tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77351977823810778822024-03-01T09:24:09.792-08:00Poulton Park Golf Club - Greenkeeping DepartmentKeeping golf club members and guests informed about course maintenance and developmentBen Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-85984142101803773262024-03-01T09:23:00.000-08:002024-03-01T09:23:14.468-08:00Early season greens renovations<p>Hello (patient) members</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, turn of the new year, we greenkeepers were hoping that the weather would turn a corner and provide some much needed respite. Clearly, that didn't happen and we've had to continue to take a humbling from the elements.</p><p>Unfortunately, the trolley bans have continued to be enforced, albeit begrudgingly. But, I think that most members (and golfers in general) have realised that ground conditions have been exceptional. It's never nice to have to resort to these measures but getting the course open has in itself been very challenging this winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeS_Pld1FP48oFXKuTow8LGEfqiRLwd3KnbnWpKrhxFDgmrxV243MwVHjiCTizM-LdwlnL079ST2juPiVKbIuD4NHX8Tm-QMs3jHibByZ-dtfptK-y9_T8_49_pWH-DDpBCblYOqx6VXX9EMb_kNzD6WMBkrN-8qD9ysaRNtE_Z3Osn-dZ4aAdHrGxFo/s4032/IMG_2897.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeS_Pld1FP48oFXKuTow8LGEfqiRLwd3KnbnWpKrhxFDgmrxV243MwVHjiCTizM-LdwlnL079ST2juPiVKbIuD4NHX8Tm-QMs3jHibByZ-dtfptK-y9_T8_49_pWH-DDpBCblYOqx6VXX9EMb_kNzD6WMBkrN-8qD9ysaRNtE_Z3Osn-dZ4aAdHrGxFo/s320/IMG_2897.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>I hope we are out of it. Certainly, the longer daylight hours offer increased potential for any sun to start evaporating surface water or stored soil water. Plus the March/April easterly winds will also assist in drying out the course.</p><p>As has been the case in recent years, we have again decided to carry out an early season greens renovation. When we think about the word renovation, the thought in our heads might turn to a new extension to a house or overhauling the garden with decking, summer house etc. So it's something of a misnomer. </p><p>In reality, we have passed a scarifier through the greens in 2 directions, removing some unwanted, fibrous material at -8mm depth. Certainly what came out was some of what wasn't pulled out last Autumn. Remember, any scarifying work will only remove a low percentage of sub surface material. It's not possible to remove 100%, 80%, 50%, even 25% of material in one go. There wouldn't be a surface left if that was the objective. We still need to have a surface left for putting on. Hence, why these operations are often Spring and Autumn. We continue to chip away at a diminishing percentage of unwanted organic matter until we are where we want to be.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX9AY4tkwAx6F2-1cmr8BVsGreFLbXejd5R8NUM0guTghwbvg0dZxqM4td2qcc795rhehE3oR_Odasul_HX9BMeb6CdYtUzk__ShxYx5MuEG4vbagfqGWXLTkdAHmUCZx1MHoeoUAirHa86lQbMf0WL04bn6pNt2jT3i9ykZnf4Ilb3D1YLECXL6w78o/s4032/IMG_2903.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX9AY4tkwAx6F2-1cmr8BVsGreFLbXejd5R8NUM0guTghwbvg0dZxqM4td2qcc795rhehE3oR_Odasul_HX9BMeb6CdYtUzk__ShxYx5MuEG4vbagfqGWXLTkdAHmUCZx1MHoeoUAirHa86lQbMf0WL04bn6pNt2jT3i9ykZnf4Ilb3D1YLECXL6w78o/s320/IMG_2903.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYstXiwFOmAVC6w3M4HAZWmTAV2LaS2K3MbZvY2wQGDJgspknpgfQpOtcR_OeuLBSj8aZSRVoxRrmjfluTy3Nh-d-TxwdNHleS1dM1wVlNQ6xZKOyV5zjUpidWCqhRcNCdtZeD14ZozFgyQIV4k42kL-ufo7RNggePJ1RbeKxTHP2VAuGT5CLEn2s_hw/s4032/IMG_2904.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYstXiwFOmAVC6w3M4HAZWmTAV2LaS2K3MbZvY2wQGDJgspknpgfQpOtcR_OeuLBSj8aZSRVoxRrmjfluTy3Nh-d-TxwdNHleS1dM1wVlNQ6xZKOyV5zjUpidWCqhRcNCdtZeD14ZozFgyQIV4k42kL-ufo7RNggePJ1RbeKxTHP2VAuGT5CLEn2s_hw/s320/IMG_2904.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mkxOTrXIpJCESW9K1L0V8_99T0GcRrjcyvG7LvslnJOiOMiPYp4Cl4yuR0Z-JsXkRuxbdYsSe9axf2se2o8vuG6oTmNfk6gNhMqbnZLVa1pe2QZVGIoGtcZ9qFVA39JzlA4Hodam9tPW2snHl1UMscbwdP4LupjytCJpY6SmvKtvFSciv5AxGdHY5QI/s4032/IMG_2905.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mkxOTrXIpJCESW9K1L0V8_99T0GcRrjcyvG7LvslnJOiOMiPYp4Cl4yuR0Z-JsXkRuxbdYsSe9axf2se2o8vuG6oTmNfk6gNhMqbnZLVa1pe2QZVGIoGtcZ9qFVA39JzlA4Hodam9tPW2snHl1UMscbwdP4LupjytCJpY6SmvKtvFSciv5AxGdHY5QI/s320/IMG_2905.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Now, last year, we closed up the scarifying grooves with a verticut pass, thereby removing shallower organic matter (referred to as seasonally produced material) and then a light top dressing of sand to restore the surface levels. Frustratingly, we did this work - successfully, and then got hit with some fusarium afterwards.</p><p>Fusarium can often hit greens after topdressing because the sand is generally a high pH material. Allied with morning dews and slower growth, disease can attack and start to scar the surface if conditions are conducive. With March and April generally getting colder in recent years, we don't want any disease to hit and then for the weather to go cold because that would then delay any growth and recovery.</p><p>So we have just passed over the scarifying grooves with a verti drain, as the photos show. The two rollers on the verti drain have nicely closed up those grooves and the surface will restore much more quickly. Now, we are in a good position for the greens as we approach Spring. There is now no urgency to get the first verticut and top dressing done. That can wait, if necessary, until the end of April/start of May. The greens are now in a very good position.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCirxZ0KqGKDO72ySWZ5yO4GfdqC93UvhO82MBzb2cTlkj93UlTORPme9QZjROidKLIPWkU6RF3kGnZj6T0joLjVgBnTBjeTFqQUeeXo0zcg7u-FCBiHLAS5r_JX-4e8jYIQ6LN52y9UgIsscE52GjlJLKaHp-Odi85vc8E-njXYLQxq5_voN-XOkRzQ/s4032/IMG_2911.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCirxZ0KqGKDO72ySWZ5yO4GfdqC93UvhO82MBzb2cTlkj93UlTORPme9QZjROidKLIPWkU6RF3kGnZj6T0joLjVgBnTBjeTFqQUeeXo0zcg7u-FCBiHLAS5r_JX-4e8jYIQ6LN52y9UgIsscE52GjlJLKaHp-Odi85vc8E-njXYLQxq5_voN-XOkRzQ/s320/IMG_2911.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>We've had to resort to some extreme methods to continue with our productivity. This week, myself and Ali took a strimmer each and hit a load of areas (trees, tee signs, ditches etc) as a way of getting something done. It has just been far too wet to get a rough mower out or get any meaningful work done mowing fairways. The downsides (black wheel marks, rutting) would outweigh the upsides (cut grass, definition) in the short term. As it stands, the course is not too bad. It looks green, there are very few black wheel marks and we've weathered (no pun intended!) the winter fairly well.</p><p>All the tee markers are prepped for the new season. Ali has done a fine job with them and they look good for another year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxZVqIvEGmUp4j97u1BmuXP_ZpNwmkJ78gwo0Yfc8vQ6DdT0vpjZ7gkIm2YljjeWEekFiqYYpP_P7zTlQqNkMMqC3TuYiCjTtO_AJA_yKrH0n2UE_TLhK5-t2A-zlP6-87T9OBqCSrJ1SLmenzaEtPYOXO1ILbsWEeXYzHbKFSp51rXxmzFO5V6DWGzg/s4032/IMG_2913.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxZVqIvEGmUp4j97u1BmuXP_ZpNwmkJ78gwo0Yfc8vQ6DdT0vpjZ7gkIm2YljjeWEekFiqYYpP_P7zTlQqNkMMqC3TuYiCjTtO_AJA_yKrH0n2UE_TLhK5-t2A-zlP6-87T9OBqCSrJ1SLmenzaEtPYOXO1ILbsWEeXYzHbKFSp51rXxmzFO5V6DWGzg/s320/IMG_2913.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Some approaches have been cut just to get some grass cut but the timing has had to be be good. We will get the surrounds cut once some of these slopes have dried out for a mower to get on them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo8JLdcb0Z0ZId3jPdoiwuekGOGVTKfsbrpui2VQ5zLXw4x5CSmtwECpN8sEME4lwTssumqk5AdDEZ92DMJcDAJY21vFX4EOYhglNauEV1SEvG0nPcGHZj8idFBvlMQAsT7EnXXSHE9LxehGaFe4s_-eFRSeEMuKfDB9aATJRslXDQ3kSBiayeo97lsQ/s4032/IMG_2819.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo8JLdcb0Z0ZId3jPdoiwuekGOGVTKfsbrpui2VQ5zLXw4x5CSmtwECpN8sEME4lwTssumqk5AdDEZ92DMJcDAJY21vFX4EOYhglNauEV1SEvG0nPcGHZj8idFBvlMQAsT7EnXXSHE9LxehGaFe4s_-eFRSeEMuKfDB9aATJRslXDQ3kSBiayeo97lsQ/s320/IMG_2819.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKbVSXtTTTKPDLB5l_-XcHtXUjbmbKnHF-Aeqfgj-ZZIUFX8dHJ-HvjiJK7xwdh-d71gjn0vLSeMMiGkh1UOo-DlN6go0NXNvzsaL-U692jcyaJoO1mWdNRbHDSYTULK3MB9wtxLmMCqbhzWbSqDg3EBnA14D1gRnNa6R-wYVMyNvebKhCMzGUgz6OG8/s4032/IMG_2817.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKbVSXtTTTKPDLB5l_-XcHtXUjbmbKnHF-Aeqfgj-ZZIUFX8dHJ-HvjiJK7xwdh-d71gjn0vLSeMMiGkh1UOo-DlN6go0NXNvzsaL-U692jcyaJoO1mWdNRbHDSYTULK3MB9wtxLmMCqbhzWbSqDg3EBnA14D1gRnNa6R-wYVMyNvebKhCMzGUgz6OG8/s320/IMG_2817.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>We've got a few path ends complete; at the bridge on the 5th and also by the bridge near the 7th green. They were both in need of attention and the turf is coming through nicely following a small scattering of fertiliser on these areas. Next week, we will dress out the cells in the matting with sand and open them up again.</p><p>Just an update on the planned drainage work - we have appointed a contractor and now we are waiting to get that work done. The 2nd hole is likely the first phase of that work with the fairway and carry being drained. The contractor has indicated that the ground needs to be free of standing water before work can proceed. That has not been common recently! Hence, it will be done, along with the 5th green area but it's simply a waiting game.</p><p>Before I sign off, we are saying goodbye to Ali Mackintosh this week. Ali has been with us since 2019 and he has been a very good servant to the greens team and golf club in that time. He has developed many additional skills but has also brought experience and prudence to the role - both of which are essential to getting good work done. He is returning to Birchwood Golf Club with a view to getting a supervisory role there in the near future. We wish him the very best for the future and thank him for his excellent contribution to the golf club.