Archive for the ‘Padang’ Category
Posted by mynormas on November 10, 2014
Orang putih kata; “Misery loves company”, maka supaya stadium nasional kita tidak kesunyian dalam kesengsaraan saya ingin berkongsi berita tentang masalah di sebuah lagi stadium nasional, tetapi di negara jiran. Bukan untuk mentertawa (macam lah stadium kita bagus sangat nak ketawa kat orang) atau membantu, tetapi mungkin supaya kita insaf bahawa bukan kita sahaja yang ada masalah. Orang lain pun sama. Mereka telah sampai tahap sebuah akhbar tempatan The New Straits Times (Singapura) dalam editorial nya telah memberi amaran bahawa jika keadaan padang tidak di perbaiki segera, maka ia akan menjadi suatu national disgrace (kemaluan kebangsaan?)
Seorang kawan saya Dr. Micah Woods (tiada kaitan dengan Tiger Woods) yang merupakan pakar rumput terkemuka, telah mengikuti perkembangan stadium nasional Bukit Jalil melalui laman web ini. Dia berkongsi tentang masalah yang di hadapi oleh stadium nasional yang baru di bina di Singapura. Perkara ini telah di bincangkan di parlimen mereka sendiri kerana mereka akan menjadi tuan rumah beberapa acara antarabangsa dalam masa terdekat dan bimbang ia akan menjejaskan reputasi negara Singapura.
Yang menjadi pelik kepada Dr. Woods dan saya ialah, sama seperti saya tidak faham pemilihan rumput yang memerlukan cahaya matahari yang banyak di gunakan di stadium yang teduh seperti di Bukit Jalil; mengapa Stadium Nasional Singapura yang baru telah memilih untuk menggunakan rumput musim sejuk di negara beriklim tropika! Di laporkan mereka menggunakan rumput jenis rye dan blue grass, yang di sulam dengan fiber artificial untuk membentuk permukaan hybrid. Canggih…
Dr. Woods seterusnya memberi maklumat – dengan mengandaikan bahawa rumput yang di namakan dalam laporan akhbar adalah tepat – dalam blognya bahawa perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) dan Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) di tanam di kawasan yang mempunyai suhu purata kurang dari 16 darjah Celsius. Singapura, yang jaraknya dari Malaysia boleh di ukur dengan menyusun pinggan pinggan yang telah di cuci dengan hanya satu botol sabun pencuci Joy, akan mempunyai suhu yang lebih kurang sama dengan Malaysia di antara 21 – 32 darjah Celsius.
Dr. Woods seterusnya memberi beberapa fakta saintifik tentang jumlah cahaya yang di perlukan oleh rumput jenis itu dan bagaimana ia boleh di terima di stadium tersebut dengan beberapa andaian. Rumput musim sejuk boleh tumbuh di kawasan teduh kerana di negara musim sejuk, terdapat bulan bulan yang memang mempunyai malam yang lebih panjang dari siang. Untuk lebih info, sila baca di laman web beliau http://www.blog.asianturfgrass.com/
Posted in Padang | Tagged: Bukit Jalil, padang bola, stadium | 6 Comments »
Posted by mynormas on November 6, 2014
For the record, some guy from Bernama called me while I was having lunch on Tuesday. It was rather noisy.
Dia kata to rectify current Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil problem, PSM/the management tak tahu either nak tukar rumput to Cowgrass or nak pecah bumbung (coz not enough sunlight), I said there is a 3rd option, which is to use grow light like in Europe. But to choose which is best option, will be about costs, so “kena tanya accountant lah ha ha ha”. Dia pun gelak. I sambung;
“By the way, bukan sahaja Cowgrass, Zoysia matrella pun shade tolerant jugak”. He asked for the spelling, I told him and that was that. I did not mean to suggest Zoysia matrella per se.
From the beginning I insisted that I cannot comment on the specifics of the stadium field’s problems but only in general; maintenance and turf issues. Because I wasn’t involved and don’t know the details.
Yet, I will admit that the facts are right, it is also sometimes known as Manila grass, it has lower maintenance needs in some aspects, and when pressed by the reporter, I did say I would choose option 1 – to change the grass.
