Practical Golf Course Maintenance The Art of Greenkeeping

A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Maintaining and Operating a Golf Course

From the fairway to the flagsticks, operating a golf course presents a variety of challenges. To maintain a beautiful course and ensure smooth day-to-day operations, one must possess a strong foundation of knowledge across many different fields. Practical Golf Course Maintenance, Fourth Edition assists golf industry professionals with every component of course management so that players have the best experience possible.

As seasoned golf industry professionals, the two authors have years of hands-on experience in the field solving problems relating to every facet of running a modern golf course. This fourth edition contains new and updated advice and guidelines for running a golf course, including:

• A new chapter offering guidance for superintendents to work with club officials and green committee members to achieve success in their challenging roles
• Rule changes from the USGA and R&A and how they affect maintenance strategies
• Discussions of current and future course technologies, including robotic mowers, drones, and advanced irrigation systems
• An overview of the evolving job descriptions and responsibilities of key positions in the field
• A common sense approach to the art of greenkeeping

Practical Golf Course Maintenance, Fourth Edition has been purposefully written to provide useful information to both the untrained and experienced greenkeeping professional. It serves as a thorough introduction of golf course maintenance to anyone interested in the profession, including course or club officials and managers, green committee members, and anyone who has a vested interest in understanding what it takes to run a golf course.

Michael Bavier was the longtime superintendent of Inverness Golf Club near Chicago. During his career, he served as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and was a past recipient of the GCSAA's Distinguished Service Award. He was a frequent speaker on the Turf Conference Tour, both in North America and overseas.

Luke Cella has been the Executive Director of the Midwest and Chicagoland Association of Golf Course Superintendents for 20 years and Managing Director of the Wee One Foundation, and serves as Publisher of On Course Magazine. He is a frequent speaker at industry meetings, and holds a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.

Preface ix

About the Authors xi

1 Greens 1

2 Tees 27

3 Fairways 37

4 The Rough 49

5 Bunkers and Their Maintenance 59

6 Water 77

7 Fertilizers 91

8 Topdressing 101

9 Aerating, Verticutting, and Venting 113

10 Spraying 131

11 Seeding, Sodding, and Sprigging 143

12 Drainage 163

13 Trees 177

14 Landscaping 189

15 Traffic and Paths 197

16 Changing Cups, Flagsticks, and Tee Markers 209

17 Rules of Golf That Affect Maintenance 221

18 Golf Course Budgeting 231

19 The Grounds Maintenance Facility 241

20 Managing People 253

21 Greenkeeping Common Sense 263

22 Job Descriptions 271

23 Communicating with Management 283

Index 291