</p><p>All the best</p><p><br /></p><p>Ben </p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-80405304116664485222024-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:002024-01-17T08:10:28.012-08:00"There's not a lot you can do when the weather is like this, is there ?"<p>Happy New Year everyone from a winter wonderland</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQPU8wz_n0YGvCrmBp1VhYbKNYT7244gXOjauTrOX3-bVRBAsqyY081Dcu3xzpo90vngkhiNTght9wj7pxOtw0NDMGclND5RQeCtGp8j6FICeq2lvenHT-lf0S2nxNWNcwXewTXS14PXAd0czmi6vGK5uWW2km1_ZmAkG9HHCeLlVF-4TVe5TJ7Ggzao/s4032/IMG_2768.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQPU8wz_n0YGvCrmBp1VhYbKNYT7244gXOjauTrOX3-bVRBAsqyY081Dcu3xzpo90vngkhiNTght9wj7pxOtw0NDMGclND5RQeCtGp8j6FICeq2lvenHT-lf0S2nxNWNcwXewTXS14PXAd0czmi6vGK5uWW2km1_ZmAkG9HHCeLlVF-4TVe5TJ7Ggzao/s320/IMG_2768.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_k7wjWnQbLv9Lew0IpvyHW_uwEmNdffVkHok-7TuK46ooNoTEcxOLVkXr0lwXDyONe5pEPQZBSyR-Glq_PKjsCi8EYzWQB6K3ARa7MpwJSDHWv_8O_65ioH29otym66nnhn0bKy6LtMzF_2JymrHwEp5hzGo2eXiLogy_fX-2ei3E-hkl4JUMwFFQaI/s4032/IMG_2767.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_k7wjWnQbLv9Lew0IpvyHW_uwEmNdffVkHok-7TuK46ooNoTEcxOLVkXr0lwXDyONe5pEPQZBSyR-Glq_PKjsCi8EYzWQB6K3ARa7MpwJSDHWv_8O_65ioH29otym66nnhn0bKy6LtMzF_2JymrHwEp5hzGo2eXiLogy_fX-2ei3E-hkl4JUMwFFQaI/s320/IMG_2767.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>A familiar comment we hear is that of the blog title; "there's not much you can do when it's like this, is there?". To which the reply is "true, however, we are doing X, Y and Z".</p><p>So what are those things? Let's look at a few projects and tasks that we have been doing recently.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9vkZUYJu4qo5Bf6mHYTn4WTRu9b-HefRX4kdtk9uDwNam4asWNtgnwPEYwkTx5uo7erMDjB0ECq3YTjm5fBs9jiUNas4-i219sWIrT7Mg1Y2-lL2OxOwgZQDpKkdsXiYKxO0QwLyUXQ_Jx8nYCYfY2r6UAP8uxPlXuMh50PQ1OMMrZuRSzvFgABuOxI/s4032/IMG_2770.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9vkZUYJu4qo5Bf6mHYTn4WTRu9b-HefRX4kdtk9uDwNam4asWNtgnwPEYwkTx5uo7erMDjB0ECq3YTjm5fBs9jiUNas4-i219sWIrT7Mg1Y2-lL2OxOwgZQDpKkdsXiYKxO0QwLyUXQ_Jx8nYCYfY2r6UAP8uxPlXuMh50PQ1OMMrZuRSzvFgABuOxI/s320/IMG_2770.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Firstly, debris (branches, twigs etc) has obviously fallen a lot recently and so these areas are being tidied up. John Mercer and Tom Frame put in a shift on Tuesday morning, assisting with clearing up the area under the Willow trees, left of 5th fairway. Then they set to work with a fire, burning the brash from said work.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnamKBhE_dKre7yerhOtJIZM7pKtwl5xwTU_oJ-FymvC3JzPlN5yLt3pUZfvKiz1tj9SvT85tJtrtCqGnXfCFqBd6HLdHxsqmQYxMW-2zwBiRdoFQrHP51jr-Ms6EJJ2KT207bEl6lqHkY35hrf6JZ5RP9ipWEK_ggkazMKA_2bEH77DCseErZKAhQ3g/s4032/IMG_2762.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnamKBhE_dKre7yerhOtJIZM7pKtwl5xwTU_oJ-FymvC3JzPlN5yLt3pUZfvKiz1tj9SvT85tJtrtCqGnXfCFqBd6HLdHxsqmQYxMW-2zwBiRdoFQrHP51jr-Ms6EJJ2KT207bEl6lqHkY35hrf6JZ5RP9ipWEK_ggkazMKA_2bEH77DCseErZKAhQ3g/s320/IMG_2762.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eAPD2ghoXrv7Yu1wEjPWLhnnArQpI9DOdEOZfyrbxTnvxk3SlkGX-FC7_-yTnpuSS-f99ZpWhWa2TjiejJXySiHN929HU1Z02NoO9j-aogB3vZrWLu1_HDmnc7fDARUZsAdQ85yx07_QS0t_kb3dqrNOlKWfPpWvAKlwHxsLsu3XZhvOrbecf6moy7w/s4032/IMG_2763.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eAPD2ghoXrv7Yu1wEjPWLhnnArQpI9DOdEOZfyrbxTnvxk3SlkGX-FC7_-yTnpuSS-f99ZpWhWa2TjiejJXySiHN929HU1Z02NoO9j-aogB3vZrWLu1_HDmnc7fDARUZsAdQ85yx07_QS0t_kb3dqrNOlKWfPpWvAKlwHxsLsu3XZhvOrbecf6moy7w/s320/IMG_2763.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Related to this, we took the pole saw out on Monday and carried out some light pruning of branches on the large Oak tree directly behind the 8th green. As the photos attest, this tree creates a fair bit of shade in the middle to back of this green. This can contribute to poorer growth because with shade comes colder conditions, less sunlight, less density of growth and a weaker surface. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyo8LG85QZ9RFMh-HijVXSHDjalazePVQZOuBUOmStQZmvY21DPMEYYDMEhyphenhyphenKhtGyjYjc-wE-e9FuJiOH0mhno3mZBNY06T6gBVtvMTWv1WVGt_dhJ3O6MzefYXJzbTipfwxvtbAvFez6y7AbCBJtaJqduNm9yzKQN7OBZpahKr2hL36YXJKLP43OEEg/s4032/IMG_2766.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyo8LG85QZ9RFMh-HijVXSHDjalazePVQZOuBUOmStQZmvY21DPMEYYDMEhyphenhyphenKhtGyjYjc-wE-e9FuJiOH0mhno3mZBNY06T6gBVtvMTWv1WVGt_dhJ3O6MzefYXJzbTipfwxvtbAvFez6y7AbCBJtaJqduNm9yzKQN7OBZpahKr2hL36YXJKLP43OEEg/s320/IMG_2766.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>So the object of this exercise was merely to create more gaps for sunlight to pass through to the green, breaking up those shadows. Remember this - once that Oak tree is in full leaf, those gaps of sunlight are reduced markedly, hence the need to act now. Often, greenkeepers will do jobs like this not because they dislike trees per se but more that small 'wins' like this can often contribute to better playing surfaces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-jywUg0levUyGwrVAveOFknqGmPBqY9_ICiIdbtD1bGuMCf7rOHq8Z_ZJSWDygeLamXfBJt0WP5OVy9zAGoBd43HN_C2_kLyMr5Vjir5dqdMvOFcCJU3fp22CmxczyeQjXwUtwVAJj56MV8AhuBCZHPktY8wLtBivO5xdZMhggwTZpBXvrmZ8A9m7OE/s4032/IMG_2774.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-jywUg0levUyGwrVAveOFknqGmPBqY9_ICiIdbtD1bGuMCf7rOHq8Z_ZJSWDygeLamXfBJt0WP5OVy9zAGoBd43HN_C2_kLyMr5Vjir5dqdMvOFcCJU3fp22CmxczyeQjXwUtwVAJj56MV8AhuBCZHPktY8wLtBivO5xdZMhggwTZpBXvrmZ8A9m7OE/s320/IMG_2774.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Also going on at the moment is refreshing the tee markers. These have been brought in, dried out in a warm office, sanded down and then repainted. It's nice to get a smooth finish and take time to get the detail right in the painting. They are now looking sharp and ready to go back out in Spring.</p><p>Machinery maintenance, often an overlooked part of our work, is given more attention in the winter months because it coincides with less daylight hours and more inclement weather. Dark mornings or days of heavy rain often enable this work to be done with suitable justification. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRGbNo5C-7deae3DuoRi4kjDtyt-rKn54Gi5TFPLjXqPfhehoElILc7Q-a6t-_Dkpy-ND5bs3g2BnyV87o13L21vMH_YfRZZfz7abqeYmLpaJMBFcdxJ1TbX_CMF2YfOSnXOpEq0EWm71UpP3p-wiAPug3kf564UbWoxp1nYSQQPGR_z8ZaYWb4QWq4s/s4032/IMG_2771.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRGbNo5C-7deae3DuoRi4kjDtyt-rKn54Gi5TFPLjXqPfhehoElILc7Q-a6t-_Dkpy-ND5bs3g2BnyV87o13L21vMH_YfRZZfz7abqeYmLpaJMBFcdxJ1TbX_CMF2YfOSnXOpEq0EWm71UpP3p-wiAPug3kf564UbWoxp1nYSQQPGR_z8ZaYWb4QWq4s/s320/IMG_2771.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>We recently cut the entire golf course in the second full week of January. This presented the course better and restored some much needed definition for members. It actually looked more like a golf course at the end of that week. The downside was mowers (in particular the fairway mower) cutting grass but with worm casts visible. The effects of this lead to a dulling of the cutting cylinders. Having our own grinding equipment is a superb asset at this time of year. </p><p>We power wash the units, strip them down and then mount them on the grinders to restore the sharp edges of the blades. This then enables us to get back out with those mowers and actually cut grass again rather than trying to cut grass with dull blades.</p><p>Another part of our machinery maintenance is parts replacement. As you can see from the photos below, these tees mower units have had new parts fitted that form part of the rear roller brushes. These brushes clean the rear rollers following mowing of tees, surrounds etc and help to keep those rollers collecting worm cast debris, grass etc which can then lead to roller bearing degradation. So we have replaced pulleys, belts, bearings, brush shafts etc in a quieter period to enable us to be ready when growth resumes in Spring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoYuCId9fTN1ng-VZOcBZLe_2qYWDa5JPgigwigqm_pzrd70GOB4lkaGgdFoB_jrp7E3UF-wVGKNwZWpoTf5XXpbyMUQgQ3D3ddb-Nybhmjj7rAJqPwXNSutmopHcfJeRva3jYXx0J8C4-eeJTIRSkY9ciGSdBRDKAm-XePgFmXo_gsGDMTGKKkYTHlY/s4032/IMG_2772.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoYuCId9fTN1ng-VZOcBZLe_2qYWDa5JPgigwigqm_pzrd70GOB4lkaGgdFoB_jrp7E3UF-wVGKNwZWpoTf5XXpbyMUQgQ3D3ddb-Nybhmjj7rAJqPwXNSutmopHcfJeRva3jYXx0J8C4-eeJTIRSkY9ciGSdBRDKAm-XePgFmXo_gsGDMTGKKkYTHlY/s320/IMG_2772.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VUf8H9c454SdLTDd4DHjwApbfxvK6aAFPM4lHdXmeASLtVuAzjDC6sFThJxujl-vdhvhCHODUYLOJ7ZQpcngP6egE0tYm9ReOAMGisMHYrxgQyLKkJZOJnuCOVAY0sxLw8-8bBNlJHWmftUKE1uZJ5kpRiW9w4iut_hYnLcA1JQSDD9ww6jxw0-rzk8/s4032/IMG_2773.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VUf8H9c454SdLTDd4DHjwApbfxvK6aAFPM4lHdXmeASLtVuAzjDC6sFThJxujl-vdhvhCHODUYLOJ7ZQpcngP6egE0tYm9ReOAMGisMHYrxgQyLKkJZOJnuCOVAY0sxLw8-8bBNlJHWmftUKE1uZJ5kpRiW9w4iut_hYnLcA1JQSDD9ww6jxw0-rzk8/s320/IMG_2773.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>I've also been in touch with an external contractor, organising quotes for drainage project work and a few other course improvements in the pipeline. The anticipation is that more settled weather and ground conditions will enable us to finally execute some of these planned improvements.</p><p>We'll get a winter fertiliser out on the greens once the snow and thaw occurs. This is more of a nutrient support product rather than a fertiliser designed to specifically push growth. We're replenishing the soil nutrient pool - often something that affects USGA greens in winter because the sandy soils leach nutrient more quickly than soil or clay based soils.