit card = 16-20 digits)

Start date: Expiry date:

Card Security Number

Issue No (Switch/Delta only):

Please tick if receipt required

PAYMENT DETAILS

Please tick this box if you would like to subscribe to our E-newsletter

12GreenkeeperInternational

EDUCATION COURSES TO CHALLENGE YOUR MIND

The Minefield of Appraisals!

Environmental Management

Are Your Finances Below Par?

Noise & Vibration Management

Managing Relationships at Work

Current Environmental Legislation

Introduction to Golf Course Design

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Responsibilities & Managing Exposure

Pensionforce: Acknowledging the Message

Workplace Bullying: What You Can Do About It

20–24 January 2008

Visit www.bigga.org.uk

and check out the latest chat from the

greenkeeping industry

GreenkeeperInternational13

CONTINUETO

LEARN

RECONTOURING YOUR PROBLEM GREENSBy Tim Butler

Severe contours and slopes on golf greens are a commonly found problem, leading to limited locations for hole placement, excessive wear in certain locations on the green and frustration among many golfers.

Wehaveallplayedoncourseswhereatleastoneholewasalmostimpossibletoplay,withgolfballsoftenlandingnicelyonthegreenonlytorollmiserablyoff.Thisproblem,Ihavefoundfromexperience,isoftenapparentonoldercourses,which,whendesigned,wereplayableduetohighmowingheightspractisedatthetime.Howevermowingheightsofone-tenthincharenowcommonandballroll-speedshaveincreaseddramatically.

Whenmanyoldercourseswerebuilt,green-speedwasalsonotanissue.Inrecentyears,though,the‘needforspeed’hasreallycaughtonamongmanygolfersandtobehonestmanygreenkeepersandcoursemanagersarefacedwithdesperateplightstomaintainqualityplayingsurfacesinsituationswheretheholecanbelocatedinonlyaverylimitednumberofareas.

Thefirstthoughtthatspringstomanypeople’smindsisreconstruction,yetinrealitythisisnotfeasibleformanycourses.Mostcoursemanagersdonothavetheluxuryofbeingallowedtocloseparticulargreensformanymonthsonendinordertofacilitatecompletereconstruction.Andthecostisprohibitivetomanyintheindustry.

Thisiswheretheconceptofchangingthecontoursofproblemgreenscomesintoplay.Theidearevolvesaroundslightlychangingthearchitectureofproblemgreenstomakethemmoreplayablewithlesssevereslopes.Irealisethatcertaincourseswillnotbeabletochangetheirgreenarchitectureduetohistoricalreasons.Buttherewillbealargenumberwhowillprobablybeabletoslightlyaltertheirproblemgreenswithoutoverlychangingthecharacterofthecourse.

THE PROCESS

Ihavecomeacrossafewgolfcoursesthathavehadsimilarproblemsanddecidedtotrythismethod.TheyincludetheChevyChaseClubintheUSA.

Theconceptstartswithcarryingoutadetailedstudyofproblemgreenstogetanunderstandingoftheslopesonthegreen.

Atthisstage,asportsturfagronomistwithadeepknowledgeofrootzonespecificationsneedstobebroughtintogetanin-depthunderstandingofthesoilphysicalanalysis.Theagronomistneedstofindoutasmuchinformationaspossibleabouttheexistingrootzonebecausesomerootzonematerialwillneedtobeacquiredifitisdecidedtoraisepartofthegreenprofile.Itisimperativethatonefindsouttheexactpercentageofcourse,medium,fine,veryfine,siltandclayparticlesthatarepresentwithintherootzone.Oncethisisdone,theagronomistshouldbeabletosourcearootzonematerialorgetarootzonemixblendedforthepurpose.Iftheselectionprocessisnotcarriedoutproperly,thentheprojectwilllikelyturnintoafailurewithinafewyears.

Areasthatareexcessivelyhighmaypossiblybeloweredandlowareasmayberaised.Gradestakesareputinplacetoensurethatslopesandgradesaredelivered.Basicallytheturfgrassinareasthatareplannedtobechangedshouldbestrippedofftoadepthofaboutahalftooneinch(2).Asthisisbeingcarriedout,eachsodstripshouldbenumberedto

ensurethatitcanlaterbelaidbackexactlyinthepositionfromwhichitwasremoved(2).

