Specialists in Water Management for Landscapes, Fisheries, Leisure and Conservation
News
July 2004
WATER MANAGEMENT AT DYRHAM PARK - article from July 2004 issue of Greenkeeping
The sumptuous Dyrham Park Golf & Country Club is located close to the A1 near Barnet and was built on farm land in 1963.
The 6428 yard 18-hole course has approximately 600 members and has developed a 'family feel' during its period of sustained growth. The club also offers a social membership, which includes facilities for playing bridge and use of an outdoor swimming pool and other leisure activities.
Don Wilson has been course manager for 13 years and has carried out an extensive programme of rebuilding and improving the definition of the course between the holes. This has included planting 5500 trees, followed by intensive arboricultural work on the many oak trees, which have added considerable maturity to the course.
Managing the water features and hazards was handled in-house until water management consultants Kingcombe Aquacare Ltd. were awarded the contract six years ago. Don Wilson met Kingcombe at a Saltex show in the late 90's and, in his words, they came across as a 'very competent and friendly company'.
Since then, Kingcombe Aquacare has been involved in many aspects of course reconstruction, including the creation of planted margins using variegated reeds, tree planting, de-silting of ponds and the planting of lilies - which soak up nutrients and discourage algae. All this work has helped to break the uniformity of the large expanse of turf and water, with lilies, irises and reeds becoming a contributory factor in managing the water in an ecologically-friendly way. These features also add considerably to the aesthetic quality of the course.
A river meanders through the course and Kingcombe Aquacare have built two weirs to increase interest for members and, more importantly, to increase the oxygen content of the water to improve the general quality. However, the general throughput of river water during the summer is poor, sometimes resulting in stagnant water and problems with silt and algae.
To combat this, Kingcombe Aquacare have installed barley straw algal inhibitors to further improve water quality. As the lignin in the straw breaks down so it releases a leachate, which restricts the ability of the algae to form new cell structures. The straw 'sausages' are introduced early in the year, at least three months prior to any algal bloom occurring. The barley straw 'sausages' are replaced annually and the results are impressive.
In total, the course incorporates two ponds and a three-acre lake, plus the ½ mile stretch of river. There is also an angling lake within the grounds, which Kingcombe is gradually restoring as time and funds allow. The club has plans to de-silt it and bring it back into use in the near future as a further club amenity and potential income stream.
The on-going water management programme carried out by Kingcombe Aquacare necessitates the company working for three days a month in the summer and two days a month in the winter.
Changes and improvements do not happen overnight and the degree of patience that is required by greens staff and members when a long term water management programme is underway is not always appreciated. But in the case of Dyrham Park, the waiting has been well worth it.
"We renew budgets every year and the first thing to be included is our contract with Kingcombe Aquacare. Our water features are a significant ingredient of the course and their visual impact is an important factor within the overall ambience. The team from Kingcombe keep it that way, leaving me time to concentrate on what I know best," concluded course manager Don.