Planned Drainage - January 2014

Hole 13

Next month we plan to start drainage works in an area of the golf course that has become increasing wetter over the years.

The old clay pipes, which run from the 14^th hole, through the 13^th and across the 12^th fairway have either collapsed or become blocked with tree roots

Exploratory work on the left-hand side of the 13^th hole has revealed that the roots from the adjacent tree plantation have left the drainage in this area totally ineffective.

We have now completed a detailed survey of the area and established where the main drain and laterals should be sited.

But before drainage works commence, we need to construct a positive outlet for the main drain.

We have selected an area in the woodland on the left-hand side of the 12^th fairway and this outlet will also serve as an inspection point.

In early January (weather permitting) we will start the first phase of drainage works with the installation of a new drainage main (section A to B). This will run from the right-hand side of the 13^th hole across the 12^th hole and connect with the new outlet.

Plan of Drainage Works

I will update members in early January with more detailed plans and progress reports.

In closing, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the members of both courses a Happy & Health 2014.

Course Update

Looking back over the last few winters the month of December has either delivered the course snow or sub zero temperatures.

Last December when we were installing the new drainage pipe-work at the 10^th hole, severe ground frosts and surface ice continually hampered operations.

December 2012 - Ice Bound

Fast-forward twelve months, because of the mild weather and favourable ground conditions we were able to mow and lightly top-dressed the greens with sand this week.

We have also been busy excavating new drainage ditches in the practice ground and have commenced upgrading the drainage network outlet behind the greenkeeping facilities.

Excellent progress is also being made to the upgrading of the irrigation system at the 3^rd & 8^th tees. This project, when completed, will improve the water flow and coverage to the 3^rd & 8^th teeing grounds.

This week we have also started landscaping and slabbing the patio area around the new toilets / halfway house at the 10^th.

Slabbing the patio

Fencing being erected

A couple of young deer came to inspect our progress this morning

Woodland Management

The thinning out of trees between the 13^th & 14^th fairway is progressing extremely well.

This picture was taken before thinning out commenced

Still work in progress but you can clearly see the impact of the thinning out

Although this thinning out is being carried out primarily to provide more growing space and improve the quality of the remaining trees, it will also improve air movement around the 12^th & 13^th greens and significantly increase light levels in this area. 

Picture highlighting the improved light levels

Drainage & Mounding - 15th Green

We have now completed the landscaping and re-contouring of the banking behind the 15^th green.

This will not only be visually more pleasing but will also ensure that the water run off in this area is channelled into the new drainage system, which has also been installed.  

Stripping turf

Removing the existing mound

Shaping new sub-base

Mounding top-soiled & ready for turfing

Turfing completed

Autumn Course Update

The 7^th medal tee refurbishment is progressing extremely well and final surface levels are now being established ahead of re-turfing and completion next week.

7th Medal Tee - Almost ready for re-turfing

We have also been thinning out scrub trees and lifting tree canopies in the area above the 9^th green.  This should help lift light levels and increase air circulation around the 9^th green and also improve the aesthetic appearance of the hole.

This winter we intend to start the next phase of thinning out of the plantation between the 13^th & 14 fairways. We are at present clearing the undergrowth and low branches in this area prior to the commencement of felling.

Once this next phase has been completed we will restock this area with some deciduous tree planting.

The next woodland project- Between the 13th & 14th fairways

The greens are at present being aerated with 15mm diameter solid tines to a depth of 75mm. This practice will improve oxygen levels for the turf plant and enhance infiltration rates.  Provided ground conditions are suitable this type of aeration will continue throughout the winter months.

Greens Aeration

The greens have also received an application of liquid iron, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and seaweed. This cocktail will help strengthen the plant leaf and promote root development.

Drainage works have commenced between the 15^th green and the 11^th/16^th tees, approximately 50 meters of new drainage pipe-work will be installed.

We also plan to landscape and re-contour the banking on left-hand of the green and soften the peaked mound behind the green.

Drainage Works - Between 15th green & 16th tee

The leaf fall as we all know has started and we have already put many hours into keeping greens cleared for play and for mowing purposes. To help keep the larger areas of fairways and rough clear we have recently taken delivery of a new tractor mounted leaf blower. This will help immensely in the coming months and prove a good long-term investment.

Greens Autumn Maintenance Programme Update

I am pleased to report that the greens autumn maintenance programme has now been completed.

The remaining greens have been hollow cored, top dressed and brushed.

This autumn we have applied 40 tonnes of sand, taking the total for the year to 65 tonnes.

