Buggy on track during dry spell

Can anyone explain the science behind the reasons why buggy on the course will damage the turf during this dry spell? Just curious to know and learn more.

Many courses in M'sia have imposed this. MBGC is also now buggy on track.

I would hazard the guess of destroying the topsoil that would render growing of grass back more difficult....

Very good question!  I was puzzled as well.

Any course maintenance engineer here?

Maybe its to protect the buggy from the hard ground haha

My guess is that the grass is already suffering great strain due to the dry spell. Buggy usage will further add to the strain and probably damage the roots / kill the grass.

Heard Sembawang also implementing buggy on track

I am thinking that that for those fairways that are "half-dry", I can understand Asahi's and Golfnut's point about not causing more damage. But for those totally dried out ones, I thought it wouldn't make a difference since the roots are probably all dead already.

Poor grass... Sun burnt yet being rolled over.

coe16arg wrote:

I am thinking that that for those fairways that are "half-dry", I can understand Asahi's and Golfnut's point about not causing more damage. But for those totally dried out ones, I thought it wouldn't make a difference since the roots are probably all dead already.

Some may be dried, some may not, it will be more expensive to replace all than just some.
Who can gaurantee buggy will travel only on those dried ones?

CONSPIRACY THEORY 101: Its a scheme by the GCs to save buggy fuel and ops hours.

Dried grass is not 100% 'dead', if u water & fertilize it, they will come back to 'live'. But if you step/roll on the dried grass, they will be destroyed. And dried grass is very fragile.

Next week on, Sembawang also only buggy on track liao.

It has rained ytd and most prob coming 2 days. So will it still b buggy on track?

Of course when it rains it will still be buggy on track isn't it??? loL

   If u find buggy on track is tough, better don't play golf.
Stay home and relax in the air-con.  

When we get a cut on our body, the body defense mechanism in the form of platelets in our blood will go to work and eventually stop the bleeding. During the recovery phase, it is best to put a band aid over the wound so that it does not get disturbed again, this will help with the recovery process.

Likewise, when grass does not get enough water for extended periods of time, its defense mechanism, the leaf blades, will fold so that lesser water evaporates away, thus minimizing "evapo-transpiration." 

During extended dry spells, their next defensive mechanism, to stop evapo-transpiration, is to unload all evaporation channels, ie: the leaves.  That's when the leaves (aka blades) turn brown and die off.

However, as long as the roots are still in the ground, it is still in hibernation mode.  The chances of it dying is still quite slim.  It is just dehydrated, waiting for a large pint of water to make it spring to life.

During this stage, the roots should not be disturbed/stressed too much.  Stress can be in the form of divots/compaction of soil.  When buggies are still driven on top of them, roots either get pull out due to spinning tires or the soil gets compacted further.  This causes stress to them.

Denmeister wrote:

When we get a cut on our body, the body defense mechanism in the form of platelets in our blood will go to work and eventually stop the bleeding. During the recovery phase, it is best to put a band aid over the wound so that it does not get disturbed again, this will help with the recovery process.

Likewise, when grass does not get enough water for extended periods of time, its defense mechanism, the leaf blades, will fold so that lesser water evaporates away, thus minimizing "evapo-transpiration." 

During extended dry spells, their next defensive mechanism, to stop evapo-transpiration, is to unload all evaporation channels, ie: the leaves.  That's when the leaves (aka blades) turn brown and die off.

However, as long as the roots are still in the ground, it is still in hibernation mode.  The chances of it dying is still quite slim.  It is just dehydrated, waiting for a large pint of water to make it spring to life.

During this stage, the roots should not be disturbed/stressed too much.  Stress can be in the form of divots/compaction of soil.  When buggies are still driven on top of them, roots either get pull out due to spinning tires or the soil gets compacted further.  This causes stress to them.

Best explanation thus far. Thanks for the "knowledge of the day"!

shimizu.toruk wrote:

Denmeister wrote:

When we get a cut on our body, the body defense mechanism in the form of platelets in our blood will go to work and eventually stop the bleeding. During the recovery phase, it is best to put a band aid over the wound so that it does not get disturbed again, this will help with the recovery process.

Likewise, when grass does not get enough water for extended periods of time, its defense mechanism, the leaf blades, will fold so that lesser water evaporates away, thus minimizing "evapo-transpiration." 

During extended dry spells, their next defensive mechanism, to stop evapo-transpiration, is to unload all evaporation channels, ie: the leaves.  That's when the leaves (aka blades) turn brown and die off.

However, as long as the roots are still in the ground, it is still in hibernation mode.  The chances of it dying is still quite slim.  It is just dehydrated, waiting for a large pint of water to make it spring to life.

During this stage, the roots should not be disturbed/stressed too much.  Stress can be in the form of divots/compaction of soil.  When buggies are still driven on top of them, roots either get pull out due to spinning tires or the soil gets compacted further.  This causes stress to them.

Best explanation thus far. Thanks for the "knowledge of the day"!

You beat me as the threadstarter to thanking Denmeister, but I will still thank him for his knowlegeable response - as what I was originally looking for.

Thanks Denmeister!

coe16arg wrote:

shimizu.toruk wrote:

Denmeister wrote:

When we get a cut on our body, the body defense mechanism in the form of platelets in our blood will go to work and eventually stop the bleeding. During the recovery phase, it is best to put a band aid over the wound so that it does not get disturbed again, this will help with the recovery process.

Likewise, when grass does not get enough water for extended periods of time, its defense mechanism, the leaf blades, will fold so that lesser water evaporates away, thus minimizing "evapo-transpiration." 

During extended dry spells, their next defensive mechanism, to stop evapo-transpiration, is to unload all evaporation channels, ie: the leaves.  That's when the leaves (aka blades) turn brown and die off.

However, as long as the roots are still in the ground, it is still in hibernation mode.  The chances of it dying is still quite slim.  It is just dehydrated, waiting for a large pint of water to make it spring to life.

During this stage, the roots should not be disturbed/stressed too much.  Stress can be in the form of divots/compaction of soil.  When buggies are still driven on top of them, roots either get pull out due to spinning tires or the soil gets compacted further.  This causes stress to them.

Best explanation thus far. Thanks for the "knowledge of the day"!

You beat me as the threadstarter to thanking Denmeister, but I will still thank him for his knowlegeable response - as what I was originally looking for.

Thanks Denmeister!

Agreed n indeed best explained!  
Think can close this thread liao. 
Kamsia Denmeister mate. 

My pleasure folks. isn't the forum a place to share info and good lobang?

TDO wrote:

Great explanation there. Are you a botanist, bro Denmeister?   

no la....

landscaper by profession

how long before buggy will be allowed on fairway?

it has been raining for the past few days, is it enough?

or need a prolonged period like 1mth or so of regular rainfall?

Too much rain also no buggy on fairway.......

jason.koh.54966 wrote:

Too much rain also no buggy on fairway.......

oh yah......

if buggy on fairway, i wld prefer a walking course...