Why, because I believe that if it is a different grass, we can then use the field for multiple events and not just football. I know, I’m going against popular opinion but let me assure you that if the field is used ONLY for football 1. The stadium will be a waste of space and 2. You will wear the same places out faster (penalty box, kickoff spot, and linesman’s rut) as compared to spreading the wear and tear over many other places if it is used for other activities. 3. Bear in mind that whether we use the stadium or not, we still have to cut the grass, fertilise it etc. Its not like the stadium building where we can switch off the lights and leave it till the next event. 4. Most importantly, the field is designed to bear the weight of one person at any point on its surface. So, whether its 22 people or 22,000, if each person only occupies his/her personal space, the field can take it.
Posted in Fields, Padang, Rumput, Rumput secara am | Tagged: bola, Bukit Jalil, football field | Leave a Comment »
Posted by mynormas on September 11, 2014
Contrary to popular belief, usually, the greens are the easiest problems for me to help with. Usually, the current superintendents know what to do and just need some encouragement or pointers. Even if they don’t know what to do, they’ll be eager to listen and follow. Plus if it came to the stage that my help is needed, that usually means the club are willing to spend money and sacrifice time to make things better. Maybe occasionally some major replanting are needed but these aren’t often.
Sometimes it’s not about making things better too, but just to redraw the lines, clarify some stuff; usually about green speed. You know some clubs just chase after that extra six inches of speed by cutting low and rolling hard.
So give it three months or at worst a year, the greens would improve and then what?
Thats when I get to do what to me is the harder part; to change what most clubs and staff have already been used to or did not put as priority.
Honestly, I really did not think that the small things are the difficult things. The cleanliness by the buggy path, the paint at the halfway huts. The landscaping at the starter huts. The sand bins. The painting of the tee markers. The flag pins. The kerb edges etc.
Kerbs are visible. A little effort in maintaining it goes a long way.
In the beginning of the contract the boss and even the owner would want to know what my recommendations are or at least have a meal with me. When the greens are better I am usually left with just the superintendent. Not that its bad, but without having the boss’ ear, it is a little harder to make changes.
Some days, I think that not doing the improvement too fast may be a better idea. Make the work last longer… you know what I mean?
Posted in Golf club, Golf Course, Golf Course Superintendents, Greens, lovegrass, Maintenance, Padang, Padang Golf | Tagged: club, Golf club, golf club manager, golf course maintenance, golf course superintendent, green | Leave a Comment »
Posted by mynormas on August 26, 2014
In a democracy, majority rules, but in the world of grass keeping, we have something called “the rule of one-third”. Did I make it sound dramatic? Well its one of the main mistake being made by a lot of people. So being dramatic gets me more attention and I think you need to pay attention.
Most Malaysian homeowners, some football fields, municipal councils and even golf courses would be using knapsack brushcutters to cut grass. On top of that, they will use nylon cutting heads and untrained labour. This tends to get the grass to be cut too low. Lower than what it should be which is; no more than one-third of its original height. Irregular or mowing at too long an interval will cause this too. Its one of the reason that I told most golf clubs that are my clients to “never not mow your greens for more than one day”: i.e. Skip mowing greens ONE DAY only.
Terdapat satu peraturan dalam pemotongan rumput yang di namakan “Rule of one-third” atau “Peraturan satu-pertiga”. Ini adalah peraturan paling kerap yang di langgar oleh penjaga rumput di Malaysia. Sebab utamanya ialah kerana tidak tahu; tetapi juga kerana lebih mudah dan murah menggunakan:
Rumput yang di potong sekarang terlalu rendah. Warna keputihan yang kita lihat ialah warna ‘batang’ rumput.
- Mesin galas belakang (atau brushcutter) yang tidak dapat di tentukan ketinggian potongan.
- Menggunakan pisau di perbuat dari tali nylon yang juga merumitkan menentukan ketinggian potongan kerana panjang tali nylon tersebut tidak sama.
- Menggunakan buruh yang tidak terlatih.
- Menunggu masa yang terlalu lama sebelum mengulang potongan.
- Memotong tanpa mengambil kira jadual pemhajaan dan penyiraman.
Peraturan satu-pertiga ini mengatakan bahawa rumput tidak boleh di potong lebih dari satu pertiga dari ketinggian asal nya. Ini untuk mengekalkan jumlah permukaan daun yang cukup untuk melakukan fotosintesis dan juga menjamin masih terdapat cukup rumput untuk tumbesaran seterusnya.
