We'll done to all you winners

Prize night tonight, well done to all the members that have won competitions/ trophies this year, a long season of golf comes to a close. As we head in to the winter golf season it can become a little more unpredictable, today the wind was howling across the course spreading leaf litter once more. It's a tireless job, on Wednesday the course was completely cleared now it looks like we haven't been out all week. On Monday we will start once more. Each week that passes is a step closer to the end of the leaf fall season. Yesterday we applied the 2-0-10 fertiliser to greens and surrounds, as this takes effect they will improve in colour, we tried to cut them today however the fertiliser hadn't broken down enough and caused blackening on the 9th so we will hold off until next week. 

Tining cont.

We have been making good progress with tining of fairways. 1-9 fairways are complete, yesterday we blew the tined fairways off before cutting them to tidy the surface and smooth down any areas disturbed by tining. 

We also have completed micro tining of 1-9 greens, rolling after. 

Today work continues of fairways and greens on 10-18, along with leave collection and hedge cutting.

Tomorrow a granular fertiliser (2-0-10) will be applied to the greens with 10% slow release iron to harden and give colour to the grass in cooler conditions. 

Tining

Today with 1-9 closed we started routine tining of greens and fairways. The greens were micro tined with 8mm tines to a depth of 100mm they will be rolled once we have finished to smooth the surface and shouldn't effect play. Tonight is forecast a severe frost so we might have to delay continuation of micro tining in the morning. 

We started slit tining fairways, this process involves slicing the turf using a tractor mounted slitter we have done them twice using 2 different machines to give the desired result, they will look slightly messy and disrupted until we roll, blow and cut them once finished. Slit tining will create new rooting creating more growth in spring. 

We also have been continuing with hedge cutting and blowing leaves on 1-9 

Mow-vember

As the wintery showers rolling in off the east coast begin we are still out on the course making it as playable as possible. Today the weather has been dry enough to get out with a triple to cut the greens, we're cutting at 4.5 mm bench setting, so slightly lower on the greens. Still looking and playing well, we will turn to the hand mower as soon as conditions dictate. 

We have also started putting in another drain on the right hand 13th green bunker. 

This will be finished tomorrow. 

An open drain has been installed to the left of the 10th green in a wet spot

Earlier in week Adam worked on some tee sprinklers ensuring the system works when we need it

14th bunker drain

As the weather is turning colder the leaves are falling fast, hopefully after this week the majority will have fallen and collected up. It's a continuous task for the staff up to christmas. We hope now that we are on top of it. Other work on the course has included tidying up after the hedge cutting contractor, will is now beginning the task of hand cutting all the areas that can't be reached by the machine. Adam has continued with tee sprinkler replacement and we have moved on to the 14th first fairway bunker to install drainage.

Ready for pipe and stone now, more to follow!

9th bunker completion

This morning the 9th fairway bunker drain was completed, originally the drain was dug with a large bucket on an excavator so a lot of stone was needed to fill the void. Normally a narrower trench is all that is required, say 150 - 200mm wide, the trench we uncovered was over 400mm wide, goes without saying it should have no problem draining now.

A cracking job, next week on to the 13th and 14th bunkers

After the vertidraining of fairways it was time to give the weidenmann a little TLC. It was washed down, cleaned and inspected for wear and damage. The machine is designed to be very durable however constant use for a month takes its toll.

Heres a small selection of the repairs, in total 3 springs, a reweld of worn supports, numerous bolts, 2 catches, 2 pins, a damaged tine holder and adjustment of height supports. This is expected to some degree and not all caused just by vertidraining fairways, but by general use over the life of the machine.

On the plus side the vertidraining of the greens in September has given space for new root development as seen in the picture below.

 

9th bunker drain

This week we have Neville Maw, our ever trusted hedge cutting contractor here to cut all the courses hedges rnd ditch sides. Neville comes every November to work on the course for 3 days, he does a fantastic job and knows the course well. This is a job we cant take on in house as we do not have the equipment. Once Neville has finished Will then cuts any areas that cant be reached with the flail.
As leaf collection continues but vertidraining of fairways has finished we have started to look at smaller tasks which can improve the course as a whole. Today we started to look at the drain in the first 9th fairway bunker, as this bunker is quick to stand water during rain. Adam and Alistair first had to inspect the existing drain, find why it is not draining correctly, then correct the problem.

 Removing the sand

 Inspecting the problem, which turned out to be contaminated sand/soil resting on the old teram

 Digging out the soil/sand

 Uncovering the clean stone under the teram

topping up with clean stone

to be finished on Thursday.............

Drain on the 8th green

A small project but an area on the 8th green that constantly stands water needed attention.

 The 8th green after heavy rain last year, during constant rain water gathers in an area on the right of this picture.

We installed a drain around and into the bunker last winter which we have extended on to the front of the green.

Drainage about to start

Tapping into the existing pipework

 Filling with rootzone

Finally relaying the turf, and tidying the site.

Else where vertidraining of the fairways continues, with only 1 and a half fairways remaining on the 1-18 course.

Great views from the 3rd fairway

First frost

Its arrived, the first frost of the winter, minus 2 this morning, so the only course maintenance we could do is blow bits off the greens.

It finally cleared at 10am form the ladies shotgun competition. After the weekend there were a few areas where water had gathered causing damage to the turf after golfers had played, these were sanded and ropes/ hoops put out where needed.

This afternoon the sun was shining so we took advantage and cut greens and surrounds and moved holes on 10-27 holes which will be the 18 hole course for Tues, Wed and Thurs.

Leaf collection is still our priority although work is starting on the lane in preparation for the hedge cutting contractor, we will also be installing some small sections of drainage where we have identified problem areas.

Not feeling like November

Were into November and we haven't had a frost or any sign of really wintery weather as yet, this on the positive side has helped the condition of the course. The grass is still growing, albeit slowly, its green and definition is still great. The greens have performed really well as late with a lot of positive comments from members and visitors recently. They are currently being cut at 4mm(bench setting) with the triple mowers, ground conditions have dictated that the use of the triples is still possible without causing any damage to the turf. Usually when we come into the winter period we need to use the hand mower and raise height of cut a little more to protect the turf. On the downside the mild weather is causing high disease pressure, creating worm castings which make isolated areas messy and there are a lot of leaves which are falling slowly but surely and being blown around the course by the recent strong winds.
From the 1st November the white tees are for competition only, we will still use the summer grass tees until the weather does go downhill. Next week we will start the routine closure of loops of 9 holes, this for course maintenance, resting 9 holes and to encourage members to use the 19-27 hole course more. Next week 1-9 will be closed Tues, Wed and Thurs.

On Friday we had a afternoon of very wet weather, with a couple of puddles of water standing on the 12th green we are considering looking at the drainage on this green, with a possibility of installing another drain.