Rig and furrow

[Thomas Dai]

Has anyone experience of removing rig and furrow from fairways? If so how was it achieved, were there any problems and did it accomplish anything in the long term?
Might seem a daft question but I’m curious as some members where I play most often are whinging away about the drier high spots of R&F* so I’m just looking for practical background information on such work.
atb


* the same members who also whinge about the wetter lower spots!

[John Emerson]

Agronomic practices should relieve thisnover time.  Verticutting, and aerification.  If you have the ability to top dress with sand you can alleviate this very quickly.  But this takes a very big toodressing unit that not many clubs have.  What species of grass?  How bad is it?  Can you post pictures?

[David_Tepper]

For those of us who have never heard the term:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridge_and_furrow

[Mark Pearce]

We have rig and furrow in several places at The Northumberland.  Why on earth would you want to remove such an interesting artefact?  It works at Alwoodley, it should work everywhere.

[Marty Bonnar]

We have rig and furrow in several places at The Northumberland.  Why on earth would you want to remove such an interesting artefact?  It works at Alwoodley, it should work everywhere.

100%!
And, be very careful, Dai. If it’s old, it may even be protected.
F.

[Thomas Dai]

We have rig and furrow in several places at The Northumberland.  Why on earth would you want to remove such an interesting artefact?  It works at Alwoodley, it should work everywhere.

100%!
And, be very careful, Dai. If it’s old, it may even be protected.
F.

Don’t get the wrong end of the stick on this one. I’m not in favour of the idea nor promoting it, but as many will know, private members golf clubs are strange beasts and operate in often mysterious way so dubious ideas tend to get floated and bandwagons jumped on. Hence I’m more fact finding so thanks Marty for the tip about possible protection and John, thanks for the general tips. I don’t have any photos to hand but will try to obtain some soonest.
Atb

[Ben Stephens]

It might be worth using inert fill to hide them and shape the fairways to suit the large fairway mowers which is not really suited to cut rig a furrow fairways especially those that are narrow and steep.


I personally hate walking on them as they are everywhere on the older courses in Leics and Rutland even Luffenham has it. I find them irritating and artificial even though they were done hundreds of years ago by our ancestors for ancient farming approaches. They don't fit on golf courses in my opinion.

[Michael Whitaker]

We have rig and furrow in several places at The Northumberland.  Why on earth would you want to remove such an interesting artefact?  It works at Alwoodley, it should work everywhere.

Works at Liphook.

[Jon Wiggett]

Wow, complaints about dry fairways. Whatever next!!!!


Thomas, You can use a sodcutter set to take as thick a cut as possible from the furrow (along the length of the furrow). Take a double width cut from either side meaning four rows in total leaving a narrow strip (4" to 6") in the middle. rotavate this strip then add fill material (sandy soil is best) replace the sod and fill any slight gap with fill material.


Please not you will still have a dip but buy removing even 3" to 4" of depth the difference is dramatic but still retains the overall characteristics and more importantly the drainage (farmers did this for a reason other than boredom). Also, it will be best to mow the areas that have been done along the lines of the furrows until the sod re-roots.


I would add that though this is a fairly cheap and quick solution why do it unless absolutely needed?


Jon

[James Bennett]

I always thought the high points were ideal for golf in the winter, and the low points during a summer drought.
Perhaps Jon Wiggett's suggestion ensures good quality turf is available (with preferred lies) year round.  Good low maintenance, low cost golf.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I should be sad if rig and furrow were lost. For some reason I always associate it with Brancepeth Castle - a lovely old course.

[Kalen Braley]

Agree with the sentiment above.  I see this kind of feature on a course and it makes me smile; sad to see some clubs are trying to kill off awesome quirk like this...


P.S.  If the peaks and valleys are too pronounced is it a maintenance issue?

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Muirfield and Lytham have R&F which both add some spice to some of the otherwise flat fairways.

[Rich Goodale]

And then of course there was the greatest Scottish band, Runrig....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQ1pNfbe3Q

[Jon Wiggett]

And then of course there was the greatest Scottish band, Runrig....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQ1pNfbe3Q

[James Boon]

I cant comment on its removal other than "why would you" as others have said.


I would though say that the direction of the rig and furrow does make a difference to me. I used to be a member at a course where the last, a long par 4, had rig and furrow running perpendicular to the line of play. This meant a decent drive could hit an upslope and go nowhere or hit a downslope and kick on those vital extra yards. It could often mean the difference between going in with a mid iron or not being able to get up at all. But at least you would be on the fairway...


I suspect I've grumbled about this one before so forgive me, but several years ago I was playing in a county inter club foursomes final, our other pair in front had lost by 2 and we were 1 up, so needed to win the last to take it to a playoff (context is everything!    ) The last hole at this club, a short par 5, had rig and furrow running perpendicular to the line of play. Our opponents playing first, overcooked their right to left tee shot, pitched in the fairway but then instead of kicking off into the deeper rough, hits an upslope and stays in the fairway!  Then my partner hits a fine long drive, with his usual slight fade down the middle of the fairway, but then hits a side slope on landing and kicks off right into the rough! To make matters worse the powers that be at this club had left a hedge along this side of the fairway and our ball was sitting under it! Penalty drop followed by some frustration and we lost the final!

Now I realise that there is an element of luck and rub of the green in golf, its all part of its charm. But I feel the message from the last hole of that final isnt that rig and furrow is bad, but that if you have it running perpendicular to play committees, greenkeepers and architects probably need to make sure there isnt deep trouble just off the fairway that could be found via an unfortunate kick! Rant over


Cheers,


James