Fescue Grass - Pros & Cons
Saturday, September 24, 2005
In Holland there is a lot of talking about the so-called “Danish Model”: fescue-dominant greens that are maintained in a sustainable way. Does anyone have some actual experience with this kind of greens. What is important to get successful, and what has to be avoided?
1st Answer
As Course Manager for Smorum Golfcenter I took the approach to direct our maintanance programme specific towards fescue(Festuca rubra trichophylla and commutata) in 1998. The idea was to create a competion among the grass species which favoured fescue.
Prior being inexperinced, it was only then I came to the knowledge of tradional greenkeeping, so well described by the late Jim Arthur in his book with the same name, through a young english greenkeeper named Chris Haspell, who desite his young age were a dedicated follower of fescue.
The approach made sense as Danish politicians at that time were about to enforce a strong restriction on pesticides, limmited water resources and a high tax on Nitrogen sales, as well as the general public oppinion and mind were towards a "green/organic" approach in agriculture and grass amenity. Of course golf courses were not trusted to be "green". Today the reality is that Danish greenkeepers have one fungicide and one herbicide to use in order to control disease and weeds, and I think we are more heading towards a complete ban rather than more options.
Our course (from 1993) were original sown in with traditional fescue mixes on greens(with bent), tees(with raigrass), fairways(Poa pratensis), but in 5 years without the right approach we were losing our fescue quickly.
Since 1998 we have lowered our N input significantly on all areas of the course. Greens only having in the region of 35 kg N/ha. Cutting height is kept between 5-6 mm and water application is monitored very closely in order not to overwater. Furthermore we have over the years overseeded with a blend of Festuca rubra trichophylla and Festuca rubra commutata on greens, approaches and tees. A aerating programme is implemented, but is not practiced for the sake of it, it is only done when we feel it necesary.
Fescue is now dominant on all our 54 holes, on greens 90-98 %, disease rate is very low, and if a minor disase problem appear it has no impact on putting Quality, and fescue usually reappear in spots when growth takes up in May.
It is my experince no grass speci is matching the playing qualities of a fescue, certainly when it comes to greens and fairways and once you have a dominant base it is fairly easy to maintain and by far the most economic. Communication with the club is vital though as this practice will take some of the dark green colour of your course.
You are of course always welcome to visit us in Smorum if your interested in a first hand look and get further information on our work.
For statistic I can tell we are 6 full time, 2 part time and 1 mechanic in Smorum. We have 5 different courses containing 54 greens on a total area of 220 ha. It's all year round play and most of our courses are among the most played in Denmark.
2nd Answer
I seeded fescue & bent greens two years ago during 9 holes in Poland construction on a golf course I used to work. I decided to use fescue as I haven't got good watering system and actualy it is still hand swith system. I was very pleased with the result of green quality as fescue has very firm leaves and with brushing it give great quality. High of cut was as well arround 6mm but the N applicaton was greater. I also can't say that I had less disease or insects problems but all in all it was much easier to keep greens than pure bent.
By the way I would like to ask if you - greenkeepers all over the world read scientific articles and use its result on your golf course. Do you co-operate with nearby university? I should be thankful for your opinions
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