Superintendents Role in Architecture

[RBlair]

I have kept up with this growing Web page for the past few years and can not but wonder how many Superintendents enjoying reading the post as I do.  I am by no means an achitect and leave the design work to the pro's, but I do wonder how much the Superintendent affects the design of a course over time.  After all the Superintendent is there everyday maintaining the course and overseeing any "projects".  With that in mind how big of a role do you feel the Superintendent plays in maintaining a "classical" course?

Ryan Blair, CGCS

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ryan,

Great question.

The superintendent plays a very, very important role in maintaining the architectural integrity of a golf course. In fact, the superintendent is the key player.

Long after the architect leaves, it's up to the superintendent to maintain correct mowing lines, keep trees and other vegetation in check, cultivate complimentary turf conditions, enhance the proper aesthetic, etc.

I think golf architecture should be taught in more detail at turf schools for this very reason.

I have a lot of respect for superintendents who take the time to study golf course design in general, and more important, learn the architecture of the course they're keeping.    

[Scott Ramsay]

The areas we can impact a golf course are countless, positively and negatively. When I started there was a peanut farmer as POTUS and the trend was to shrink, squiggle and reduce our golf courses to save money and energy. The error of these practices are now being recognized and reversed. Just on a day to day basis if the greens mowers are not monitored properly greens will shrink and corners will be lost.
Scott Ramsay,CGCS
Greenskeeper

[Jeff_Mingay]

Scott,

It is amazing how quickly mowing patterns can change, isn't it. On a new course we did, during the late stages of grow-in, fairway lines were changing on a weekly basis without sharp attention to detail.

Whereas most people running the mowers would err on the inside of the estabished mow lines (which, of course, leads to shrinkage), would you guys, as superintendents, encourage your green mowers in particular to err on the outside of that line? Just curious,    

[Jeff_Brauer]

Most GCA's like the super on board at least when irrigation is going in, and preferably from day one of construction.  They can advise on what little things might cause big problems in maintenance later on.  This may include bunker style (flat vs flashed) tie in of slopes for mowing equipment they plan to buy and a host of other things that we consider in concept, but they know in intimate detail regarding maintaining courses.

Naturally, there is some give and take, as an upper end course can't be designed soley for maintenance ease, but I hate to unintentionally saddle a super with problems when he/she can advise during construction on how to avoid them.

As Jeff says, a superintendent on board during the shaping and grassing phases is most likley to buy into the concept, having helped it evolve, and thus more likely to maintain mowing lines, etc.

[Steve Okula]

The idea is to hit the mowing line exactly, neither inside nor outside.

Too often, it is the GCS who pays for the mistakes of the architect, enlarging tees, cutting trees, and especially improving drainage.

Yes, I know, it seems so far-fetched, but some architects actually do make mistakes, (though I haven't seen any by the gentlemen posting here).

[ed_getka]

I think the superintendent's role is hugely important. The super seems to me to be the last line of defense between what the architect intended and what the misguided membership wants. The problem with this is that the poor super has to decide how hard to push to maintain the architectural integrity of his course without getting fired.
  I think the super is also challenged by having a majority of staff (at least in my neck of the woods) who know little or nothing about golf so the super can't just turn his staff loose to do their job.
  I think of Jeff Hicks at Rustic and he has to work hard to resist managements attempts to ruin the course. On the flip side Dan Lucas does a superlative job with Kingsley Club and seems to have plenty of support.

[PjW]

I would agree that having a superintendent on board is essential in knowing the nuts and bolts of the infrastructure of the golf course.  I would also agree that the superintendent can be a benefit in establishing as to what degree a design element can achive before it becomes a maintenance problem.  However, it is my experience that most golf course superintendents do not have much expertise in design and construction unless they have been through the process more than once.  One way of having the architect set strict mowing lines is to use different types of turf for greens/tees, fairways and roughs.

[Pat K]

Ryan, we all know the mowing lines are important. The programs we use to maintain a property have a direct impact on how a course plays. I don't know about you but there isn't a hole at Essex that hasn't been altered somewhat in my tenure here. Whether it be a bunker shape or tee alignment or tree removal there is a direct correlation between what we do and the presentation and playibility of athe golf course. We can't help it. Do we affect routing? No. But over time there isn't much else that we don't effect.  

[Joe Hancock]

Unfortunatey, the level of interest in architecture shown by the supers that participate on this site is not the norm. Many supers have been brought up in the green and perfect camp. They don't know any different. That is not to say that only supers who participate on this site are in awares, but it certainly isn't the norm, either.

Joe

[Don_Mahaffey]

As far as maintaining mowing lines, one of the best tools I've seen lately is a software package called Land Logic. Originally designed for irrigation mapping and management, it allows a super to map his entire course including all mowing lines and anything else he wishes to record on a GPS map. Any areas on the map can be easily measured which is great for precision application of materials. Sprinkler heads, trees, bunkers can all be landmarks that can then be measured off of to check mowing lines, if desired. A wonderful tool that an architect could use to easily document mowing lines or anything else he wishes to mark, such as drainage outfalls for greens or bunkers.