Jangan potong lebih dari satu pertiga ketinggian rumput
Menggunakan brush cutter dan tali nylon akan menyebabkan pekerja menekan pisau ke tanah dan menyebabkan rumput di potong hingga ke batang. Begitu juga amalan memotong selepas membaja dan juga selepas menyiram atau hujan lebat. Rumput akan tumbuh lebih banyak dan lebih banyak daun akan hilang sewaktu memotong.
Jadi jika anda penjaga rumput (atau anda ada rumput yang orang lain jaga):
- Hentikan penggunaan brush cutter dengan nylon head di kawasan terbuka (kita masih perlukan nya di kawasan yang ada perabut atau tebing batu)
- Gunakan mesin yang kita boleh ‘set’ ketinggian potongan. Ini ertinya mesin yang ada tayar.
- Set ketinggian potongan supaya mesin tidak memotong lebih dari satu pertiga dari ketinggian rumput.
- Tentukan jadual pemotongan bergantung kepada pertumbuhan rumput: biasanya rumput yang pendek (3 – 8 mm) di potong setiap hari atau selang sehari; 15 mm (contohnya padang bola atau halaman rumah) di potong seminggu sekali atau dua kali terutamanya lepas hujan atau lepas baja; 25mm dan ke atas, 7 – 10 hari sekali. Kecuali jika di baja atau pada waktu musim hujan yang mana rumput lebih galak tumbuh.
Jika kawasan anda terlalu berbukit dan tidak boleh di potong menggunakan mesin bertayar; cuba gunakan mesin yang mempunyai kipas yang kuat dan akan terapung sedikit sewaktu memotong. Kami panggilnya ‘hover mower’.
Jika anda perlukan nasihat pemotongan, jadual pemotongan atau anda perlukan pembelian mesin untuk memotong rumput: hubungi saya di mynormasATconsultant.com dengan menggantikan AT dengan @
Posted in Fields, Golf Course, Greens, Landscape, Lanskap, Padang, Padang Golf, Rumput halaman rumah, Rumput secara am, Taman | Tagged: football field, gardener, golf course, majlis daerah, municipal council, stadium, taman | Leave a Comment »
Posted by mynormas on April 7, 2014
Just like maintaining turf on golf courses, football field turf also has its share of cultural practices. Last week, I had the privilege of briefing a group of MSN (National Sports Council) staff on football field maintenance. I consider this topic to be one of the most important of the two-day course. So important that I feel that I should share some of the info here. Most of the slides are self explanatory.
Seperti juga penjagaan rumput di padang golf, penjaga rumput di padang bola (ataupun padang padang rumput hiasan lain) perlu melakukan kerja kerja amalan kultura untuk kesihatan rumput. Saya selalu menyamakan ‘amalan kultura’ dengan senaman untuk manusia. Sebagaimana manusia perlukan senaman untuk kesihatan, rumput juga perlukan amalan kultura. Minggu lepas saya berpeluang untuk memberi taklimat kepada kakitangan dari Majlis Sukan Negara tentang penjagaan padang bola. Ini adalah salah satu topik yang paling penting. Saya harap slaid slaid ini dapat membantu orang lain juga dalam penjagaan padang bola.
Posted in Fields, Landscape, Lanskap, Maintenance, Padang, Rumput | Tagged: Lanskap, padang bola, Rumput, stadium, taman | 3 Comments »
Posted by mynormas on March 4, 2014
Jerebu telah kembali ke Malaysia, kali ini, lebih awal dari tahun-tahun sebelumnya.
Jerebu yang menghalang sinar matahari.
Biasanya kita akan lebih risau tentang kesihatan kita dan manusia lain bila kita bercerita tentang jerebu ini. Masa ini juga ialah masa untuk sesetengah orang untuk mencari salah siapa yang menyebabkan jerebu.
Dengan membuat andaian anda membaca ini kerana anda mahukan cadangan untuk rumput atau mungkin tumbuhan lanskap anda, maka saya akan abaikan cadangan untuk kesihatan manusia atau siapa bakar apa dan dimana dalam artikel ini.