Anymaterialremovedfromhighareasisusuallykepttofillinlowones,providedthattherootzoneissuitableandcontainsloworganicmatterlevelsandsoon.Itisimperativethattheunderlyinggravelanddrainagelayeronthegreenisnotdisturbedduringtheworkandextracaremustbetakentokeepheavymachineryoffthegreen.

Ifrootzonematerialisaddedtolow-lyingareas,thenadequaterollingorcompactingisneededtominimisesettlingeffectspriortore-installingthegreensod.Insomeinstances,coursesmayoptfornewsodinsteadoftheoriginal,whichisallrightprovidedthatcareistakentoensurethatthethicknessofsodwillmatchinwithdepthallowedforontherootzone.

Issueswithdifferencesingrasscolourareoftenexperiencedwhensodisimportedintothecourse.Thiscolourdifference,likelyduetonutrition,willdisappearovertime.Oncethesodhasbeensetinplace,someshrinkageislikelyandscalpingfrommowersshouldbeavoidedinordertokeepweedsoutandaidrecovery.

Oncethesodisinplace,sanddressingisusuallyappliedtothesodseamsandgoodirrigationcarriedout.Theaimistogetthesodrootingasquicklyaspossible,sothatthegreencanbeopenedup.Oncerooting

14GreenkeeperInternational

CONTINUETO

LEARN

occurs,corecultivationandheavytop-dressingareoftenappliedtoopenuptherootzone,reduceanycompactionandpromoterooting(2).

Slightsettlingislikelyandaheavytop-dressingprogrammemaybeneededtoleveloffthesurface.Greatcaremustbetakenofremodelledareastoensurethatrootingmassincreasesrapidlyallowingthegreentore-openasquicklyaspossible.

RESEARCH

Thefirstthoughtthatmightspringtomanypeople’smindsistheissueofchangingthedepthsoftherootzoneprofile.ManygolfgreensareconstructedtoUSGAspecificationwitha12inrootzonesittingontopofagravellayer.Somemayfeelthatloweringthehighspotsandraisingtheloweronesontheirgreensduringtherecontouringprojectmayhaveanadverseeffectonwatermovementthroughtherootzone.

Havingsaidthis,Iwouldliketotalkfirstlyabouttwodifficultiesthatariseonmanycourses:localiseddryspot(LSD),andblacklayer.Localiseddryspotisfoundonallturfgrasstypesandrootzones,butisparticularlyprevalentonsand-basedrootzones.LSDiscausedbysoilparticlesbecomingcoatedwithorganicsubstances,whichrepelwater,causingthesoiltodryoutandpreventingrewetting(Vargas,2006,Pers.Comm.).

Thisconditionisnaturally-occurringandIknowfromexperiencethatmanycoursemanagersthroughoutIrelandandtheUKarespendingalotofmoneyonwettingagentsandculturalpractices,tryingtocontrolthisphenomenon.Blacklayerisacommonproblemonsand-basedrootzones.Chemically,blacklayerisadepositofmetalsulphides,whichformwhenhydrogensulphidegasreactswithmetalelementsinthesoil(1).Blacklayeroccursunderanaerobicconditions.ResearchbyNektariosetal.(1999)reportedthatdrainageingolfgreenrootzonesisnotalwaysuniformandthat,inanunsaturatedrootzone,watermaymovelaterallyalongtherootzone/gravelinterfacetolowerareasinthegreenratherthanverticallyfromtherootzoneintothegravellayer(3).Thismayleadtodryareasformingathighpointsandsaturatedzonesinlowerareasonthegreen(3).

Duetothisproblem,researchwasundertakenatMichiganStateUniversityundertheguidanceofProfessorKevinFranktolookattheinfluenceonwatermovementthroughtheprofile,ofbuildingavariabledepthrootzoneonagolfgreen.Therootzonewas8indeepinhighareasand16ininlow-lyingpartsofthegreen.Thegreenwasfittedwithtimedomainreflectometryprobestomeasuresoilvolumetricwatercontent.

Resultsshowedthatmodifyingthedepthofrootzonemiximprovedtheuniformityofvolumetricwatercontentacrossthesurfaceoftheputtinggreen.Thisshowsthatsuccesscanbeachievableifverycarefulplanningisgiventoarecontouringproject.Itiscritical,though,thatraisedareasdonotreceivemorerootzone,asthismayleadtomorelocaliseddryspotissues.Itisalsoimportanttorememberthat,duringnormalconstructionactivities,arootzonedepthofatleast12inisgivenfromlowtohighareas(3).

