Benefits of Verti-Cutting

Now that we have started lightly verti-cutting the greens, I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to explain the benefits this cultural practice can bring.

Normally, when mowing the grass we only remove the tip of the grass leaf, however, to cut the plants lateral  growth we use a vertical bladed reel.

Verti-Cut Reel

Removing some of the lateral plant growth forces the plant to use it's energy elsewhere, that excess energy encourages the grass plant to grow upwards, creating a more upright and dense sward.

Keeping the turf in a more upright position reduces the amount of grass leaf that comes into contact with the ball.  The less contact, friction or drag on the ball, the quicker the golf ball travels across the putting surface.

In good growing conditions we would normally verti-cut every two/three weeks, always avoiding periods when the turf is under stress i.e. when the turf is saturated or in drought or poor growing conditions.

Verti-cutting when prevailing conditions are not suitable or indiscriminately, can cause extensive damage to the crown of the plant, making it more susceptible to wilt and disease.

Cultivation practices such as verti-cutting, will reduce lateral growth, thatch accumulation and improve the uniformity, trueness and speed of  the greens.


More updates to follow in the near future.

Springtime at Murrayfield

What a difference a year makes:

This time last year daytime temperatures were struggling to reach double figures and early morning ground frosts were keeping soil temperatures below 5C. 

This year, April, has (so far) been considerably warmer, and soil temperatures are already hovering close to 10 C. 

Without doubt, the course has benefited tremendously from these higher soil temperatures, and compared with this time last year  the condition of the course is significantly advanced.

I have included some photos of the course that were taken earlier today

1st Green Murrayfield

1st Tee & Clubhouse

1st Hole Murrayfield

Colourful 1st Tee Murrayfield

Cherry Trees between 11th & 14th in full blossom

Chafer Grubs

We have recently noticed an increase in chafer grub activity in some areas of the course, another sure sign that spring has arrived and soil temperatures are rising.

The chafer grubs have spent the winter burrowed deep in the soil, avoiding the cold and winter  frosts, and now, as the soil temperatures improve, they are being found closer to the turf surface.

The chafer grubs are the larvae of the chafer beetle, and primarily feed on the roots of the grass plant, and if not controlled can cause extensive damage to the plant.

The larvae have white bodies curved in the letter  C shape, distinctive reddish brown heads, 3 pairs of legs and are normally about 1.5 cm in length. 

Chafer Grub

The chafer beetles emerge from the turf in the early summer and feed on shrubs and trees before laying their eggs in grassed areas in the late summer. The larvae hatch about 2 weeks later and begin  feeding on grass roots, in the late autumn they move deeper into the soil, where they pass the winter.

If you think you have lawn damage caused by chafer grubs, dig up a small piece of lawn and roots and look for the pest.

Gorse Management

Last winter we coppiced a number of areas on the course where the gorse had become woody and overgrown, this was done to encourage the gorse to regenerate and produce new healthy and robust plants; in the pictures below you can clearly see the first signs of new growth.

Three months after being coppiced -new growth

New growth from the base of the gorse

Greens Aeration

Why do we aerate?

Listed below are a number of important reasons why we aerate, especially on the putting greens:

1. Control and removal of organic matter (thatch).

2. To create conditions that encourage healthy bacterial activity.

3. Promote the development of deeper rooting grasses.

4. Improve the rate that water percolates through the soil profile.
5. Relieve soil compaction.

Our programme of aeration throughout the year using a combination of verti-draining, slit tinning and hollow coring - using both 6mm and 12mm diameter tines, is designed, primarily to reduce the excessive amount of organic matter in the greens and to help combat compaction.

Hollow Coring

Organic matter or thatch is simply a build up of dead or decaying grass leaves and stems in the turf. On a number of greens at Murrayfield this layer is still considered excessive and this condition:

1. Limits new root growth

2. Increases disease

3. Produces soft and slow putting surfaces

4. Means that excessive amounts of water are held near the turf surface

5. Causes slow warm up of the soil in the spring, which inhibits growth

Without doubt, aeration, combined with applying sand top dressing is the best way to dilute the existing thatch layer and prevent further build up of thatch.

It must also be remembered that aeration (oxygen), helps stimulate healthy soil bacteria and fungi, which feeds on and breaks down the organic/thatch layer in the turf.

Last summer we aerated on a regular basis with 6mm diameter needle tines, using such a slim diameter tine meant that recovery to the putting surface could be measured in days rather than weeks, this practice will continue this summer.

Top Dressing With Sand

The policy of aerating and applying sand top dressing throughout the summer months, means that the more disruptive hollow coring operation can be limited to early autumn rather than twice yearly.

Ultimate benefits of this management practice

1. Firmer putting surfaces

2. Better surface drainage

3. Increased playability

4. Reduced disease

5. More greens speed

6. More sustainable greens

Remember, aeration is performed for the health of the grass, and ultimately, the playability of the greens.

John Deere - Hybrid Greens-Mowers

This week we took delivery of two new John Deere Hybrid Greens-Mowers:
Hybrid technology simply combines conventional diesel power with electric motors, producing a quieter, more environmentally friendly machine. 
The diesel engine powers the traction unit and a large 48-volt – 100 amp alternator, similar to that used on combine harvesters, the alternator provides the energy that powers the reel motors, which in turn drive the cutting cylinders.

John Deere E-Greens Mowers

Replacing the hydraulic oil drive system with a electric drive system, eliminates over 100 potential oil leak points, oil leaks which can cause extensive damage to the turf.

Electric motor on right-hand side of cutting unit.

This advanced hybrid technology; means that, even when the diesel powered engines output is reduced by 50%, the electric reel motors can still maintain the correct reel speed, still producing a quality cut.

Operating on half power when cutting can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%, and  lower operating costs considerably.

Noise levels are also dramatically reduced when operated in this mode, making this machine one of the most environmentally friendly machines on the golf course.

March 2011 - Weather

Weather March 2011

March was a slightly wetter month than normal; the recorded rainfall/precipitation was 49.9 mm against an expected average of 39mm, making a total of 171.1 mm for the year.
Between March 10th & 15th we recorded 35mm precipitation, which caused flooding and closed both courses for 3 days.
Thankfully, the remainder of the month was drier and this enabled us to finally complete the remaining winter project work.

Lowest recorded temperature       0 C Overnight March 7th
Highest recorded temperature  16.9 C Daytime March 24th