Course Update - March 2011

Since my last course update the greens have been aerated with 8mm diameter tines and lightly top-dressed with sand.

To help strengthen the sward and make it more resistant to stress and disease, an application of liquid iron has also been applied.

Liquid Iron Being Sprayed

Planned Work - Now that soil temperatures are heading in the right direction, the greens will shortly receive an application of fertiliser; this will promote some leaf growth and assist in smoothing putting surfaces.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to aerate with 8mm diameter tines and top-dress weekly with sand, this will encourage root development and help stimulate soil microbe activity. 

Greens 17 & 18, still have significantly high levels of thatch and will be hollow tined with slim 6mm hollow tines this week.  Removing some of the surface thatch and top dressing with sand will assist in breaking down the existing thatch layer and help firm putting surfaces.

Greens Height of Cut 5.5mm

Tees - The tees have recently all been hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines, this process helps relieve soil compaction, improves root development and assists further break-down of the thatch layer. We have also applied a Nitrogen/Potash based fertiliser to promote growth and enhance recovery. The tees have also been top dressed with sand to back fill the holes and to help restore surface levels.

 

Current Soil Temperature 8C

Irrigation System

Pressure & Testing The Irrigation System

Over the next few days we will be pressure testing the irrigation system to make sure the winter frosts have not damaged any pipe-work or valves.

The system is first tested manually and only when checks have been made to ensure that the pumps, sprinklers and valves are all working correctly, do we then test it automatically. 

Testing Putting Green Sprinklers

The system was designed and installed in 2000 and covers all greens, tees and approaches, the pumping station which is capable of delivering 130 gallons or 600 litres of water a  minute, means that four greenside sprinklers can be operated simultaneously.

The borehole, which was drilled last year, keeps the 28,000 gallon storage tank topped up. 

Finally, let's hope for a long hot summer and that the irrigation system is in constant use, unlike the past few summers.

Dutch Elm Disease - Video

Today, the last remaining diseased elm trees were felled by outside contractors, both these trees being well over 100 years old and probably the oldest remaining elm trees on the course. There are a number of self-seeding elm trees on the course, but unfortunately very few survive 20 years before succumbing to this disease.

To watch a short video on how we identifly this disease, click on Dutch elm disease in links.

Construction of New Fairway Bunkers on 16th

This winter, despite some difficult weather conditions, we have completed a number of construction projects on the course; these pictures below plot the progress of the new bunkers on the 16th fairway.

Excavating Bunkers

Shaping Base

Installing Drainage

Turfing Completed

Sand Added

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the greens staff for a tremendous team effort this winter, and for completing all the various projects to such a high standard, despite some exceptionally difficult weather conditions.

Well Done....

Check back for more updates on other projects.

Progress - Drainage - 4th Fairway

Despite the recent inclement weather, we have made excellent progress on installing the new drainage pipe on the 4th fairway; the new pipe-work is now in position and the inspection chamber has been constructed.

Tomorrow, we hope to make a start back-filling the trench and making the site tidy.

I have included these two photographs that were taken earlier today;

Water now flowing into the new inspection chamber

Drainage pipe installed and trench ready for back-filling

Drainage - 4th Fairway

It has become apparent that the main drainage pipe down the left-hand side of the 4th fairway has become blocked with tree roots, causing water to back up and flood the main landing area on the 4^th fairway.

Although we have repaired and cleaned out a number of sections of pipe over the last few winters, which has helped considerably, unfortunately after prolonged rainfall the water still backs up causing flooding on the fairway.

With this in mind, rather than continually digging up and repairing the existing pipe, we have decided to install another 150mm diameter solid pipe alongside the existing drainage pipe.  

We initially intend to install 50 meters of pipe-work this spring and construct an inspection chamber, so we can monitor flows and then decide if we need to extend the pipe-work further this autumn.

Trenching Started

Construction of Inspection Chamber

 

In the above photo you can see that the first 3 mt section of the more durable pipe (orange) has been installed and on the right the existing pipe (black). 
You can also see quite clearly the tree roots, which are continually blocking the existing black pipe.


Please Note * 

In order to create a safe working environment for the course staff during these excavations, the 4^th hole will be shorten and played as a par 3 between 6am and 2pm daily, until the works are completed.

Course Closure

Due to continued heavy rain both courses have been closed over the weekend and today.

Weather station as used by MGC & RGC

Following on from one of the wettest February's on record, we have already reached the monthly average rainfall for March (39mm), 20mm which has fallen in the last 72 hours.

Murrayfield 7th Green

Ravelston 8th Green

Murrayfield 14th Green

Let's hope tomorrow brings some better weather .....

Dutch Elm Disease

This week we have made a start to felling the six Elm trees that have been identified as being diseased with Dutch elm disease.

Each year Edinburgh Council surveys the whole city for diseased elms so that they can be removed in order to prevent the spread of the disease and minimise risks to public safety.

Elm Tree Identified For Felling

Like many fungal diseases the fungus only attacks the vascular cells, infecting and eventually blocking them, this prevents water movement to the crown of the tree, causing wilt, dieback and ultimately death.

Unlike the grass plant where the fungus is spread by the wind, grass cutting machinery and golfers, on Elm trees it is spread by Bark Beetles.

Unfortunately, the only way to prevent further spread of the disease is to fell the diseased tree and burn the infected wood and bark. 

Dutch Elm Affected Tree

This winter we will replant with a mixture of Oak and Beech trees as we have been advised that we should not replant with native elms, as they will almost inevitably succumb to Dutch elm disease as well.

Education & Conference Week

This week some members of staff attended the Scottish Greenkeepers Conference in Dunfermline, where leading industry speakers provided the latest information on turf management and greenkeeping techniques.

Speakers among others included Wentworth’s Chris Kennedy, Estate Manager who spoke on the rebuilding of the West Course and Jim McKenzie, Course Superintendent from Celtic Manor on his 2010 Ryder Cup experience.

On the same day the Head Greenkeeper and myself travelled down to John Deere UK headquarters in Nottingham, to attend a product launch and evaluation day. Where we were given the opportunity to view and comment on the latest John Deere hybrid turf maintenance machinery.

Hybrid technology combines conventional diesel power with electric motors to produce a quieter, more environmentally friendly machine. This advanced technology can reduce fuel consumption by 20% and  reduce operating costs considerably.

We both found the day extremely informative and educational. 

John Deere Greensmower

GCSAI Annual Conference 2011

 On Wednesday I flew out to Dublin to attend the Irish Golf Course Superintendents Conference in Trim, Co Meath. 

Key speakers included Greg Evans, Golf Course Consultant, Richard Hayden, Director of Operations at the Sports Turf Research Institute and from Texas University in USA, Professor James Beard, the leading world authority on turfgrass maintenance.

Professor Beard has authored over 300 scientific papers and over 500 technical articles and seven turfgrass maintenance books. Professor Beard spoke at length regarding the latest research taking place in the USA and the future challenges for Golf Managers/Superintendents on both sides of the Atlantic.

Without doubt the best conference I have had the pleasure of attending for many years.

February 2011 - Weather

Weather – February 2011

February was another extremely wet month with 110.4 mm of rain recorded against an expected average of 39 mm.

Between February 1^st and 7^th we recorded 78 mm of rain, which caused extensive flooding on the course.

Feb 8th - Flooding 16th Murrayfield

Lowest recorded -1.9 C overnight Feb 17^th

Maximum recorded 14 C day time Feb 24^th