Recontouringgolfgreensiscommonlypractisedwithvaryingdegreesofsuccess.Thisprocessmayhelptoimprovethecoursefrombothaplayabilityandmanagementviewpointandreducethelargeexpenseassociatedwithreconstruction.However,aspecialistagronomistisvitaltoensuringthefuturesuccessofarecontouringproject.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TimButlerisstudyingforaPhDdegreeinTurfgrassScienceatbothUniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland,andMichiganStateUniversity,USA.ContactTimattimmbutler@hotmail.com

REFERENCES

1.Berndt,W.L.1987.Blacklayerformationinhighlymaintainedturfgrasssoils.GolfCourseManagement.55(6):106-112

2.Graves,D.,andKinnelly,T.2003.RecontouringaGolfGreenWithoutTotalReconstruction.USGAGreensectionRecord.September/October:18-21.

3.Frank,W.F.,Leach,B.E.,Crum,J.R.,Rieke,P.E.,Leinauer,B.R.,Nikolai,T.A.,andCalhoun,R.N.2005.EffectofRootzoneMaterialandDepthonMoistureRetentioninUndulatingUSGAPuttingGreens.USGATurfgrassandEnvironmentalResearchOnline4(11):

4.Nektarios,P.A.,Steenhuis,T.S.,Petrovic,A.M.,andParlange,J.Y.1999.FingeredFlowinLaboratoryGolfPuttingGreens.JournalofTurfgrassManagement.3(1):53-67.

GreenkeeperInternational15

FEATURE

ARE YOU AWARE NEW GROUNDWATER REGULATIONS ARE NOW IN FORCE? Withtheextensivelistofenvironmentalandwaterprotectionregulations,itwouldnotbesurprising,ifyouareunsureofwhatregulationsareinforce,howthisimpactsyourgolfcourseandwhatyouneedtodotoensurecompliance.

Asignoranceisnoexcuse,hopefullythefollowingwillmakeinterestingreading.Thatsaid,thisisatbestasimplifiedoverviewofcomplexandchanginglegislationanddoesnotconstitutelegaladvice!

Environmentalprotectionlegislationwasissuedmanyyearsagoandhasbeenprogressivelyaddedtointheinterveningperiod.TheconfusionarisesinthatmanyoftheadditionalActsdonotreplaceexistinglegislation,butmerelyreinforceit.Itisnotthereforepossibletogotoonereferencepoint.

CURRENT WATER MANAGEMENT LEGISLATIONTogiveaflavour,theprimarylegislativeActsyouareexpectedtobeincompliancewithincludetheEnvironmentProtectionAct1990andWaterResourcesAct1991.TheseActshavebeenregularlyaddedtoinrecenttimes.RecentnotableadditionsincludetheEnvironmentAct1995,theGroundwaterRegulations1998andWaterAct2003.Inaddition

EqUIPMENT WASH-OFF Water Management Legislation by Tim Earley

thereareanumberofEuropeanDirectivesinforce(e.g.GroundwaterDirective80/68/EEC),whicheveryoneshouldbeincompliancewith.Thislistcertainlymakesforgoodbed-timereading!

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVECurrentwatermanagementlegislationiswidelyacknowledgedaspatchyandinconsistent,liabletoleadtoconfusion.ThenewEurope-wideWaterFrameworkDirectiveintendstoresolvethisbyrationalisingandupdatingexistinglegislationwithconsistentlegislationforthewholeofEurope.ImplementationofTheWaterFrameworkDirectivebeganin2006,withenactmentofthenewlegislationcurrentlyplannedtostartin2009andcompletionofimplementationby2015.However,incaseanyonethinkstheycandelaydoinganythinguntil2009,preparationofthisnewlegislationisbringinganewemphasisandincreasedattentiontopotentiallypollutingactivitiesandthecurrentlegislationinforcewillbeactivelyenforced.

Summarising the current position:

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENTTheEnvironmentAgencyrequirethatanEnvironmentalRiskAssessmentshouldbeundertakenforeveryfacilityregardlessofsize.Environmental

16GreenkeeperInternational

FEATURE

riskassessmentandthemanagementofriskarethebasesforpreventingpollutionoftheenvironment.Inparticular,whendesigningnewfacilities,theEnvironmentAgencystressthatemphasisshouldbeplacedonhazardpreventionratherthanriskmanagement.(i.e.avoidingtheprobleminthefirstplace).Thisrequirementhastakenonanewurgencyfollowingtherecentwide-spreadflooding.

