Winter 2009

Welcome to the winter edition of Turf Clippings

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Regal Staygreen™ kikuyu (bottom) in comparison to “NZ Kikuyu” shows the difference in inter-node length.

Things have changed a lot since our last newsletter in spring and the recession seems to be impacting on us all in some way. Everywhere we look now there seems to be reports on the downturn and its effects on our lives. Like everyone else, we are watching costs in our business, however despite the recession PGG Wrightson Turf is pleased to report another positive year of growth. The addition of more quality staff, plus our emphasis on research and development for turf in New Zealand conditions, has assisted in this growth of our business.

PGG Wrightson Turf have had a busy summer/autumn period with the release into the market of Regal Staygreen™ kikuyu, a seeded selection of turf type kikuyu, which is finer, denser and darker than the naturalised New Zealand kikuyu. In a trial on the North Shore, we had full cover in 8 weeks from sowing, and in the photo on the right the closer internode length can be clearly seen.

Also common place in the market now is the new Nutri DG fertiliser range from Andersons. Nutri DG stands for dispersible granule fertilisers which completely break down in as little as 3 mm of water to wash into the turf surface leaving no residue. Customers report excellent initial application with this product, and are similarly complimentary about its long term performance.

Nutri DG has been a huge growth product for us this autumn.

Since the last newsletter Milliken has sold its Emerald Isle range of turf nutrition products to

Lebanon, but nothing has changed in terms of access with PGG Wrightson Turf maintaining the exclusive supply of this range which is now marketed under the Emerald Isle Turf Nutrition banner. continued over

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pupuke Golf Club 2

Nelson Golf Club 3

Growth covers 3

Hamilton Golf Club 4

New Electric Line Marking Machine 4

AMI Stadium, Christchurch 5

Ashburton Golf Club 6

Terrace Downs 7

Staff Changes 7

Walmsley’s Word 8

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The release of Centurion perennial ryegrass into the New Zealand market has already shown its merits with better summer resistance to disease, especially melting-out disease. The selection for Centurion was derived from a cross of old plants which were still surviving the following season in the original North Shore perennial ryegrass trial in the early part of this decade. Its survival was due in part to its ability to withstand summer diseases.

In the coming season PGG Wrightson Turf have an exciting new soil wetting package including many new

products for the New Zealand market. We will aim to maximise the benefits of these products by using them in a programmed approach with our customers at prices which are very competitive.

Along with our brand new line marker (see page 4) with its new wash through system and simple componentry, and the interest in the Graden Scarifiers recently, PGG Wrightson Turf representatives find there is always something on the go. We look forward to a busy spring working with you to achieve outstanding turf surfaces.

continued from front page

Pupuke Golf Club has undergone a development programme of new greens construction that would normally have been prohibitive due to availability of funds. Some greens on the course have excessive thatch and drainage issues which left them unplayable and too wet in the winter.

The three greens recently renovated were the 9th, 11th and 18th. One of the worst for drainage was the 18th

green which when constructed was originally designed to be a basin - to collect water. This was to make up for the fact that no irrigation was initially installed.

The club invited NZSTI to write the specification for all work which included full working drawings. The club then put the specifications out to tender and TIC was the successful contractor for all work involved in this project.

The 11th green was the first green to be worked on. The turf was cut at a depth of 50 mm and was then installed as temporary green for all three that were being reconstructed. One pop up sprinkler was installed per temporary green and these were in play within a week.

25 mm of Perrys 800 sand was broadcast and uniformly incorporated into the underlying sand profile and consolidated. The drainage was installed and connected into ring drains that were located within the green collar. Some of this drainage required slit drains within the green, and these slit drains were installed at 2 m centres to a depth of 300 mm.

After the installation of the drainage system a 75 mm consolidated depth of sand was applied. 30% potash super phosphate was incorporated in to the top 50 mm at 3 kg/100 m2 and the surface was shaped, smoothed and further consolidated.

Andersons starter fertiliser 19-11-4 was applied prior to sowing at 2.5 kg/100m2. Next the greens were established using a combination of Sefton browntop (total of 4 g/m2) and Poa annua cores from one green - cores taken at 20-25 mm depth and 7 mm diameter. The cores were spread sparsely and a double pass of Sefton sown, followed by 4-6 mm sand applied and finally it was rolled.

