Course report Sept 23rd 2019
It’s been a difficult summer greenkeeping wise due to the high level of growth on all areas of the course and practice area. Routinely we cut things such as tee and bunker banks, semi-roughs, range etc on a fortnightly cycle but this year has seen us struggle to keep up on these jobs as everything is needing done more often and more grass equals more time to do each job. The range has been particularly difficult to keep on top of (with a weekly cut) resulting in a lot of smaller jobs just not getting done.
Rainfall in August measured 106mm and that is approx. 3 x more than a normal summer month. Nonetheless the greens have performed very well and the fairways continue to improve with the wet weather.
Greens
Little work on the greens this summer apart from cutting and occasional rolling. Two wetter/seaweed/potassium carbonate sprays with a little Nitrogen have gone on June and July just to tick things along. A verti-cut last week and another seaweed/calcium/iron spray to try and dry up a little Fusarium marking here and there. The top putting green was hollow tined and Graden scarified (Mon 16th Sept) with some bent grass seed introduced. Recovery has been pretty quick due to the weather of late. This week we will be solid spiking and following up with the scarifier/seed (bent seed at 5g/m2) and top dressing. A wet start today slowed things down but 12 greens spiked and 5 greens scarified/seeded. Rolling to re-enstate surfaces and keeping an eye on moisture levels for recovery and enhancing seed germination.
Going into the autumn I would like to carry out some slitting then late autumn (late Nov) the greens will need another hollow tine with 6mm tines and also a deep verti-drain with larger 3/4” tines during December. All this work will enhance drainage and surface firmness, promote deeper root growth and help combat fairy ring. In turn they will become more resilient for next year.
Roughs
Majority of tall roughs cut and collected and will be sprayed with Laser to reduce course grasses within.
Semis
All semi roughs were sprayed with herbicide to treat Plantains and clover
Tees
Some tees have been spiked/sanded and seeded
Pro shop/office work – site prep work (Oct 14th)
- The area of the yellow/red tee where the putting green is to be extended needs stripping back first + RHS of this tee. (Approx 6-7m)
- Re locate RHS tee sprinkler.
- Strip turf in front of Medal tee approx 6-8m and lay aside.
- PG extension area then needs to be excavated and contoured to desired putting green level with sand amended through the soil. De stone. (require mini digger)
- Stock pile soil front medal tee.
- Lift turf from car park end of putting green and re lay onto new extension. Lay apron turf as required and excess turf below 1st hole whin carry.
- Enlarge and raise medal tee and re turf
Removal of the dust path to the left of the yellow tee at 6th and some of the turf lifted from the putting green side could be used here.