</p><p>Granted, whilst it may appear that "there's not much we can do when it's like this" there are in fact tasks that are specifically planned or targeted around weather like this. </p><p>Hopefully, that's a bit of insight into the perhaps unseen part of our work as we understand that not all golfers can be aware of every last thing we do.</p><p><br /></p><p>All the best</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Ben</p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-44585808374701060932024-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:002024-01-05T07:52:32.212-08:002023 in review<p>Happy New Year members</p><p><br /></p><p>I write this blog as we've just passed through a miserable 6 months from July to December. It's been as demoralising for greenkeepers as it has for golfers. </p><p>The disruption from the incessant rain has impacted the club's plans to carry out, ironically, much needed drainage work around the 5th green. This project has been planned for many months but the fact that this project work is at the farthest end of the golf course is even more frustrating. </p><p>Even small breaks in the weather don't particularly help because getting all that way with any sort of digging or trenching equipment as well as with tractors and trailers.</p><p>For context, the rainfall data, which is recorded daily, is provided below:</p><p>Month Rainfall (mm) Number of rain days </p><p>Jan 107 16</p><p>Feb 7 4</p><p>Mar 107 19</p><p>Apr 46 8</p><p>May 25 5</p><p>Jun 40 7</p><p>July 179 20</p><p>Aug 88 9</p><p>Sep 78 10</p><p>Oct 144 16 </p><p>Nov 138 17</p><p>Dec 152 24</p><p><b>TOTAL 1111 155</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>It's been a bit disappointing to be honest and that's an understatement. Granted, there have been periods of dry weather in February, April, May and June so it's not been a complete washout. </p><p>If you scroll back to my earlier blogs, you'll see a really wet July in 2016, similar to July 2023. I realise it's no consolation but these weather cycles do occur.</p><p>That said, if we look back over previous winters, as the photos below attest, we've had this type of weather before:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfn5sKO-B2lxvNO7cNMoXpSMq0Mqhpo8wRNoxV2ZvzVb7Ug0RQ8Cu2juiFD7mD94YTnq65K6mQx5MsU10r3ISZv-JuW122V6uo8opLnIZSFHfBBiyLzZR05lPUtw6lOLJOUKiJjRPocfjCvo6q2RqyMZu5GPhKG54MuIj6v-WVFc646c4CA-IgRDO21M/s4032/IMG_0362.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfn5sKO-B2lxvNO7cNMoXpSMq0Mqhpo8wRNoxV2ZvzVb7Ug0RQ8Cu2juiFD7mD94YTnq65K6mQx5MsU10r3ISZv-JuW122V6uo8opLnIZSFHfBBiyLzZR05lPUtw6lOLJOUKiJjRPocfjCvo6q2RqyMZu5GPhKG54MuIj6v-WVFc646c4CA-IgRDO21M/s320/IMG_0362.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2021 (above)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWy1ZXclWEUPZIueNqvAgJ4gD7slNKnCLx7JHyS_2lPYjxp5SiN_g6LvsdJ6Iyj4jz8WuwUwUvef6BP_BW1sSC6qDLxVyk8LE2wXHakOBPMcmzaHBO3o3milSj4mQPmW4wQ2q_gumcorxgSgeeCxEegUtn7CaXAGTpDiAHYVI-Qs9dQ2QHRzISJF2FEo/s4032/IMG_0312.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWy1ZXclWEUPZIueNqvAgJ4gD7slNKnCLx7JHyS_2lPYjxp5SiN_g6LvsdJ6Iyj4jz8WuwUwUvef6BP_BW1sSC6qDLxVyk8LE2wXHakOBPMcmzaHBO3o3milSj4mQPmW4wQ2q_gumcorxgSgeeCxEegUtn7CaXAGTpDiAHYVI-Qs9dQ2QHRzISJF2FEo/s320/IMG_0312.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2019 (above)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhKRmeoTGp-aragDMjHkkpNPygNDyu2gwG9tIM_7hybsUVnMnxOa628vtkQlOKV_iUBGotbTwB-5uWWhm_2VGQuSYRa2vhBXCctVsNW1UmaV4wMpp988vuL_Z8vXNZp24Qxie6rvqT2vpnTDyOK4KolxBUEnIB9_tA92Jv87gUySH7ZHrC9iVubJryj8/s3264/IMG_2864.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhKRmeoTGp-aragDMjHkkpNPygNDyu2gwG9tIM_7hybsUVnMnxOa628vtkQlOKV_iUBGotbTwB-5uWWhm_2VGQuSYRa2vhBXCctVsNW1UmaV4wMpp988vuL_Z8vXNZp24Qxie6rvqT2vpnTDyOK4KolxBUEnIB9_tA92Jv87gUySH7ZHrC9iVubJryj8/s320/IMG_2864.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2017 (above)</div><br /><p>I remember distinctly a few horrendous winters in 2006, 2009, 2010 when I worked in Nottinghamshire. Terribly wet but typically British too. Conversely, the summer of 1976 when I was born was a proper heatwave summer. Cycles of weather come and go.</p><p>Hopefully, as I write, the forecast shows a dry 2 weeks ahead of us so let's look forward to better days.</p><p>Autumn provided the annual leaf drop and it wrung itself out until the end of December.</p><p>Greens have held up well despite the wet weather. We've had to spike (verti drain), sarel roll (shallow surface spike) and apply a product called Rocastem, which opens up the pore spaces in the soil, to keep the greens as playable as possible for members. They've done very well and it's very satisfying to see how they have developed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLopvu7J0uFjJ-gE1oIjJQA8hT0UaXTykTDb0mP-CDxpS9dYJXkdvWG3wtHG84oF4USCDdx7UsBAkqQ4kR0nmfLdzYu1XM-4uNFS-M0le10tVPFx6zz2mBF72R-G95COSpkNQi_HXSqE2LDFIc0EX8amBQAh91fUJygQPK0n_v2vMKygVqsvIED23lRlQ/s4032/IMG_2730.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLopvu7J0uFjJ-gE1oIjJQA8hT0UaXTykTDb0mP-CDxpS9dYJXkdvWG3wtHG84oF4USCDdx7UsBAkqQ4kR0nmfLdzYu1XM-4uNFS-M0le10tVPFx6zz2mBF72R-G95COSpkNQi_HXSqE2LDFIc0EX8amBQAh91fUJygQPK0n_v2vMKygVqsvIED23lRlQ/s320/IMG_2730.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>It's critical to keep overseeding with bentgrasses to ensure the greens are more resilient and more disease resistant. We wanted to head into 2024 with good grass coverage, density and minimal disease scarring and I think we've achieved that. Granted, 2 fungicides have been sprayed; in late September and then also at the start of November. The saving grace, if you could call it that, is that disease has struggled to proliferate is because of the consistent rain, ironically.</p><p>Fusarium is prevalent in high humidity, mild weather and with heavy morning dew. Disease spores spread over the dew so rainfall has been a buffer to that disease spread.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c4thXgBgk9WWbo_uqr9WKnTyEn59sJWjqIu7LOtHrkLZVxOMJREM00R0cQz-CJuAy9r5RUr5Hd8WrYvOa_tSytIULUYj5fr-jkwr4-6BCMPYB-3wTFypS0vMtRm2Qd_h0DzwzgfvPvhSb0fafKQ4ae75OlY_jD8GDrQmRMvA5Em46mJ8rv-2b18tW58/s4032/IMG_2581.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c4thXgBgk9WWbo_uqr9WKnTyEn59sJWjqIu7LOtHrkLZVxOMJREM00R0cQz-CJuAy9r5RUr5Hd8WrYvOa_tSytIULUYj5fr-jkwr4-6BCMPYB-3wTFypS0vMtRm2Qd_h0DzwzgfvPvhSb0fafKQ4ae75OlY_jD8GDrQmRMvA5Em46mJ8rv-2b18tW58/s320/IMG_2581.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgWMSVkGrUA3z_qDIdkQ4ZGGRk9CqhV1aV86T3mVSKLBhlgGiSPPKhDTHlX_yPDCAWHGc-AI4mNcckk-Zoh0Ye2ga_H_FLcV6Z9L-7RuBb2nMlDehBqS7AnxFUOUWDCnQRGsGcjnrnz6h-rRmDCd0h6Haj3MF7dS1XZ1c9Q6YlaTNFpCeusCkNOFzp9w/s4032/IMG_2576.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgWMSVkGrUA3z_qDIdkQ4ZGGRk9CqhV1aV86T3mVSKLBhlgGiSPPKhDTHlX_yPDCAWHGc-AI4mNcckk-Zoh0Ye2ga_H_FLcV6Z9L-7RuBb2nMlDehBqS7AnxFUOUWDCnQRGsGcjnrnz6h-rRmDCd0h6Haj3MF7dS1XZ1c9Q6YlaTNFpCeusCkNOFzp9w/s320/IMG_2576.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Tees were all fertilised, verti drained, divoted and cut prior to closing them for the winter. They are looking well so please refrain from playing off them until Spring.</p><p>Tee markers have been sanded and repainted.</p><p>Our machinery servicing is up to date. Oil & filter changes, done twice per year, have been done. All mower cylinders that needed re-grinding (sharpening) have all been completed. We continue to ensure that any worn parts are replaced. Currently, we are just finishing replacing bearings, belts and pulleys that drive the rear roller brush assemblies on our Tees 3250 mower.</p><p>It is pleasing that we continue to keep the machinery in good working order. Perhaps it is an area of our work that goes unnoticed by 95% of members but it is done mainly by us and it is important that the machinery is looked after. 25% of the greens' budget is allocated to machinery repair, servicing and parts replacement.</p><p>We managed, eventually, to restore some definition to the golf course by cutting tees, fairways and most rough in the week leading up to Christmas. It was long overdue but the ground conditions prior had prevented us from getting heavy machinery such as the Fairway and Rough mowers out. The weather since has been so mild and wet that growth continues. We'll hopefully get some more mowing done in the next few weeks with a nicer forecast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P6CYAO0T6iwBCY7ojDZaexQ11mUMCo-plo4Ds4q2VlqFXrp3lmsyd2UuUbDscR8g_zJ6sUv2sQj3lv110e8GHbtmvozeKz30NvyKZHCmBOrepPzGz5ESbGTrjyj4d4FWGfBfT_RwhPHLvB9Mbinq4ceHPqjNKhZeBMHaH-im0BPJk61_Vd_CARyqMNE/s4032/IMG_2727.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P6CYAO0T6iwBCY7ojDZaexQ11mUMCo-plo4Ds4q2VlqFXrp3lmsyd2UuUbDscR8g_zJ6sUv2sQj3lv110e8GHbtmvozeKz30NvyKZHCmBOrepPzGz5ESbGTrjyj4d4FWGfBfT_RwhPHLvB9Mbinq4ceHPqjNKhZeBMHaH-im0BPJk61_Vd_CARyqMNE/s320/IMG_2727.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>The Putting Green (above), has had much work done to it over the years. We continue to integrate sandy soil into this green whenever we change the holes. I estimate that several hundred old hole positions have been filled up with sandy soil over the years. Now, that work is paying dividends. Rarely do we see standing water on this green anymore. </p><p>Whilst it will never play like the golf course greens (due to being a clay push up green vs USGA greens on the gof course), we're still keen to get it as playable as possible during adverse weather. Hence, you will see regular instances like this where the plugs are ameliorated with the sandy soil. A couple of weeks later, they tend to settle in. The compromise in the short term is worth it for better long term results.</p><p>The directors are committed to drainage work to improve wet areas of the golf course. It will be carried out but when exactly that is, we just don't know. I know many golf clubs have had to postpone course project work in late 2023 as the weather has been just too much to get heavy plant equipment out.