Tidak ada kajian khusus pernah di buat untuk menilai kesan jerebu keatas rumput. Setakat yang saya temui, terdapat kajian keatas padi, tembakau, dan Meranti.
Dua perkara utama pada jerebu akan memberi kesan pada rumput:
Pertamaialah jerebu tebal mengurangkan cahaya matahari yang akan mempengaruhi keupayaan rumput membuat makanan melalui proses fotosintesis. Fotosintesis hanya mampu berlaku bila tumbuhan mendapat cahaya matahari yang cukup.
Rumput sebelah kanan menerima kurang cahaya matahari.
Tumbuhan (rumput) yang tidak mampu membuat makanan tadi akan menggunakan tenaga simpanan yang ada di bahagian-bahagian lain seperti di batang atau akar. Bila tenaga simpanan ini habis dan masih tidak cukup sinar matahari untuk membuat fotosintesis, maka rumput ini akan mula memanjangkan lai daun nya. Ia akan cuba untuk menambah luas permukaan daun supaya boleh memaksimakan cahaya matahari yang ada. Anda pernah lihat rumput yang tumbuh di kawasan redup? Ia akan menjadi lebih panjang dari biasa; panjang tapi kurus.
Kedua, di dalam jerebu tersebut terkandung partikel-partikel seni yang akhirnya akan mendap ke atas permukaan rumput. Kalau seni yang saya maksudkan ialah seni budaya tidaklah ia menjadi masalah. Tapi partikel2 disini ialah oksida dan juga ‘heavy metal’ seperti Plumbum dan Sulfur. Ia akan melekat pada permukaan daun atau tanah. Jika dibiarkan unsur2 ini akan terkumpul dan akhirnya memberi kesan ke atas kimia tanah atau rumput tadi.
Satu lagi kemungkinan ialah ‘hujan asid’ iaitu kombinasi hujan dan pencemaran udara. Tidaklah bermaksud akan berlaku hujan yang boleh melubangkan baju anda; tapi tahap keasidan air yang turun itu ialah lebih dari hujan biasa. Ini berlaku walaupun tiada jerebu. Anda juga bertanggungjawab untuk fenomena ini bila anda membuat apa2 pembakaran, termasuk enjin kereta anda. Hujan asid ini akan – sedikit sebanyak – meninggalkan kesan keasidan pada tanah juga.
Cadangan saya
Saya hanya mencadangkan anda perhatikan rumput anda, jika anda dapati ia mula memanjang (tanda-tanda nya ialah, anda mula memotong lebih banyak batang dari daun, atau anda dapati lebih banyak ‘sampah’ di kutip oleh pemotong anda dari biasa, atau sekadar dari pemerhatian mata kasar) maka anda patut menaikkan ketinggian potongan. Terutamanya green di padang golf.
Jika anda mampu siram dengan kuantiti yang banyak untuk ‘membasuh’ permukaan lai daun dan membawa partikel2 seni tadi ke dalam tanah. Anda juga boleh membantu perjalanan air ke dalam tanah dengan hollow tining, slicing, spiking atau semata-mata mencucuk-cucuk tanah supaya air boleh turun ke bawah dengan cepat.
Lagi? Doa banyak-banyak untuk mintak hujan atau salahkan orang sebelah yang tengah bakar sampah tu…
Posted in Greens, Lanskap, Padang, Padang Golf, Rumput halaman rumah | Tagged: jerebu, padang, padang bola, padang golf | Leave a Comment »
Posted by mynormas on February 21, 2014
Siram rumput pada waktu awal pagi. Ini memberi masa untuk air meresap ke bawah dan boleh di ambil oleh akar rumput bila matahari mula panas di waktu tengahari. Bila siram, siram secara banyak dan sekali sekala (deeply and irregularly): ini akan mengajar akar rumput untuk tumbuh panjang ke bawah untuk mencari air. Jangan siram secara berjadual, contohnya setiap pagi tiap tiap pagi. Check sedalam dua inci dan lihat jika tanah masih basah; tak perlu siram.
Untuk penjaga rumput yang di potong pendek dan terdedah kepada matahari seperti green padang golf dan orang yang memotong rumput menggunakan mesin galas belakang: amalkan ‘syringing’ atau siraman ringan pada waktu tengahari. Ini akan menyejukkan permukaan atas tanah. Cukup sekadar dua putaran sprinkler atau satu nyanyian lengkap “Negaraku” sewaktu menyiram.
