The previous article on Gordon Wittereen, a Golf Course Greens Specialist had me looking closely at the Turf and Recreation Magazine which is promoted as the only Canadian " Turf and Ground Maintenance "
Magazine. Probably also the major authority on Greens Maintenance in Canada. As I looked through the articles, I felt that if more bowlers and clubs executives knew a bit more about the helpful information in this magazine then someone on the club executives just might order it for their greens maintenance staff.
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| Magazine Heading |
Although most of the information on Golf "Turf maintenance" would apply to Lawn Bowls Greens; I was interested to find if there was any direct mention of "Lawn Bowling Greens". Hopefully even an article. !!, It appeared that a lot of Canadian Golf Clubs probably subscribe for the most recent news about Greens care products.
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| A photo tweeted which breaks my heart |
Certainly there are articles which touch all of the problems encountered by Green maintenance personnel.. An example is an article on Turf Academy which discuss problems with "Take-all patch", "Dollar spot", and "Aanthracnose" an even something as strange as the important of adequate air movement on good (putting) greens."
The first search result was about the important of using a fertilizer that is allowing a proper distribution of nutrient for the lower HOC (height of cut) greens and suggesting the important when applying nutrient sources and one can read a colour response ( nitrogen, iron and magnesium). To an area with a lower height of cut (e.g. golf course greens, tees and lawn bowling greens) it is necessary to use wisely the fertilizer." Yes that was the one reference to my Google search words "Lawn Bowling Greens".
As a competitive Lawn Bowler, this article about green nutrient was not really important in my game, but it open our eyes to the professionalism of our green keepers and the Club volunteers and made me want to look a bit further into the topic.
Interesting are articles such as the one on Ontario Turfgrass Research on DNA , where the studies toward dandelion weed suppression by modified natural controls was important; and how almost $40,000 was raised by golf tournaments through canadian clubs for this research.
The second search of the magazine had a result with more important (and helpful) to us Canadian bowlers because it referred to lawn bowling clubs which have had more above seasonal temperatures and those warmer nights ( probably a "Climate Change" impact ) and the effect these temperature change have had on the greens (grass growth).
Did you know grass breath ?? YES !!! " The warmer weather contributed to turf conditions that were a little out of the ordinary." write Mike Higgens of Turf and Recreation magazine .
While doing a tours of four Ontario golf courses, Dr. Joe Vargas, of Michigan State University explains "the hotter-than-normal nighttime temperatures posed challenges to ( golf} turf. He said it caused the plants to continue to respire at a high rate which led to the plant burning up stored carbohydrates. The plants essentially can only photosynthesized a few hours each morning, producing the products they needed to survive. However, during the remainder of the day and throughout the night, carbohydrates were being burned up through respiration".
Interesting.. Point being made.. a Magazine with interesting information, which the club should buy for it Greens maintenance personnel. A small cost to an already expense budget of Greens Maintenance.
I was surprise to discovered the important of morning dew being removed as a preventive measure for dollar spots.. Here, a little information can go a long way... maybe clubs with this magazine in the greens keepers library, will gather enough interest from club members in helping with greens maintenance to lead them becoming volunteers .
This article also go on to explain a more important Canadian Lawn bowlers issue, that of Ban on cosmetic pesticide by government and the use of fertilizers as per local bylaws.
This article reads.
"It wasn’t just golf superintendents who faced challenges this year. The keepers of lawn bowling greens, especially at smaller, remotely-located clubs, are finding it increasingly difficult to come up with the necessary funds to keep their playing surfaces in tiptop shape".
"In Ontario, lawn bowling greens have been granted exemption status under the provincial cosmetic pesticide ban which still allows them to use conventional pesticide control products on their playing surfaces. The problem, however, is that the greens must be sprayed by licensed applicators who also have become fully accredited in integrated pest management".
