Aeration of surrounds and approaches

Last week we continued with the aeration programme for this winter by starting on the surrounds and approaches. These are done with 12mm tines at a similar spacing to the greens which were previously done. Around the greens perimeter was done a couple of times to relieve as much compaction as possible and then the front of the green to about 20 yards short of the putting surface. The rescue application on the surrounds is now showing clearly any rye that was in the surrounds. Larger patches can be seen on a few of the surrounds however these will fill in over time. Unfortunately the short term look is not great. 

The leaves are falling thick and fast so clearance is difficult to keep up with. Greens are the main priority to clear before cutting but everywhere is blown at some point. 

The greens on holes 19-27 have been slit tined twice over. Then had lawn sand applied to reduce the moss on them. Lawn sand is a mix of iron sulphate, ammonium sulphate and sand as a method of spreading the mixture evenly across the turf. 

Holes 1-18 have had a 4-0-8 fertiliser applied to the greens giving around 10kg of nitrogen and help to strengthen then going into winter. This fertiliser also contains iron to deter moss. 

Fairways 10, 15, 16, 18 have had a winter fertiliser applied to them as these are the weakest fairways come spring. It's a slow release fertiliser that will assist in strengthening the turf through the cooler winter months.