TheEnvironmentalRiskAssessmentshouldtakeaccountof:

Hazard IndentificationPollutingmaterialshandled(e.g.fuels,detergents,chemicalsetc.)

Possible ScenariosConsiderwhatcouldgowrong(e.g.spillages,leaks,vandalism,flood).

Impact of possible ScenariosThepotentialscaleoftheincidentandenvironmentalimpact(e.g.leak,flood)

Likelihood of ScenarioOccurringHowlikelyanincidentislikelytohappen(e.g.areyouinafloodpronearea?)

POLLUTION PREVENTION GUIDELINESUntiltheWaterFrameworkDirectiveisimplemented,thecurrentlegislationissupportedandenforcedthroughaseriesofPollutionPreventionGuidelines(PPG’s),emanatingfromtheGroundwaterregulations1998.Twentyplusguidelineshavebeenissuedtodateaddressingspecificactivitiesknowntocausepollution.

SeveralofthesePPGguidelinesdirectlyimpacttheoperationalactivities

ofgolfcourses,includingrefuelling,chemicalhandlingandequipmentwash-off:

e.g.PPG2-FuelOilStorage(revisedFeb2004)PPG7-RefuellingFacilities(August2004)PPG9–PesticideHandling(replacedbyDEFRACodeofPractise)PPG13–VehicleWashingandCleaning(revisedJuly2007)

Forexample,thenewregulationsrequirethatwashingoperationsmustbecarriedoutinadesignated,kerbedareawhichdrainstothefoulsewer,orACLOSEDLOOPRECYCLINGWASH-OFFSYSTEMMUSTBEUSED.Ifneitheroftheseoptionsisinstalled,thereisalittle-usedthirdoptionavailableofinstallingasealedcollectiontankforoff-sitedisposalbywastedisposalspecialists,butthisisnotrealisticinmostcasesasitbecomesprohibitivelyexpensiveeverytimeitrains!

PERSONALLY LIABLERegularcleaningofmaintenanceequipmentisessentialtoensurethelonglifeofexpensiveequipment.Inaddition,chemicalsprayersrequirewashingandflushingoutafterapplyingpesticidesandfungicides.Thiswash-offwaterpotentiallycontainsarangeofseriouscontaminants,including;oil,petrol,diesel,grease,pesticides,fungicidesetc.

Itisnowacriminaloffencetoallowcertainsubstancesincludingmineraloils,detergentsandchemicalstoentersurfacedrains,watercoursesorSoakaways.Ifyouarenotcomplying,youarepersonallyliableforbreakingthelaw,withthethreatofafineofupto£20,000andimprisonmentforaseriousinfringement!Evenifacasedoesnotgotocourt,thecostof

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repairingthedamagestillhastobemet,whichcouldbeveryexpensive(e.g.replacingfishwhichhavebeenkilled).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNEnvironmentalconcerniseasytounderstandasgolfcoursesroutinelyhandlequantitiesof15litresupwardsofconcentratedpesticideatatimewhenfillingachemicalsprayer.TheEnvironmentAgencyadvisethataslittleas0.5litresofneatpesticideissufficienttoexceedthepermittedlimitofthewholeofLondon’swatersupply!Theconsequencesofanuncontrolledspillageare,therefore,easytoimagine.

Thesenewregulationsnowstrictlycontroltheamountofcontaminantsingroundwatertolevelsthatarenearlyundetectable.TheEnvironmentAgency’slatestdetectionequipmentcanreliablytracethesourceofpollutiontopartsperbillion.Iftheclubhasfailedtomakeproperprovisionandanaccidentoccurs,thelivelihoodoftheHeadGreenkeeperandthereputationofthegolfclubispotentiallybeingputatrisk.