In this manner the 11th green was sown on the 18th March 2009, the 18th green sown on the 25th March 2009, and the 9th green sown on the 1st April 2009.

Pupuke Golf ClubThree new greens for the price of one

Photo taken on the 6th April, shows the tidy work carried out by TIC in the construction of three new greens for Pupuke GC.

Photo taken 11th May showing the great result of the germination and cover achieved.

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In February 2009, the Nelson Golf Club began the first stage of its redevelopment programme with the aim of returning the course to a “links” style golf course. One hundred and thirty five mature pine, gum and macrocarpa trees were felled by a local forestry crew. The course was closed for a total of six and a half days to safely complete the job with a total of 465 tonnes of logs taken to a local firewood merchant. The firewood sale netted enough revenue to cover the expense of the felling operation.

Whilst still being a major job to clean up and repair the course, Superintendent Brendon O’Hara and his staff (Sheldon, Jerry and Dick) were able to avoid damage to the tees, greens and fairways. However, matters weren’t helped when a huge storm came through last July blowing over 38 trees alone. With the removal of a further 95 trees in the past 3 years, the resultant reduction has meant the course has had a major facelift. The focus now is on the removal of the stumps, followed by subtle mounding and then creating or reworking bunkers that are more suited to today’s playing

requirements. The majority of members have seen this as a major improvement to the course with beautiful views now out to sea on a majority of holes. They are now eagerly awaiting the rebuild of the course to the original intentions of the early 1950s.

Duraturf® Out of Bounds (a blend of two fine fescues), mixed with Governors creeping fescue (NZ’s only native fine fescue) will be ideal for the rough situations. Research from Bill Walmsley (PGW Turf agronomist) has shown that Governors has increased resistance to insect pressure, better suitability to roughs and holds a brighter green colour in winter. (See article by Bill Walmsley on Governors on page 8).

Along with the opening up of the course by removing trees, Brendon has improved the appearance of the course by introducing the use of Andersons 28-1-8 96% PCSCU to his fairways. He has found it to be superb for both his fairways and tees, and has used this product for 2 years now. Brendon reports seeing reduced stress, brilliant turf colour and longevity out of this fertiliser.

Nelson Golf Club removes trees

Growth covers assist couch grow-in

A number of customers have now purchased Evergreen Turf Covers (by Cover Master) which assist in newly sown turf establishment, bringing turf out of dormancy faster and helping warm season grasses grow further into the winter.

Several venues have purchased large enough covers to cover the full rugby pitch and as the seasons move through autumn and winter, the covers performance assisting in turf growth increases.

The covers work in a “green house” effect by enhancing and retaining heat, holding soil moisture levels, protecting fledgling seedlings from weather related damage and assisting with growth over winter. They are lightweight, easy to handle and the cut edges won’t fray. Pinned down adequately they will withstand considerable wind.

The Eden Park turf team has been using the covers for the past 3 weeks to assist in the couch establishment at their new Auckland first class cricket venue at University Park at the Tamaki campus. The couch here was established on the 18th February and initially established very well. However with this year’s earlier cooler winter conditions, the growth covers have been used extensively to assist the grow-in of the couch.

Mark Perham (Eden Park Turf manager) says “the covers have allowed us to deal with some weed issues and still know we can achieve couch growth throughout the winter.”

PGG Wrightson Turf has stocks of these covers in at present for the spring market.

The growth covers in action at University Park.

The couch (on the right) above shows the additional growth from the growth cover . The cover was removed on the 11th June, this

was following three hard frosts in a row the week before!

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Supaturf have released their new line marking machine, the Professional Electric, which features a new wash through (freshwater) cleaning feature, a new slide out motor battery tray for easy access and an attached handle bar tool box.

The new line marking machine features:• 5litrecapacityfreshwatertankforflushthroughcleaning• 34litrecapacitylinemarkingtankwilldomorelines

before needing to be filled • Snaplockfittingsforveryeasyremovalofthetank

for cleaning• Fittedhandlebartoolbox• Easyfitchargingsystem• Twobatteriesandreliablepumpsystem,onaneasy

access slide out tray • Forwardmarkingdiscsandathleticattachmentsavailable

• Simpletroublefreecomponentry

These new line markers are now available in New Zealand through PGG Wrightson Turf.