</p><p>In the meantime, best wishes for 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>Ben Allen</p><p><br /></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-12224203471310752412023-10-06T08:10:00.003-07:002023-10-09T11:20:42.093-07:00Autumn Report 2023<p>Hello all</p><p><br /></p><p>It's October 6th and we are forecast several days of 20 something degrees, sunshine and no rain, at least until the middle to back end of next week. Let's look forward to that as the previous 3 months have been wet. July posted the same amount of rainfall than January, February, May and June combined. August and September didn't exactly crack the flags. Not good.</p><p>We've now got Ali back after his operation so we can hopefully start to pick things up again and get some more consistent productivity. With leaves falling and growth still good, we need to deal with multiple challenges as best as we can.</p><p>Greens maintenance week was still carried out. Thanks to Terry for providing some assistance clearing cores, matting topdressing sand in and a few other small tasks. </p><p><br /></p><p>Often, this work is carried out following our annual soil tests. The most problematic green is the 5th. In all honesty, the root zone is poor. Although it is sandy, it has a high percentage of fine sand particles. These are not conducive to good drainage. Hence the green is slow to dry down after rain and can hold excess moisture in the top part of the soil profile. So, we hollow cored this green to a 50mm depth and backfilled with our dressing sand - a coarse/medium mix. This should help to draw rain through a bit quicker. Following this, we also scarified it to pull a bit more thatchy material out. The soil test for this particular green showed no real organic matter issues; 2.2% is not an excess. It is simply the poor root zone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m7BdRKJTOeLLUBL1dOW92iN51aV8E3tYpzfjwnF0SSqqSIBeGDoWL4QapsJLkjt1YBfXOU1cTrv8PL4S808G1IhJdzN7QPHrbVstQNvv1TTk8ujYeedAqvaeIo5DIp3BBoLj1lXA0Ji6N5GW0_is1Rb_naOBPlBcJV50vaxJvROMCcDa58220RY4GJw/s4032/IMG_2373.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m7BdRKJTOeLLUBL1dOW92iN51aV8E3tYpzfjwnF0SSqqSIBeGDoWL4QapsJLkjt1YBfXOU1cTrv8PL4S808G1IhJdzN7QPHrbVstQNvv1TTk8ujYeedAqvaeIo5DIp3BBoLj1lXA0Ji6N5GW0_is1Rb_naOBPlBcJV50vaxJvROMCcDa58220RY4GJw/s320/IMG_2373.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>The other greens all received a double scarify, double verticut, were overseeded and fertilised. We just need to remove the seasonally accumulated organic matter and this is always in the top 12mm (0.5 inches) as that is where the majority of growth and excess plant material is based. Overseeding is purely to keep pushing browntop and creeping bentgrass into the sward for a better quality surface. The lack of overly invasive work now means that the recovery from this work is fairly quick. 7-10 days and there is little evidence of any work being done.</p><p>The fairway scarifying was carried out, albeit in a mixed weather week. The rain did not help in the slightest. We removed a lot of dry, dead, matted material accumulated in the drought spell. Doing this annually has certainly helped with fairway drainage. If the soil has less thatch in the surface, less water will be held in the surface and so surface puddling in the wetter months will be less of an issue. Do the work, reap the benefits.</p><p>We have had a few issues, greens-wise and the first has been a bit of a pain since early July. This, as is visible in the photos, is a black algae-like growth in the surface. It is literally a millimetre thick and is a result of continuous rainfall, heavy morning dew, high humidity and very inconsistent sunlight/drying days. So the effect of greens surfaces sitting damp for long periods encourages the proliferation of it. It generally disappears with sun, warmth and wind. As there has been little of either to celebrate, here we are and because it is not a turf disease, a fungicide will not eradicate it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iS-eC_mMglemjh0rkZwt9sWGHlcavDRuTnWpapnqyzuxEwarAoyqujLlfkHNClYmitG85OoKmPX_mPVl-pbUvC_OBA10giqn9WqFm2cdE6vyQa8-o4E1rJxnMJKAJZ2EFdd71JzOpCdB5GE_EPzwHOxPGPOwtYx4YdPMbrAwBzqDAaykg0MxyjBALnc/s4032/IMG_2443.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iS-eC_mMglemjh0rkZwt9sWGHlcavDRuTnWpapnqyzuxEwarAoyqujLlfkHNClYmitG85OoKmPX_mPVl-pbUvC_OBA10giqn9WqFm2cdE6vyQa8-o4E1rJxnMJKAJZ2EFdd71JzOpCdB5GE_EPzwHOxPGPOwtYx4YdPMbrAwBzqDAaykg0MxyjBALnc/s320/IMG_2443.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7feAh-xXcTFrIKUzvSyMzIHtDric9WW7i4tr3cThwuCm2G7nrAx8iGN9yOOmKbcFHRcKDO3YpfsTN6WpPy0c_KF4tYhze0kxfZFEh5bT6Ap4Lgx1oGuGyfhmIzlih7ppD2YhBtQcg2gWacGH-08REQaBz0P_Cq8OsTO6EG6jjUINX_vtca49X_g2iwEs/s4032/IMG_2445.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7feAh-xXcTFrIKUzvSyMzIHtDric9WW7i4tr3cThwuCm2G7nrAx8iGN9yOOmKbcFHRcKDO3YpfsTN6WpPy0c_KF4tYhze0kxfZFEh5bT6Ap4Lgx1oGuGyfhmIzlih7ppD2YhBtQcg2gWacGH-08REQaBz0P_Cq8OsTO6EG6jjUINX_vtca49X_g2iwEs/s320/IMG_2445.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So in season, verticutting and light sand dressing help to overcome this because it is has this drying effect. Now, we cannot utilise these practices because we are beyond the period of recovery for such practices - the mornings are darker for longer, daylight hours are less and soil temperatures are cooling. Therefore aeration and a higher mowing height are more suitable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS4EATLHhpFrKdMe_QbJGuww8sQRLTcXJJqLuNBqbbG4lpGxyw8Arkykp6AVeCuw2xXFpmyh17C0-SqMd08N19e1jiFKU9e17kfPpNZCm93nfCpHOOYCU-yRGkuxkIDOWXAK_75j_acXWMUp2ztwh9wXuXKjlD8sqPaVwNWCrHPkh0N1b9SZkV-e1oIE/s4032/IMG_2417.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS4EATLHhpFrKdMe_QbJGuww8sQRLTcXJJqLuNBqbbG4lpGxyw8Arkykp6AVeCuw2xXFpmyh17C0-SqMd08N19e1jiFKU9e17kfPpNZCm93nfCpHOOYCU-yRGkuxkIDOWXAK_75j_acXWMUp2ztwh9wXuXKjlD8sqPaVwNWCrHPkh0N1b9SZkV-e1oIE/s320/IMG_2417.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Secondly, we've had Take All patch disease (above). It's a soil borne disease and mainly associated with high sand content root zones. So our greens tick that box. Often, the prompt for this disease is a reversion from one extremes of weather to the other ie dry to wet. So we had that between June and July onwards. Tick that box. It affects poa and bentgrass. Tick that box. It doesn't affect fescue. So we have recently spot seeded the affected areas with fescue in an attempt to mitigate this disease moving forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ll7TWLk1Gd1J2B64fQ8bjNW22ZA3hK-gL8J4yJ64RgF0YgJyeusIC4cwYJRBD0DMM7zZz70qMHPDxWNADe2LcYOPlRVa2p1UQgIuvClNaQCYzZlyEtPH3sVopqPyNQVkAS9iTErQXZi8RqxBM2bNPKhRCyAYQ-zShb8i0AvHp8hR68nnrKMnO7iPYlE/s4032/IMG_2442.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ll7TWLk1Gd1J2B64fQ8bjNW22ZA3hK-gL8J4yJ64RgF0YgJyeusIC4cwYJRBD0DMM7zZz70qMHPDxWNADe2LcYOPlRVa2p1UQgIuvClNaQCYzZlyEtPH3sVopqPyNQVkAS9iTErQXZi8RqxBM2bNPKhRCyAYQ-zShb8i0AvHp8hR68nnrKMnO7iPYlE/s320/IMG_2442.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The other issue - and this is confined at the moment to the 5th green, is Fusarium (above). A disease that is an airborne spreading disease, it spreads on the morning dew and is extremely detrimental because it is so destructive to the surface, attacking in heavy dews, humid conditions and often greens lacking in wind circulation & sunlight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_0kVZY6JSHcf4gXprjc53J3lURk0DJ5lPF7lph3rrFDD8MDObDKZ__uN2TV8LKtCZjtAjsdxq4FoBZuIVURLS6cYvHdnIFalWNx-7dnL-874WREB1EJRhCvx9CQAfl_ZVa_58QXLvec4u976W34Px9jhlzBY2oZEi2GNOyAP2ua2jP4_Cor7krJcBpI/s4032/IMG_2441.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_0kVZY6JSHcf4gXprjc53J3lURk0DJ5lPF7lph3rrFDD8MDObDKZ__uN2TV8LKtCZjtAjsdxq4FoBZuIVURLS6cYvHdnIFalWNx-7dnL-874WREB1EJRhCvx9CQAfl_ZVa_58QXLvec4u976W34Px9jhlzBY2oZEi2GNOyAP2ua2jP4_Cor7krJcBpI/s320/IMG_2441.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>So we have the 5th green here in the photo. Notice the shaded area at the back of the green? Yep, that's where the Fusarium is most prominent. The correlation is obvious. Very little sunlight to evaporate the dew, a very humid and wind-free environment. Trees are nice to a degree but they are not helping here at all. This is where we are at with this green. Multiple issues and the associated problems with the soil and location. Unfortunately, the current range of fungicides is a lot less effective than what was previously available. So without any modicum of tree management in this area, disease will always be an issue on this green between September and April.</p><p>I believe the joining up of the 4th and 7th fairways has helped somewhat with the issues on the 4th hole. Balls exiting the golf course into the neighbouring houses was a huge problem. Now that we have grown the rough in down the left hand side of this hole and connected the 4th and 7th fairways, effectively losing the dividing rough, has done well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDm4elfFc5cM71roKeK54h3JU7MqTkifbMEy1JDnHtwAkuSeLvSi7W5Y-HFaRZNDLI_Fe044VUpJiydvUNKYGWKTNBcwMQnWuaWhBh9j4LGhaSgfOT8SXuUwd4Lawh4fFnLIudfMwsRlQWkndddCGNEyp3ayDepwOJ5xr5SMCVXgwyT8eZnITWI00OA/s4032/IMG_2303.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDm4elfFc5cM71roKeK54h3JU7MqTkifbMEy1JDnHtwAkuSeLvSi7W5Y-HFaRZNDLI_Fe044VUpJiydvUNKYGWKTNBcwMQnWuaWhBh9j4LGhaSgfOT8SXuUwd4Lawh4fFnLIudfMwsRlQWkndddCGNEyp3ayDepwOJ5xr5SMCVXgwyT8eZnITWI00OA/s320/IMG_2303.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU12MLRKnyeEEXG80z1-k24xvHEdJCWER2UGCreFw1cGK6SHLRMVo3Bx7mDqVPNX08NS7AG5Ib0JPSn8n-kzn79Z_Sw1f1_7QPmeuALpjBmr-VLILhfQ-W47vZHmEr5e3XrHDj9MNhhdss2Y8vYgE0xl38p4JDS9lxyXV6V8PqptzINXk2Wvnyuh3Lgio/s4032/IMG_2302.