A list that just keeps growing...

Our 1^st Birdwatch and Ringing of 2015 was once again a huge success!!

If you consider yourself a “Birder” or just looking for an excuse to leave the house at 5h30 on a Saturday morning...this was a special one in its own way.

For those who have not been to one of these - these morning walks are limited to 40 members and guests to attend, with the booking spots filling up well before the actual outing. Everybody meets at Reception where a quick introduction and explanation of the schedule follows. We then start walking down on to the Golf Course and move through areas golfers and maintenance staff haven’t even been there on the day.

As always our 1^st Birdwalk of the year is the one where we get Gerrie and his team of Ringers in to show us more what goes into ringing birds. This is a very delicate exercise as great care goes in to ensuring these birds are not hurt or stressed in any way.

Gerrie and his team entered our premises at 3am to start installing and setting-up the very fine nets they use to trap and catch the birds. These birds then get ringed with a little steel ring with its own unique number on and then the weight, wingspan and location recorded onto the SA Birdlife database. At our next ringing here at PCC or somewhere nearby, one will be trapped and the new measurements/data will help to understand the movements and growth of these species.

On this day a total of 60 birds were ringed consisting of 24 different species and during the walk we spotted 45 different species and were lucky enough to spot 2 species not yet identified on the premises before and add them to our ever-growing PCC Bird List namely:

-          African cuckoo (Cuculus gularis)

-          Half-Collared kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata)

 Image Left - The African cuckoo occupies huge areas of sub-Saharan Africa, absent from parts of the DRC, Somalia, South Africa and Namibia. It usually occurs in open woodland and Acacia savannas, mostly eating caterpillars.

It is a brood parasite, meaning that it lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, then the host, thinking that the egg is its own incubates the egg and cares for the chick.

Image Right - It exclusively parasitizes Fork-tailed Drongos (which has been spotted several times before at PCC)

The male African Cuckoo distracts them whilst the female flies in to the nest, removes any existing eggs before laying one of its own. Soon after hatching, the chick removes any existing Drongo eggs or chicks in the nest, remaining in the nest for about 23 days before leaving.

Image Above - The Half-collared kingfisher is a species of kingfisher that feeds almost exclusively on fish and can be found near water at all times. This bird is actually classified as “vulnerable” on the National Conservation Status List. We were very lucky to have ringed one here at PCC.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Birdwalk…

References:

Biodiversity Explorer – www.biodiversityexplorer.org

Wikipedia – www.wikipedia.org

What do Greenkeepers do?

Imagine the exhaustive list of different tasks that need to get done on a Golf Course.

Landscapers manicure fairways and plumbers repair turf sprinkler systems, but the ultimate responsibility for the appearance and functioning of golf courses falls to superintendents. Also called turf managers and greenkeepers, they manage the environmental health of the greens and ensure that their facilities meet the needs of the players while still turning a profit.

The British and International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) once made a detailed list of what a fully trained, qualified golf course Greenkeeper, should be able to do.

This is a GREENKEEPER/GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT JOB SPECIFICATION.

I'm sure that this list is NOT complete. Here is BIGGA's list:

-       Monitor and Maintain health, safety and security in the workplace

-       Responding to emergencies

-       Develops annual operating budgets and plans for maintenance and capital improvement projects

-       Supervises and controls all maintenance expenses associated with Golf Course Operations, including payroll, supplies, chemicals and fertilizers.

-       Maintains records and completes required reporting to Management and Committees.

-       Order parts, supplies and equipment as needed.

-       Schedules maintenance practices around member play and outings to maximize efficiency and minimize disruption to members

-       Maintain good standards of health and safety for self and others

-       Switching and brushing

-       Mowing banks

-       Mowing rough

-       Mowing semi rough

-       Mowing surrounds and approaches

-       Mowing tees

-       Mowing greens

-       Mowing fairways

-       Scarifying/Verti-cutting turf

-       Aerating/Hollowtinning turf

-       Knowledge of safe use, mixing and application of chemicals and commercial products.

-       Applying nutrition and fertilzers

-       Applying fungicides

-       Applying pesticides

-       Applying herbicides

-       Applying top dressing

-       Repairing divots

-       Irrigating turf

-       Ability and knowledge to lay out irrigation patterns, drainage patterns, construct tees and/or greens.

