Simple Technique to Introduce
New Grass on an Established
Course
Why we have to change grass
Laemchabang International Country Club is a 27 holes golf course
which was constructed in 1992 and opened in 1994, using TifDwarf
on Green and Tifway 419 on Tee, Fairway and rough areas. It has
been in services for 20 years with approximately 60-70,000 rounds
a year and also allowed golf cart in fairway. We had badly
compaction which caused all drainage, algae, diseases and grass
healthiness problems. Although we did a lot of cultivation program
such as coring and topdressing, it was not be able to help much. In
the same time, the Committee of the golf course would like to
change fairway grass to Paspalum for its color and density in the
most economical way. After all researches and studying, we decided
to use “Insertion” and “double sprig” methods to change our grass.
Comparison between Seashore Paspalum and Bermuda 419
Seashore Paspalum
Bermuda – 419
High density
Low density
Better Tolerable in low HOC
Lower Tolerable in low HOC
Less cutting frequency is possible because it grows
horizontally more than vertically.
Cannot extend the cutting interval, because it grows
vertically more than horizontally
Easier to make stripes
Grass has to be healthy enough to make stripes
No dew on leaves, helps about diseases prevention and Dew is always on leaves.
management program
Thatch layer bluid up rapidly, required more cultivation
program.
Required more water
Required less cultivation and maintenance program.
Slower recover from dryness and scalping
Better recover from dryness and scalping
Better tolerated with water shortage situation
Before and After
Bermuda – 419 and Paspalum
Bermuda – 419
Paspalum
Bermuda-419 and Paspalum stolon
Why we have to change Grass
- To increase fairway and tee off density
- To reduce weeds problems
- To reduce wet spot.
- To smooth fairway and tee surface
- To separate fairway from rough
- For new appearance of the course
- It was long time in services.
- For the pleasure of the owner and golfers
Subsurface Drainage
Cart Path
Preparation before change
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prepare grass stolon
Tools and equipment
Check irrigation system
Topdressing sand
Labors
Grow-in Program
Changing Method
• Insertion
• Sprig by stolon which is less time and money
consumer but required more stolon and good
irrigation program
Preparation before change
•
•
•
•
•
Grass Stolon
Tools and equipment
Check irrigation system
Topdressing sand
Labors
• Grow-in Program
Changing Method
Sprig
Insertion
Stolonizing
Insertion Procedure
• Prepare area we want to change grass by
slicing as in picture
• Prepare stolon of grass we will use
• Prepare enough labors
• Insert grass stolon in sliced lines
• Roll with small roller
• Topdress
• Irrigate
Area preparation
Slice to open the grass up
Paspalum Stolons
Labour
Hand Roller
Topdressing
Irrigation
Grow-in after insertion
•
•
•
•
Irrigation
Fertilizing
Mowing
Growth regulator to control the growth
Grass start to establish
After 1 Month
After 3 Months
After 5 Months
After 8 Months
After 1 YEAR
Cost
• It will be differrent in each country, we can
estimate roughly on the following cost
- Cost of stolon
- Wages
- Grow-in maintenance cost included fertilizer,
topdressing sand, insecticide, electric fare for
pump station etc.