Easter weekend

By this time of the year we are normally feeling some sign of summer is on its way, this year it is very different. The Easter weekend for the greenstaff is usually all about cutting, rolling and the pleasure of returning to the summer tees. One out of three is all we can offer as the night time temperature has been minus 3 for the last few days with day time temperatures not reaching above 5 degrees. With sharp frosts any work to the greens is impossible, we are on the summer tees however. The clear skies at least give us dry weather and the course is looking in reasonable condition given the poor weather over the winter. If it wasn't for the badger damage, which still continues, I would be happy with the progress on the course. The badger damage on the course is frustrating, and has set us back somewhat in terms of time spent in repairing it, but it will not beat us. Once the temperatures rise and seed will germinate we are planning to tidy all areas up which have been affected. At this time of the year any laid turf may struggle if we have a dry spring where irrigation coverage is limited, so seeding is the best option. These are the steps we will take:
              * Clear dry and dead turf which has been ripped up
              * Replace any turf which can be salvaged and irrigated
              * Roll down damaged areas
              * Soil and seed semi rough areas with rye grass seed
              * Soil and seed fairway areas with bent/fescue seed
              * Fertilise all affected areas to promote recovery
              * Irrigate where possible to promote germination and recovery

It goes with out saying that all affected areas will remain GUR until we have re established grass cover.
At the end of last week we continued to edge bunkers with around 50 bunkers done so far we hope to finish them this coming week. Where sand was needed they were topped up and raked, another 29 tonne of sand will be ordered to top up the remaining bunkers once edging has been completed.

As the forecast was for frost I decided to come in to move the holes on Saturday night as coming in first thing Sunday would have caused damage to the course travelling around and possible damage to equipment and the green surface when moving the hole.

When moving holes it is a good opportunity to look at the hole plug that is removed to visually check the thatch layer, rooting, aeration holes, affects of topdressing and colour of the soil profile(which can show any black layer or other chemical build up), other things that can be checked whilst the plug is removed is a simple smell test, this can tell you weather the soil, root zone and thatch layer is aerobic or not. If the sample smells of rotten eggs this can mean it is anaerobic, lacking in oxygen. A sweet smelling plug is aerobic and healthy. A more serious problem in the soil is black layer. Black layer appears as a black, foul-smelling continuous or discontinuous subsurface layer in turf grass root zones. Chemically, black layer is a deposit of metal sulphides, which form when hydrogen sulphide gas reacts with metal elements in the soil. For hydrogen sulphide to be released, the root zone conditions must favour the growth of sulphur reducing bacteria, which requires water and soil organic matter.
The organic matter provides the food for the microbes, and water keeps the microbes hydrated. Soils must be relatively anaerobic (low in air) since these sulphur reducing bacteria do not survive very well in well aerated soils. The anaerobic conditions can be caused by numerous factors such as compaction, excessive irrigation, organic matter accumulation, thatch build up, sulphur application or movement of colloidal particles. Coupled with this, sulphur must be available within the soil. The growth of algae is favoured by wet soils. Algae can produce substances that interfere with the movement of water in sandy mixtures, consequently reducing water movement, causing an anaerobic soil.
After the work we have done to the greens over the previous years we have limited problems and continuous but less disruptive aeration will keep the root zone healthy. There are a few green which still require more work but the majority improving year on year.

This shows the sand dressings have been worked into the aeration holes in previous years. The top 25mm of the soil profile is very sandy as we have been applying straight sand for a number of years now, below this, down to 125mm it is a mixture of 100% sand which has been put into aeration holes and the 80/20 topdressing mix used for the last few decades, then there is the original and natural soil of the site.

Here is what the badgers are searching for when ripping up turf

Chafer grubs

Chafer Grubs

Chafer grubs are the larvae of the chafer beetle. They can cause problems on any grassed area including lawns by feeding on the roots of grass plants.
The adults range from 9 to 39 mm in length and have different coloured heads and wings cases. The adults emerge between the end of May and July depending on the weather conditions in spring. They may feed on shrubs and trees before laying the eggs into grassed areas.
Larvae hatch about 2 weeks later and begin to feed on grass roots until late September when they move deeper into the soil where they pass the winter. The larvae have white bodies curved in letter C shape, light brown heads, with 3 pairs of legs.
When the larvae are small they do not cause much damage to grass unless they are in very high numbers. As they grow bigger, they cause more damage. Symptoms may appear as straw-coloured weak areas of grass, where the roots have been damaged. In most cases the larvae are discovered when birds or mammals, such as badgers or foxes, begin to rip up areas of the turf looking for the grubs. They are a protein filled delicacy to birds and mammals, which can destroy large areas when looking for them.
It is very difficult to prevent chafer larvae being laid into the lawn. Females prefer moist conditions and so the lawn should not be watered if adult activity is noted. However, where larvae are present the lawn should be kept well watered to try and counteract the grass from dying due to drought as a result of a weaker root system. In most cases all that can be done is to employ bird and mammal deterrents and tidy up any damage caused.
The larvae can be controlled by removing them by hand or applying a biological nematode product, which can be applied from late July until October. Soil temperatures are not high enough in spring for the nematodes to be active.

