Irrigation update #3

The installation on holes 1-9 is now complete, they are awaiting another contractor to come and undertake the road crossing at the rear of the 11th green. Yesterday, today and tomorrow they are tidying all work done so far, rolling and repairing all damaged areas where the pipe has been pulled in.

They have finished just in front of the 10th tee, where they will be resuming next week, starting on holes 10-18. There are a couple of smaller diameter pipe 'legs' to go in around the 9th green and 1st tees, these will be done when ploughing in the 18th green and 10th tees.

 Holes 10-18 will be closed from 30th January to 3rd February.

With the recent weather been mostly dry damage has been minimal so far, rain is forecast over the next few days, hopefully this will not be too influential to the installation. The concrete for the tank bases has been delayed due to the low temperatures.

Colin, the greens chairman has been busy once again constructing some oak sleeper bins that we are going to put out onto the course to help reduce litter and mess created by squirrels and crows. We will put them out, hopefully during the next few weeks. They will be positioned away from the regular cut areas but where golfers can access them. They are heavy and will be placed on a concrete slab, so moving them to cut will not be easy.

The Air2G2 aeration machine is still working through all 30 greens pumping air into the substructure, with the recent cold weather its been slower than hoped, however its hire is based per green rather per day so we will do them once conditions are right. Doing them during frosty or severely frozen conditions could do damage to the green or machine. Currently a third of the greens are complete.

Machinery servicing and refurbishing summer markers continues.

Irrigation Update #2

At the end of last week the irrigation contractors reached their intended target, completing the mains pipe installation on holes 2-7. This section of pipework overall went well and the tidying up continues around the trenches this week, The only area where a number of large boulders were dragged near the surface was a 100m section from next to the 5th tee to the back of the 6th green. These will have to be dug out using the excavator at a later date.

All the irrigation on holes 1-9 will have to be connected up and the valves installed once the weather deteriorates. This week they are continuing with the next section from the 8th tee running down the 1st hole and across the 9th fairway heading for the 9th green. This will complete the 1-9 installation of mains pipe. 

Next week they hope to start on 10-18, weather dependent. 

The road crossing from behind the 8th tee to the 2nd was always going to be a difficult one. There is a mains water pipe, electricity, telephone and possibly gas pipes running very close to the road. The road is also covered in tarmac so the trencher cant simply dig through it. All the services have to be found and exposed by hand, a access hole has to be dug either side of the road to allow a bore in to go under the road. Tunneling under the road will allow the access to be unaffected and hopefully leave the services in tact, all this work is being undertaken by the contractors.

Elsewhere on the course we have cut and rolled greens and we have started using an air injection machine to decompact and aerate the greens substructure. The machine injects air via 3 probes which penetrate 30cm before releasing 4 BAR of pressure, we use a 60cm x 60cm spacing pattern to ensure all the green is covered evenly . This impact of air aids better root growth, increases drainage and will hopefully give the aeration without the need for surface disruption. We have the means of aerating the greens using our own equipment however we cant get the depth this machine reaches, therefore continually aerating at the same depth could create a pan where water will penetrate more slowly. This machine is on hire until we have completed all 30 greens.

All debris from the windy weather we had recently has been tidied, sycamore keys have been quite bad and are very difficult to tidy, the only method that is effective is by using back pack blowers to work them into the semi rough.

Irrigation update #1

As the irrigation contractors start to work on the course I aim to give regular updates on the progress they are making and how there work is effecting the course and play.

They started on Monday this week pulling in the pipework on the course, they have begun the stretch of pipework running from the 3rd green to the right of the 2nd hole where it will cross under the road.  As mention previously this is going to be the most challenging section as its very hard ground with underlying limestone. The contractors knew this before they began, however what we didn't know, and was virtually impossible to know is how inconsistent the land is. In one area it can be over a meter before stone is reached, other areas around 30cm. This makes it very difficult for the mole plough to work consistently. As you can see below

this is a stretch running from the 3rd control box to the 4th green, where the soil is reasonable.

This is 10 meters later where we have to pass nearby trees. Soil depths are a lot more shallow.

The contractors will repair damage done by the machine and roll down the 'heave' once finished and when conditions are suitable.


Every time a section of pipe comes to an end a hole has to be dug so the pipe can be fusion welded together, this will be every 100 meters for the 110mm and 90mm pipe they are installing on holes 2-7.
These holes will have to be left open until the installation of the pipe is complete. Please take care when playing around them, they are all roped off for safety, however, if your golf is effected by them please take free relief, that also includes any damaged ground made by the irrigation machines. We cant mark all areas on the course as the works will continue for a number of week, possibly months.

At the side of the mens 5th tee (their current position) they are coming across boulders which are very large, which have to be removed by excavator. Progress has been hampered due to the ground conditions. I will reiterate this will be the worst area on the course for damage because of the stone.

When they are passing a control box they will have to reconnect all the pipework as new valves and boxes are being fitted, so they again will leave these holes open with control wire looped ready for connection which is not live and will not cause any danger.

Due to the work on holes 1-9 they will remain closed for the remainder of this week and possibly the start of next week. Please speak to the pro shop for regular updates and for further information regarding hole closure.

Any question please feel free to ask on here or send to greenkeeper@mngc.co.uk

A belated happy new year

Firstly apologies for the lack of blogging, im having a few technical issues with a new phone, resorting back to my old methods I can bring everyone an update on whats been going on here on the course. Firstly last week we had some snowfall, the first of the winter, it was only a couple of centimeters however it was enough to cause a little disruption. We had to close the course for the morning until we got sufficient melt to allow play to start.

Since we have come back from our Christmas break machinery servicing and concentrating on painting summer markers has been our main objective. The team are doing really well and we are coming to the end of the markers, however there are more pieces of course furniture to bring in and stain/ paint, which isnt too bad as we have a couple of staff members carrying injuries at the moment. Our greens chairman is helping make some fixed bins which we hope will solve the litter issues which comes from the open wire bins we currently have on the course.

The machinery servicing schedule is going well we have completed a few of the smaller machines, repairing where needed and checking all moving parts for wear and tear to ensure they are ready to last another season without too many issues. All oils and filters are replaced and all cutting units are sharpened 'in house'. As time goes by the machines get to a point where servicing and running costs out weigh the cost of replacement, sometimes older machines become inefficient and labour intensive compared to some of the newer machines which are available nowadays. So when planning a replacement schedule I look at the overall running costs and how we can maximise the labour we have available.

Hedge cutting and shrub pruning is continuing

The irrigation installation is underway, the base for the tanks has been excavated and the hardcore is being transported in preparation for the concrete to be poured. We have removed a section of hedge to allow access to the range without making to much mess around the range entrance. The pipework is being stretched out to prevent it snagging during installation. This will be pulled out on to the course so its ready to be ploughed in. Their starting point is on holes 2-7, this is going to be the most difficult area of the course as its very stoney and the topsoil is very shallow in places. Once the crossing point is reached ( between the 2nd hole and the 11th green ) the going should be easier. All control boxes are to be replaced and new valve sets to be installed. The contractors are aware of the ground conditions and any damage made will be reinstated as best possible. Further updates will be posted later this week. Holes 1-9 will be closed for a number of days until the work is complete. Again further updates will be posted as to hole closure and information will  be passed to the pro shop.  The range may also have closures to protect staff safety during transportation of materials.