Storm Damage

Unfortunately, yesterday’s high winds caused considerable damage to a number of trees on both golf courses, with gusts of nearly 70 mph being recorded locally.
The Greenstaff have spent the day clearing fallen debris and making safe a number of trees on both courses, a fantastic team effort, well done.  

I have included some photos taken earlier today: 

Damaged poplar -18th tee

Some of the damage caused by the fallen poplar

Debris from damaged sycamores on the 18th  fairway

We also lost a number of young trees from between the 3rd & 8th fairways, some snapped in the high winds and some were uprooted. In the photo below, this young tree was uprooted because the trees root system was completely rootbound and it has not been able to set down anchor roots, probably because of the close proximity of rock to the surface.

Rootbound tree

Finally, let's hope for better weather tomorrow.

The Stimpmeter

The Stimpmeter - A Management Tool 

 

A golfer, named Edward Stimpson in 1935, designed the stimpmeter, he was convinced that greens were unreasonably fast and set out to design and build a device to prove it.

The original stimpmeter was made of wood, until it was redesigned by Frank Thomas of the US Golf Association in 1976 and has since then been made from aluminum; it was first used by the USGA later that year at the US Open in Atlanta.

The USGA Stimpmeter

Today, golf managers and superintendents use the stimpmeter to help them manage the greens, so that they putt consistently over the entire course. 

At Murrayfield the greens on the top side (holes 1 to 8 and 18) generally putt on average 6 inches faster than the bottom side, with the exception of greens 10 & 11 which are sand based and have similar putting speeds to the top side greens. The low-lying greens on the bottom side are generally slower because they are more sheltered, damper and have higher thatch levels than the topside greens.

Over the last three years the greens on the bottom side including green 18 have received additional management practices, with the aim being to reduce the variances between the two different sides of the course. 
 

These management practices have included more verti-cutting, sand topdressings, rolling and aeration, remember, consistency is our goal and not necessarily speed.

Using the Stimpmeter video below:

Repairing Ball Marks

I was recently asked by a group of players on the best method on how to repair ball marks on the putting greens, so for them and anyone else who is unsure - Below is a video on several methods of repair

Unrepaired ball marks can take two to three weeks to heal properly, on the other hand, a repaired ball mark takes half that time.

As a courtesy to other players, please repair your ball marks as you enjoy your round

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation

Course Spraying

Fairway Spraying - An outside contractor sprayed the fairways and practice grounds on both courses this morning with a selective weed-killer and growth regulator.

 Spraying - 14th Fairway

The selective weed killer will eradicate any weeds present in the turf and should keep playing surfaces weed-free for the next 12 months. The growth regulator inhibits the grasses top growth and diverts plant development to the root system, which results in a denser, healthier sward.
The fairways will receive another application of growth regulator in six weeks time.

4,500 Litre Sprayer Fitted With 24-Meter Boom

 The contractor completed the spraying of both course in just under 3 hours with a total of 13 hectares being sprayed.  

Frosty Start

For the fourth consecutive morning we have been delayed by frost: -1C yesterday and –2C today.

Early Morning Frost

16th Green

April 2011 - Weather

Weather April 2011

Last month was one of the warmest  April's for a number of years with an average mean temperature of 10C, which was 3C higher than last year. 

The warmest daytime temperature was 21C on April 10^th

The lowest recorded was  -1 C on April 27^th
The warmest daytime temperature in April 2009 was 18C also on April 10^th

The recorded rainfall/precipitation for April was 14.2 mm, considerably lower than the expected average of 39 mm.

Soil temperature at 30 cm was: Min 8.4C, Max 11.9C with the Mean 10.8C (2.6C higher than normal)

Sunrise over the 16th Green - April 27th

Ferris - Zero-Turn Mower

The latest addition to the fleet.

Zero-Turn Mower

We recently took delivery of a new Zero-Turn rough cutter, it was purchased primarily for mowing round trees, but because it's so manoeuvrable, we are now using it to mow many other areas on both courses. 

Without doubt the main advantage of this type of mower, is that, it can literally turn on a sixpence, unlike most other ride-on mowers, which only have a very limited turning circle.

Normally, we would have to make several passes to cut round trees or other obstacles, but with the zero turn you only require one pass, making it a extremely productive mower.

The unit is powered by a diesel engine, which was designed to meet the very strict Californian noise pollution laws, so for a three-cylinder 20hp diesel engine it is remarkably quiet.

I certainly feel the zero-turn mower; will help reduce the time taken to mow areas where access is restricted.

Landscaping - Clubhouse Surrounds

We are always looking at ways in which we can enhance the course and it's surrounds without increasing maintenance or labour costs. With this in mind we recently took the decision to refurbish the shrub border  alongside the practice putting greens, with the aim of improving the visual appearance of this area and ultimately reducing maintenance costs.

Border before refurbishment

Plants removed

Weed block membrane installed

Plants being replanted

Covering membrane with plum slate

Refurbishment completed

When time permits we intend to renovate the planted area behind the 10^th tee and replant with shade loving plants.