New Professional Electric Line Marking Machine

Hamilton Golf Club has held many golf tournaments including the NZ Amateur in April 2007, the North Island under 19’s and the Perry Pro Am. In 2010 the club will hold the prestigious Asia Pacific Queens Sirikit involving an international field from 15 countries.

The golf club has set itself high standards for presentation of the course and Club Manager Malcolm Johnson has high expectations for quick greens recovery at

greens renovation time. Course Superintendent Gavin Cornish chooses his renovation and post renovation products carefully as he also has high expectations of producing the best playing surface after renovation. This includes quick recovery of the plant with the emphasis placed on thickening up the sward and getting good colour back into the turf, so that the players’ perception of the greens is that they are healthy and are a good surface to play on. Longevity of turf health pre and post renovation is important to Gavin to ensure the turf surface can withstand the stress of renovation, with the turf subjected to mechanical and physical stress on the plant from procedures such as

coring, scarifying, and sanding. Within 6 weeks Gavin aims to have his green speed back to 9-10 feet which is the standard that the club sets as a minimum for 9 months of the year.

Gavin found that the results he previously achieved with products he was using were not up to the standard he required. Gavin and Julian Holden of PGG Wrightson Turf have mapped out a programme to achieve the desired result. Gavin uses a combination of Andersons 22-0-22 and PGG Wrightson Turf’s renovation blend, Regen-R-8, which is a combination of Sand-Aid, humic acid, Andersons starter fertiliser, added potassium and granular soil surfactants. Gavin has now used this combination for 2 renovations and has noticed a remarkable turn around in his greens recovery process. “The greens responded extremely well” Gavin said “with a very quick thickening up of the sward and excellent colour of the turf. The longevity of the product meant that I got 5-6 weeks of stable feeding performance.” Gavin also noted that the Egmont browntop germinated within 2 weeks and had consistent and reliable growth, a result he puts down to the Regen-R-8 product he used. These two products assisted Gavin to get the playing surface back to the standard set by management. The members were back on the course quicker than in previous years playing on a superior surface post renovation. Gavin said “the combination gave me the confidence going into winter in a stronger position, considering we renovate in March which can be unpredictable.”

Course Superintendent Gavin Cornish beside the pin on the

No. 3 Green.

Hamilton Golf ClubRegen-R-8 brings greens up to standard

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AMI Stadium started redevelopment of its playing surface in October 2008.

The project, which was completed in two months, included excavation for new drainage and irrigation, adding the sand profile and finally the Motz turf system which were all installed by HG Turf and AMI staff.

The turf was grown off site at PGG Wrightson Seeds Ceres Research Centre, on the outskirts of Christchurch using a Centurion and Colosseum turf ryegrass blend and was sown into a Motz stabilised turf system. This was transferred to AMI in big rolls. At the initial sowing an amendment blend of Sand-Aid, Andersons micronutrients and starter fertilisers were used and during the grow-in process a variety of Andersons and general NPK fertilisers were applied based on sand analysis for the turf’s nutritional requirements. Following installation at AMI Stadium the turf has been fertilised using Andersons PCSCU’s and the new Andersons Nutri DG MU Tech sports field fertiliser.

The new system proved itself about a month after completion with 15 mm of rainfall in one hour stopping the one day international between New Zealand and the West Indies. An hour after the rain ceased the game recommenced.

The ground, which has now withstood a season of Super 14 rugby along with the Crusader “horsemen”, has held up very well. With the system designed to take up to 300 mm of rain in one hour AMI Stadium should be well prepared for anything the weather gods can throw at them!

Completed AMI Stadium Christchurch.

First dressing of sand applied to Motz turf system at Ceres Research Centre 2008.

Seeds sown into Motz turf system (note the green articifial fibres) 2008.

Colosseum, Centurion blend being sown into Motz turf system 2008.

Motz turf in big rolls being installed at AMI Stadium in Christchurch, December 2008.

Motz turf in big rolls being installed at AMI Stadium in Christchurch, December 2008.

