A little more please

Just as we are getting used to this fantastic weather it looks like there is a change on the way. The persistent high that has given us dry warm and settled weather for the last couple of weeks is slipping away to a series of weak weather fronts which will bring cooler, windier and wetter weather. The course has started to get a drier look, browning off in places and firming up. 

The irrigation system has been used on a night to irrigate greens and tees. E. T. Rates have been high especially over the last few days so water needs to be replaced, using the irrigation computer we can control the amount of water on each green and tee. Some areas need more than others, daily checks are made and adjustments made.

Over the last week we have been spraying weeds on fairways and semi rough, cutting bunker faces, divoting tees, tidying areas with the strimmer, grooming greens and regular cutting of the main playing areas. Overall the course is looking good and with a bit more good weather should keep on top of all cutting.

Tree work

Lovely dry weather has given us a little bit of time to catch up on a few of those jobs that we have been in able to complete due to time restrictions. Grass growth has slowed so we have spent a little time on the low limbs on trees in the semi and deck rough areas. As the limbs grow and get fruit and increase their weight they drop too low and can cause possible damage to machines and staff. We select branches and limbs that need to be removed before pruning and shaping the trees. 

It is important to monitor tree growth in the growing season as well as in the winter as a trees canopy can look very different without the weight of leaves on them.

Copses have been cut and strimmed and areas across the course have been strimmed and tidied. 

All areas of decked rough has been cut and the greens have had an application of granular fertiliser applied. This is a base feed that will last around 2 months. We regularly top nitrogen levels up with routine spray applications containing nitrogen and growth regulator. 

Following application the irrigation was run to help integrate the fertiliser into the sward.

Overall the course remains in great condition and the team are still working hard to maintain playing standards to the highest quality with the 6 staff we have and for the size of course.

Well done to all the greens staff

A dry week

At last we have had a full dry week, it has made the world of difference. We started the week slightly damp, but with a good forecast ahead we started our cutting programme scheduled around two big competitions on tues and Wednesday getting the course in good shape on Monday was our first priority.

A full cut and tidy of bunkers coupled with hole moving and setting the course up for the following days play took care of that day. 

The next morning was beautiful, perfect for the rotary club competition

Double cutting is now routine practice, the course in really good shape and greens running smooth and at a good pace. 

Wednesday we had seniors open day, a very popular day at Malton and Norton, the course was again prepared and another double cut increased pace and a tidy of fairways surrounds and holes moved again. 

Work continued at pace on the derwent holes, filling bunkers with sand, strimming trees, cutting and hole moving. 

Once the big comps had finished we have tidied up some of the outstanding jobs on the welham 18 that weren't possible at the start of the week. We have now finished topping up all bunkers for now, more sand will be added towards the end of the year. 

We have sprayed the greens with wetting agent and fertiliser, watered in and sprayed select areas with selective weed killer. This will continue next week. 

Also small tidying jobs around the pro shop and in the copses on the course. 

Watering after fertiliser application. 

Thunderstorms

Unfortunately the picture below sums the weather up at the minute. Heavy rain and thunderstorms have passed over us throughout the weekend and this afternoon.

We were fairly lucky on Saturday as we escaped with only 6mm of rain, however this afternoon in the space of a couple of hours we have had nearly double that. 

We managed to get fairways, tees, greens, some semi and 10th ditch cut before the rain came. 

Now the greens are slightly softer please can I remind all golfers to repair pitch marks. 

A basic poster courtesy of bigga will be in the clubhouse soon, just as a reminder. 

Thank you 

This week we hope to finish strimming tree bases, get some more sand into a few of the low bunkers and sand a few of the wet areas on the course. 

The staff checked and adjusted sand distribution in the bunkers last week. From checking bunkers we have identified a number of bunkers which require sand to ensure the depth in the bunker is consistent. We use a sand called devilla. The Devilla sand is an waste product from glass production, however we have found it to be better than the old sand we used called bunkerite. The new sand drains better and compacts better over time. 

Just a quick update

Over the last 2 weeks we have now received around 100mm of rain. Given the quantities the course has stood up well and hasn't had to close throughout. It has been very wet at times but has drained down well. 

We have been trying to catch up on all cutting jobs, plus today we groomed greens and divoted tees. 

A dry cut makes all the difference and helps define the course. We have made good progress strimming tree bases and hopefully will get them finished next week. 

Either Or ??

At the moment we seem to get either fantastic days of warm sunshine or really wet, cool days which really test the patience of a greenkeeper. The last 3 days have been glorious, drying up the ground from last weeks rain. 

The greens are beginning to dry up again getting firmer on the surface and increasing in speed slightly. They look great and putt very smooth considering the rainfall last week. 

The rough and long rough areas are increasing in thickness and toughening up the course somewhat. My professional advice is 'to keep it on the short stuff' :)

Today we have been more productive, all staff are back off holidays, the turf is dry and the course relatively quiet, for Malton and norton anyway. 

Bunkers faces have been cut, bunkers raked, semi cut, tees cut, surrounds cut, greens sprayed with primo and fert and holes moved. 

The next few days look a little more unsettled so let's hope we can maintain productivity all week.