Greens Update - April 2024
Hi everyone!
The weather gods have been a lot kinder recently with some settled, dry and sunny weather bestowed on the course. The patience everyone has shown has paid off, as the greenstaff have been able to bring the large mowing equipment out of the maintenance facility and onto the course. Progress has been slow, but nonetheless progress is being made to catch up with all the outstanding work left to be carried out.
Thanks to all the members who have shown such patience, we share your frustration about not being able to have the golf course presented in the normal fashion. However, we have managed to make a great start in presenting the course to a standard, but there is much work to do.
The list of outstanding jobs includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Greens:
The greens need aerating, verticutting, and granular feeding. This will take place next week. They will receive regular light dressings through the upcoming period to improve smoothness and help the disease scarring to fill in. The height of cut will reduce as conditions ease, which will also help with a faster pace.
There are also lots of supplementary products needed to be sprayed and spread on the greens which will help with organic matter clean up, growth suppressant, increased microbial life, colour, turf health and soil profile improvements.
Tees:
The tees are looking good after the winter rest and will be brought down in height over the coming period. They are still growing well from the winter feed they received but they will receive further feeds and other supplements as we go on. Regular divotting will take place on a weekly basis, and members can help to contribute to this effort on the par 3s by using the divot soil provided.
Fairways:
It has been a real struggle to get on the fairways with the mowers over the last few months, and it has been very frustrating to watch the growth without doing anything about it. Finally though this week the fairways have been cut twice, once at a higher height to cut down the winter growth, and then again to a more playable height.
There is a lot of soft, lush growth on the fairways and approaches, and it is proving difficult to mow it down to the right height. Further extra work is required to bring them up to speed. Localised strimming will occur to thin out some lush growth until we can provide a better surface, while scarification and aeration work will commence when further firm conditions allow.
Approaches:
Like the fairways the approaches have grown over the months, and we will be working hard to bring them up to speed. With the purchase of the grinding equipment, I am looking forward to improving the approaches this summer with further scarification, aeration and topdressing practices. The heights of cut will also come down as work progresses.
Roughs:
Probably the worst areas on the course with wild winter growth, the roughs are being cut as quickly as possible. Some areas are still too soft to take machinery into, however the vast majority of the course has received at least one cut with more to come. The new Grillo cut and collect mower is working hard to cut the highest of roughs, as well as pick up all the clippings around the course. It will be put to work as much as possible throughout the summer all over the course to help keep it tidy.
Bunkers:
The new bunkers on 1,2 and 3 are bedding in well and this week the sand has gone in to them and been compacted down. Sand is also being added to the other greenside bunkers around the course, which have all been strimmed and blown, wherever possible.
The weeds still need spraying and will be done as soon as possible on a calm day!
Outstanding Work:
Other works that need to be carried out include: finishing the 2nd new tee; selectively spraying all the weeds around the course; further tidying of paths; and repairing any damaged areas from the winter. The cutting work will gather pace as the temperatures rise but we will do our best to bring the course up to speed as soon as possible.
See you out there,
Steve
Head Greenkeeper