"Green keepers at lawn bowling clubs are very often a "Club Member" (who look after the greens’ upkeep on a voluntary basis); and iIt was one thing for these individuals to acquire their applicator licenses, but the add-on requirement of IPM accreditation has made it cost-prohibitive for many smaller clubs."
"This forces these clubs to hire the services of an accredited applicator from a neighbouring golf course or a private contractor, but a number of geographically-isolated lawn bowling clubs must look far beyond their communities to find the qualified personnel. Paying them to make the journey to these remote regions becomes an additional cost, and one which is threatening the bottom line of these clubs."
Update (2/30/2016)
"Following e-mail contact with Turf & Recreation editor Mike Jiggens, I was advised that any Lawn Bowling club executive or Green Keeper wishing a complimentary copy of the magazine can have it mailed by simply requesting on club letterhead or from club e-mail. Supply your Club's or Greens keeper Postal address and Code and a copy would be mailed.
Although, a Canadian Magazine, I am sure the information is of interest to greens keepers throughout the world. and a subscription is less than a single membership fee. I also understand that in an attempt to reach out to Lawn bowling Clubs and their greens maintenance personnel, Mr. Jiggens is attempting to add a Lawn bowls Column in the future.
While doing a tours of four Ontario golf courses, Dr. Joe Vargas, of Michigan State University explains "the hotter-than-normal nighttime temperatures posed challenges to ( golf} turf. He said it caused the plants to continue to respire at a high rate which led to the plant burning up stored carbohydrates. The plants essentially can only photosynthesized a few hours each morning, producing the products they needed to survive. However, during the remainder of the day and throughout the night, carbohydrates were being burned up through respiration".
Interesting.. Point being made.. a Magazine with interesting information, which the club should buy for it Greens maintenance personnel. A small cost to an already expense budget of Greens Maintenance.
I was surprise to discovered the important of morning dew being removed as a preventive measure for dollar spots.. Here, a little information can go a long way... maybe clubs with this magazine in the greens keepers library, will gather enough interest from club members in helping with greens maintenance to lead them becoming volunteers .
This article also go on to explain a more important Canadian Lawn bowlers issue, that of Ban on cosmetic pesticide by government and the use of fertilizers as per local bylaws.
This article reads.
"It wasn’t just golf superintendents who faced challenges this year. The keepers of lawn bowling greens, especially at smaller, remotely-located clubs, are finding it increasingly difficult to come up with the necessary funds to keep their playing surfaces in tiptop shape".
"In Ontario, lawn bowling greens have been granted exemption status under the provincial cosmetic pesticide ban which still allows them to use conventional pesticide control products on their playing surfaces. The problem, however, is that the greens must be sprayed by licensed applicators who also have become fully accredited in integrated pest management".
"Green keepers at lawn bowling clubs are very often a "Club Member" (who look after the greens’ upkeep on a voluntary basis); and iIt was one thing for these individuals to acquire their applicator licenses, but the add-on requirement of IPM accreditation has made it cost-prohibitive for many smaller clubs."
"This forces these clubs to hire the services of an accredited applicator from a neighbouring golf course or a private contractor, but a number of geographically-isolated lawn bowling clubs must look far beyond their communities to find the qualified personnel. Paying them to make the journey to these remote regions becomes an additional cost, and one which is threatening the bottom line of these clubs."
Update (2/30/2016)
"Following e-mail contact with Turf & Recreation editor Mike Jiggens, I was advised that any Lawn Bowling club executive or Green Keeper wishing a complimentary copy of the magazine can have it mailed by simply requesting on club letterhead or from club e-mail. Supply your Club's or Greens keeper Postal address and Code and a copy would be mailed.
Although, a Canadian Magazine, I am sure the information is of interest to greens keepers throughout the world. and a subscription is less than a single membership fee. I also understand that in an attempt to reach out to Lawn bowling Clubs and their greens maintenance personnel, Mr. Jiggens is attempting to add a Lawn bowls Column in the future.
Update (6/7/2024) Some aspects of this Publication may not still be available.
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