-       Identifying and controlling weeds

-       Identifying and controlling pests

-       Identifying and control of turf diseases and disorders

-       Preparing ground to establish turf

-       Establishing turf

-       Identifying grasses, trees, shrubs, insects, fishes and birds on the golf course

-       Marking of hazards, out of bounds and ground under repair

-       Moving tee markers

-       Maintaining bunkers

-       Maintaining golf course furniture

-       Changing holes

-       Rolling turf

-       Driving a tractor with implements

-       Undertaking routine machine maintenance

-       Preparing machinery for use

-       Preparing machinery for storage

-       Measuring green speed and interpreting the results

-       The rules of golf relating to golf course maintenance

-       Knowledge of the game of golf, golf rules and methods of play.

-       Preparing ground to establish plants on the golf course
-  Have a meticulous eye for detail and be a perfectionist when it comes to manicuring

-       Establishing plants on the golf course

-       Maintaining, pruning and trimming trees, shrubs and wetlands on the golf course

-       Communicating effectively with staff, committee members, golf members and guests

-       Interpersonal skill to resolve conflict and work with supervisors, officials, employees, members and the general public.

-       Dealing with disagreements/conflict

-       Keeping management informed of happenings of daily regimes

-       Understanding their roles and responsibilities

-       Skills in recruiting, supervising, training, monitoring, evaluating and motivating personnel.

-       Conducts employee performance evaluations and exercises disciplinary action

NOTE: All of the above tasks must be carried out in a manner that minimizes environmental damage.

A different approach...NOT using a wedge!!

The role of a Greenkeeper…

Today, reducing environmental impacts should be on the agenda of all sports facilities. Indeed, all walks of business should be doing their bit for the environment and leading to a better end result, potentially making financial savings in the process. Golf clubs are no different and I use these as an example of how the operational direction of a business needs to change in today's climate.

“For many, the only green aspect of the golf course should be the greens, tees and fairways...”

Throughout the history of golf this has been the role of the "Greenkeeper". In the past, breaking down the meaning of this title was straightforward - it was the job of the Greenkeeper to keep the turf healthy and as green as possible also ensuring the best quality for play.

For a while now a Greenkeeper’s role has stretched out beyond the playing surfaces to include the maintenance and enhancement of the out of play areas. These “wild” areas have become a signature for clubs, helping them stand out from their competition by creating an attractive, natural and diverse environment within which to play golf hence the fact that we are in the middle of a busy city and just about 1km away from the busiest highway in South Africa.

The role of the Greenkeeper has therefore, changed. He or she has become a manager of considerable areas of land. Add to this the requirement to be aware of and be responsible for and dealing with environmental issues both on the course and increasingly, in and around the clubhouse.

It is certainly the case that the roles of Greenkeepers from the 90’s are much more diverse and complex than it used to be. As a result of this, Greenkeeper are no longer employed to keep the greens green but to keep the club green.

Why bother?

People's opinions and extent of knowledge on the subject of climate change will, no doubt, differ between individuals but everybody by now are aware of the basic issues - we are over harvesting, polluting and destroying habitats to a point where our lifestyle is no longer sustainable.

It is a real problem that is already beginning to affect us. 

For example, I'm sure you've all noticed the +/- 15% mark up on the cost of food over the past 3 years? This can be linked to the failure of food crops which, in turn is caused by climate change related events. The point is the problem won't go away if we pretend it doesn't exist.

Are you thinking green yet?

Becoming greener brings more than just environmental benefits. This is a key point and a key driver for change. All businesses need to commit to becoming green - golf courses included - and those that have the foresight to begin adapting their practices, even in a small way will undoubtedly reap rewards in the future.

Those that invest money in Environmental Schemes will almost certainly make their money back within a relatively short period of time and from then on will continue to accumulate savings year on year.

For many it’s difficult to be convinced that change is a good idea. Change is often deemed a scary, unnecessary process and it is for this reason that some businesses and in some cases entire industries, get left behind. Becoming greener can only be a positive change whichever way you look at it.

Our Greens Committee together with industry professionals have started our own environmental plan for our Club. We have already identified a few key subjects and areas we will be covering, E.g.  A full list of all the trees, animals, fish and birdlife (Fauna and Flora) currently living on our property, also identifying out of play areas where we’ll be able to encourage and stimulate more indigenous plant & birdlife and a better structure at our Golf Course Maintenance Workshop where international standards in Workplace Health and Safety are met?

