With disease pressure on the rise and traditional turf strategies being tested by unpredictable weather patterns, Southerndown Golf Club has found a reliable solution in Maxtima fungicide – introduced and supported by Agrovista Amenity.
Under the guidance of Agrovista Amenity’s Ray Hunt, Course Manager Andrew Mannion has successfully brought a persistent Dollar Spot issue under control, safeguarding turf health and playability at one of Wales’s most renowned golf courses.
Southerndown Golf Club, perched high above the South Wales coast, is celebrated for its natural beauty and challenging links-style layout. The course sits on free-draining limestone, exposed to persistent coastal winds, and is managed using a lean nutrient input strategy. These conditions have historically made disease a minor concern – until recently.
However, like many course managers across the UK, Andrew has seen Dollar Spot increase year on year – something he attributes to climatic changes. “Warmer, wetter conditions seem to be the trigger,” he says. “It started with small flare-ups, but built momentum quickly. Once it was in, it kept coming back.”
In search of an effective solution, Andrew turned to Agrovista Amenity, a longstanding agronomy partner to Southerndown. “We looked at a few products, but Ray recommended Maxtima straight away. He’s very knowledgeable, and I trust his judgement. We initially trialled it on just two or three affected greens – and it worked.”
Developed by BASF and supplied exclusively through Agrovista Amenity, Maxtima is a next-generation DMI fungicide that offers outstanding control of Dollar Spot and other key turfgrass diseases. What sets Maxtima apart is its targeted performance and ability to integrate seamlessly into a regular maintenance programme.
“We were impressed straight away,” says Andrew. “You can actually see it stop disease development within 24 hours. Last year, because it was during the growing season, we even saw full recovery on affected areas. Lesions healed over and with some overseeding, it disappeared completely.”
Since that initial success, Andrew and the team have incorporated Maxtima into their preventative strategy. “We now use it at specific times of year based on weather trends. Last season, we did two applications — up from one — because the Dollar Spot flared up earlier. It was the second wettest year we’ve recorded in over two decades, so we knew we needed to act.”
Andrew emphasises the importance of accurate timing and close monitoring, because Maxtima is most effective when applied preventatively. “We’ve got a couple of ‘indicator greens’ that show signs first. Once we spot the tiniest speck, we get Maxtima on straight away. That’s when it does its best work.”
He adds, “Agrovista Amenity’s support is always there in the background. Whether it’s product knowledge, application guidance or adjusting strategies as conditions change – they’ve been really helpful.”
Looking back, Andrew sees the adoption of Maxtima – and the advice from Agrovista Amenity – as a turning point in how the club manages disease.
“We’re definitely more in control now,” he says. “Maxtima is a great product and I’d absolutely recommend it to other course managers. If you catch Dollar Spot early, it’ll stop it in its tracks.”