Penjaga rumput juga patut menggunakan ‘soil wetting agent’ untuk membantu air tembus ke bawah. Ingat: ‘SOIL’ dan bukan ‘leaf wetting agent’ atau ‘plant wetting agent’. Kita boleh juga melakukan penebukkan tanah sedalam seinci dua untuk membantu aliran air terutamanya di kawasan kering. Tapi awas, kalau tak cukup siraman air, kawasan di tebuk itu akan kekeringan di bibir atasnya.
Akhir sekali, Tuhan telah jadikan rumput akan menjadi dorman dan coklat bila cuaca panas berpanjangan dan tak cukup air. Bila air ada, ia akan kembali hijau. Ini untuk rumput sihat dan spesis tertentu Bermuda dan Zoysia serta Cowgrass dan Serangoon.
Water your grass (golf course, field, lawns etc) very early in the morning. This will allow the water to be soaked into the ground before the sun can evaporate the water and the grass has available water when in the heat of the afternoon. Watering in the evening may mean you are watering dead/dying/dormant/suffering grass: You’re too late! Plus water in the ground at night may cause diseases and algae.
The catchphrase for watering grass is “deeply and irregularly”: this will train the grass to grow longer roots to search for water. Watering like clockwork every morning will encourage shorter roots and may waste water, especially for shaded areas. Before watering, poke the ground and check, if the soil is moist; take a chance and skip watering. Another test is if you can see your footprints on the grass, that means there is no moisture in the leaf and you need to water there and then. When you water, water until you judge water has penetrated at least two inches of soil (does NOT mean two inches of water). Newly planted grass will have shorter/no roots and needs to be watered more often, not with more water. For example; newly planted stolons/seeds may need watering every hour with just enough water to ensure the stolons are moist in this weather. Water too much and you have runaway seeds/stolons.
Professional grass managers should look at using soil wetting agents; it will increase water penetration – among other things. For sun-exposed grasses that are cut at low cutting heights such as golf course greens and lawn owners who cut their grass once a month with back pack cutters (especially if you use nylon strings: you guys should try artificial turf) there is this thing called syringing aka very light watering in the afternoon heat. Yes at 12pm. Two full turns of the sprinkler or sing one Negaraku song till finish; complete watering. Forget the theory that the water droplets will act as lens to focus the sun’s rays: the heat will evaporate it before any damage is done. Syringing will help to cool down the top inch of the soil. Hot soil will injure the grass’ roots.
Dried out. But the long-term benefits will outweigh this short term aesthetic issue.
We can also do shallow spiking, slicing or solid tines with small diameter tines just to provide areas for water to penetrate. Or just poking with anything sharp for one or two inches in dry areas, will help. But not enough watering will cause the edges of the slits/holes to dry out.
Lastly, don’t fret that your grass has turned brown. Most healthy grasses will go dormant when faced with prolonged dry weather and will green up again when there is adequate water. This goes for Cowgrass, Serangoon and most hybrids of Bermuda and Zoysia. Yours didn’t last year? That’s what you get when you buy new types of grass you don’t know enough. Your grass is not healthy? Its usually due to poor maintenance. Let it die and switch to artificial grass next year. No I don’t sell artificial grass, I just sympathise with poorly managed living grass.
Posted in Golf Course, Greens, Landscape, Padang, Padang Golf, Rumput halaman rumah, Rumput secara am | 2 Comments »
Posted by mynormas on February 7, 2014
Proses penyiraman padang golf
Menyiram adalah aktiviti ‘instinct’ penggemar rumput ataupun lanskap. Lebih dari membaja atau memotong. Mungkin kerana ia paling mudah atau paling murah atau kerana kita juga boleh merasa dahaga kita boleh empati dengan rumput yang kekurangan air.
Watering is an instinctive activity for most grass or landscape owners; especially in the Malaysian context, 2,500mm of rain notwithstanding. Whether a 200 acre golf course or postage stamp lawn, we water our lawns regularly. Two days of no rain and we would be watering our grass even if looks like it will rain later in the day.
I am arguing that the timing and schedule of watering needs to be examined.