AMI Stadium, ChristchurchNew Turf Surface

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The Ashburton Golf Club recently upgraded the number two fairway. This involved spraying the top end of the par 5 fairway, 5000 m2, with Roundup on the 15th September 2008. The ground was cultivated with a power hoe on the 27th September and grader leveling work was carried out in early October. Daryl Nelson’s Rotadarion machine, in one pass, cultivated the ground and seed was sown on the 6th October. A 50/50 mix of Jasper red fescue and Silhouette chewings fescue with a small amount of bowntop was sown at the rate of 250 kg/ha, along with Suscon Green added as a grass grub repellent.

The area was lightly rolled and Andersons Starter 19-11-4 fertiliser was applied at 150 kg/ha.

Seedlings started to appear on the 14th October, 8 days after sowing.

The fairway was irrigated as needed throughout late spring and the summer period, which was an extremely dry and hot period. It was also rolled in November and cut at 30 mm with a Lastec mower throughout the month and a second application of Andersons seed starter fertiliser was applied. The fairway mower was used at a height of 17 mm in early January 2009 and it was cut twice a week throughout the month. The fairway was then cut as per the existing fairway programme, and was weed sprayed in mid January.

The hole remained in play by using the unchanged start of the fairway and turning it into a 134 m par 3, with a temporary green cut from the fairway. This still gave the golf club 18 holes to play.

The new fairway was opened to club members this year on the 23rd February, a four and a half month turn around, the fairway was then sprayed with Gallant in March which was used to clean out Poa annua and browntop grasses. This has left a fescue sward which will thicken throughout the year with ongoing maintenance.

The Greens Committee believes this is the best option for the golf club, as this project was achieved within the 2009 budget, and there was minimal disruption to golfers.

The number two fairway at Ashburton Golf Club following early cultivation.

The number two fairway showing the emergence of the fine fescue/browntop blend.

The same fairway after rolling in November.

Ashburton Golf ClubNumber 2 fairway upgrade 2008/09

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In late March, Canterbury high-country resort, Terrace Downs, played host to their first ever New Zealand Golf tournament since opening, and it turned out to be a very successful event. Throughout the build-up to the tournament, Course Superintendent Simon Burrowes was very conscious of the possibility of play being cancelled by their renowned nor’west wind. He found the best way to reduce “wind affected” ball movement is to keep an average green speed. The main factor reducing speed initially was by keeping the height of the greens to 4 mm all year round. After that the usual correct turf management including timing and frequency of feeding, watering, verti-cutting and verti-draining, meant that an average speed of 9 feet was achieved and maintained, along with the aid of nightly watering throughout the tournament. Simon commented “In particular the use of Emerald Isle CPR was great in keeping stunning colour without growth flushes, in the month leading up to the tournament.” The use of CPR was effective for keeping green speed where they wanted it.

David Managan, of NZ Golf, commented that the Terrace Downs course was a true test of golfing ability and with the forecast of strong nor’westers for the week of the tournament, it was certainly shaping up that way. The practice and 1st round proved to be Terrace Downs at its best, beautiful clear skies and a light northerly, very rare indeed. But, as if on queue, the renowned nor’wester arrived with growing strength as the week wore on! Thankfully, despite its best efforts, only 2 hours

of play were put on hold, around midday on the Friday. A call was made for 5 minutes watering per green (quite harsh for those golfers on the putting green) and then play resumed. The tournament finished with a dramatic shoot out between Peter Spearman-Burn (Miramar) and Scotsman Mark Hilson. Peter won the tournament 6 under par stating “the course was fantastic and I think it’s the best course an amateur event has ever been held on”. The Women’s title went to Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga) with a finish of 2 over par.

Simon expressed thanks to his terrific team “Who were on the course at 4:30 every morning and producing a course that was in great nick.” The staff could have got away with a later start but with a few machinery reliability issues, Simon felt the early start was best, and on more than one occasion he’s glad they did start so early! Overall the tournament was a success and as Simon said “I was actually glad the nor’wester did show up, as this proves that even in those conditions, Terrace Downs can still host and complete major tournaments.”

