Major greens renovation project completed

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Arabian Ranches Golf Club in the UAE has completed a major renovation of its Ian Baker Finch-designed greens.

The practice putting green at the Emaar property was also rebuilt, while the driving range, turf nursery and the desert surroundings on most holes were also enhanced as part of the ambitious course improvement programme.

Commenting on its completion, Sean Kinsley – director of Agronomy Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “This has been the largest enhancement the club has ever undertaken, since we opened back in February 2004. From re-surfacing our greens to eliminating the existing mixed turf sward and replacing it with a new higher quality playing surface. It’s been a huge team effort!”

The course was closed to pave way for a greens renovation due to the invasion of foreign grasses, which had affected the uniformity, appearance and smoothness of the greens.

Kinsley continued: “Before we started, it was clear that the existing Tifeagle Bermuda turfgrass had become weakened and contaminated with off type mutations, Tifway 419 and significant Paspalum encroachment. However, by bringing together the right expertise, we have now managed to remove this plant material along with the top 150 mm of greens / collars root zone and replaced it with a new USGA Greens Root Zone (greens core) and Red Sand (collar core), before replanting with Platinum TE Paspalum.”