a2la acreditationETL specialise in physical testing of rootzone and other sportsturf construction materials. We offer a wide range of testing services for all golf courses and sportsturf needs.

We are an accredited laboratory in the field of Geotechnical (Putting Green Materials), Certificate No. 903-01, through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).


ETL is accredited to conduct the following tests that appear on our Scope of Accreditation:

ASTM C136 Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
ASTM D854-98 Specific Gravity of Soils
ASTM D2216 Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil & Rock
ASTM D2974 Moisture, Ash and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils
ASTM D2976 pH of Peat Materials
ASTM D4972 pH of Soils (Method A)
ASTM D5550 Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Gas Pycnometer
ASTM F1632 Particle Size Analysis and Sand Shape Grading of Golf Course Putting Green and Sports Field Root Zone Mixes
ASTM F1647 (Method A) Organic Matter Content of Putting Green and Sports Turf Zone Mixes
ASTM F1815 Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity, Water Retention, Porosity, Particle Density and Bulk Density of Putting Green and Sports Turf Root Zones
ETL Method No. 290 Particle Size Distribution (Sand) Test
ETL Method No. 291 Particle Size Distribution (Sand) – PSD Half Octave
ETL Method No. 292 Particle Size Distribution (Gravel) – PSD Half Octave

  • What our clients say

    • The Royal Automobile Club
      “In my opinion, European Turf Laboratories provide an essential service of testing for both turf...
    • Piltdown Golf Club
      “ETL’s Golf Green Health Index testing gave me exactly what I needed to be able...
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Latest News

An R&A appointment for European Turfgrass Laboratories (ETL)

ETL, a Labosport Group company in Central Scotland, are proud to announce that they are now the official testing laboratory for The R&A, supporting testing for all Professional & Amateur event venues.  Sharon Singleton-Bruce, Managing Director of ETL says “this is an amazing opportunity for the laboratory, and we are looking forward to working with The R&A’s agronomists, Alistair Beggs, Richard Windows and Adam Newton.” 

Read more

Relating Greens Organic Matter (LOI) to the Age of Golf Greens

This, our second article aims to investigate the relationship between the amount of organic matter in greens and the age of the greens. We hope this helps provide added perspective for managing your greens and provides an insight for members within your clubs.

The management of organic matter is one of the more complex maintenance and renovation tasks for Course Managers around the world, due to its immediate conflict to presenting smooth and fast putting surfaces.

European Turfgrass Laboratories (ETL) annually tests organic matter at 20mm segments for hundreds of golf courses all over the world, from over thousands of individual greens, from a variety of venues including courses with push-up greens, links style and USGA-type golf greens of all ages. This data helps Course Managers communicate better with their stakeholders and make more informed decisions. Read more

Relating Greens Organic Matter (LOI) to the Amounts of Sand Applied

The management of organic matter is one of the more complex maintenance and renovation tasks for Course Managers around the world, due to its immediate conflict presenting smooth and fast putting surfaces.

European Turfgrass Laboratories (ETL) tests organic matter at 20mm segments for hundreds of golf courses annually, from over thousands of individual greens from local authority low budget courses to the world best championship courses. This data helps Course Manager communicate better with its stakeholders and make more informed decisions. Read more…

Organic Matter Testing #3

In this, our third article on organic matter, agronomist, Charles Henderson will cover the complex subject of its reduction. Organic matter, in general, is on the increase. Therefore, this makes the reduction of organic matter in greens, relevant to over 90% of us who are involved in managing golf (and bowling) greens, an extremely important subject. Read More.

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