What happens to a golf course when exposed to intensive and persistent rain?
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Golfers need to understand the current challenge posed by the persistent and intensive rainfall which dominates the UK climate over the winter. The monthly rainfall averages have been well above normal volumes since July 2023. These conditions have numerous impacts on the golf course and greenkeeping operations.
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The volume of rain has commonly overwhelmed the natural drainage potential of soils and drainage systems, especially aging designs which were never designed to calculate maximum flow rates.
In addition, surface infiltration and calculating the percolation rate will be made difficult by traffic, especially where the grass cover has thinned and with silt/clay capping profiles. A prolonged period of worm casting creates other problems in terms of silt/clay contamination at the surface. Parkland courses with clay-based soils have been particularly vulnerable even where there is drainage, but also sandy heathland, chalk downland and links courses have all been subjected to the impact of intensive rain.
Read the full article from R&A Sustainable Agronomy by clicking the link below:
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Kind regards,
Doug Poole
CEO - UK Golf Federation
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