Dr Stephen Baker, Head of Soils and Sports Surface Science at the STRI , looks at the current and future research on golf course agronomy wi th part icular emphasis on the problem of winter wear

The parties are over, the hangovers have receded and, yes, we are into the year 2000. In the December 1999 issue of Greenkeeper International, I considered aspects of research on golf course agronomy through the last century. As we move into the new millennium it is appropriate to review the implications of current research projects and to identify some of the many areas where future work is needed. On the evidence of the last century, the needs for research with respect to golf course agronomy progressively change. This results from both factors within the game (e.g. increased play, more winter use, expectations of the golfer) and external factors, for example changes in pesticide legislation, increased demands on water resources throughout society and in the longer term climatic change, with its potential impact on turf irrigation, grass selection and the incidence of disease. The R&A's Golf Course Advisory Panel has identified key strategic issues likely to affect golf in the future. These include: (i) Climatic change (ii) Water use and conservation (iii) Environmental issues (iv) Demographic/planning issues (v) Chemical inputs and outputs (vi) Implications of increasing usage