DOES AN OIL/WATER SEPARATOR COMPLY?No,anOil/Waterseparatorisnotadequatetohandlethedischargefromthegolfcoursewash-offarea,unlessthisdischargeistothefoul.AnOil/WaterSeparatorisdesignedforthesettlingofheavysolidsandseparationoffreehydrocarbons,whichitdoesverywell.Itdoesnothavethetechnologytoremovechemicals,whichareroutinelyusedbygolfcoursesoremulsifiedhydrocarbons(oils)resultingfromtheadditionofdetergentsduringwashingorusingapressurewasher.Itwillalsonottreatanothercriticalpollutant,BiochemicalOxygenDemand(BOD)whichiscausedbyorganicsubstances,includinggrassclippingswashedofftheequipment.ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY CENTREAmajorinnovationtoguaranteetheremovalofanyriskofgroundwaterpollutionfromgolfcoursemaintenanceactivitieshasbeenintroducedbyacompanycalledWaste2Water.Anumberofothersystemsareavailablefromalternativesuppliers,althoughWaste2WaterclaimtheadvantagesoftheirAbove-Groundsystemincludeeaseofmaintenanceand,intheeventofflooding,thereisnoriskofreleaseofpartiallytreatedcontaminants,whichcouldpotentiallyarisewithgravity-fedoilwaterseparator/undergroundsystems.

TheEnvironmentalActivityCentresimplyconsistsofaconcretewashpadslopingintoacollectionsump.Ontheperipheryofthisarea,installationofasmanypotentiallypollutingstorage/activityareasaspossibleisrecommended.Thisincludesthedieseltank,chemicalstore,chemicalmixingtank,oldoilstorageetc.AtthehubistheBiologicalRecyclingWastewaterTreatmentSystem,whichtakescareofspillagesofoil,petrol,dieselandchemicalsetc.,convertingthemtoharmlesscarbondioxideandwater.

CREATING YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY CENTRECreatinganEnvironmentalCentrecouldnotbeeasier.ThiscanbeassimpleasinstallingyourdieseltankontheedgeofthepadwiththeRecyclingWash-OffSysteminstalledattheheartoftheoperationsarea,oftenretro-fittingintoanexistingareatominimisethebudget.TheBiologicalRecyclingSystemremovesallcontaminationrisks,reduceswaterusagebyamassive90%andtidiesuponeoftheworstaspectsofgolfcoursemaintenance.Threeinonecan’tbebad!IfyouwouldlikefurtherinformationontheWaste2WaterSystemoracopyofthePollutionPreventionGuidelinespleasecall.Tel01782373878/E-mail:info@waste2water.

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The EU Parliament, at its full plenary session on October 22, 2007, voted against an amendment to prohibit the use of pesticides in all public amenity areas; it also voted to adopt the, “Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticide” with some minor amendments to Article 11.

OverthenextmonthstherewillbealotofworkintheEUCouncilCommitteestoclarifythedetailofexactlywhatthismeanstoallusersofpesticidesforthefuture.Underthecurrenttimescalethesechangesmustbeinplacewithinmemberstatesownlegislativestructuresbytheendof2010.TheUKalreadyhasinplacearrangementsthatmeetmanyoftheproposedchangesviaourstatutoryandvoluntaryschemes.ThemostsignificantaspectsofthenewDirectiveare:

ARTICLE 5 -TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Defineaminimumstandardoftrainingandcertificationforusersandadvisors.Restrictpesticidestoprofessionalusers,whoshouldbeawareoftherisksandhazardsoftheuseofpesticides.

SincetheintroductionofFEPAandCOPRin1986,wehavehadstatutorycontrolsinplacewithclearguidanceontheneedforCertificatesofCompetence.UndertheVoluntaryInitiativewealsohavetheNationalRegisterofSprayOperators(NRoSO)Schemewherebycertificatedsprayoperators,andtheirsupervisorsandmanagers,canmaintaintheirqualificationuptodatebytheprocessofcontinuousprofessionaldevelopment(CPD)–ThisschemeisuniquetotheUK.SofartheuptakeoftheNRoSOSchemeinamenityhorticulturehasbeenverypoorandalthoughbynomeanscertainitislikelythatthistypeofschemecouldwellbecomeastatutoryrequirement,wemustwaittoseethedetailoftheDirective.

SPRAYING EqUIPMENT

Allnewequipmentwillconformtoenvironmentalsafetystandards.Allequipmentinusetobeinspectedannually.Recordstobekeptforthelifeoftheequipment.

UndertheuniqueUKvoluntaryschemetheNationalSprayerTesting

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO PESTICIDES LEGISLATION – AN UPDATE

Jon Albutt takes some time to explain the ramifications behind the recent EU decision not to endorse an amendment which would have seen chemicals banned on all amenity areas

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