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU12MLRKnyeEEXG80z1-k24xvHEdJCWER2UGCreFw1cGK6SHLRMVo3Bx7mDqVPNX08NS7AG5Ib0JPSn8n-kzn79Z_Sw1f1_7QPmeuALpjBmr-VLILhfQ-W47vZHmEr5e3XrHDj9MNhhdss2Y8vYgE0xl38p4JDS9lxyXV6V8PqptzINXk2Wvnyuh3Lgio/s320/IMG_2302.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Enjoy the autumn, we'll endeavour to keep on top of falling leaves as best we can!</p><p><br /></p><p>Ben</p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-84440192942424202692023-06-02T08:48:00.002-07:002023-06-02T08:48:37.686-07:00Spring/summmer report 2023<p>Hi everyone</p><p><br /></p><p>Hopefully, you are all managing to get out frequently and play some golf in some glorious, settled weather. It's perfect for golf and conditions should promote long driving, even for those who don't consider themselves big hitters. Make the most of it as the British weather can flip on a coin as it invariably does.</p><p>For greens' staff, it's a time of managing water over the areas that we are able to irrigate. Predominantly, we are talking greens and tees. So expect to see us pulling a hose around. It's Groundhog Day at the moment for sure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKILGHBHjBDqkBKqmvZbwT3kL_YOtkyzgHjEAalhRjuln2PlkpoP2PBUiq4vcJnMEuqUCeNBtX6x5ObrocfLCW0EiMmYHv3R7Xpz7I7vxQHP8Mp-Q8DCOAJhG2LUDfbF9WMywWYP_WDOKMOP5j6QXiS2-i8AoKpzXkSk_dKbAci4O55FryGS1Yt5S/s4032/IMG_2219.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKILGHBHjBDqkBKqmvZbwT3kL_YOtkyzgHjEAalhRjuln2PlkpoP2PBUiq4vcJnMEuqUCeNBtX6x5ObrocfLCW0EiMmYHv3R7Xpz7I7vxQHP8Mp-Q8DCOAJhG2LUDfbF9WMywWYP_WDOKMOP5j6QXiS2-i8AoKpzXkSk_dKbAci4O55FryGS1Yt5S/s320/IMG_2219.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>What we are currently experiencing is just one of those pesky dry spells - not drought, at least not yet but a period extending back to the first week of May when we last had meaningful rain. Generally in these conditions, the turf enters this stage of semi-dormancy. There is a little bit of soil moisture remaining but not a lot. So the growth looks a little bit patchy and inconsistent. For many of these areas (tees, fairways, greens, approaches, surrounds, even rough), the soil nutrition is actually good. Fertiliser is applied to the areas that demand the most growth and recovery; greens, tees, approaches, surrounds. But when there is insufficient moisture in the soil, the grass cannot utilise that nutrition because it has to have sufficient soil moisture to keep it alive and healthy. Hence the cessation or slowdown in growth.</p><p>Greens-wise, we have a different animal if you will. Obviously, these areas where golfers putt are intended to be short, firm and with uniformity to encourage consistent ball roll. But these greens are based upon a USGA green construction. To the layperson, that is a high sand content golf green. Essentially, a green that drains well and is playable year round. That said, they are extremely labour intensive to manage. With 2 full time staff, they consume a disproportionate amount of labour hours, relative to a regular working week.</p><p>USGA greens are notorious for being inert. They don't retain nutrients well and they definitely don't retain water well. So lots of supplemental irrigation is required in dry spells. That combines irrigation with additional hand watering to target any localised dry spots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-e4mMMw42oD6k4cyisUIjvvyL3-N3arcJLWf9BsMyydu5kE1PHXhmG-PhQNkbaaPZY8sh8IRdnsBB10X7O1wnQdCSPHKyZpRQe58aVakkWwvFKFp2pqE7IodJ2jUuoMRtlBO6mjkG3ulRJG0CswNbSJyjyFfaIzQjZNVnkPPr4qsZ6AEzrMYKZzN/s4032/IMG_2217.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-e4mMMw42oD6k4cyisUIjvvyL3-N3arcJLWf9BsMyydu5kE1PHXhmG-PhQNkbaaPZY8sh8IRdnsBB10X7O1wnQdCSPHKyZpRQe58aVakkWwvFKFp2pqE7IodJ2jUuoMRtlBO6mjkG3ulRJG0CswNbSJyjyFfaIzQjZNVnkPPr4qsZ6AEzrMYKZzN/s320/IMG_2217.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcaLpMXlHw8vgACVVkssn_lM5vMVYVtfGhPQ6H4QwLF5QTavxuVAInY2I6aSOFyUvETWgcfnnbrfHmE_XywETFXoJQFg3iNXNt9ZUN1Akynvj7LC1bd2TrUB5-EzK7qnIyt-WFctDSit1sbUcigPiHP-HWhRCLUw1ggUzo3SrlBdP8gONYaCTB7bb/s4032/IMG_2218.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcaLpMXlHw8vgACVVkssn_lM5vMVYVtfGhPQ6H4QwLF5QTavxuVAInY2I6aSOFyUvETWgcfnnbrfHmE_XywETFXoJQFg3iNXNt9ZUN1Akynvj7LC1bd2TrUB5-EzK7qnIyt-WFctDSit1sbUcigPiHP-HWhRCLUw1ggUzo3SrlBdP8gONYaCTB7bb/s320/IMG_2218.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>We have a soil moisture meter that we use as a tool to determine the soil moisture content as a percentage. We generally aim for 20-30% as a target range but we have to take into account the forecast and weather conditions. Sand based greens can quickly dry out, particularly if sun and wind are thrown into the mix. So it's a balancing act and with these weather conditions, overnight irrigation is generally insufficient to resolve any dryness. You're just misting the green effectively - a cooling effect. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuf3Cy0sg-tX-9u6Yks8W3woz0jOot_w2sdSlfAVm7QskKEFbp3gRdZvUU6iwtnKu2h1Ws9LYWLY9Krb5zsnEgErX90R_rYBR2tOloAgO_IMoDoiGRaCip9Px_ggc8hPcxQWzV_e-en0ZMhL9pFJ2x7GHKA67CFVXk-neaX69k7C_G_qOEr8lfajo/s4032/IMG_1512.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuf3Cy0sg-tX-9u6Yks8W3woz0jOot_w2sdSlfAVm7QskKEFbp3gRdZvUU6iwtnKu2h1Ws9LYWLY9Krb5zsnEgErX90R_rYBR2tOloAgO_IMoDoiGRaCip9Px_ggc8hPcxQWzV_e-en0ZMhL9pFJ2x7GHKA67CFVXk-neaX69k7C_G_qOEr8lfajo/s320/IMG_1512.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>We also spray with a wetting agent. These are applied to the green surface and then irrigated into the soil profile. They are designed to help water to absorb better into the soil profile, to get water to be held more effectively by the soil particles, to create better moisture uniformity across the green and to retain water for longer. They don't <b>create</b> water. So they aren't this magical silver bullet that solves the problem. Wetting agents require irrigation or rainfall for them to work effectively - particularly for a sand based green. </p><p>The other issue we have right now is that we are managing a mixed grass sward composition; bentgrass and poa. The former is a dream; the Rolls Royce. It retains a medium/dark green colour even in drought, requires low nutrient and water, is disease resistant and makes for a stunning green surface. It is a perennial and survives year after year. It has more of a broader leaf. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46OZvFGPSLbQf3nyoiYNZxy7STo94jhjOT1VPfNGulx7ZODel4kjCRSSOxIPYnR2U_Vr3zJdnLcWgtcMCPOQLHhQhvbBOXwmY2GlJ50On7HtuYMaVZ9gSdFRWhHVe59JoR10d_CTMU-9joyXzfXqRCtJw9NMmSC1oEbLu147lfilWAFIx-2QIy7Mz/s4032/IMG_2212.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46OZvFGPSLbQf3nyoiYNZxy7STo94jhjOT1VPfNGulx7ZODel4kjCRSSOxIPYnR2U_Vr3zJdnLcWgtcMCPOQLHhQhvbBOXwmY2GlJ50On7HtuYMaVZ9gSdFRWhHVe59JoR10d_CTMU-9joyXzfXqRCtJw9NMmSC1oEbLu147lfilWAFIx-2QIy7Mz/s320/IMG_2212.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>The latter is a headache. It is a bit like becoming a new parent to a baby. Only that baby never matures. In year 2, you still have a baby so you're in this constant state of stress - never mind the baby! It's the Peter Pan of grasses. Furthermore, it needs constant feeding, constant watering, fungicide, refining - and eventually it will die. It is classed as an annual (poa annua) and for those of you who grow bedding plants, you know that for a season, it's nice but then you buy more pansies or snapdragons the next year. Poa is, paradoxically, the great survivor. It does this by producing thousands of seeds. At this time of year, the greens just look white with all the seedbeds. </p><p>So we have this issue where golfers can often complain about surface bobbles when putting. With a bentgrass green, the ball rolls nicely over the leaf tips. In a poa/bentgrass green, the poa seedheads cause ball roll deviation. It seeds in Spring ready to die in the Summer, establish new growth in Autumn and mature over Winter. Repeat for the next year. So we know it will <b>always</b> die off and the plan each year is to overseed all the greens in Autumn with bentgrass seed. So over time, the bentgrass content of each green increases. But it tends to be incremental. So a conversion to predominantly bentgrass takes time. Long term, if we succeed in a grass conversion to a high percentage bent grass composition, they'll be easier and a lot cheaper to manage.</p><p>Managing both together is the challenge. Generally, what you do is provide adequate nutrition and water for growth. The mowing brings the bentgrass <b>down</b> to the poa. The topdressing brings the surface levels <b>up</b> to the bentgrass. Thereafter you have more <b>uniformity. </b>So it's a lot of work but that's just what we have to do to provide good greens for our members and visitors.</p><p>As for tees, the challenge is quite tough. They don't have automatic irrigation so we have to hand water them in dry periods. Plus, most of the tees are also a high sand content construction. Again, water retention is the issue. Remember at the weekend, they're not getting <b>any</b> water. So if the weather is hot and dry, they're drying out. They have also been sprayed with a wetting agent to help moisture retention.</p><p>Elsewhere, we've been slowly working on approaches and surrounds to try to extend those green-type conditions out further, to try to provide increased shot making for a range of golfer abilities. Hence more topdressing to firm up these areas and create a smoother, firmer surface. That is the aim and it's a slow process but these areas are all slowly improving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjidPAUNFTQPOJZVuXGsACP1icKvl8jzLmIZHQyMw30n6S58ID7YJ1uMZdUk208Z0hxp-H3NWBxE9VVBzFt7V-Rm8q91fPRHh4WBxcwRd4lz8u3xnyZh6t3Dx4_gIG1QaNxwKrOaSMzoPGjeE_8dps_GTH4NX9h5RuJnH_SUGegDe81v5jHJUKXGi/s4032/IMG_2197.