Jason WellerJason took over as a Technical Turf Repre-sentative from Dallas Paterson in July 2007 and has now been in the role almost 2 years. Jason’s back-ground stems from a Parks and Management

degree from Lincoln University and he also spent around 4 years with Recreation Services primarily as a member of their turf renovations and construction division. Jobs included full sand sports field renewals and managing seasonal coring and renovations for a number of golf clubs from Kerikeri to Rotorua. He left there as Operations Manager to move to the South Island to raise his children, Jack & Emma with his wife Jen. After a brief stint with Morgan & Pollard Landscapes he joined PGG Wrightson Turf in November 2006. Although Jason is based in Christchurch he currently services Nelson, Marlborough, North and Mid

Canterbury. A one eyed Crusader fan, he also loves to cook up a storm in the kitchen and swing the odd golf club. Jason can be contacted on 027 596 397

Brandon Parker

Brandon took over from Barry Ross in July of this year as store person in our busy Christchurch turf store. Brandon has been employed in the turf industry since leaving high school at the end of 2003, first at the Kaiapoi Golf Club working for Turf Contracting where he completed his apprenticeship and Level 4 Certificate in Sports Turf Management. He left in mid 2007 to join the Waitikiri Golf Club as 2IC Green Keeper, before joining PGG Wrightson Turf in April. In his spare time he enjoys the occasional round of golf, and lives in Christchurch with his fiancé Nikki.

Staff Changes at PGG Wrightson Turf

Terrace DownsNZSASP 2009 Amateur Stroke Play Championship

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© PGG Wrightson Seeds 2009This information has been checked for accuracy and published in good faith. However PGG Wrightson Turf accepts no responsibility expressed or implied for misuse of information in this publication. This information is not to be reproduced without the expressed written permission of PGG Wrightson Turf.

PGG Wrightson Turf Stores and Staff Contacts Christchurch 03 344 7060, Auckland 09 570 2570, Palmerston North 027 487 4002

Auckland Auckland Auckland Coromandel/Waikato South Waikato/TaurangaBrian Griffiths Mark Stidwill George Tothill Julian Holden Karen Crake027 430 2992 027 344 6439 027 430 2972 027 289 2244 027 430 2995

Palmerston North Christchurch Christchurch Southland/West CoastMatt Kidby Mark Shaw Jason Weller Aaron Grose027 487 4002 027 499 8327 027 596 3974 027 596 3565

Fruitfed Supplies – Turf Champions Hawke’s Bay Taranaki GisbornePeter Roberts Trichel Stark William Heggarty027 244 4163 027 477 0138 027 443 9061

Contact info@pggwrightsonturf.co.nz or visit our website www.pggwrightsonturf.co.nz

Governors is the first naturalised New Zealand fine fescue to be bred into a turf cultivar and commercialised. Governors was selected from Banks Peninsula in Canterbury and has quite different growth characteristics from the typical imported fine fescues.

Governors is not an improved turf-type, meaning that it has poor turf qualities when mown below 30 mm. It tends to be rather open and lacks density under close mowing. At mowing heights of 30 mm or above, and in a seldom mowed rough situation its unimproved qualities are an advantage, as it does not become overly dense and thatchy. Some improved fine fescues become so thick and dense that it is difficult to find a golf ball or to play a golf shot out of them. Governors does not build up thatch anywhere as fast as the improved fine fescue types. It is not as difficult to play a shot out of the thinner and more whispy leaf texture of Governors fine fescue.

Governors is not a very dark green colour as many of the improved types are. Governors is a medium green colour in summer but becomes a vibrant light green colour in winter, quite a striking contrast to the dull green and often brown dormant colour of typical fine fescue. Governors is active growing in the winter season which is a contrast to most improved fine fescue. Where golf courses want a colour contrast for the rough areas, Governors provides both a summer and a winter colour contrast.

Fine fescue can be badly damaged by insect activity, especially in the rough. Governors contains an endophyte, a fungus which lives within the plant and protects it to some degree from insect feeding. The endophyte does improve the plant’s summer survival and performance by reducing insect feeding, but not to the same degree as endophytes in perennial ryegrass for example. We are working to improve this aspect of Governors fine fescue. It is most effective at 50-100 mm

mowing height, and becomes less effective at higher mowing heights.

Fine fescue is best sown in spring from late August onwards. It should not be sown later than the end of February in the South Island and early April in the northern half of the North Island. Certain milder areas can get away with later sowing.

A standard sowing rate for Governors fine fescue is 400 kg/ha, but 300 kg/ha can be successful in a rough situation where full establishment is allowed to occur over a longer time.

Winter activity and colour retention of Governors

The whispy leaf texture of Governors on a typical golf course rough mowing height of 50 mm

Walmsley’s WordGovernors creeping fescue for golf course roughs