Gudgeys Tifdwarf Tour 2011It was that time of the year again when a bus load of green keepers take off to look and compare their greens with others in the state with an aim on learning the finer techniques of preparing and maintaining tiff dwarf greens. Gudgy’s Tiff Tour 2011 left Geelong bound for Werribee to pick up the Melbourne greenkeepers from Zitter’s house. After a quick stop in on Werribee RSL we headed for Ballarat with next stop in at Ballarat BC. After Mick and Mark showed us across their bent green and an impressive Tif dwarf green, they boarded the bus, destination, Maryborough Bowling club. We had a look over the tiff green, picked up Rocket and Shagga and headed over to the golf course where they had 2 Santa-Ana greens. Craig Mills, (former Melbourne greenkeeper) talked about the work involved in getting the greens up to scratch as they were in poor condition when he took over. Craig and 2 others look after the 18 hole golf course with 2 bowling greens. It was now on to Dunolly where we had a look at some tiff greens hit hard by the drought. Volunteer Ian Fleet and a small crew look after the greens and like all volunteers, should be rewarded for their efforts. Bridgewater BC was an eye opener, situated next the Loddon River, signs of the floods from earlier in the year were still visible. The water was half way up the club house and the new green that was planted weeks before was all but destroyed. The green was in great condition, it had been re-planted and had come up a treat. A lot of hard work went into the green after the floods by Shane Harling and others and the green lives to fight another day. The bus head northbound along the Loddon Hwy with Kerang Bowling Club in sight and when the 17 of us stepped off the bus we were all amazed with what we saw. The three 30+ year old tiff greens were amazing. Most of us have seen greens all over Australia and we all thought Kerang’s greens were close to the best, if not the best we had seen. Kerang BC Greenkeeper Shane Moffat talked about his renovation program, also the maintenance he does week to week which includes regular grooming and fatboying and Shane only scarifies once or twice a year. After picking Shane’s brain dry we travelled across the border into Barham and had a visit to the bowling club before settling into our accommodation. Even though it took a bit to wake up The Possum, we were still on the road by 7.30am for a drive up to Swan Hill. The weather was great, 25 degrees in August, nice, and we were met at the Bowling Club by Greenkeeper Phil Jennings. The pink floppy hatted greenkeeper showed us over his 4 well manicured tiff greens then it was off to Deniliquin where we called in on 2 clubs. The first was Denny RSL where Tom Moore met us and talked to the group about his 2 beautiful tiff greens. Tom’s 30yo greens constantly run over 15sec and they were a nice dark colour thanks to some iron applied as there was a big tournament that weekend. We then walked across the road to Denny BC, a club with 3 tiff greens, all looked after by volunteers. The greens were good. It was south bound now down the Cobb Hwy headed for Moama. We made a quick stop in on Mathoura BC where they have 2 Wagga couch greens. Wagga is a lot courser than tiff but a good surface and the members rolling at the time love the greens. Tiff Tour ContinuedCLICK HERE
Gudgeys Tifdwarf Tour 2011
It was that time of the year again when a bus load of
green keepers take off to look and compare their greens
with others in the state with an aim on learning the finer
techniques of preparing and maintaining tiff dwarf
greens. Gudgy’s Tiff Tour 2011 left Geelong bound for
Werribee to pick up the Melbourne greenkeepers from
Zitter’s house.
After a quick stop in on Werribee RSL we headed for
Ballarat with next stop in at Ballarat BC. After Mick and
Mark showed us across their bent green and an
impressive Tif dwarf green, they boarded the bus,
destination, Maryborough Bowling club. We had a look
over the tiff green, picked up Rocket and Shagga and
headed over to the golf course where they had 2 Santa-
Ana greens. Craig Mills, (former Melbourne
greenkeeper) talked about the work involved in getting
the greens up to scratch as they were in poor condition
when he took over. Craig and 2 others look after the 18
hole golf course with 2 bowling greens.
It was now on to Dunolly where we had a look at some
tiff greens hit hard by the drought. Volunteer Ian Fleet
and a small crew look after the greens and like all
volunteers, should be rewarded for their efforts.
Bridgewater BC was an eye opener, situated next the
Loddon River, signs of the floods from earlier in the year
were still visible. The water was half way up the club
house and the new green that was planted weeks before
was all but destroyed. The green was in great condition,
it had been re-planted and had come up a treat. A lot of
hard work went into the green after the floods by Shane
Harling and others and the green lives to fight another
day.
The bus head northbound along the Loddon Hwy with
Kerang Bowling Club in sight and when the 17 of us
stepped off the bus we were all amazed with what we
saw. The three 30+ year old tiff greens were amazing.
Most of us have seen greens all over Australia and we all
thought Kerang’s greens were close to the best, if not
the best we had seen.
Kerang BC Greenkeeper Shane Moffat talked about his renovation
program, also the maintenance he does week to week which includes
regular grooming and fatboying and Shane only scarifies once or twice a
year.
After picking Shane’s brain dry we travelled across the border into
Barham and had a visit to the bowling club before settling into our
accommodation.
Even though it took a bit to wake up The Possum, we were still on the
road by 7.30am for a drive up to Swan Hill. The weather was great, 25
degrees in August, nice, and we were met at the Bowling Club by
Greenkeeper Phil Jennings. The pink floppy hatted greenkeeper showed
us over his 4 well manicured tiff greens then it was off to Deniliquin
where we called in on 2 clubs.
The first was Denny RSL where Tom Moore met us and talked to the
group about his 2 beautiful tiff greens. Tom’s 30yo greens constantly run
over 15sec and they were a nice dark colour thanks to some iron applied
as there was a big tournament that weekend. We then walked across
the road to Denny BC, a club with 3 tiff greens, all looked after by
volunteers. The greens were good.
It was south bound now down the Cobb Hwy headed for Moama. We
made a quick stop in on Mathoura BC where they have 2 Wagga couch
greens. Wagga is a lot courser than tiff but a good surface and the
members rolling at the time love the greens.
Tiff Tour Continued CLICK HERE