I'm not suggesting you get straight on the phone and order a solar panel to meet your power needs at home, I'm merely suggesting that carrying out investigative work costs nothing and I’m sure you’ll be able to find initiatives that are surprisingly beneficial to your own house.

Just imagine what our Environmental Plan can do for the Club's bank balance, image, status, efficiency and of course…to the environment. 

A few interesting facts about Golf Courses:

• A typical 18-hole golf course produces enough oxygen to support 4,000 to 7,000 people.
• Golf courses have a cooling effect during the hot summer months. The average temperature of a golf course is normally 5 to 7 degrees cooler than a residential area and 7 to 15 degrees cooler than an urban downtown setting.
• A golf course can be a healthy natural environment. The turf grass on golf courses serves as a filter to runoff to control flooding; out of play areas offer wildlife habitat; trees and bushes filter dust and pollen; and the green space has a cooling effect on surrounding property.
• Most golf courses compost grass clippings and leaves, which reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Composting is a growing and recommended practice for golf course operations.
• Golf course architects now design courses that reduce the need for pesticides, water and costly maintenance practices while preserving habitat and environmental quality.
• Golf course managers are among the best-educated and most conscientious users of chemical management tools. Today, most superintendents have two- or four-year university degrees in agronomy, horticulture or other related fields. Many of them enter the profession because of a love of nature and the outdoors, and are strongly committed to conservation. A recent survey shows golf course managers give extremely high priority to maintenance practices that do not have a negative impact on the environment.

Ecological benefits of golf courses

In addition to turf-related benefits, courses provide other important ecological and community assets. Golf courses are:

• Key sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife
• Disposal and treatment sites for (effluent) wastewater
• Attractive and environmentally sound “covers” for closed landfills and other ecologically damaged sites
• Recreational places for non-golf activities, such as jogging, walking and bird-watching
• Wetlands preservation areas

References: 

Google

Wikipedia

Pitchcare Magazine (Australia) - Economy vs Environment

www.teetimes.info - Quick facts about Golf and the Environment

Fish Re-Location and Introduction Program

PCC Fish Introduction Program

Today, I would like to add something that we are actually very privileged to have on our property…

Our amazing wetlands and inter-linking stream system running through the golf course and property.

We are very fortunate with the water entering our property through the Waterkloof Spruit, ensuring a relative constant supply of clean water for irrigating our golf course and gardens.

In April 2013, with the low rainfall experienced that winter and reduced flow from outside we experienced the dams on e.g. Hole #13 to become stationary for long periods, thus creating favourable conditions for the development of unwanted algae and slime.

In order to redress the balance of the fish species found to combat the algae, certain non-algae eating species in dams will need to be reduced and other species introduced to control the levels of algae. The impact of netting out and re-stocking is expected to take between 2 to 5 years and will eventually create a more environmentally friendly and healthy environment with its own aquatic Eco-system.

The Carp species are also known to feed on small plant material growing on the side-banks along the dams and often cause these side-banks to collapse. This can become a major risk with some Greens only a few meters away from the waters adge.

We approached an expert, Mr. Casper Kruger from Fisheries Hartebeespoort to assist us and to recommend a plan heading forward.

The following assessments were conducted for these areas:

•  Netting of all fish to obtain an indication of fish species in the dams
• Assessment of fish netted including general condition of fish
• Ecological assessment of dam and surrounding areas
• Testing of water quality
• Bird life survey (Already completed by PCC)

FISH SPECIES IDENTIFIED AND TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PCC DAMS

1. Largemouth Bass                   Micropterus salmoides
2. Carp                                        Cyprinus carpio
3. Catfish                                    Clarias gariepinus

FISH SPECIES TO BE ADDED TO THE PCC DAMS

All the fish species mentioned will contribute to the cleaning of our dams.

1. Banded Tilapias                    Tilapia sparrmanii  

Diet: The banded tilapia feeds on microscopic organisms.

Size: Can reach 23,5cm and 300g

2. Blue Tilapias                          Oreochromis mozambicus  

Diet: They can consume detritus, small invertebrates and vegetation ranging from algae to rooted plants. This broad diet helps the species thrive in diverse locations.

