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.