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjidPAUNFTQPOJZVuXGsACP1icKvl8jzLmIZHQyMw30n6S58ID7YJ1uMZdUk208Z0hxp-H3NWBxE9VVBzFt7V-Rm8q91fPRHh4WBxcwRd4lz8u3xnyZh6t3Dx4_gIG1QaNxwKrOaSMzoPGjeE_8dps_GTH4NX9h5RuJnH_SUGegDe81v5jHJUKXGi/s320/IMG_2197.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>As we head into the next few weeks, machinery will be serviced. Oil and filters will be replaced to keep the machines ticking over. Whilst they are old, we like to think that we can keep the engines in fairly decent condition provided they are looked after. Just like we don't neglect our cars, we shouldn't neglect golf course machinery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUg_eAq7zuSioKOmLbQwMLh-mf-OjXHRpH4qp1zXq3-2Eb0bg3hQHj5GQhoYDgWt5c50_ugCUtJSD2qBmY3iNLm8YWpMdihizI8A0h-TpwjFQtZdHe15VNms_9uNXGqqDG23eJge14dJTtKhQP4h8WVi6SPEi4Rjve0YMOXT_woaUe12xm8ZRpZdl/s4032/IMG_2195.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUg_eAq7zuSioKOmLbQwMLh-mf-OjXHRpH4qp1zXq3-2Eb0bg3hQHj5GQhoYDgWt5c50_ugCUtJSD2qBmY3iNLm8YWpMdihizI8A0h-TpwjFQtZdHe15VNms_9uNXGqqDG23eJge14dJTtKhQP4h8WVi6SPEi4Rjve0YMOXT_woaUe12xm8ZRpZdl/s320/IMG_2195.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRKsfl_urCHsbWkpk7mqFR4c2SgWPgsKfZSK5XzquKjCj6DIlN5O6QbFJgZ44TzZUntQSJ1CvFJE5G0ExBb9U4EnbfXDJJ57TVigqubAWnKz3zf8OxGj7seSlcn3wOpi3eUtzMfeWrM-up8EwuuF90PRFSP5selLq8Km4Y6bXopxjthVSjNmsSptt/s4032/IMG_2194.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRKsfl_urCHsbWkpk7mqFR4c2SgWPgsKfZSK5XzquKjCj6DIlN5O6QbFJgZ44TzZUntQSJ1CvFJE5G0ExBb9U4EnbfXDJJ57TVigqubAWnKz3zf8OxGj7seSlcn3wOpi3eUtzMfeWrM-up8EwuuF90PRFSP5selLq8Km4Y6bXopxjthVSjNmsSptt/s320/IMG_2194.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We.ve recently harrowed the fairways too. The principle is to stand up any grasses that are laid flat as a result of mowing. They are stood up and cut better. The harrowing also pulls out any matted surface debris and acts to thin out the surface. A bit like a light scarification. This is part of the refining of the fairway surfaces to encourage more finer grass dominated fairways. </p><p>Hopefully this has provided you all with a bit more information and an idea of the type of work that is involved in course maintenance during these Spring & Summer months.</p><p>Do talk to us if you would like. We are happy to talk to members about the golf course at any time.</p><p>Just a brief mention. We've noticed a number of golfers recently taking golf trolleys across greens and tees. The issue here is twofold; firstly, etiquette and secondly, in dry, hot weather that is common at the moment, they can leave wheel marks which can then burn off in the sun. I really don't think it is appropriate for any golfers to be pulling trolleys across tees or greens. It's hardly an arduous walk around a 9 hole golf course and golfers aren't exactly ascending Everest with a golf bag. </p><p><br /></p><p>Many thanks and enjoy your golf.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ben Allen</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-9456045570759087102023-02-15T07:47:00.007-08:002023-02-15T08:17:54.478-08:00Early spring work and reviewing completed winter projects <p>Hi there members</p><p><br /></p><p>We're currently 2 weeks into February and it's been dry so far. No rain has fallen since the last week in January. Hence, conditions for golf are fairly decent, given it's still winter.</p><p>I just wanted to provide a round-up of what's been going on out on the golf course over the last 6-8 weeks. The weather has played ball so we've managed to get on with a whole range of tasks and project work. I'll try to be concise without getting too 'War & Peace' about things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4mMeq9W5yLwLKvP6yew8e9DmUf7LtjgbFuqEwPxzGtKPt-uoTYUWK2_yaPXN2KqqGTVmOU6fMMfmgdldJZ9wLu2e1ECm3Ri8PgGiyWPLkKSWuiBTzRyy_aGZYF-zXcQJ3blti9Rgw9sHemKzVG_by4bbdb8N5zYRhlVVR3fj8Ebb-SzXDk5YvvRy/s4032/IMG_1977.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4mMeq9W5yLwLKvP6yew8e9DmUf7LtjgbFuqEwPxzGtKPt-uoTYUWK2_yaPXN2KqqGTVmOU6fMMfmgdldJZ9wLu2e1ECm3Ri8PgGiyWPLkKSWuiBTzRyy_aGZYF-zXcQJ3blti9Rgw9sHemKzVG_by4bbdb8N5zYRhlVVR3fj8Ebb-SzXDk5YvvRy/s320/IMG_1977.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We put an access path in by Alex's new teaching studio. It's to enable us to access the putting green with machinery and to improve this area that looked a bit naff after the studio was completed. It took about 4 hours of work for me & Ali. Functional as well as more aesthetically pleasing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzisVotlnLMF5X_CEbYEQ1fNCOKp1Kd9DtRpnFlnxJr_hQRRlG3XxYtPhY8xAPMoNAtgJH7u4hJP214N2Br0V6RINu90ndg-BNeoN8NpdN-myw1JmqmQsUVqNcahRBSZsoon6LssHizljDZ6ljAwVSfDhS4V1QKtBzdzch47jI6qtg-bhS1CfAWf4/s4032/IMG_1836.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzisVotlnLMF5X_CEbYEQ1fNCOKp1Kd9DtRpnFlnxJr_hQRRlG3XxYtPhY8xAPMoNAtgJH7u4hJP214N2Br0V6RINu90ndg-BNeoN8NpdN-myw1JmqmQsUVqNcahRBSZsoon6LssHizljDZ6ljAwVSfDhS4V1QKtBzdzch47jI6qtg-bhS1CfAWf4/s320/IMG_1836.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHkGUDRy4Cm2H5InVgVPoBUIeTB3ZisFWbYMMYi1Hqspa0ZxjNClCIySNl15qQgzKaQ6qpscj9Npk-LrifxKd39kixSbDUUQdAePIwgpWyzTWY6OMuC73XavwEnEOXVd6OrhiWHt4cut5m-oszOgQ1m71-ae3qcLhlCrQ3tdPtys5PoMWFbf_1NN2/s4032/IMG_1838.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHkGUDRy4Cm2H5InVgVPoBUIeTB3ZisFWbYMMYi1Hqspa0ZxjNClCIySNl15qQgzKaQ6qpscj9Npk-LrifxKd39kixSbDUUQdAePIwgpWyzTWY6OMuC73XavwEnEOXVd6OrhiWHt4cut5m-oszOgQ1m71-ae3qcLhlCrQ3tdPtys5PoMWFbf_1NN2/s320/IMG_1838.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok, so 4th bunker right hand side. Was a bunker, now a surround. The reason for the mound is because there are 3 other mounds around the green and so this balances out the right/left or front/back of this green complex. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to use around 40 tonnes of soil to create this contouring - remember, this was a bunker so that was filled in and then we raised the land in the middle of it. The mound provides a bit of interest for golfers and the run-off to the back right of the green will be extended into this area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W7QFQTHxkI0nyeJJ54dLp6g7Y4ceqLKN4aDyUvTCblDDMQSWlxUKwy459IGPY08OxlpfdO45KwRH2RznNDIMuROrRI2LlMSockJ-m8klSCviiq6_7rju97L5NDXHEPxFy7qhbFMCSWkTgE8rCcUPchhHAl4UO2cNHDxLe4BXe9YV-lOgJAOz57Wp/s4032/IMG_1123.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W7QFQTHxkI0nyeJJ54dLp6g7Y4ceqLKN4aDyUvTCblDDMQSWlxUKwy459IGPY08OxlpfdO45KwRH2RznNDIMuROrRI2LlMSockJ-m8klSCviiq6_7rju97L5NDXHEPxFy7qhbFMCSWkTgE8rCcUPchhHAl4UO2cNHDxLe4BXe9YV-lOgJAOz57Wp/s320/IMG_1123.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So imagine the (old) surround above being extended further into what was the bunker. You sort of get what we're trying to do. Only the added mound creates the required contouring and will give that element of balance that I mentioned earlier.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa3zr_BV7u49Rr9nfU23cEq7ghQTiPOBzlhwMZm5s3WZyORWdeyXLFgPYYMRtdZA61jZaZbH54uxGGambMot-VERn_mi0AA1LkGwNbB-7l23c225Pg-KOLK5278gfaWDypSTNGeRyVY9eMygBMHK7wyP0f_TSa9hR1t895Dkmm0tidYc_Uan72yHt/s4032/IMG_1970.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa3zr_BV7u49Rr9nfU23cEq7ghQTiPOBzlhwMZm5s3WZyORWdeyXLFgPYYMRtdZA61jZaZbH54uxGGambMot-VERn_mi0AA1LkGwNbB-7l23c225Pg-KOLK5278gfaWDypSTNGeRyVY9eMygBMHK7wyP0f_TSa9hR1t895Dkmm0tidYc_Uan72yHt/s320/IMG_1970.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dgqvnBxo_M840E6sp5Jd2YpNqYXBiencMvArENPEiaSBJNiLjgBmJ9MBogNPk0W_qfnb8AtpAIC4bwvwXQwjhfKetiOoddL3WxEiO69WjVwyiJKaUnfBuAQ5MzlKKmmRJHxAx2HdvkUvFDvKEjb6--mgrmNqsSonf-fWiB2yiWq4XJKraVIkQduo/s4032/IMG_1971.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dgqvnBxo_M840E6sp5Jd2YpNqYXBiencMvArENPEiaSBJNiLjgBmJ9MBogNPk0W_qfnb8AtpAIC4bwvwXQwjhfKetiOoddL3WxEiO69WjVwyiJKaUnfBuAQ5MzlKKmmRJHxAx2HdvkUvFDvKEjb6--mgrmNqsSonf-fWiB2yiWq4XJKraVIkQduo/s320/IMG_1971.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been dry enough to start harrowing the rough. Terry Broadhurst has volunteered over the last year or so and he started this work the other day. Basically, we harrow the rough to collect the twigs and branches. But the harrowing also acts to lightly groom/scarify the rough. Any dead material will be 'raked' out and this should stimulate a bit of growth after some rain and warmer weather. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other second order effects of this work will be to thin out some areas of rough, particularly as growth is strong during the warmer months and the rough gets quite lush, dense and tangly in areas. So it has multiple benefits. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because Terry has started to assist us so early, we can get a head start with work that we might otherwise not be able to do. There are many many things we would like to do on the golf course but 2 greens staff can only be in 2 places at any given time. So any additional assistance is welcome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Talking of a head start, we recently threw around 15 tons of sand dressing on our approaches and some greens' surrounds. So let's dive into the whys. My aim, long term, is to extend the work we do on our greens into the approaches and surrounds. We're trying to achieve firm, dry surfaces in the green and approach complex. So why?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>primarily for golf shot making - enabling more variety of shots around the green. That might be a putt or a wedge or a bump 'n' run off the surround or the approach.</li><li>to refine the playing surfaces. Sand dressing provides, long term, a drier more tighter surface to enable better mowing and a more refined surface. </li><li>to discourage casting worms. Worms are more dominant in wet, mild weather. In poor quality farmland (that has been developed into golf course land), the worm casts are often claggy and sticky. They stick to machinery, golf trolly wheels and smear. This looks unsightly and causes surface capping. We won't get rid of the worms but what we can do is to try to get their worm casts to have a more sandy texture.