Size:  Can reach 35cm and 1.2kg

3. Dwarf Tilapias                       Pseudocrenilabrus philander

Diet: All living organisms, e.g, mosquitoes, bacteria and small frogs.

Size: Can reach 12cm and 140g

4. Redbreast Tilapias                Tilapia rendalli  

Diet: The redbreast tilapia feeds on algae, plants, small crustaceans, worms, and larvae, but prefers a vegetation diet such as the thick growth of weed, found in still waters

Size: Can reach 45cm and 2,5kg

5. Ghieliemientjie                     Barbus paludinosus  

Diet: Most living organisms e.g. water insects and mosquitoes.

These are excellent breeding fish, they can breed and reproduce within 60days in ideal climate. They also attract a wide variety of birdlife to any dam/pond.

Size: Can reach 15cm and 120g

On 6 May 2013, 2500 fingerlings comprising of the above species were added to some dams on the property and we will soon monitor their progress.

These fish will also encourage our bird life status by attracting more water birds to the Club and ensure we have clean waterways all year round.

Hartebeespoort Fisheries busy with netting of fish on 6 May in the Dam by Hole #13 to determine the fish species we currently have in our dams. 

500 Fingerlings to be released to the dams on #4/#9.

Bird Hide Project

Wings in the city – Pretoria Country Club Bird Hide

As architects, landscape architects and urban designers, a project that combines the three disciplines was sought. The bird hide is an architectural structure that needs to become part of its surrounding landscape, a refuge within a refuge. The landscape forms the habitat for the birds, and is enhanced by specific planting and landscape design that sets the scene for observation. 

Furthermore the project is about connecting people with urban green space, conservation and creating habitats within the city for all its inhabitants, weaving layers of nature and man-made environments together into a more sustainable, symbiotic whole. Suburban Pretoria is teeming with wildlife, we truly have nature on our doorstep. All we need is the facilities to access it.

The Pretoria Country Club is one of the oldest recreation areas in the city of Pretoria and was established on the hunting farm of Carl Jeppe in 1910. It has always been an urban refuge for fauna, offering a variety of habitats in and around the golf course and other sports fields. The grounds boast a large dam in the Waterkloof Spruit together with wetlands, grasslands and many groves of trees. Recent sightings on the grounds include the endangered Peregrine Falcon, Long crested eagle, bee-eaters, 3 types of kingfisher and nesting sites of thick billed weavers to name but a few.

This hide is a pilot project informed by specialists from BirdLife SA, designed to accommodate wheelchair users. It is a prototype with the further potential to be replicated in many places throughout our city in botanical gardens and parks, housing estates, conservation areas, university grounds and other sports clubs.

As a shelter the hide does not need to be 100% weather tight, affording us some design freedom. It is made up of a rigid steel frame, pre-manufactured and assembled on site with timber cladding and planted poles, gabions using local stone and mulch pathways provided by the golf course. The surrounding site is to be planted with berry-bearing shrubs and trees, seed bearing grasses that also provide building material for bird nests, a variety of flowers for nectar feeders, trees, stumps and other props to provide nesting sites, perches and an insect factory.

The roof consists of timber planks placed on their sides and nailed together, each rotating slightly to form a winged shape that is orientated so as to allow light in from the south while providing shade to the north and west accentuating the entrance.

A conservative building estimate with a construction time of two weeks and a basic schedule of quantities have been done and came to a total of R100 000,00. We hope to raise enough funds to start construction in July and we are in the process of talking to possible suppliers for preferential or discounted rates. All contributions and sponsorships are welcome and deposits can be made at the reception counter at PCC with specific reference to the BIRD HIDE.

If anyone is looking to sponsor a specific item, or there is a business that might be interested to make a corporate sponsorship as a marketing effort, please contact Almer du Pisanie of kwpCREATE at 012 343 9141 or 082 705 7512 or via e-mail almer@kwpcreate.com.

As part of the COOL CAPITAL design biennale (http://www.coolcapital.co.za/) held in Pretoria during the month of August the bird hide will form part of the itinerary in the Architectural Pavilions + Installations category. It will also form part of various exhibitions and publications.

PCC Bunker Re-Design

Bunker Re-Design Project 2012

A few years ago we decide to have a good look at the option of re-doing our Bunkers here at PCC. 

