From May 2019, the Terre Blanche Golf teams have been working to change the flora on the fairways, semi-roughs and tee-offs of the two courses "Le Château" and "Le Riou". The aim of this gradual transition of vegetation is to reach the goal of a grass exclusively made up of Bermuda Grass Riviera by the summer of 2020. A fine, dense and firm turf that is already found in the most prestigious golf courses around the world, which provides excellent playing conditions with optimal ball bearing capacity, reduced water consumption for watering and the use of plant protection products.

Adapting to climate change

The current climate changes are accompanied by a constantly increasing consumption of water for irrigation and a summer parasitism that is increasingly resistant to phytosanitary treatments. Terre Blanche's teams are working continuously to adapt to these climatic and environmental changes, with the greatest respect for nature and European regulations.

In order to control these "natural" phenomena, to maintain the quality level of Terre Blanche and to manage water resources through virtuous exploitation, the programme for converting the flora of the playing surfaces meets no less than four objectives.

Mastery and expertise

At the end of a test program carried out in 2018 with the collaboration of Mr. Alain Dehaye (Les Ateliers du Golf), a recognized expert in golf course maintenance and upkeep, the seedling topping in Cynodon Dactylon (Bermuda Grass), a Riviera variety, was selected.

The choice of grasses

These grasses are commonly used in hot countries and provide excellent playing conditions and optimal ball bearing capacity with a fine, dense and closed turf. Prestigious competitions throughout the world, including major tournaments, are played on Bermuda Grass courses without affecting the quality of play, which is one of the reasons for this choice.

A gradual transition

The seedlings are sown by maintaining the existing mat. The plant transition takes place gradually, without loss of quality and over 2 years in order to reach the summer 2020 objective of a lawn exclusively made up of Bermuda Grass Riviera. The work was carried out throughout the month of May 2019, on the two golf courses Le Château and Le Riou.