Sunrise on Day 1 (Monday)

Hollow Coring - Green 16

Applying Sand - Green 4

Brushing Greens 

Aeration is an essential turf maintenance practice, it is not magic or rocket science, but it is extremely hard work.

Well done and a big thank you to all the green staff. 

Sweep & Fill

We have recently been evaluating a new type of top-dressing brush, called the Sweep and Fill.

Although the brush is relatively new to the UK market place, it has been used extensively in the States for a number of years.

The Sweep & Fill Brush

Unlike conventional drag brushes, this brush effectively places the top dressing sand down into the crown of the plant and the aeration hole.

The sweeping action places more sand directly into the aeration holes thus leaving putting surfaces cleaner and reducing recovering time.

Brushing in top dressing sand after hollow coring 7th green

The brush has been primarily designed to brush sand into aerification tine holes, but is also extremely effective when used to groom the putting surfaces prior to mowing.

Putting surface after brushing

Putting surface - Day 5

Putting surface - Day 9

By using this method of brushing, favourable weather and ideal soil temperatures the putting surface trueness was restored by day nine. 

Greens Autumn Maintenance 2013

This year we commence our greens autumn maintenance programme on Monday 7^th October.

Greens 1,2,4,6,8,12,13,14,15,16,17&18 will be hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 100mm and top-dressed.

Because of their location i.e. lack of sunlight, low soil temperatures and poor airflow, greens 9, 10 & 11 will not be hollow cored at this time.

It is our intention to hollow core these greens in late spring next year, when soil temperatures and light levels start to increase.

The required autumn maintenance on greens 3,5&7 has already been completed.

In late October the greens will then be verti-drained with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 250mm and top-dressed with sand.

Members please note that there will be disruption to play and some temporary greens will be in play during this essential maintenance work.

Undoubtedly, there will be a period of recovery beyond the planned maintenance itself.

Whilst it is appreciated that this will cause inconvenience to members, please be assured that this work is entirely necessary to ensure continued, long-term improvement in our putting surfaces.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the members for their support, tolerance and cooperation during this greens maintenance programme of works

Bill Lyon

Golf Course Manager

1^st October 2013 

Seed Germination

I thought I would post some photo's taken earlier today showing the results of the recent tee over-seeding program.

These tee's were over-seeded 14/28 days ago.

14 days after over-seeding

21 days after over-seeding

28 days after over-seeding

28 days after over-seeding

Tee Maintainance

Over the last few weeks we have been busy scarifying, hollow coring, over-seeding and top- dressing the teeing grounds.

Hollow coring the 14th tees

August/September is an excellent time to implement this type of renovation program, as the soil and air temperatures are excellent for seed germination.

Although the results have been impressive, we still have a few weak areas requiring additional re-seeding.

Weak area on 9th tee

Re-seeded and top dressed

Because soil and air temperatures are starting to fall we have decided to use germination sheets to promote and improve the germination process in these areas.

Germination sheet

In the autumn germination sheets help retain soil temperatures, which means that the re-seeding period can be extended. 

We would expect germination within a 14/21day period, after which the sheets will then be removed. 

Moss Control - Update

Today the 10^th & 11^th greens were lightly scarified for the first time since being treated with moss-killer

10th Green being scarified

To avoid too much disturbance to the putting surfaces, the cutting knife blades were set at 6mm below the turf sward surface.

Cutting knife blades

Over the next three/four weeks we will continue to lightly scarify the playing surfaces, removing a little moss on each occasion.

Putting surface after scarifying 

By adopting this approach means that the turf sward remains healthy, as opposed to heavy scarifying, which tends to leave putting surfaces weak and recover slow.

Moss Management

We have this week applied a liquid moss killer to the 10^th & 11^th greens.

The mixture consisted of iron sulphate, seaweed extract and nitrogen.

The iron sulphate blackens and kills the moss, while the seaweed and nitrogen tonic stimulates grass re-growth and improves rooting.

Spraying Moss Killer

Moss turning black after only 2 hours

24 Hours after spraying

What we have noticed this season is that there is no moss on the wipe up/perimeter cut that the greens mower makes, after the green has been mown.

This is probably because of the extra friction caused by the cutting units as they complete the wipe up cut.

No moss present on wipe up cut 

Usually the cutting units travel in a straight line when mowing, but during the wipe up cut the mowers units are being driven in a circular direction, which causes light scuffing of the turf.

Because moss does not have roots and it is only lightly anchored to the ground by threadlike rhizoids, this scuffing or extra friction seems to be gently removing the moss from the turf sward. 

Next week both these greens will be power raked, over seeded and top-dressed.

