16th ditch update

The start of another week and we are now well underway with the ditch that is crossing the 16th hole. Last week we started the piped in section, this runs across the front of the 15th ladies and then will connect to the outlet pipe which is underground at the rear of the ladies tee and runs tot he 14th ditch. The outlet pipe is the same pipe which takes the water from the ditch at the 17th and the 18th tee ditches.

The reason we are installing the ditch is to aid the drainage potential in that area. We have had serious drainage issues, not just in this particular area but across the 14th, 15th tee 16th green 17th green and 18th tee. The reason for this is a layer of heavy clay around 400mm below ground level, above and below this layer of clay the soil is fairly sandy. Unfortunately through winter as the soil reaches saturation point due to increased levels of rainfall, the water has no where to drain off to and sits on top of the layer of clay and the water table rises quickly. We have made great progress into draining other areas such as the 17th green area and the 18th tee area. There we installed similar ditches which has given the excess water some where to go and allows the water table to remain lower than before. Those areas have certainly been more playable through the last couple of winter and we are confident this ditch will do the same. It also gives us the option to install more lateral drains into the ditch where needed.

Alistair and Sam are making a great job shaping the initial levels, from this we will finish the sides with rootzone and it will be turfed when time allows. We have now filled in 3 more bunkers with the waste soil. The 3 bunkers between the 18th and 27th fairways have been removed, trees will eventually be planted here and a bunker re-positioned somewhere on the 18th.

Tomorrow Eddie Ruddocks company, Energytek are installing two winter tees, one on the 3rd tee and one on the 7th tee. These are the 2 worst winter tee areas during winter as they are both on slopes making it difficult to find a level teeing ground. They are taking control of all of the installation, using some of the practice outdoor tee this year to trial and gauge feedback before committing to others.

Else where all the fairways and tees have been sprayed ( apart from the 4 driest ) for weeds, combined with a liquid feed. They were well overdue an application of selective weedkiller but due to the weather and time we have not had the chance up to now.