On other areas of the course bunker renovation continued.

And we had a lot of work to do at the side of the 22nd green as the the railway authorities had 'trimmed' trees on the boundary of the course. In fact they had made a poor job and the debris had scattered over the course, we had to re cut alot of the branches as many were ripped and split. They were tidied and the debris removed, next autumn we will get our contractor to use the flail to tidy all the hedge row up. Hoping it will regrow to form a natural looking hedgerow.

Over the weekend we managed to miss the snow the seemed to fall all around us, for once we were fortunate and the course remained playable even though the temperatures were sub zero most of the time. The cold weather unfortunately has meant more damage by the badgers. It really disappointing and frustrating that they insist on ripping up the course, however it is their natural instinct to search for food, especially when they think winter is still here. When the temperature rises they should stop ripping up turf and we can repair the damage. Another issue we discovered this morning is the golfer damage on the 5th green, a number of club marks were left around the hole cup, and the hole cup has been damaged. Golfers should take care of the course, accidental damage is sometimes unavoidable, however purposeful damage is unacceptable. Can I please remind all golfers, that they are responsible for repairing pitch marks, divots and to rake bunkers after playing a shot every time they play.

On a more positive note we are looking like we are getting a little closer to summer golf, we brushed and cut the tees today ready for them going on to the summer tees on Thursday. The tees were brushed to remove worm casts and brush up the grass, then cut with the tees mower at 13mm.

We also started taking in the hoops and ropes now the course has dried up somewhat. The rest of the team started the spring bunker renovation, this involves shimming around the edge of the bunker, strimming the edges so they are defined, checking and pushing sand to ensure even distribution, making note where extra sand is needed, brushing the sand from the sides and finally raking.

 Start

 Finish

It's supposed to be spring!!!

The weather outside today certainly doesn't feel like it, a strong easterly wind coupled with cold temperatures made it feel more like January than nearly April. There is also snow forecast for tonight! Work on the course is turning more towards preparation for the golfing season, this week we have edged all the brickwork around tees, bridges, steps, shelters and pathways. We have also completed cutting all the hedgerows, a long job which Will has made a fantastic job of. Machinery servicing is also coming to an end, with only one of our back up greens mowers to complete, again most of the winter servicing has been done 'in house' by Adam and Rob, with over 40 units to relief grind, change bottom blades and service they have worked well to ensure we are ready to go when the weather finally picks up. With the course drying and the forecast looking bleak we cut greens, with the triple mower at 4.5mm, surrounds at 10mm and started cutting fairways, currently set at 14mm. There is not much growth but tidies the course and adds definition.

As you can see on the last picture we are still having problems with badgers searching for food. In regards to this we are planning to apply the insecticide to effected areas at the start of April which should treat infestations of Chafer Grubs. During the next week we are going to tidy the area where the hedge was remove at 18 and 19 with adding soil and removing any high points that could prove difficult to cut. We are also going to solid tine the greens before they are dressed with sand for the first time this year. The tines are only 8mm diameter and are 200mm long, after this process you wont be able to see any effects of our work as sand is worked into the holes, creating a smooth surface. Although on the surface the work may not be seen, punching holes into the soil profile aerates the soil, opening up space for roots to develop and creates an environment for healthy growth. Aeration is an essential part of our maintenance program. Also during the next few weeks we will fertilise and sand the recently levelled tees, to ensure they remain level.

Over the weekend we had 35mm of rain which left the course saturated, the drainage we have recently installed is certainly getting tested. A lot of the water was stood on fairways and in the semi which has highlighted further areas where the drainage system needs to be improved in the coming years.

The staff worked tirelessly pushing off water where they could, greens and surrounds have to be the priority areas as they can determine weather the course is open or closed when the rest of the course is borderline. This morning I was expecting the worst after seeing the water stood on the course yesterday, however I was quite surprised about how the majority of the course had dried enough to allow play. There were however areas that were still saturated and unplayable, we managed to open 13 holes with work being carried out on the others to remove water from traffic areas. With the wet areas being on sloped ground buggies were not allowed on the course due to health and safety reasons.
The greens were drying throughout the day, we cut the practice green with the hand mower to tidy any growth

We have continued with machine servicing and in the afternoons started to repair some badger damage

Friday brought contrasting weather, overnight the remaining snow had thawed leaving a milder morning. We prepared the course for a North Yorkshire School Golf tournament, cutting the greens with the John Deere mower, at a height of 4.5mm, raked the bunkers and set the markers forward. All the holes were moved, we put out new flags and cups, these area changed every year as they wear. New cups were also put in the putting green and the practice green and holes moved. We put out new flags on the range and re set the hole cups. We have saved some of the better hole cups for any temporary greens we will need next winter. Sprinkler heads were all cut around ready for irrigation checks next week. Machinery servicing continues with the trail gang mowers being stripped down, reground and new bottom blades installed. The 19th hedge is now finished, there is the hedge between 19th and the range just to complete.

