The Achental Resort
The golf course at Das Achental Resort in Grassau extends over almost 75 hectares and, in addition to extensive and tactically challenging water hazards, has almost 64 bunkers, some of which are huge, and outstanding greens.
The Greenkeeping Team
Alexander Maier, who supports Das Achental as a supervisor with his company Perfect Green, mainly maintained the course with mineral and organic-mineral products until the end of 2023. The decision to reverse the focus and work more with and for nature is and was an exciting time for the entire Greenkeeping team. Using new granular and liquid fertilisers requires a high level of trust from everyone involved.
In 2024, the intensive turf maintenance (as on golf greens) proved to be a fine line. Heavy rainfall combined with very high temperatures almost created a glasshouse effect. At first glance, this sounds ideal for growth, but it is also an ideal breeding ground for pathogenic fungi and turf diseases. Rarely has the dollar spot pressure been as high as it has been in summer 2024 - you will have heard about it in many places. Fairways and tees seemed to be covered in light snow in the early morning, and in some cases turned white from dollar spot across large areas.
The TourTurf® team has developed a programme to make the plants strong and resilient and to reduce the use of pesticides and fungicides to an absolute minimum or avoid them altogether.
TourTurf® as a Partner
TourTurf® focuses on organic thatch decomposition using fungi and bacteria that can break down cellulose, hemicellulose and woody lignin in thatch - the zone where turf diseases and pathogenic fungi thrive. The company also focuses on strengthening the plant's own defences, promoting regeneration, strengthening the cell wall and promoting photosynthesis (e.g. silicon & manganese).
No optimum root growth without mechanical maintenance
As the saying goes: the plant grows in the soil. If the soil is exposed to constant stress from machines and players, as in golf, the space for the roots becomes more and more compacted. The root mass shrinks, thatch and waterlogging can develop and the plant becomes more susceptible to disease.
Alexander and his team have been focussing on soil cultivation for years: Aerifying, scarifying, sanding greens, tees and fairways. The areas are worked at regular intervals to give the roots sufficient space to find their way to water, microorganisms and micronutrients.
Extensive work has been undertaken on the irrigation infrastructure, including the installation of new pumps, investment in the satellite-supported Greenways optimisation system for vegetation and soil moisture management, regular cleaning and replacement of drainage systems, and the addition of new drainage lines.
Only the regular implementation of all the measures described above will result in the quality that the golf course in the heart of the Chiemgau region has stood for since 2014.
Alexander Maier (Supervisor, Perfect Green)
Jan C. Rathgeber (Technical Sales Advisor, TourTurf®)