New Fairway Cutting Mowers

This week we took delivery of two new John Deere fairway mowers, these were purchased as direct replacements for two Jacobsen fairway mowers, which were eight and ten years old respectfully.

The new fairway mowers are powered by 37hp turbocharged diesel engines, which will provide plenty of power for optimum cutting and performance across both courses.

They are designed to meet the very strict U.S. noise pollution laws and are considerably quieter than our two previous fairway mowers.    

New John Deere Fairway Mowers

Both machines are fitted with hydraulic four-wheel drive for superior traction control in a wide range of ground conditions.

But without doubt its best feature is the precision cutting mow units, which I believe, will substantially improve cutting quality and help promote better playing conditions on both courses.

Safety Footway Matting - Update

In late January we installed Safety Footway Matting on a number of selected high wear areas on the course.

The results have been encouraging and we are now considering extending its use on a number of other areas of the course this autumn.  

30th January 2012 - Installation

28th March 2012

Winter Programme Update

As the weather continues to improve and with the new playing season approaching the newly rebuilt tees at the 12th & 18th (yellow) are being prepared for play.

Although the 18^th tee is ready for play the 12^th tee because of its location is still some weeks away from being playable.

Even though the 12^th tee was reconstructed and re-turfed six weeks ahead of the 18^th tee, lack of sunlight, poor air movement and low soil temperatures has resulted in restricted root development.


In the picture below you can clearly see that even at 1pm most of the 12th tee is still in the shade.

12th Tee - March 22nd

Turf samples taken from the 18th (left) and 12th (right) tees

In the above picture, you can see the difference in root growth between the two tees, root development on the 18th tee (left) is nearly four times greater.

Looking at the turf samples, I would say that the 12^th tee is probably three to four weeks away from being ready for play. 

Greens Facilities Update

Over the last couple of weeks we have been landscaping the banking between the buildings south elevation and the 17th fairway.

Turfing on the south side of the banking which runs adjacent to the 17th fairway has almost been completed and should be ready for play by early May.

On the ridge, which forms part of the Out of Bounds line, we have planted a native mixed hedgerow.

Hedgerow planting

Planting along the line of the Out of Bounds

For maximum benefit to wildlife we have used a mixture of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Holly, Crab Apple, Beech, Hornbeam and Rowan.

This planting will not only eventually help screen the buildings but it will also give year round interest in the form of berries and seeds, flowers and a varied range of foliage.

Planned Work - Week Commencing March 19th

Planned Work – Next week, greens 12, 15, 17, 18 on Murrayfield and greens 5 & 6 on Ravelston will be hollow cored with slim 8mm diameter tines.

These greens still have significantly high levels of organic matter (thatch) and this maintenance operation will assist in breaking down the existing thatch layer and help promote root development.

To help raise the soil fertility, an application of Dolomitic lime will be applied and to encourage grass leaf growth nitrogen will also be added to the mixture.  

Finally, the greens will be top dressed with sand and lightly rolled, which will help restore surface levels.

The remaining greens on both courses will be aerated with 8mm diameter solid tines to a depth of 125mm.

Remember, increasing the oxygen levels in the soil will help stimulate soil microbe activity and as soil temperatures continue to improve, promote leaf growth.

Looking ahead, the main focus will remain on controlling and lowering organic matter levels on the greens.

Regular non-disruptive aeration with 8mm diameter tines will continue through the summer months.

We will also continue to top dress playing surfaces with sand, this practice will help dilute existing organic matter levels and in time assist in producing firmer, drier and truer putting surfaces. 

Bunkers on 17th Hole

I am pleased to report that the bunker alterations on hole 17 are now complete and that the bunkers are all now back in play.

Ready for play

Bunker Rakes

I was asked recently by a group of members, where was the correct place to leave the bunker rake when exiting the bunker.

This debate has been running for years and wherever you play your golf, its more than likely the neighbouring club will have different views.

The R&A advise that it is perhaps best to leave them outside and yet the local rule for the Old Course is to leave them in.

For European Tour events they insist that all bunker rakes be placed outside the bunker but not in the line of play.

Golfers playing Ravelston are asked to leave the bunker rake inside, but on Murrayfield there is no ruling.

Rake positioned outside the bunker

Rake inside the bunker

There is no perfect answer and it is ultimately a decision for each individual golf club to make, but rest assured at the next course committee meeting I shall ask for clarification.  

Until then, the debate continues. 

Course Update - March 2nd 2012

This time last year we had just experienced one of the wettest February’s for many years. 

During that month we were closed more than we were open, mainly because of flooding. In fact the beginning of March 2011 was little better.

The mild dry weather we have experienced recently has necessitated the need to mow the fairways and greens on both courses. Normally, we don’t have to commence fairway mowing until late March or early April.

Because of the improved conditions we have removed play from fairway mats and have introduced preferred lies on both courses.

At the beginning of the week we applied an organic based fertiliser to the greens. This type of  fertiliser  includes composed cow manure, seaweed and a rich source of humic acid, which will help promote root and shoot development.

The construction of the two drainage inspection manholes on the 16^th hole is progressing well and scheduled to be completed by the end of next week. This will complete all of this winters drainage projects.

This week some of the staff have begun cleaning out and shaping the bases of the new bunkers on the 17^th hole.

In some of the bunkers we have laid turf upside down to act as a barrier to help prevent stone and dirty soil coming up and mixing with the sand.

I have included some pictures below of the progress.

Final shaping and grading completed

Turfing bunker base

Sand being added

Ready for play