</li><li>to improve surface levels which might be irregular due to ground that has settled and then provides an inconsistent surface for mowing. Sand fills in those gaps, hollows etc and raises the surface level. </li><li>to encourage finer grasses to thrive in a sandier, drier soil profile. We want the bent and fescue grasses to increase in these areas so that the texture of the turf is finer. But this can only be achieved in a lighter, sandier soil (think: Links Golf)</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjATeD8hKRgYQpRD0ex-H-IPJYgOupXi0r0-mlJaPBMuNK1xyNUdU9WSUPhrFpcN7dgBkISTrAv23feWrH1zKogn5LyE5z6tzjUzyEa7ZDxZEH3NDfDJOBuQPiyKx3NrLDLNzSHDHkueuasWaE0r2mmgDpLIDehc3g0DyGjc2jEcVsgZgze_3nGP52/s4032/IMG_1960.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjATeD8hKRgYQpRD0ex-H-IPJYgOupXi0r0-mlJaPBMuNK1xyNUdU9WSUPhrFpcN7dgBkISTrAv23feWrH1zKogn5LyE5z6tzjUzyEa7ZDxZEH3NDfDJOBuQPiyKx3NrLDLNzSHDHkueuasWaE0r2mmgDpLIDehc3g0DyGjc2jEcVsgZgze_3nGP52/s320/IMG_1960.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLh6VrKzVuJZbJ2Fc1XPwvTzjfmc95wfqFzWkCAbikwJ1VFuoTnSR_rHv2sBluON4VCTgSayLVBXprjYoorA3dD94ABaBXFzxoblY-3ofWHN8sBGLW4H-rVzFfW6oKISFny0EzaF8aYDaRARtkxyLqoN7ri5_Z9oAvFGA-dQdD4nmJkyS32p7IKsh/s4032/IMG_1961.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLh6VrKzVuJZbJ2Fc1XPwvTzjfmc95wfqFzWkCAbikwJ1VFuoTnSR_rHv2sBluON4VCTgSayLVBXprjYoorA3dD94ABaBXFzxoblY-3ofWHN8sBGLW4H-rVzFfW6oKISFny0EzaF8aYDaRARtkxyLqoN7ri5_Z9oAvFGA-dQdD4nmJkyS32p7IKsh/s320/IMG_1961.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photos explain the process basically.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not particularly concerned as to the timing of this topdressing work so long as we aren't doing it in the period between Autumn and Winter - that part of the year (November to end of January) is not close enough to the Spring whereby the grass will grow through in a shorter space of time. Moreover, the aim is to get plenty of sand out that, over time, we change the nature of the soil profile. In short, plenty of sand over several applications to develop a sandier surface. With the recent dry weather and firm ground conditions, it has been perfect and we are only 6-8 weeks away from expected Spring growth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4qzamyJ-K_Wa1_lm4vsrnF7hOwDmtU5jXWm8qBBL6-_aL5JYNhcTbOOtApLKTn6dsOn1GBsdx0eFfLuq08_7-ruSuE2_SejWuUjq0YBK7hIQ8ZItMoWVZUepUIon23yAoreR2ekC6_BA6FelVNmD4bjRIYCH8-vmXL8ILd81z1_3xjK20N4auiLt/s4032/IMG_1962.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4qzamyJ-K_Wa1_lm4vsrnF7hOwDmtU5jXWm8qBBL6-_aL5JYNhcTbOOtApLKTn6dsOn1GBsdx0eFfLuq08_7-ruSuE2_SejWuUjq0YBK7hIQ8ZItMoWVZUepUIon23yAoreR2ekC6_BA6FelVNmD4bjRIYCH8-vmXL8ILd81z1_3xjK20N4auiLt/s320/IMG_1962.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2eRfOzVToNXf9te7997raLW4N8hz01q2moYbjZYn4g74yvr1A2rLc6rKcUL3jJ52bQFq2navc1Rya0yAT6BBb9DnQffSNHhGHbMnYWxDbOleBKFuY8N6FGpLf-omljzLKq3cbLM0zm_BG0rBUO135xVXE6Gn5JQ-eBbr9kCsWt_aCtpzzpqvR4YU/s4032/IMG_1964.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2eRfOzVToNXf9te7997raLW4N8hz01q2moYbjZYn4g74yvr1A2rLc6rKcUL3jJ52bQFq2navc1Rya0yAT6BBb9DnQffSNHhGHbMnYWxDbOleBKFuY8N6FGpLf-omljzLKq3cbLM0zm_BG0rBUO135xVXE6Gn5JQ-eBbr9kCsWt_aCtpzzpqvR4YU/s320/IMG_1964.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Greens have just been sarel rolled. It provides a pin prick type hole in the surface. It enables the surface to become drier just before we scarify, verti-cut and topdress the greens in our now (early) Spring renovation work. Overall, the aim of the scarifying is to remove a bit more fibrous, thatchy material in the top 10-12mm of the soil profile. The verti-cutting will close up the scarifying grooves and will also rip out the surface accumulation of degraded leaf material over autumn/winter. The sand dressing will fill in the verti-cutting grooves and restore surface levels. Fertiliser will help to recover the surface afterward.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other work includes some path end restoration (2nd, 4th, 8th tee area) that aims to mitigate wear from golfer & machine traffic as well as tee verti-draining, continued cylinder grinding (mower blade sharpening), machinery servicing & parts replacement and the renovation of the tee markers (cleaning, sanding, applications of paint) to freshen them up ready for the 2023 season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok, I've failed spectacularly in my attempts to avoid a 'War & Peace' literary epic. Note to self - be more concise next time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the best and another update soon-ish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ben</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-59271270200914294772023-02-15T06:40:00.003-08:002023-02-15T06:40:38.483-08:00Dealing with bunker sand splash<p>Hello everyone</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The focus of this particular blog and our recent work, has been addressing sand splash from bunker play.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bunkers/surrounds that have been completed so far are 1st greenside, 3rd left hand greenside, 4th left hand greenside whilst the 8th greenside is currently approaching completion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rationale for dealing with sand splash (as part of bunker renovations) is as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>to lower the overall depth of the bunker face to its original level</li><li>by virtue of restoring the original levels, the difficulty of the bunker is less severe for a range of golfing abilities</li><li>to remove bunker sand that effectively 'top dresses' the bunker surround so that the surround won't dry out/burn off in hot weather</li><li>to enable the bunker to be replenished with new bunker sand - much of which has been lost to sand splash</li></ul><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd4n_sL7VZA0-TAJct70Y9mfgBZDufmZCwze3tcT32B0SnBn0mGduIvnqQCoF4cf_p02mUtXY9jiHoH5jOvTRIeupOPlaEoQzjRGthp-iZt_SA_CEtZHIF5m6lCkHNYlV5eKa73Ss2EsClLnU3O-hAmt-ET60vrvkGCDLoXysMvMiHiFUuV7bSIMr/s4032/IMG_1885.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd4n_sL7VZA0-TAJct70Y9mfgBZDufmZCwze3tcT32B0SnBn0mGduIvnqQCoF4cf_p02mUtXY9jiHoH5jOvTRIeupOPlaEoQzjRGthp-iZt_SA_CEtZHIF5m6lCkHNYlV5eKa73Ss2EsClLnU3O-hAmt-ET60vrvkGCDLoXysMvMiHiFUuV7bSIMr/s320/IMG_1885.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DmpczFXpwj3AxdB0Inb7egqINZmdpW8nirSMVRmG7U8ITwpKb_TR4uO-yz2AmOEY3A7yQvaiiouyrY8gZfWi0Cf-ntISNa8pXK3iRORpaf4tjjJRy2Iyl13yvuKGFxdFpaEffW0H7SIu8QK450Y-Vqx_QpHxKy-TYYaTAMvoFp7H00o3uIAznBcx/s4032/IMG_1888.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DmpczFXpwj3AxdB0Inb7egqINZmdpW8nirSMVRmG7U8ITwpKb_TR4uO-yz2AmOEY3A7yQvaiiouyrY8gZfWi0Cf-ntISNa8pXK3iRORpaf4tjjJRy2Iyl13yvuKGFxdFpaEffW0H7SIu8QK450Y-Vqx_QpHxKy-TYYaTAMvoFp7H00o3uIAznBcx/s320/IMG_1888.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br />This bunker, on the left of the 3rd green, demonstrates perfectly what we have been dealing with. In the top photo, you can see the quantity of sand splash above the finger gouge mark in the profile whilst the bottom photo just shows the sand splash once the turf has been stripped. Yes, that is white bunker sand you can see on the surround.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBgCyuhn4Ze-ZbU70bglrgkY4-R88axTlnjKnRNaHuQ6BD46wATtxDLJ4ck1SXuboDZibmIC0VCWJplckWwVfY7MuyQXSSUmOnuSvbwbk2xjcPIpD5I9HNfkSUM-DgNMx4YJSyr5AZkpvBLzwOSVcK0CSDn01HgdJocJnfCKQTrLpFxAjWQQrMO3M/s4032/IMG_1886.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBgCyuhn4Ze-ZbU70bglrgkY4-R88axTlnjKnRNaHuQ6BD46wATtxDLJ4ck1SXuboDZibmIC0VCWJplckWwVfY7MuyQXSSUmOnuSvbwbk2xjcPIpD5I9HNfkSUM-DgNMx4YJSyr5AZkpvBLzwOSVcK0CSDn01HgdJocJnfCKQTrLpFxAjWQQrMO3M/s320/IMG_1886.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsFA0XNnPNJkrVs9DmR_E52JaHMNw4D44JKL8lxBNiDbTh1Rj16Ef0yRqXeH9X2aqSnCQtc3nCg9xSOwLi5kGOvm4d5Ab5xKtg_qy5vjJNgcRzCaqomOI0dhgX5grIeXTWn0hvEt1St95JhiSRX_C84iUlLp-o3I2lW0vRNhcg8vTUE9mXQAHkExv/s4032/IMG_1895.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsFA0XNnPNJkrVs9DmR_E52JaHMNw4D44JKL8lxBNiDbTh1Rj16Ef0yRqXeH9X2aqSnCQtc3nCg9xSOwLi5kGOvm4d5Ab5xKtg_qy5vjJNgcRzCaqomOI0dhgX5grIeXTWn0hvEt1St95JhiSRX_C84iUlLp-o3I2lW0vRNhcg8vTUE9mXQAHkExv/s320/IMG_1895.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>It becomes blatantly obvious of the effect this has on the bunker once this excess sand is removed and the contouring is adjusted to restore the shape of the bunker to its original construction grade. Since 2015, when this bunker was originally constructed, approximately 5-6 inches of sand has been dressed onto the bunker/greens' surround. So, the comments of the bunker "not having enough sand in" is fair - but it has gone somewhere and now you know where!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-RZR9fK150Nx_E-cWPuHN0Yt4709bTbV4Z1fCYQKvk9fYLXApeArNsp_uoWrySfWXET2B-xdJrB13Ds6M0EMGmHz9b5F76mnUTPuaoTGuvUOhMa9e8u1j4JmcEn6euaxdbVO_SMFlVvtoHqoUGrxo8-jooW2EjZc6ZSMIf6ZAGzCav4rfCYPxVH0/s4032/IMG_1887.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-RZR9fK150Nx_E-cWPuHN0Yt4709bTbV4Z1fCYQKvk9fYLXApeArNsp_uoWrySfWXET2B-xdJrB13Ds6M0EMGmHz9b5F76mnUTPuaoTGuvUOhMa9e8u1j4JmcEn6euaxdbVO_SMFlVvtoHqoUGrxo8-jooW2EjZc6ZSMIf6ZAGzCav4rfCYPxVH0/s320/IMG_1887.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qbcwtu90qiI-9-CTD4_z-qyYbSF_2u3nEYdIz7wHv8zTfr7w3572OAxt62CAO47qCEhN4strq1VPsM_ALiSc6bK2rIhUcrlDmlFQiZElKvbAG5XhXkecKoX6gtKk6SvGDOwbaqqhF3dSU0W74_DRE6i0F9F75rH7QadS1HHdghF1E2TEsiAH5EzJ/s4032/IMG_1897.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qbcwtu90qiI-9-CTD4_z-qyYbSF_2u3nEYdIz7wHv8zTfr7w3572OAxt62CAO47qCEhN4strq1VPsM_ALiSc6bK2rIhUcrlDmlFQiZElKvbAG5XhXkecKoX6gtKk6SvGDOwbaqqhF3dSU0W74_DRE6i0F9F75rH7QadS1HHdghF1E2TEsiAH5EzJ/s320/IMG_1897.