In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the worse, and turned to rain, fortunately the school golf tournament was completed. Over night the rain turned heavier and due to flooded and saturated ground conditions the course was unplayable this morning and was closed. Next week we will start repairing the badger damage on holes 5 and 6, complete hedge cutting and start bringing in some of the ropes and hoops from the course, depending on ground conditions the summer markers may be put back on to the summer tees. The greens staff also have a first aid training update on Monday.

Snow in march!.......again

Unfortunately the snow that fell on Wednesday had not totally thawed this morning due to a severe frost, we managed to open 15 holes at 10.15am when the snow had melted enough to make the course safe for play.

The cold weather has brought badgers back on to the course searching for food which has caused significant damage on holes 5 and 6, this will be repaired, starting next week. We hope to apply the insecticide to reduce further damage when the weather is suitable.
With the course frozen we have made good progress with machinery servicing and staining of tee bins, seats and finished off hazard posts and benches, work that often goes unnoticed, however is essential to keep the course well presented.

If the weather improves next week we will concentrate on irrigation checks, setup and maintenance, repairing damage on the course and hopefully finish off cutting the hedges.

March snow

This week the forecast has reverted back to the winter chills that we are use to in January not March. The weather at this time of the year can be very unpredictable, unfortunately easterly winds have brought cold air in from the North Sea bring snow showers and sub zero temperatures. The course was closed today, there wasn't a great amount of snow but enough to stop play. Looking at the forecast it could be a similar story for the next couple of days at least.

Work doesn't stop for the green staff the team has been busy repairing and servicing machinery and staining benches, and making hazard posts now all the markers have been finished, ready for the start of the season.

Stump grinding

After 3 days of constant grinding Adam and Alistair have finally completed removing all the remaining stumps. It took nearly 2 days just to remove all the hedgerow stumps from 18 and 19, the effort to keep the machine going constantly from 7.30am to 4.00pm every day hasn't gone un noticed, the result is very tidy and has caused minimal disruption. This is a specialist piece of equipment we hired fro Beaver Plant Hire near Stamford Bridge so we wanted to use it with efficiency in mind to maximise its use.

 

Job done

Grinding at 14th

 

 



Fertiliser applications

This week we are concentrating on the spring fertiliser applications to fairways, semi, worn areas, greens and surrounds. Firstly we have applied some potassium nitrate to semi rough areas around greens that have worn and got trampled through out winter. The potassium nitrate is an instantly available form of nitrogen so works at low temperatures with quick response on the turf. As it is instantly available it is applied at low rates, we applied a 13-0-46 at 15g/m. This could last up to 6 weeks, however we will reapply as and when needed.

We also have been applying a slow release fertiliser to all fairways. This is a 5 month controlled release 24-5-10 granular fertiliser.It is only applied once per season in spring, releasing when conditions for growth are more favourable, although there is a portion of initial release within the product. This will ensure the fairways receive the nutrition they require for healthy growth without peaks and troughs of growth. The 24-5-10 product was applied at 25g/m. We also used this fertiliser around greens where growth can be sporadic and in the same worn areas as we spread the potassium nitrate. The idea being we have the initial kick of growth with a longer release for a continual  dense sward around the greens.

 15th yesterday

9th today

Tomorrow we will be applying a 4-0-8 +iron granular fertiliser to greens and surrounds at 30g/m which will provide 12kg/N/ha. This product is ammoniacal nitrogen, ideal for use at lower temperatures but with a safer release compared to potassium nitrate.

Other jobs currently under way are hedge cutting, which is still ongoing, currently working around the 18th green.

We also have a stump grinder here for a few days grinding out the stumps from the hedge between 18 and 19, also the stumps that were left from the tree work carried out last week.



Tree work

The 9th green drain is now complete, turf put back yesterday morning so the green is now back in play. All the new drains will need a roll to smooth out the surface, then topdressing out with sand to help recovery.

Hopefully this drain will save a lot of work pushing water off this green, it also will help the health of the turf. If puddling is still an issue following heavy rain then further drains may be installed, parallel to this one. We hope to hire a trencher or have contractors install further drains if needed as digging them by hand is very time consuming and difficult, although the team have made an excellent job of the ones they have done.
We have been concentrating on tree work for the last two days removing dead, dying and unwanted trees across the course ready for the stump grinder which is arriving on Monday. In total we have removed around 20 trees, a number of them were cherry trees which we have found are dying off over the last few years.

7th hole 

We have removed some trees from the edge of the wooded area left of the 14th hole as they are starting to block out the vision to the whole of the green from the centre of the fairway. When the trees are in leaf the problem is far worse, a good tee shot to the corner of this dog leg was often punished, hopefully the work we have done will make it fairer for golfers without making to much of an impact to the woodland.

We are going to start fertilising the fairways next week so we started cutting them to tidy up any growth there is and improve presentation.

 1st

11th