21st Tee levelling

This week we are working on levelling the 21st tee, which has become increasingly un-level due to settlement. Once all the existing turf was lifted (to be used elsewhere), new levels were established and work began levelling the sub soil.

Once we had a suitable base, root zone material was brought in.

 To ensure we get the final tee surface as level as possible, with the equipment we have available, we make a perfectly level perimeter. Here's Adam and Alistair installing the wooden guides.

Then the root zone material is spread across the tee and levelled ready for turfing

Turfing

Today we lifted the turf from the 21st tee so it will be ready for the excavator to begin levelling the subsoil next week.

The best of the turf was used at the 13th to renovate an area of worn, thin turf by the front bunker

Today we also raked the bunkers, moved the holes, switched the greens and started hand cutting the hedge around the 19th tee.

13th front bunker renovations and cutting greens

Yesterday we started yet another bunker renovation. This time we were just patching the face on the bunker front of the 13th green.This face has always suffered in summer when it get burnt off due to poor growth and rabbits dig at the bare ground.

The old turf was stripped off and the soil was prepared for the new turf.

New turf was then laid

Only a little left to do, unfortunately the weather turned very wet today so we will finish turfing when it dries up

Yesterday we also continued with hand cutting greens

After all the aeration done in October the greens are settling back down nicely 

Today we made a start hand cutting the greens as the frost had come out of the ground, we will finish these off next week. We raked all the bunkers, the 9th third fairway bunker is now back in play after having a new drain installed, Scott also made a start spraying the fairways with sulphate of iron to help control moss. 19 - 27 fairways will be finished next week. All the holes have been moved for the weekend. Next week we will be doing some small turfing jobs on the 13th and 5th, finishing spraying fairways and hand cutting greens. The turf will be lifted of the 21st tee ready for levelling the following week.

Bunker work finished at 13th and 15th

Today the weather was much improved, so we finished off the construction of the two bunkers at 13 and 15 that we started before the frosty weather. Before laying the turf we prepared the soil.

With all the turf laid and pegged the finished bunker looks fantastic. Once we get closer to the growing season the green will be extended closer to the bunker at the front of the green.

The small pot bunker we have created at the back of the green is designed to be hidden when on the fairway approaching the green. A nasty surprise awaiting any stray shots to the green! 

We also finished the 13th green side bunker, turf was just left to lay on the face and on the surrounding mounds

Great job lads!

Today the frost was still in the ground first thing so we continued on with machinery servicing, tree pruning, updating risk assessments and H & S files and the normal daily duties of moving tee markers, switching (where possible) and moving hoops around greens. Today we had a delivery of turf to finish the bunker surrounds tomorrow. Hopefully the frost will have lifted enough in the morning to get all the holes moved as we have not had chance recently due to the weather.

The last couple of days has brought back very cold weather, the work we started on 13 and 15 has had to be put on hold until the ground thaws. As we cant do any construction work, we have continued with servicing of machines, painting of tee markers and tree pruning. The next few days forecast is to warm slightly so hopefully we can get the bunkers turfed and tidied up. As the ground is currently frozen members have to take care around the course not to cause injury to themselves or to cause any unnecessary damage to the course.