The pot-style bunkers were not just difficult to play from, but they were becoming very inconsistent and an in-depth investigation started to calculate if these high costs of maintaining them was actually still worth it...

Why did Pretoria Country Club decide to change their Bunkers?

The pot-style revetted bunkers were introduced to the Pretoria Country Club in 2004 and were designed by the Gary Player Group.  It is now eight years later, and the committee had to address various course architectual matters as well as strategic matters relating to the pot-style bunkers with the geo-textile bunker faces to ensure that the bunkers performed with consistency after the refurbishment.  Golf course architectual matters included: Ensuring good drainage, replacement of bunker linings, reduction of sand contamination, removing clay basis, removal of deteriorated bunker faces and finding a solution for inconsistent bunker sand.  Strategic matters included: Overall playability, addressing members’ complaints, adapting to technology changes, ensuring that the Pretoria Country Club’s golf course remain unique, improving the course ranking, retaining the Gary Player signature and ensuring adherence to the Pretoria Country Club’s long term Strategic Plan.

 Why were they in desperate need of change?

The main problems were poor drainage (the clay soil made its way to the drainage systems under the bunkers and these clay particles would eventually bind with the silica sand and started to clog and block up the drainage pipes, thus not allowing these bunkers to drain quickly after a rainstorm), inconsistent bunker sand, deterioration of many of the geo-textile bunker faces, contamination of bunker sand and playability had to be addressed.

 All the above resulted in excessive maintenance to be done on a daily basis to prepare these bunkers before play every morning which became almost impossible.

Drainage problems was one of the main reasons to reconsider the future of this style of bunkers on PCC.

 What has changed and how are they different from the old ones?

The vertical geo-textile faces and material were completely removed on all 86 bunkers and the angle of the bunker faces was reduced to between 30 and 35 degrees to allow for the planting of sods. The new faces were all planted with Tiffsport (Cynodon transvaalensis & Cynodon dactylon hybrid) the main reason being the colour difference which had to be created between the Kikuyu fairways and the Cynodon bunkers for visibility purposes. The Tiffsport is a finer leafed specie and much darker in colour than the Kikuyu surrounds and this will create a definite contrast between the surrounds and new bunker faces.

With the vertical bunker faces being removed, the new angled faces will be more forgiving for less than perfect bunker shots.

We have also done extensive testing in our trail bunkers to determine which type of sand would ensure the best consistency.  The solution was the perfect mix of fine sand particles and bigger sand granules which complies with USGA Bunker Sand specifications.

 What goes into changing Bunkers, who would be involved and what was the duration of the Project?

The initial investigations started in December 2010 by the golf committee to identify all the problem areas.  During the period January to August 2011 the golf and greens committees consulted with various experts to obtain all the relevant information relating to which options were available to upgrade the bunkers.  After approving the first proposal the main committee approved the construction of two test bunkers (one fairway bunker and one greens bunker) to allow members the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.  Various forums were held to inform stakeholders what the proposed changes would entail, these included ex- chairmen and ex-golf captains of the club. We further consulted with Gary Player to obtain his approval to ensure that we retain the Gary Player Signature after the refurbishment of the bunkers.  After final approval in June by the main committee, the course designers, DDV Design Group and the main contractor, Life Sports Turf were appointed.  The project started in July 2012 to ensure that it would be completed by end October and in time for the growing season.

What feedback and comments have you received so far?

Feedback from members, visitors, ex-chairmen, ex-golf captains, our golf directors and other interested parties are extremely positive.

 People sometimes get the wrong impression of bunkers and see them as just a hole in the ground with sand in - What technical aspects do the bunkers need to comply with?

Well once again it is clear that sand consistency and presentation are the two main factors. Sand consistency can not be achieved without proper drainage. The underground drainage should be able to drain the water as quick as possible so the sand can dry out and be ready for play almost right away. The type of sand also plays a big role as your percentage of fines should not be more than your bigger particles as these will cause compaction and also slow down the water movement. The sand can also not be to loose as this will almost certainly cause a “fried-egg” lie every time a ball plunges in it. The success of the project and our bunkers will depend on the day-to-day maintenance of them and make sure they not just look good…but play even better.

How much did the Project cost?

The total cost of the refurbishment of the 86 bunkers and the various other improvements that were made cost in the region of R1,700,000.