Emaar AgronomyGolf Course Maintenance / Design

for salt –affected turf grass sitesPrepared by Russell Hewitt

Salt Affected Turfgrass at Arabian Ranches Golf ClubArabian Ranches Golf Club is currently facing a major problem with saline groundwater within the golf course, low lying areas have been flooded due to a high water table. This has had an extremely negative impact on both the golf course quality and reputation of the golf club due to the accumulation of salts in the soil profile.

Severe turf loss has impacted numerous low lying areas of the golf course.

Removal of the accumulated salts past the rootzone via a leaching program (water applied via irrigation to flush salts downwards into the soil profile) may not be utilised at present, as the high water table is already at surface level. Short term submersible pumps have been used in the interim to lower the water table in an attempt to dry-out the affected areas so they become somewhat playable for both members and guests.

Emaar is investing in a major sub surface drainage system to rectify the issue. Construction of this system commenced in Q4 2012 and is set to be completed in Q4 2013. The new drainage system will lower the groundwater table, promoting the return of favourable conditions.

Ground Water Drainage System Construction

Ground water Evaporation Lake

Deep Pipe Collection Well

Physical Signs of Salt Damage

Even though the warm-season Bermuda-grass (Cynodon dactylon spp.) is considered a salt-tolerant grass species, it has clearly reached its salinity threshold and subsequently died from the salt accumulation, resulting in bare ground.

Salt crystals also form on the surface due to capillary rise (upwards movement of groundwater), creating a hard crust once the groundwater has evaporated.

Salt damage impacting both aesthetics and playability

Emaar Agronomy Future Project Recommendations• Plant Selection• Water Management• Design / Construction Fundamentals

Plant Selection – Seashore PaspalumSeashore Paspalum (Paspalum Vaginatum) is an environmentally sustainable, salt-tolerant turfgrass with superior aesthetics, playability and maintenance benefits (less fertiliser / water requirements) . Furthermore, the biggest benefit of seashore paspalum is its exceptional salt tolerance, it can thrive in high saline soil conditions and can be irrigated with water containing 5,500 ppm of salt for short periods of time. This grass may be utilised wall to wall (tees / greens / fairways) on new golf course development.

Seashore Paspalum seen here thriving in the salt affected areas of Arabian Ranches Golf Club, whilst other turfgrass species simply can not tolerate the conditions.

Seashore Paspalum being used wall to wall at Bakers Bay Club

Water Management• The government of Dubai will shortly announce regulations on sustainability that will

impact on property developments, including those featuring golf.• According to Majida Ali Rashida of the Dubai Land Department, more needs to be done.• Ali Rashid told in a recent press conference, that a group of experts specialising in

sustainability would be created to manage the program “The pillars will be economic, social and environmental," she said.

It is imperative the following is considered when moving forward:

Water Source and Quality – is sustainable for the golf course and surrounding development landscape. Water quality testing and analysis will be required on an annual basis to monitor a number of constituents / parameters which effects turfgrass.

Irrigation Design – is suitable for the golf course design and environmental conditions of the UAE. Designed site specifically with course manager input to ensure maximum efficiency and uniformity whilst eliminating any water wastage (over throw into desert areas / windy conditions etc), with a strong emphasis on pump station design through to sprinkler model selection.

Precise watering – the use of soil moisture sensors and scheduling irrigation based on ET (evapotranspiration rates – water lost via the plant), aided by supplementary hand-watering, will eliminate unnecessary water wastage.

Efficient Irrigation management practices = Efficient water savings

Design / ConstructionConstruction methods and design are imperative for the longevity and success of any golf course facility. A golf course which flows seamlessly with its surrounding development and seeks to have functionality in a sustainable manner as its main purpose, will effortlessly create a golf course environment and atmosphere for all to enjoy. The biggest lesson learnt from Arabian Ranches is the imperative importance of having developed the correct golf course infrastructure (drainage systems) at the developmental stage, to make sure water is moved away from the golf course accordingly, for example a reservoir (lake system integrated on the golf course). This being separate for the irrigation lake system.

Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai, UAE

The golf course was designed on land with a combination of low lying topography with a shallow sand column, with no drainage installed during construction the low lying areas of the golf course have simply flooded with saline groundwater. With no drainage or means to flush the salts away from the root zone deterioration of the golf course quality has been significant.

The Royal Golf Club, Kingdom of BahrainFrom the preliminary stages of construction the golf course drainage system was implemented into the golf course design to move accumulated salts from poor irrigation water away from the sand profile by flushing accumulated salts via irrigation water (LR leaching requirement) allowing the golf course to remain healthy in the harsh desert environment.

The golf course it self was also designed in a plateau type manner. Tees / Fairways / Greens were all graded above the original ground level which can be seen in these pictures.

Thank You