Top dressing greens

With perfect weather conditions on Thursday, we had no choice but to top dress the putting surfaces. This task has been delayed for some time due to the poor weather, and has also proved how important it is to apply top dressing. The clear benefits of top dressing are ;

- lowers disease severity
- controls thatch in the soil profile
- improves water and nutrient usage
- reduces compaction
- creates a smoother playing surface

Using a tractor attachment spreader we applied around 13 tonne of clean sand (0.25-0.5) to all 19 greens.

To work the top dressing into the canopy we firstly used a drag mat followed by a double brush using a tri plex. The next morning we set the groomers at 3mm followed by a double cut, and ran the irrigation heads behind to finish off the job.

Course up date

Well the course is finally starting to dry out, with the putting surfaces firming up nicely! We managed to get some work done on the putting green, we slit the green followed by a heavy top dress, finally adding a seaweed soil conditioner.

We've recently been brushing the greens before cut using a 'drag mat'. along with standing up the coarser grasses, removing the dew prior mowing improves the quality of cut.

We've also noticed new shoots on the tamarisks we cut down in the winter. We're looking forward to see them flourish!

Sammy was busy pumping the sitting water out of the new bunkers on the fourth, these are now in play. Pops and Tom also had to turf across the 3rd green following a hydraulic leak.

Other jobs included, top dressing newly turfed areas, hand watered greens, flymo and strimming bunkers, mowing greens, tees, surrounds and fairways.

This is more like it

It's been a busy few days for the team. Preparing the golf course last week for the Normans Open last Saturday. We verti-cut greens beginning of the week, the goal for this was to remove thatch, pick up any lateral growth and to firm up the surfaces. We increased our cutting frequency to twice a day, and included a roll to speed up the greens speed. Rolling the greens this time of the year is also a cultural practice to prevent any chafe grubs/leatherjackets. The greens are in good shape for this time of the year, however I am confident we can produce better playing surfaces within the next couple of weeks.

Last week Pops sprayed the paths with a total weedkiller, this has been long over due, however had to wait for the right weather to spray. This will kill all the weeds along the edges making them far more presentable.

This morning Goerge was out slitting fairways, this is an effective way to relieve compaction. Pops sprayed the greens with a contact fungicide to prevent any disease coming through. We also had an unusual task completed this afternoon, Mikey along with Sammy and Goerge had to get wet and clean the irrigation filters from the 17th lake.

We plan to complete more practices to the greens this week, grooming and top dressing on wednesday.

Look forward to seeing the results and report back in due course. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact me lesmiellesgreens@gmail.com

Regards

New bunkers on hole 11

The new fairway bunkers on the 11th are now ready for play!

Goergie and Sammy have done a great job today, edging and adding sand to bunkers. It's also great to see our drainage working in this area.

Enjoy :)

Course Update

With the temperatures rising 'slowly but surely' we are starting to push our cultural practices on the putting surfaces. Brushing, grooming, double cutting along with some rolling the last week. Hoping to get some top dressing down early in the week if the weather helps us, this will stand the greens in good stead for the Normans Open on 20th April. We then plan on 'punching' the greens with the pencil tines the Monday after. Along with slitting tees and fairways, aeration is such an important task on our golf course it is vital we carry out these methods to improve and maintain all surfaces.

The course is shaping up nicely for the season, despite the wet weather. The remainder of bunkers have now been completed, fingers crossed they will all be in play for the 20th, I do have my doubts about the 4th hole as the water table is so high in that area, we have nowhere to pump the water to. On that note, water was somewhat 'flushing' out of our drainage lines we recently completed on hole 11. So these bunkers will be in play end of next week.

We also repaired the sink holes on the 1st approach. I have noticed this area getting worse over the last year, holding water along with making it impossible for the surrounds mower to get a good finish. Looks like we also be spraying for chafegrubs next week, these insects live off grass roots, therefore not helping our turf quality.

Other jobs this week included repairing the path along the 6th tee, fertilising greens (12-0-8), cutting tees, surrounds and fairways, changing holes (Mon & Thurs), strimmed path edges.

Enjoy The Masters, please don't expect the greens running at 14 on the stimp next week!

Regards

Spring?!? Course update

With the poor weather still hanging around, we have found it hard to get the course up to our high standards. This week we managed to finish the new bunkers on hole 11 and proceed to the 4th, this will be finished next week. Winter projects in April is totally out of the ordinary, however it does feel like mid January!

