The performance of golf greens in terms of rootzone physical properties, sward characteristics and playing quality is highly dependent upon the original rootzone composition and subsequent management. Such performance also continuously changes with time under usage. A study to this performance was conducted from April 1998 to January 2003 at the research site of the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute. This thesis reports results of both the field measurements made of rootzone physical properties, sward characteristics and playing quality of five alternative golf green rootzones during the first five years after sowing, and of the simulation modeling of their performance predicted for the first 30 years after sowing. Rootzone treatments were partially amended sand rootzone, soil rootzone, pure sand rootzone, fully amended sand rootzone, and partially amended sand + zeolite rootzone. A split-plot design was superimposed on the rootzone treatments consisting of twice-yearly cultivation/aeration treatments (control, HydroJect, scarification and Verti-drain). Results showed that performance of golf greens could be objectively, quantitatively and comprehensively assessed and monitored over the long-term at the rootzone level by using an Integrated Rate Methodology (IRM) model through computing the Comprehensive Golf Green Performance Index (CGGPI). The performance of golf greens showed a gradual improvement during the first two years after sowing. It then deteriorated progressively over the remainder of the 30 years predicted for all rootzone and cultivation/aeration treatments. This general trend was reflected mainly by a gradual decrease with time in water infiltration rate, oxygen diffusion rate, air-filled porosity and deep rooting. Also, there was a gradual increase in green speed, surface hardness, root mass and organic matter content near the surface profiles. By the 14th and 27th year after sowing, the IRM model predicted that the CGGPI for all the three amended sand rootzones and the pure sand rootzone were below the minimum acceptable threshold. The key factor that caused the general deterioration in green performance of all the sand-based rootzones appeared to be excess accumulation of organic matter in the surface of the profiles. Whilst there were marked differences in the performance of golf greens between the rootzone types, it was only the conventional soil rootzone that consistently performed unacceptably. Quantitative benefits of upgrading from a soil-based to a sand-based rootzone were evident in terms of improved infiltration rate, increased oxygen diffusion rate and macroporosity, reduced organic matter accumulation near the surface, better root growth and distribution, more stable turfgrass sward, lower weed cover and less fluctuation with seasons in surface hardness. Among the four sand-based rootzones, the pure sand rootzone had the highest incidence of dry patch disorder, poorest turf visual quality, greatest changes over time in the relative balance of Festuca and Agrostis, and largest fluctuation with seasons in surface hardness. However, it contained the best root growth distribution. After the fifth year from sowing, the green performance of the pure sand rootzone remained significantly better than the three amended sand rootzones. There was negligible difference in the performance of golf greens between the three amended sand rootzones on all measured or predicted occasions. The supposed benefits of burying a zeolite-amended sand layer at 100-200 mm depth, ostensibly for encouraging deep rooting, were not apparent under the experimental conditions used, possibly because the experimental plots were never managed under nutrient or moisture stress conditions. Beneficial effects of twice-yearly cultivation/aeration treatments on rootzone physical properties, sward characteristics and playing quality were evident, although these effects were extremely short-lived. Verti-drain treatment with hollow tines tended to be most effective in controlling surface organic matter accumulation and the resultant rootzone physical deterioration. In contrast, the scarification treatment gave variable response, reducing root mass, hence organic matter accumulation, near the surface on the one hand, but on the other decreasing infiltration rate and turfgrass cover. HydroJect treatment, although tending to induce a higher incidence of disease and pest damage, appeared particularly effective in minimizing the occurrence of dry patch disorder on sand-based rootzones when used in conjunction with a proprietary wetting agent. None of the cultivation/aeration treatments could effectively halt the general deterioration with time in the performance of golf greens under the twice-yearly treatment frequency used. It was concluded that: (a) The performance of sand-based rootzones for golf greens will be limited in the long term by excess accumulation of organic matter near the surface of the profile; (b) Cultivation/aeration treatments will need to commence immediately after full turf establishment and should be carried out more than twice per year on golf greens under New Zealand conditions; (c) HydroJect treatment, when used in conjunction with wetting agent application, is an effective management tool for prevention of dry patch disorder on sand-based golf greens; while scarification should not be used in isolation of other physical cultivation; (d) Upgrading from a conventional soil rootzone to a high-grade, sand-based rootzone will greatly improve golf green performance; (e) The practice of constructing only the top 100 mm of the sand rootzone with organic-amended sand is an alternative method that can be used successfully for putting green construction instead of the fully amended, standard USGA-type profile; the pure sand rootzone system is also an appropriate alternative for rootzone construction of golf greens, provided the initial establishment can be managed successfully; (f) The integrated rate modeling approach is potentially an effective decision-making tool for rootzone upgrading, surface preparation planning, performance assessment and monitoring, professional consultancy, and seasonal management of golf greens.

Recreational amenities present great value for the community. Their existence provides an improved quality of life, offers a connection with the natural surroundings, and facilitates a healthy lifestyle. While communities continue to create and operate recreational facilities/areas, the presence of such facilities may have indirect effects on the general population. Specifically, this thesis will compare the presence of recreational amenities in metropolitan statistical areas that contain universities which are a part of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and metropolitan statistical areas with similar populations and geographic characteristics that don’t contain an AAU-member institution.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The Garden Route is located along the southern Cape coast of South Africa, between the Outeniqua Mountain Range and the coast, stretching from Gourits River in the west to Bloukranz River in the east. This region is recognised as a holiday destination and the centre of the southern Cape’s tourism industry. It has also gained popularity as a golfing destination set to proliferate in terms of new golfcourse developments (Golf Digest 2004; Gould 2004; Granger 2003). No known complete academic or public record is however available for the study area in which all the golf development types, namely short courses, public-municipal golf-courses and residential golf estates, are recorded. This leaves a gap in the understanding of the Garden Route as a golfing destination, as well as opening the floor for public speculation about the status of the Garden Route golfscape. This situation emphasises the need for a description of the Garden Route golfscape in order to achieve a better understanding of it and of the Garden Route as an emerging golfing destination. The research aspires to describe the Garden Route golfscape in terms of the geographic spatial distribution and characteristics of all the golf development types mentioned. It also aims to analyse how the public and developers of golf developments perceive the Garden Route golfscape. The research has shown that amongst the four identified intra-regional golfscapes of the Garden Route, namely the Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay intra-regional golfscapes, the George intra-regional golfscape has been affected the most by golf developments. This intra-regional golfscape has the greatest number of existing golf developments, as well as the highest number of new golf development applications followed by Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. It is also clear from the research that the press, through publishing factually incorrect and biased information, plays a significant role in negatively affecting the public’s perception about the Garden Route golfscape. The literature, as well as the results of the public opinion poll, identifies residential private golf estate developments as the development type responsible for controversial golf debates. The survey indicated that there is less concern and objection to public-municipal golf-courses and short courses. The lack of public support for golf developments is as a result of the fact that the public is not convinced that either the natural environment or tourism, will benefit from the Garden Route developing into an international golfing destination. At the time of research, the Garden Route hosted 22 approved golf developments of which nine are short courses, another nine are golf estates and the remaining four are public municipal courses. A total of eight new golf estates are proposed for the Garden Route. There are no proposals for new public-municipal golf-courses or short courses. The research has highlighted that existing challenges associated with Garden Route golf developments must be quantified through future research in order to compare the impacts (economic, social and environmental impacts) with that of other land uses in the study area. Results from such future exercises, combined with future in-depth environmental and human resource audits of the area, will help determine the carrying capacity of the study area for golf developments, which will in turn contribute to an even better understanding of the Garden Route golfscape.