Saturday 15 June 2013

Summer micro tining

As we had a small window of opportunity where there were no visiting parties, few members playing and no competitions, we started to solid tine the greens. We want to keep disruption to a minimum as we have the greens running fast and smooth at the moment so we use 8mm tines with no heave on the machine and aerating to a depth of 100mm.

No heave on the machine ensures the holes are as small as possible and the greens surface is not adversely disrupted. On Friday we solid tined the two putting greens, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 25. Following on behind the vertidrain we groomed the greens, cut and double rolled. Solid tining can be seen as very disruptive by golfers, but this is only the case when using larger tines, needed for decompaction or hollow tines used for soil exchange. Now we have got firm surfaces that can support play in wetter conditions we will use small micro tines like this more often to ensure we get the rootzone aerated to promote better drainage, increased rooting which overall will produce better greens for the members.
Else where we finished repairing the bits of badger damage and water damage on holes 1, 10, 19 and 21 and fertilised the seeded bits. We have also topdressed more drainage work done this winter with straight sand now we are seeing some regrowth of water damaged grass.

About Me

Im the Head Greenkeeper at Malton and Norton Golf Club. I began my greenkeeping career at Malton and Norton Golf Club straight from school as an Assistant Greenkeeper. Wanting to climb the greenkeeping ladder I gained my NVQ level 2 and 3 at Askham Bryan College. I continued with my education gaining a HNC in golf course management and took the position of Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Malton and Norton Golf Club in 2005.In 2008 I was promoted to the position of Head Greenkeeper, leading a team of 6 hard working and dedicated Greenkeepers. Our aim is to continue to improve the condition of the course year on year maintaining our high reputation within the area.