In between jobs or delayed with frost, we have been adding sand to some of the bunkers. We are aware that after the wet winter our bunkers will be inconsistent, so we will do our best to make sure there as consistent as they can be.

Once this is all complete we are just kind of hanging around waiting for the weather to warm up, so we can concentrate on course presentation.

Only a small post, but just to keep you up to date.

Shaping LHS fairway bunker on 11

Adding sand to 15th hole

Shaping up 11 RHS fairway bunker

11th hole construction works

The management decided to install a new bunker on the left hand side of the 11th fairway. Positioned in front of the existing bunker. All these bunkers now have drainage which will improve the playability to some extent. You may have noticed we have laid turf 'sward side down' covering the base of the bunker. This is to stop debris coming though the sand, and to also stop the sand/soil entering the drainage pipe.
The drainage around the green is progressing well, and should be completed before the weekend.
We then have some feeding to complete on tees surrounds and the greens.

Backfilling the trench across the fairway

Turves being laid upside down

The new bunker in need of some hand shaping

11th Hole drainage update

The aim is to install bunker drainage and run the drain line across the fairway into the lake. We firstly marked out the area, looking at the natural contour/sloping of the fairway to see chose the best place to run the line. We then stripped the turf, and started digging the trench from the pond side up to the bunkers, with sufficient fall.

Pops with the sod cutter

The bunkers prior the drainage

The trench

The outlet

A great relief

The next steps are to now install the 6" perforated pipe along with 20mm chippings, and the backfill and turf. Please be aware when playing this hole, as machinery is being used.

Greens will be cut Tuesday morning along with the surrounds. We will also be adding some sand to bunkers where needed, as all bunkers are to be in play on March 1st. For more regular updates add us on facebook.

11th hole notice

Monday will see the start to our drainage project on hole 11. As we have hired a mini digger for the week, This will cause some disruption. This is much needed work and we are positive this will improve the playability of the hole.
We will start with the bunker drainage on the RHS of the fairway, this includes trenching through the 3 bunkers and across the fairway to the lake. We will be using 6" perforated pipe along 20mm chippings. During this time we will be moving the tee markers up the fairway, making it a short 180 yard hole.
Moving up to the green, water seems to be running off the mounding at the back, therefor supplying the green with too much water. In effect we will run a 'horse shoe' drain around the green running into the lake short right. We will also be using 6" perforated pipe and 20mm chippings. During this time we will have a temporary green.
Weather permitting these works should be completed by Thursday. Hopefully no snow over the weekend!!!

We will keep you updated on our Facebook page, and blogger

Edging and sanding new bunkers

We've recently been doing some work to the new bunkers on holes 3 and 4. First we got a nice edge and shape, then cleared any weeds/debris finally adding the sand. When adding the sand it's important to keep a consistent cover of around 4 inches, also to compact the sand.

Jason achieving the edge

Sammy adding sand

Machine log

To create a communication link between the Greenstaff and the mechanic, we have introduced a machine log system. Each machine has a clipboard in the mess room, which the operator has to complete after use. The content is just a simple form, including operators name, times and dates, and any comments or faults, it is then the mechanics responsibility to check these and complete any tasks needed. I believe this is a simple and effective way to monitor our equipment.

16th Tee Bank

I recently posted that we would seed this area, the new addition to the 16th tee complex. We decided to turf the area as we were fortunate enough to come across some good sod. We have protected the turf from any bird damage by covering the area with netting. We just need to add some granite dust to the pathway and the job will be finished.

The weather yesterday (Monday) was a welcome surprise, we just need it for sometime now for the course to dry out. The south side is open for play, however the north remains closed until further notice.  You may have noticed end of last year we had a hydraulic leak on the 4th green. This was probably the worst time of the year for this to happen, as our only option is to seed and top dress this area. Turfing would be another option however we do not have a turf nursery with greens quality turf. So with the weather warming up, this morning we decided to hollow core the scar, top dress and seed with creeping bent grass. 

Cored, seeded and dressed

Cores

We have also managed to make some alterations to the 17th tee complex. We removed the sleepers and have created a tier from the ladies tee to the blue tee box. We had to raise the left hand side of the blue tee, so it is now the same width as the lassies tee. I'm sure you will all agree this looks formal and smarter. 

17th tee before

Pops and Sammy turfing

Single cut on the greens this morning as there has been some growth over the past couple days. The team are looking forward to spring, stepping up the golf course presentation and seeing the benefits of our winter works. 

Keeping guard