Greens Facilities Update

Work on the new greens facilities is progressing extremely well and changes are being seen daily.

The concrete base/floor in the welfare unit has been poured and the fitting out of this area has commenced. 

The electricians have also been on site and the installation of all the internal lighting in the main storage area has now been completed

At present the foundations and subsurface levels in the main storage area are being prepared and made ready for concrete pouring later this week.

Some recent pictures from the new greens facilities.

Concrete base being poured

Establishing final sub-base levels

Course Improvements - Update

Course Improvements – Update

Since my last update we have now completed the left-hand greenside bunker alterations on hole 17. The existing bunker has been moved closer to the putting surface and a new front left-hand greenside bunker, has now been added.

Greenside bunkers - Turfing completed

On the fairway we have moved the last fairway bunker on the left-side back 10 yards towards the tee and slightly closer to the fairway.

The middle bunker on the left-hand side of the fairway is at present now being reshaped.

Excavating new fairway bunker

Turfing new fairway bunker

The rebuilding and enlargement of the 18^th yellow tee is proceeding extremely well, the staff are at present spreading root-zone and establishing the final surface levels.

Levelling tee top

Tee top almost ready for turfing

Weather permitting the tee should be ready for turfing early next week.

Greenkeeping Facilities - Update

I have included a couple of pictures taken earlier today from the site.

The columns have now been erected and the roof clad.

Later this week the builders hope to be ready to pour the concrete for the base of the welfare block, this will allow the internal fitting to commence next week. 

October 2011 - Weather

Weather – October 2011

The recorded rainfall/precipitation for October was 95.2 mm, which is about the average for October, but without doubt the month will be remembered as a very warm month with temperatures some 4C above the monthly average. 

The average soil temperature at 30 cm was 12.9C (2.7C higher than normal)

Recorded sunshine was 80 hours (20 hours less than normal)

The warmest recorded temperature was 19C on October 14^th and the coldest on October 20^th when we experienced our first ground frost. 

Hole 17 Bunker Alterations

Last week we began bunker alterations on the 17^th hole.

At greenside we decided to move the existing left-hand side bunker closer to the putting surface and slightly forward.

The existing bunker, which had been cut back and edged over a number of years had expanded in size and lost its original shape and become quite isolated from play.

Infilling the existing bunker and marking out the new bunker position

Excavating new bunker

Shaped and ready for turf

Turfing bunker surrounds

More updates to follow.

12th Tee Renovation Project

This week the greens staff completed the 12^th tee renovation project.

Ready for re-turfing

The tee has now been re-graded to ensure that water drains freely from the surface and re-turfed.

In the next few weeks if the present mild weather continues, the tee will be lightly rolled and top-dressed with a sand based dressing to smooth and firm the surface. 

Turfing tee top

Turfing completed

Weather permitting; the tee should be ready for play in April 2012.

The 2^nd phase of works on the 9^th green surrounds was also concluded this week when we finished re-turfing the area. 

Re-turfing completed on 9th green surrounds