- Lets not water late in the evening. Watering in the evening causes the water to left in the soil when the weather is cool and in Malaysia; humid. Damp and wet soil conditions too often can lead to diseases and algae. Plus, we are watering AFTER the grass have dehydrated! Water in the morning so that there will be water in the soil for the grass when the sun is heating up.
- Don’t water every 24 hours or any other regular schedule. Water deeply and irregularly. Keep in tune with the water needs of the grass, don’t stress them too much but don’t water them too easily too; we want the grass to have deep roots.
- There is another method called ‘syringing’ especially for grass that is cut at a low cutting height. Its about ‘wetting’ the grass when the sun is at its hottest. Don’t worry about what you read that the sun will turn the water droplets into magnifying glass type of concave lens and focus the ray onto the leaf; the water will evaporate before any major damage is done.
Kebanyakkan kita menyiram rumput, terutama nya masa baru tanam. Ini bagus. Tetapi pada pandangan saya, kebanyakkan orang terlalu banyak siram dan ‘timing’ siram juga salah. Saya mempunyai beberapa pendapat.
- Siram di waktu pagi. Dengan cara ini air akan ada di dalam tanah bila tiba tengahari dan matahari terik. Menyiram di waktu petang pada hari panas ibarat memberi air kepada orang yang dah nak mati kehausan. Menyiram di waktu petang juga mengakibatkan tanah basah di waktu malam yang akan menggalakkan penyakit dan lumut.
- Siram ikut keperluan. Bila siram, siram banyak (supaya air masuk jauh ke bawah) dan jangan siram ikut jadual. Menyiram ikut jadual menyebabkan kita siram waktu air masih ada dalam tanah dan ini 1. membazir dan 2. memanjakan rumput. Rumput tidak belajar untuk mencari air. Check tanah, dengan cara memijak ataupun mengorek sedikit dengan jari untuk tengok basah atau tidak.
- ‘Syringe’. Kadang kadang, matahari terlalu terik dan kita kesian kat rumput yang layu. Cahaya matahari juga boleh membakar pasir topdressing kita dan mematikan akar rerambut (root hair) di permukaan atas tanah. Apa yang saya cadangkan – terutamanya rumput yang di potong pendek dan kawasan terdedah – ialah menyejukkan rumput dengan siraman lima minit ataupun dua pusingan penuh sprinkler pada waktu tengahari dan awal petang. Jangan takut pada teori bahawa air akan bertindak sebagai kanta untuk cahaya matahari membakar daun; kalau ia dah panas macam tu, air itu akan melowap.
Jika rumput anda telah kuning akibat kurang siram; kemungkinan besar ia tidak mati, hanya menjadi dorman. Teruskan siram supaya ia tidak mati terus. Bila cuaca dah sesuai, insya Allah ia akan baik semula.
Posted in Fields, Golf Course, Golf Course Superintendents, Greens, Landscape, Lanskap, Maintenance, Padang, Padang Golf, Rumput, Taman | Tagged: golf course, golf course maintenance, golf course superintendents, grass, greens, Halaman rumah, landskap, Lanskap, padang, Rumput, stadium | 4 Comments »
Posted by mynormas on February 4, 2014
Managing a golf club is difficult and expensive. Maintaining a golf course or field is challenging. I’ve been there, done that and would like to share my experiences: hence this website, a couple of books that I’m working on and a consultancy.
Its a pity some clubs practice the saying “a consultant is someone called in at the last minute to share the blame” to the extreme, because though my charges are considered expensive by Malaysian standards, getting it wrong is an even more expensive and embarrassing. And boy, have I seen some major lessons.
From bad choice of grass (I wouldn’t call it ‘wrong grass’, just ‘bad choice’) to expensive selection of machinery to dead grass, I’ve seen them all.
I don’t do cheap and I rarely give discounts. What I do give, is free service. Yes. Free. But only one time. Not even transport cost if you are in the Klang Valley or in the general area of where I will be if outside the Klang Valley. One day or one inspection round (I don’t play during work).
Some days what you or your people need is just a second opinion, or even a third one when there is conflict. I can do that.
Why am I making this offer? Well, a friend faced a major problem today and we communicated. I could feel the relief he felt being able to discuss with someone sincere and
not trying to sell him anything. Did I solve his problem? He did it himself, I just facilitated his reasoning with stuff that he already has in his store.
