Dress to impress

This class will look at techniques to explore the challenge of dwindling sand supplies. What can be done to save money, save the planet and still get good results?

This class offers a future‑facing appraisal of the practices of topdressing and how golf clubs and the industry as a whole use topdressing materials. The value of topdressing is considerable and with some clubs applying over 200 tonnes of topdressing to greens alone each year, the use of material on a national scale is therefore not inconsiderable, not least because we have quite exacting requirements on the material characteristic we use. Prices are rising and part of this is due to depletion of topdressing reserves, which are a finite resource. Therefore it seems reasonable to pause, consider the practices used by clubs and the industry and question if we are acting responsibly and wisely, both now and for the future.

The class will explore ways we utilise topdressing, whether we are optimising its use and how we can extend the lifespan of topdressing minerals in our playing surfaces and therefore the lifespan of the quarries we rely on to supply raw materials.

Learning outcomes:

 

• What the reasons are for topdressing
• Appreciate the value of topdressing and benefits and detriments of its use
• Consideration of the sources of topdressing material, mined as a non‑sustainable, finite resource
• Explore the impact and consequences of topdressing economics and how this may influence its use
• Appreciate how the industry and individual golf clubs can use topdressing more sustainably for economic benefits and to avoid wasting valuable resources
• To consider methods of re‑use of topdressing and the merits and pitfalls of the approaches available