Course update 30/01/13

The weather this month has been somewhat the norm...more rain! The greens are in good condition considering, the benefits of the pencil tining are evident. Hoping to get some more slit tining on the fairways and tees during February, get some air into the soil!

The lake on hole 1

We've been busy with some DIY works to improve our workshops, smart sheds raises the game out on the course. Sammy has done a great job in particular and is proving to be an asset to the team.

Sammy working on our new store room

Myself and Pops started with the new fence along the road beside the 10th hole, this is to protect walkers, bikers etc. from getting hit by any golf balls.

Digging the holes for the posts

David and Nelio our mechanics, have worked endlessly. They have now completed all our 'winter servicing' in good time, and progress onto some more intense mechanical work. This work is vital to our plans out on the course, so we thank David and Nelio  behind the scenes! 

Nelio working away

The new bunkers on the 3rd are looking a lot better with the rope taken away. Please keep using the steps when entering the bunkers. We will be introducing an 'edge cut' once tempretatures start to rise, this will be one pass around every green at a lower height of cut than the surrounds. We're hoping this will improve playability around the greens along with the visual aspect. 

Hole 3 complete

Please stay away from wet areas on fairways and around greens, and enjoy your golf!

It's easy as A D C

Yesterday morning we started our aeration program to all putting surfaces. We have started off by using 9" pencil tines with no heave (straight in straight out), this is a slow process and will take little over 2 days to complete. Some disruption to the surfaces, but this will stand the greens in good stead for the forthcoming season.

A = Aeration

D= Drainage

C = Compaction

Pops and Sammy doing a great job on hole 11

Tom has been doing a good job within the clubhouse area, power washing the patio area.

Has a 3 litre engine and runs on coffee

There has also been a small change to the 4th tee complex. The tee box had minimal access for machinery, which was only accessible for the smaller machinery. It was also hard for turning, creating wear and tear on the front of the tee. The description was to remove the existing sleepers, and replace with an equal sloping bank.

Striping the turf, and removing the sleepers

Halfway stage, prepped and ready for turfing

Job completed

I'm heading to the BTME conference in Harrogate next week, this is an annual show presenting the industry with all the latest practices, equipment and seminars on turf related subjects.

Please abide to the traffic routes, marked with white line and ropes. Repair pitch marks, and replace divots! :)

Trees on hole 10

This week the team have been busy concentrating on hole 10. The willows along the lake banks have somewhat taken over more than needed or intended. Also to clear around the pre-historic stones placed 100 yards from the tee box, and to make a nice feature of these.

 You can just see the stones on the left

Clearing this area has also created a nice view, and you may also be tempted to go for the green, as you can see it clearly from the tee box. The hazard it still protecting the distance!

We then moved further along the hole, and took down the willows in the hazard. You can now see the whole fairway from the 11th tee, this being safer and also clears any dispute as to where your ball entered the hazard. We feel this has also made it fairer as to where we have positioned the new fairway bunkers!

Jason and Tom working away

I would also just like to make it clear, we're not intending to 'get rid' of these trees. the aim is manage and maintain. We're fortunate to have a great variety of trees and shrubs around our golf course.

Enjoy your golf and for more frequent updates, we're on facebook- Lesmiellesgreenstaff

Aerification week

To improve the playing surfaces, this week will see us carrying out various aerification practices. Please bear in mind the benefits, as there will be some disturbance as to playability over the next few days.

Benefits of aerifying -

1. Relieves compaction
2. Develops root growth and overall plant health
3. Drainage
4. Gets air into the surface
5. Penetrates the top soil and root zone

We will be carrying this out on greens, tees, collars, fairways and semi-roughs

Pops on tees (4 inch tines)

Tom slitting greens, 1 inch below flush 

Slitting fairways going in around 5 inches 

January 2013 BIGGA magazine

It was also nice for our department to get noticed, having an article in the 'Greenkeepers International' magazine. The team have done a fantastic job so far!

We've seen positive results with our recent application of fungicide. Other jobs this week will include pruning the willow trees along the 10th fairway. Course set, and mowing when required. The greens for this time of the year are in good condition, we just need to keep putting more work into the fairways tees and surrounds to improve the surfaces, which will come!

Happy New Year

Hope everyone enjoyed the festive season and wish them all the best for 2013!

With skeleton staff over Christmas and New years, the crew were back in force this morning! Alot of tidying up to do on the course this week. With some fusarium patch on the greens, we brushed the greens followed by an application of 'Medallion' fungicide. We used the walk sprayers to protect the playing surfaces, and the results will be monitored. Other jobs this morning included mowing tees and fairways.

 George filling up the walk sprayer

Fusarium patch

The fertiliser store has been stocked up with all our summer and winter applications, which will see us out till next year.

Fertiliser shed

Last week we managed to start some much needed tree work, we cut back the willows along the 11th fairway. This winter we plan to cut the willows down to knee length infront of the 18th tee, some along the 10th fairway and front left of the 18th green.

Finished product

With the weather forecast looking OK, we plan to feed tees and surrounds tomorrow, along with brushing greens, and changing holes. For more frequent updates on and around the course, we have a facebook page Les Mielles Greenstaff.