Joe,
Hope you and family got through your day OK. I'll call you later this week.

[Craig Sweet]

Joe, I'm not sure I understand or agree with your comment...

"Many supers have been brought up in the green and perfect camp."

I think supers give the members what they want. As was pointed out in another post, on green speed, the super works for the guy that signs his check.

There is nothing wrong with perfect. There is sometimes nothing wrong with green...having said that, I think most supers, and most agronomist, would tell you we are not doing the turf any good with the constant lowering of mowing heights...a little more "shaggy" might not be a bad thing.

[Joe Hancock]

Joe, I'm not sure I understand or agree with your comment...

"Many supers have been brought up in the green and perfect camp."

I think supers give the members what they want. As was pointed out in another post, on green speed, the super works for the guy that signs his check.

Craig,

You, better than I, made my point from a different perspective. The title of thread, "Superintendents Role in Architecture" is often at odds with "supers give the members what they want" and "the super works for the guy that signs the check."

Joe

[RBlair]

Pat

That is a great point about the Superintedents Role in the course.  I too feel in my time I have modified holes due to my job and the wear and tear of Mother Nature.  Some I think were great improvements, and some looking back may have not been.  I guess I was just thinking about how often I hear of courses that are "untouched".  It seems as you mentioned there is no such thing as an untouched course.

[James Bennett]

As far as maintaining mowing lines, one of the best tools I've seen lately is a software package called Land Logic. Originally designed for irrigation mapping and management, it allows a super to map his entire course including all mowing lines and anything else he wishes to record on a GPS map. Any areas on the map can be easily measured which is great for precision application of materials. Sprinkler heads, trees, bunkers can all be landmarks that can then be measured off of to check mowing lines, if desired. A wonderful tool that an architect could use to easily document mowing lines or anything else he wishes to mark, such as drainage outfalls for greens or bunkers.

Joe,
Hope you and family got through your day OK. I'll call you later this week.

Don

that sounds like an excellent tool for fairways.  We have previously had trouble retaining a fairway shape following the winter dormancy of our couch (bermuda) - we don't mow fairways for 6 months because of no-growth/dormancy.  Since we have gone to wider fairways over the last 7 months, we now cut (generally) to the edge of pure couch, and are considering using different grasses to demarcate cutting lines for use from year to year.  Only partially implemented to date.

I was wondering how course supers maintain greens mowing lines, particulalry following renovations.  At my club, we may re-establish wider greens and new mowing lines.  However, these can be difficult to maintain at times of low growth with early morning dew (ie the existing line is hard to see).  They are also hard to see when the green and nearby surrounds are recovering from coring/topdressing.  Apart from 'blue lines' painted on greens, are there any other tips for retaining a greens shape?  (we use triplex mowers, I expect it is easier to retain a shape with walk-behind mowers).

RBlair

Claude Crockford of Royal Melbourne fame is recognised for his contribution to the development of that course.  His endeavours on the greens and hazards are legendary, but his retention and maintenance of the out-of-play heathland is equally outstanding.  The ideal maintenance meld should cover all areas and aspects of the course property.

[Craig Sweet]

Joe, my point is, I think supers do know the difference but what they know is often at odds with what they are told to produce.

I am sure there are many examples where a super, the members, and the intent of the architect are all on the same page, but not always. When the greens committee or the general manager wants a certain course condition that is at odds with the design or the agronomy, what's a super to do? Walk away?

[ed_getka]

James,
    What is couch? A type of Bermuda?  Also, if you plant different grasses to maintain the demarcation, what keeps them from blending together over time?

[James Bennett]

Ed

I believe couch is Australian for Bermuda.  In 1999, my club replaced softgrass fairways (bents and poa generally) with Santa Anna, a fine-leaf couch that is a hybrid of South African couch.  We also have about 5 holes with windsor-green (planted in 1993), another fine leaf hybrid

We have oversown some rye/fescue mix onto outer edges that will be outside the fairway edge, as a trial.  Preventing the spread of these into adjacent fairways is an issue we are aware of but have not yet had to face.  Similalrly, the use of yearly couch/bermuda fairway treatments to prevent new soft-grasses (poa annua in particular) from establishing in the couch/bermuda, without eliminating these other 'partner grasses' in the adjacent edge of the fairway.

It may be that these oversewn areas lose the couch/bermuda component over time.  We hope that the fescue/rye mix will be as drought tolerant as the couch/bermuda but provide the demarcation and also the ability to grow into deeper rough (we prefer the fescue/rye as a two-inch rough to couch/bermuda).

For us, the climate issues require drought tolerant solutions (the winter rains slowed in early august 2004, with some rain in early November.  The last time we had a half inch of rain was early February.  The first month of winter is only a few days away and the autumn rains still have not come).  We also need to be able to cope with cool, wet winters on heavy clay soils (winter maxiumums of about 50 degrees farenheit with about 4 to 5 inches of rain a month).  So, winter playability/drainage of fairways and summer survival/irrigation of roughs are an interesting challenge.

[Steve Curry]

To cut the overplanted trees down and keep or return the course as close to the intent as possible!

 

Steve