KGK's greenkeepers held an open house
Large machines, sharp grinding blades, grass seeds and fertilizers for every purpose.
At the member meeting on May 4th – the first in a series that KGK will hold throughout the year – there were lots of curious questions when KGK's greenkeepers showed around the greenkeeper's yard and head greenkeeper Nicolai Klithammer Larsen talked about the challenges and opportunities of greenkeeper work now and in the future.
”"Denmark has the world's strictest pesticide legislation, meaning 'no penicillin', and we at Dyrehaven have lived by this for many years. This means that we must constantly be on the cutting edge of what is coming - snow mold and other winter damage, dollar spots and the changes that result from the climate, such as the drought that has now replaced a cold winter period", said Nicolai in his well-prepared presentation.
KGK's permanent greenkeepers have completed the four-year greenkeeper training and all – permanent and seasonal employees – are good golfers. Nicolai himself, in addition to 10 years of experience as a greenkeeper – also has a degree as a golf coach. "And it is important that we all, in addition to the maintenance work, can also see the course from the golfer's point of view.".
The focus this year is that we use the new tools that the club has acquired in recent years. This applies not least to the systematic use of the moisture meter, and to combining the results with our new IT irrigation control system. Nicolai showed as an example measurements on the putting green, how it can be very dry in one area and very moist in another - at the same time. "We need to have experience, then we will quickly see the effect: When do we torment the grass? When do we overwater? All numbers on the green must be the same - then we will also get uniform greens".
”It's cool nerd stuff,” Nicolai admitted, delving into how we have become better at controlling the sprinklers individually, so that the ball rolls evenly, and we can also utilize both water and fertilizer better.
”"Testing new grass varieties is on the list of things to be tested, because the club has long wanted us to have better playing surfaces on the fairways. And then there are new machines on the way - two robots will mow the driving range, par 3 and the 1st and 18th fairways. This can free up staff for other tasks."”
”"Our experiments with robotic mowing show that the animals are stunningly indifferent. In return, they love the greenkeepers and their mowing as much as they fear the hunters. They run from the hunters, but come running to us.".
Ambitions are high in the club's greenkeeping staff.
”"We must be top greenkeepers," says Nicolai, and promises that we will see improvements over time, and not such large fluctuations.
And finally, a heartfelt sigh from the club: The greenkeepers always work "in front" of the golfers, they must have peace to do their work, therefore the early balls must respect the hole sequence. The holes of the course are opened in order - so dear member, if you play early, do not skip to the 10th or 15th hole - play 1-9 if you do not have time for more, then we ensure that the greenkeepers have peace to do their work for our common good.
