No phyto and high-wave reconcilable?

Golf Club 7 Fontaines proves with quality products and teamwork

Golf Club 7 Fontaines in Braine-l'Alleud is blowing out 35 candles this year and head greenkeeper Olivier Massaux may blow out 30 there at the same time. That deserves a retrospective.

“When I started here, there was one 18-hole course, and over the years we have expanded to two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course, amounting to 100 hectares of land. Fortunately, I can count on my team of 16 greenkeepers, two permanent mechanics and then also some sporadic seasonal staff to manage that area,” says Olivier Massaux. The club now has 1,800 to 2,000 members, most of whom are loyal senior members, but also a fair proportion of juniors. Hence, a dedicated academy was also provided where six coaches are ready to provide training.

Tree canopy

Golf Club 7 Fontaines gets its charm from its fusion with the forest, which is a mission of the club and Massaux to watch over it, and is also appreciated by the members. The two 18-hole courses are both tree-lined, one of which was fully integrated into the forest. “We keep tree felling to an absolute minimum, and when felling takes place, we always replant at least the same number of trees. Of course, so many trees also brings challenges in terms of keeping the site at peak quality during the winter period. On top of the shade, there is less temperature and light, so we have to play short ball.”

More natural approach

Since 2017, another challenge was added by the regional ban on the use of plant protection products. Massaux was obliged to work in a more natural way, but could rely on his advisor, among others, to do so. “In the meantime, we have taken a nice route, over the last few years. Instead of mowing at 3 mm and rolling a lot to have the highest possible ball speed, I mow it higher and we sand and aerate enough to cause less stress and have enough air around the roots.” Massaux continues, “The way of working is different now, especially if we look at how we did it 30 years ago. One such evolution is that we work more with liquid products, such as COMPO EXPERT's quality products. For instance, for years I have been using Kamasol® brillant Grün, a soft, liquid NPK fertiliser with all 6 trace elements and a wetting agent, on a frequent basis. I also often mix the Kamasol® brillant Grün with Basfoliar® Ferro Top for iron sulphate application, where the extra colour effect is nice. A second evolution is that we can anticipate weather forecasts even more and better by carrying out well-considered product applications or operations, with ever-evolving machinery.”

Whimsical weather

Good weather forecasts become all the more important with the vagaries of recent years to respond appropriately and keep greens healthy. “To this end, I have therefore drawn up a programme together with my consultant, in which we include biostimulants to give the plant optimal support. Among other things, we use Vitanica® RZ to additionally stimulate rooting with the Ecklonia seaweed extract and the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis R6-CDX®,” says Olivier Massaux. Deeper rooting makes for more drought-tolerant grass. Use of a wetting agent such as Kick®, on top of that, ensures better use of irrigation water. “Thus, droughts in summer are actually still manageable,” indicates Massaux. “The months of September to November, on the other hand, are more critical because of weather changes, making it more challenging to keep a green healthy during autumn and winter. Every season this is a target for us and we must always try to do better with our team. Both towards the condition of the grass, and constantly adjusting the holes to improve the playing experience.”

Olivier Massaux concludes: “First of all, there has to be passion for the job, but here at 7 Fontaines I can also count on a close-knit, experienced team with a lot of mutual trust. We understand each other, and so we get ahead together.”