Plant Growth Regulator

This week in addition to our normal daily cutting and maintenance programs, we have been spraying the greens, approaches and fairways with a plant growth regulator (PGR).

We have now been using PGR on the greens for about three years and have experienced some excellent results.

This year we purchased a tractor trailed 800lt outfield sprayer, fitted with a 12-meter bloom, so that the spraying program could be extended to include fairways.

The new 800lt Sprayer in action

 The PGR slows the grasses top growth and diverts plant growth to the root system, producing increased food reserves and promoting lateral growth development.

This type of growth development produces a denser, healthier turf sward.

With a slower growing cycle and less clippings we have been able to slightly reduced fairway-cutting frequencies and at the same time produce cleaner playing surfaces.

Spraying the 14th Fairway

Pin Placement Sheets

Members Please Note - We will be using pin placement sheets from Saturday June 15^th through to Finals Day Sunday June 23rd, these will be available daily from the Pro Shop.

The A, B, C, system will be resumed on Wednesday 26th June for the Senior Gents Medal.

Pin Placement Sheet

In the example above - (from left to right)

Green number

Total depth of the green 

The distance of the hole from the front of the green

The distance of the hole (laterally) from the green's closest edge

C = Centre

Plant Growth Regulator

Today the greens received their second application of Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) this season.

The PGR is applied through our Cushman mounted boom sprayer at a rate of 400mil/ per hectare.

The PGR active ingredient is Trinexapac-ethyl and works by redirecting plant growth.

Not only does the PGR inhibit vertical growth, but it actually diverts plant growth downward into the root system.

This helps to produce increased food reserves and lateral stem development, which produces a thicker and more denser turf sward.

The first noticeable difference we find when using PGR’s, is fewer grass clippings, sometimes by up to 50%.

But without doubt the major benefit of a slower growing grass plant leaf, is that surface speeds and quality remain more consistent for longer throughout the day.

Spraying the 15th green

Weather - April 2013

After one of the coldest March’s on record, where the average daytime temperature was less than 4C due to an extended spell of bitterly cold easterly winds, April’s weather was brighter, although it remained cooler and drier than normal.

I have included below the 2012 & 2011 figures with the 2013 figures for comparison purposes.

                                                          2013                           2012                            2011

Precipitation	26.2 mm	89.3 mm	14.2 mm
Sunshine	200.1 hours	127.1 hours	199.2 hours
Min Temperature	-3.5 C	-2.9 C	2.1 C
Max Temperature	14.1 C	15.9 C	21.5 C
Mean Soil Temperature	7.3 C	9.6 C	10.8 C

Although grass growth has improved in the last week, we really need soil temperatures to reach double digits before we start seeing some sustained growth. 

I have included below some pictures taken of the Cherry trees between the 11^th & 14^th fairways over the last few years to highlight the difference some warm weather and good soil temperatures can make.

 In full blossom (April 20^th 2011).

2011

In the 2nd picture- the same location on the 27^th April 2012.

The Cherry trees are still not in full blossom and probably two weeks behind from 2011.

2012

2013

Finally, April 29th 2013 - Still waiting on the blossom and probably three weeks behind last year.

Let's hope it's not long before we all start enjoying some warmer weather. 

Greens Spring Maintenance Programme

This year’s spring maintenance programme will again centre on aeration and moss eradication on the putting surfaces.

Because of the extremely wet weather that we have experienced over the last year, we have seen a prolific increase in the amount of moss on some of the putting greens.

Unfortunately, when ground conditions remain saturated for such prolonged periods, as we have experienced this winter, moss will thrive.

Greens (12,13,14,17 & 18), that still have significantly high levels of organic matter (thatch) and slower surface drainage have been badly affected.

When ground and weather conditions improve, the greens will be aerated with a small 8mm diameter hollow tine and lightly top dressed with sand.

To promote growth, an organic nitrogen based fertiliser will also be applied.

After last year's wet summer, it is vitally important that the main focus remains on controlling and lowering organic matter levels on the greens.

Regular non-disruptive aeration and top dressing must continue through the summer months.

Aeration and sand top dressing will help dilute existing organic matter levels and in time assist in producing firmer, drier and truer putting surfaces.

Producing firmer and drier surfaces will go a long way to curing and preventing moss invasion.

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

10th Pathway

We are at present installing three sets of raised kerbs on the lower section of the pathway from the 10th tees.

These are being installed to divert surface water away from the pathway and to help prevent washout of the path surface. 

Second kerb installed

Final kerb section being cemented into place

Once the cement work has set, this section of pathway will be dressed with a mixture of granite dust and cement before finally being rolled and compacted.