Lots to catch up on

Over the past couple of weeks we have been very busy now we are finally seeing some consistent growth. As mentioned on the previous blog the weather took a turn for the worse after what was a dry and warm start to the golfing year. Cool, dry and breezy weather came down from a northerly direction for around a week, which knocked the grass back. Coverage was good but there was no real growth and definition disappeared. We especially noticed the poa in the greens and worn areas go downhill quickly, looking pale and weak, poa really struggles when those conditions prevail as its shallow rooted and needs wet and warm weather to thrive. Fortunately since then the weather, if still dry is getting warmer.

We managed to apply some sand to the greens, essentially this is to smooth out any wear from the winter play, pitch marks have been especially bad this winter as we were only closed for 3 days and the course received a lot of play. Applying sand also helps dilute thatch accumulations, for anyone not knowing what I'm referring to when I talk about thatch, its essentially dead material from grass clippings and leaf regeneration that builds up on the surface of the sward. Overtime this will create a layer of organic matter which is spongy and limits water penetration, root growth and can effect disease likelihood, to name a few. Thatch, in my opinion is one of the biggest green keeping challenges as it effects a number of different maintenance practices we carry out. Balancing the amount of thatch in the greens is critical in maintaining healthy greens. The sand applications or topdressing help add non organic matter and dilute the organic matter as its deposited. Naturally the more the grass grows the more the likelihood of accumulations, hence the reason we apply more sand during the growing season. Applying sand during maintenance weeks differs to a light topdressing as heavy applications are put on to the surfaces during maintenance which are to be brushed into holes and aid the drainage ability of the soil, light topdressing put on the surface is merely to be worked into the sward. The application put on in April used around 15 tonnes of sand over 30 greens whereas August maintenance uses around 120 tonnes.

The 16th ditch is now complete and the main section is in play. The short section and the recently turfed areas are still GUR.

The irrigation contractors have now installed the well which will house the fill pumps, The well was installed next to the 24th pond. the excavated soil has been placed in the trees near the 25th bank until it dries completely and can be covered and seeded.

We are now fully testing sprinklers around the course, there are a number of sprinklers which will need replacing as they are either damaged, leaking or worn. This is to undertaken by the green staff. Now we have a fantastic irrigation system to deliver water where we need it we are trying to make the existing sprinklers as efficient as they can be. The irrigation system is being used regularly to water in fertiliser, keep moisture levels up and dampen sand dressing to make cutting cleaner. It is however still hand operational only until the pc controller is installed.

The greens have been sprayed again with fertiliser, porthcawl, magnesium and iron to aid density. Cutting heights will be lowered over the next week, we are still at 4.5mm bench setting as I'm haven't been happy with general growth as previously mentioned. Cutting lower would only increase the problem. I expect to lower the height to 3.8mm over the next 2 weeks.

The photo below shows the problems we face as greenkeepers in providing top quality turf when trees are in close vicinity to greens, although tis area receives ample irrigation it struggles every year due to shade rooting and competition from the tree. Something I'm keen to address in the future.

We are spraying some areas on the course for weeds, mainly daisies, buttercups and dandelions, which seem particularly bad this year. I'm only spraying longer areas of grass as the land is so dry there maybe a risk of scorch, plus we have a contractor coming to do the fairways in May.