http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/clubhouse/2017-ungated/10-17-ungated/five-things-to-know-about-trees-on-golf-courses.html
This week we are making great progress with the rough management, nearly all the long rough has been cut down, along with some longer areas of intermediate rough. Leaves are starting to fall thick and fast, so we are out on a daily basis with the back pack and tractor mounted blowers. The leaf collector is also being used as and when possible on a morning.
We had another period of windy weather which brought down a number of larger branches and a couple of smaller trees, fortunately one of the trees was dying and probably the reason why it was weaker than it should have been.
With most of the debris tidied we are now concentrating efforts on tidying uncut bits of long rough and around trees which cant be accessed with the amazone. These areas are strimmed or will be cut with a smaller mower. This is a long process but will ensure we keep the course in the best possible condition going into winter. Leaving areas of rough makes leaf collection difficult. A long reach pruning saw will be needed in some areas to make collection easier in the future.
We are also starting to spray fairways with soluble iron, this will help deter worm activity, also strengthen the sward heading into winter. I'm normally not over keen on applying high amounts of iron to turf as it can lead to black layer as high iron levels limits natural aerobic activity, however it does lower the pH as iron sulphate is relatively acidic. The lower the pH the less worm activity we will hopefully see. I have tried a number of expensive worm suppressants with very limited results so applying iron is a very inexpensive way of trying to improve the turf. We will continue to apply treatments until weather conditions deteriorate. The greens have also been sprayed with a mix of amino acids and biostimulants with a very small amount of Nitrogen mixed in.
Unfortunately there are a number of areas that are getting a little sticky and cutting is making them look even worse. At the moment we cutting on a needs/ must basis, picking dry days and ground conditions to cut where needed. Its a difficult balance to keep the course tidy without making more damage than we need to, the team are doing a fantastic job to deal with an ever changing challenge. On a positive note the work we do to the greens on an annual basis seems to proving a success as the greens surfaces are healthy and performing ok. Due to the wet year there is a little moss on some of the wetter/shaded greens and the remnants of a little fusarium that was knocking around a few weeks ago. We have since sprayed a fungicide so there is no new activity, this will be monitored over the coming weeks. Nights and mornings are drawing in so most mornings the team are out with torches and lights on the machines, its essential we still start work early to ensure the course is checked, set up and ready for the days play. Please note the course information line will be updated at 7.30 at the latest from 1st November (currently 7.00am)