What’s in it for me? It felt good. It felt good because I helped a friend. It felt good because I had a hand in making one golf course better. It felt good because I learnt a new thing or two.
So go ahead. Give me a call. Or email me. Or if you are embarrassed, get a temporary Yahoo or Gmail email under a fake name and write a question on this website so others can benefit or even contribute. If you email me under a fake name, I may take my time to reply and chances are, I will put it up on this website anyway.
My email for Q&A is mynormasATconsultant.com (replacing the AT with @) and my Malaysian office number is o3 5131 oo66. Do let it ring, we do a lot of field work and the call will be transferred to a mobile phone if no one picks up.
Oh… if you have any special requests for a topic to discuss or write about (because you want to show it to someone) that can work too. Maybe. It depends on the relevance and my time.
So good luck and Happy New Year!
Posted in Golf club, Golf Course, Golf Course Superintendents, Padang, Padang Golf | Tagged: bola, golf, halaman, laman, padang, pakar, Rumput, stadium | 4 Comments »
Posted by mynormas on January 27, 2014
This article is not about “what machine to buy”; but about “why you should consider buying a tractor instead of a golf course machine”. In the context of Malaysia; there is just not enough of good mechanics for golf courses especially for golf courses that are further away from KL or major cities where suppliers will have their support teams. And lets face it, most suppliers are pretty stretched in trying to meet demands of after-sales support too.
So why don’t golf courses that don’t have good mechanics and cannot depend on suppliers back-up consider buying tractor mounted mowers to mow their roughs? Or even fairways?
Good fairway from a cheap tractor
I know you will give the answer: a five-gang mower will give a better quality of cut than a tractor mounted/towed reel mower, let alone rotary mower. Really? Maybe in the beginning. MAY. BE.
I’m sure you will agree that a tractor mounted or towed rotary mower that’s out in the field working will give you a better quality rough or fairway than a five-gang mower in the workshop. Never mind the cost of repairs. Never mind the cost of back-lapping or grinding the reels. Never mind the cost of bedknives.
I’ve seen a golf course that don’t know how to set the height on their reel mowers buy a rough mower that sat in the workshop more than it works in the field. And that machine, that only a good golf course mechanic can repair, costs ten times more than a mini-tractor that their current mechanic, or the mechanic at the oil palm plantation next door, or the mechanic at the nearest heavy machinery workshop in town can handle.
The lovegrass just springs back up behind the mower.
I’ve seen a golf course that’s infested with lovegrass (Chrysopogon aciculatus) trying to solve the problem with 11-bladed reels on their fairway mower! No kidding! I was there the day the delivery was made. The delivery guy shrugged and said “that’s what they ordered” when I pointed at the box and looked at him wide-eyed. Months later they asked me how to solve the lovegrass problem: I said, “rotary mowers pulled by mini tractors!” They bought two China-made mini tractors with rotary mowers (they call them slashers) for half the cost of a single five-gang mower, and their fairways looked so much better.
Lets keep this short and to the point. For Malaysian golf courses, football fields, local councils or anyone else that don’t have a good (experienced, trained, qualified) mechanic buy tractors or mini tractors with rotary mowers or slashers or mowas or even reel mowers. You will find them cheaper by a whole lot. Cheaper to buy and cheaper to maintain. Heck, you can even find reliable second-hand tractors good enough! Only problem with that is you may end up with a few brands or models of tractors on your field.
A word of advice; buy four-wheel drive tractors even if your field is flat. It gives better traction when the field is wet without damaging your grass.
The best thing about a tractor is; you can use it for many other things with the right implements; that tractor can help you with transport, spraying, aeration etc. No. That is not the best thing. The best thing is that it is cheap. Much cheap. More-than-half-the-price kinda cheap.
You will find a lot more people to help you maintain it; especially if you are not near KL or other major cities. Especially compared to a purpose-built, single-use five-gang mower.
To my friends who sell golf course machinery; this is about the client. Not your machine, not your brand.
Among the many possible uses of a tractor.
Posted in Golf club, Golf Course, Golf Course Superintendents, Landscape, Lanskap, Maintenance, Padang, Padang Golf, Rumput | Leave a Comment »
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