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The above photos provide an alternative perspective, just for context. The gradient of the contour - from bunker edge to green is considerably different before and after.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gKaHO6-sWv-W_rLoWlSoZ_E9VKOJ07hU1sCu_dZL85n7EY9DpnIS8WqKN2jVg0DArvkk1Hy-ze5gHOUno71cD2DIvzx-LFG1wentujppN4WeXpgL8d1DmHSTW4G8pJ-Q4EpcSC_hodxQyg1bDw0QWIw1MdaZsRcyZlqCt2z6nI4mqtQgI7uP4hoC/s4032/IMG_1901.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gKaHO6-sWv-W_rLoWlSoZ_E9VKOJ07hU1sCu_dZL85n7EY9DpnIS8WqKN2jVg0DArvkk1Hy-ze5gHOUno71cD2DIvzx-LFG1wentujppN4WeXpgL8d1DmHSTW4G8pJ-Q4EpcSC_hodxQyg1bDw0QWIw1MdaZsRcyZlqCt2z6nI4mqtQgI7uP4hoC/s320/IMG_1901.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a8jJgBgHSxMvMq-ISuF2BXIC2Dz4yo0b6DUN8XSXUsk3u0Ndwjj84-_lctE0u0iSCQ8yksaZBULfdyeyPbaZebt2MoWg_cuswjVmvdh22pMUK6jDzHw7QszAWVJwiul0IlnKg0e5SFY1nJvpK3w3Dj-1jmO7WX9en7OR-ZCwyVX1i1G100GWjhPs/s4032/IMG_1912.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a8jJgBgHSxMvMq-ISuF2BXIC2Dz4yo0b6DUN8XSXUsk3u0Ndwjj84-_lctE0u0iSCQ8yksaZBULfdyeyPbaZebt2MoWg_cuswjVmvdh22pMUK6jDzHw7QszAWVJwiul0IlnKg0e5SFY1nJvpK3w3Dj-1jmO7WX9en7OR-ZCwyVX1i1G100GWjhPs/s320/IMG_1912.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Similarly, we have a before and after of the 1st greenside bunker. Consider how less intimidating this bunker now is. More greens' surface is visible in the bottom photo and we are future proofing the surround too in anticipation of continued sand splash from this point forward. It's the Forth Road Bridge analogy but applied to bunkers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqoE75gyLq8yh8vFGuOL9O05seJwssf7Sa_7dAkpXcUcXCIyfsJk9D6oHnpBTFOH_1QH7AplSqHSTUVhqxCNakWQBnjyRbu4sHdN67vHLqLM_Fb6jM9YMBELDtEVbud62gzsm1OXmivRJh8cfb2iCjdP2hPpd55Nzcznc5rAucOUXCHdOw0rMChoU/s4032/IMG_1903.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqoE75gyLq8yh8vFGuOL9O05seJwssf7Sa_7dAkpXcUcXCIyfsJk9D6oHnpBTFOH_1QH7AplSqHSTUVhqxCNakWQBnjyRbu4sHdN67vHLqLM_Fb6jM9YMBELDtEVbud62gzsm1OXmivRJh8cfb2iCjdP2hPpd55Nzcznc5rAucOUXCHdOw0rMChoU/s320/IMG_1903.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXIPHEaJiDC-FLfkGO76OGBsOiIAwUQ3zhrEHmIQYbG3iKzAYxSdAGTdpDzVgIsKQ5ceyruakxsVLMcoetECYHZnAhTxEW5dK_T4V53KXIg__yY6JK2t38XIC4WICszOe5xCUEdBO8kn1fPi75KaIxgqcP-XnFYNEbcIX2AYq3ZzeTLVtFur6750c/s4032/IMG_1913.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXIPHEaJiDC-FLfkGO76OGBsOiIAwUQ3zhrEHmIQYbG3iKzAYxSdAGTdpDzVgIsKQ5ceyruakxsVLMcoetECYHZnAhTxEW5dK_T4V53KXIg__yY6JK2t38XIC4WICszOe5xCUEdBO8kn1fPi75KaIxgqcP-XnFYNEbcIX2AYq3ZzeTLVtFur6750c/s320/IMG_1913.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, another perspective on the 1st and we also took the opportunity to raise the surround and the significant low spot that is visible in the top photo. With the bottom photo, the surround now ties in a more subtle manner to the surrounding contours. It's a near seamless transition from the approach & surround to the bunker. To golfers (perhaps green fee visitors) less accustomed to the golf course, the changes will be unnoticeable but hopefully members will recognise the marginal differences.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Rc7X9RUnvwMrx1eP0983ou5UYNTQ_trN94kprjuBezCQxT9gnsupkO95M2L2pGvBn1KuT6TZp-9cEfkKjrzBXtWIpYWHiGdjzicG1PvwUhwKcKmvoH_XLo5WOCeN28ynMKNx4ETcncIcEPTaSBSJE0KoJhBDsPnQ9RGG9HbliN8jOCDwuc2uXcdw/s4032/IMG_1955.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Rc7X9RUnvwMrx1eP0983ou5UYNTQ_trN94kprjuBezCQxT9gnsupkO95M2L2pGvBn1KuT6TZp-9cEfkKjrzBXtWIpYWHiGdjzicG1PvwUhwKcKmvoH_XLo5WOCeN28ynMKNx4ETcncIcEPTaSBSJE0KoJhBDsPnQ9RGG9HbliN8jOCDwuc2uXcdw/s320/IMG_1955.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqUmJ0IzQWjAz1cC6oF6l5otlEX39yJVS6vaE_6zfvGKjS8LdnYVael6mPhKc06D7irJ6yBbTWCcHnlVlH8RJGgvdHXpdsgjix0Z56IikiCDLipfu0RUOusqoNXT7cWOIJn-ONDuXqOOgQzEIQmnwRF3yrIiLa6RILABohNtNDaHb5x04ICuGVlx6/s4032/IMG_1972.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqUmJ0IzQWjAz1cC6oF6l5otlEX39yJVS6vaE_6zfvGKjS8LdnYVael6mPhKc06D7irJ6yBbTWCcHnlVlH8RJGgvdHXpdsgjix0Z56IikiCDLipfu0RUOusqoNXT7cWOIJn-ONDuXqOOgQzEIQmnwRF3yrIiLa6RILABohNtNDaHb5x04ICuGVlx6/s320/IMG_1972.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 8th greenside bunker is the same story. This bunker was constructed in the winter of 2018/2019 when the new (8th & 9th) greens were constructed. 4 years later, we have 6 inches of sand splash on the top of this bunker. It's a well visited bunker, evidently. We are also checking the drainage whilst we do this work as well as lining the bunker with turf (to prevent sand contamination of the drain) prior to adding fresh sand. Again, the bunker will appear more shallow once this is finished. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully, this mini-blog explains in a bit more detail the mischief we've been up to on the golf course. For anyone who would like to ask any related questions then by all means drop me an email or ask Ali or myself if you see us out on the golf course. We'll be happy to go through it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All that remains now is fresh bunker sand, edging and a whole bunch of positive comments from golfers about how much easier it is to play out of these bunkers in 2023 onwards. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't say we don't do anything for you!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kind regards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ben </div><br /><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-27104309952734754092023-01-04T08:59:00.003-08:002023-01-04T08:59:57.373-08:002022 in review<p>Happy New Year to those reading this.</p><p>We ended 2022 weather-wise, with a less than average rainfall total. 800 millilitres or thereabouts is about 200 ml less than where we should be. That said, it was a pretty decent year for golf as the weather extremes were condensed into the months of February (110ml), September (110), October (124) and November (125). December recorded under these (89). So those months from March to end of August were particularly dry and represented weather conducive to weather-friendly golf.</p><p>Coming out of the back of the winter of 21/22, we had undertaken some great construction projects; the 5th/14th tees were amalgamated and extended, whilst the path was rerouted to the right side - an area unutilised previously. Hopefully, this was well received by the members. What is certain is that the usable teeing area is much more futureproof and enables wear to be spread around more easily.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ1cqP0rjNORnGFmVLbNg_ed-6pzJ_w9aSkZ-imggay3yGEvZvaev6nTi00nAlIjmmKnxcVHkThM7riCM5ksHqDnLSwaRDERduE-qRJb5zZ8EdLHGur3Y2Zzvu81Vov1A97Qxccumd8BNU88BZ4OexrmrKYKLS1gUOVw_ezZZsuiQEcXdBhkUfV2y/s4032/IMG_1261.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ1cqP0rjNORnGFmVLbNg_ed-6pzJ_w9aSkZ-imggay3yGEvZvaev6nTi00nAlIjmmKnxcVHkThM7riCM5ksHqDnLSwaRDERduE-qRJb5zZ8EdLHGur3Y2Zzvu81Vov1A97Qxccumd8BNU88BZ4OexrmrKYKLS1gUOVw_ezZZsuiQEcXdBhkUfV2y/w239-h319/IMG_1261.HEIC" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWxgKb0SX5EqTOcggupFUAyzT1xiXsXQU0yyuHsboeafb6i9IXe1UbhxRjL7Tgtt4L0V8AdyY4UR9fMwbh4zicE5o3otdhwMhhbCqW8qID2_85eRSR4OMYICSkPVhBPt85TOfQ6wB3ycUu9IJKPWJxZn_JYAt5a3CIe2F7P_dCCKrJWFmmD9W-tPf/s2048/834e37e8-1595-4184-9f13-2a2074bd900e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWxgKb0SX5EqTOcggupFUAyzT1xiXsXQU0yyuHsboeafb6i9IXe1UbhxRjL7Tgtt4L0V8AdyY4UR9fMwbh4zicE5o3otdhwMhhbCqW8qID2_85eRSR4OMYICSkPVhBPt85TOfQ6wB3ycUu9IJKPWJxZn_JYAt5a3CIe2F7P_dCCKrJWFmmD9W-tPf/s320/834e37e8-1595-4184-9f13-2a2074bd900e.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8mwhod7sWd90STYhFgOFF9Xhr2JDHum3OVSkGvknYLqMFztCuU_4HdoGzKMNKdapVz6qWhZtKh9-LS4XJKToU-6UQZzuIQ0m7XI9xx9SbSrd4DPT9-x4HgSDr95ao9wfZlhgNilu_Zze6RYChQSIN2NflEn9jHZPg4FuLDlelpbny-fAuWpU3XG-/s4032/IMG_1518.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8mwhod7sWd90STYhFgOFF9Xhr2JDHum3OVSkGvknYLqMFztCuU_4HdoGzKMNKdapVz6qWhZtKh9-LS4XJKToU-6UQZzuIQ0m7XI9xx9SbSrd4DPT9-x4HgSDr95ao9wfZlhgNilu_Zze6RYChQSIN2NflEn9jHZPg4FuLDlelpbny-fAuWpU3XG-/w239-h319/IMG_1518.HEIC" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>There was a need to lessen the impact of errant tee shots entering the residential properties adjacent to the 4th/13th hole. Hence a forward yellow tee was constructed on the carry. The premise behind it's new location was that any golfers attempting to go left with their tee shots would more likely hit the trees which screen the boundary between the golf course and the residential properties. In effect, it's better for golfers playing from this new yellow tee to aim right towards the fairway and aim their tee shots away from the residential properties. As I have not heard any negative reports, I can only assume that this new forward tee has resolved the problem (or within reason!).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8W8STHHBM6O4ALBVKjLbpC9DRWBvXjtJKWKLpaeBo78pFW6w3rmISSsuugQt7uR3deBWIQQ9iZHTIC_CCemgwLjoXHm7zbZFjIRRR81Jf05Jew5ha7B2XJaYk1opXCq6tSPAWPWCua1R9kt0buSBaZwaCdL5r3Ytbk0IL-t78tpV0_ywQ1sWTEWg/s4032/IMG_1252.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8W8STHHBM6O4ALBVKjLbpC9DRWBvXjtJKWKLpaeBo78pFW6w3rmISSsuugQt7uR3deBWIQQ9iZHTIC_CCemgwLjoXHm7zbZFjIRRR81Jf05Jew5ha7B2XJaYk1opXCq6tSPAWPWCua1R9kt0buSBaZwaCdL5r3Ytbk0IL-t78tpV0_ywQ1sWTEWg/s320/IMG_1252.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfQpdMmWttRTpU4Zt3b35peqGQ-NAajfF2PnsdqhAzN7UkIM672MplRJowhVh-Hv8zbkDwlq9otQPXMiKTq0Zdsfh0Q4o5KL43LVxCT49xnRNQRp6BKtIGGajgskG9O-dH0IN3PyFROGPDhEs9QPn9XxIMtpS-b88VYUU9o0p93oUGGxc6S98dKoD/s4032/IMG_1266.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfQpdMmWttRTpU4Zt3b35peqGQ-NAajfF2PnsdqhAzN7UkIM672MplRJowhVh-Hv8zbkDwlq9otQPXMiKTq0Zdsfh0Q4o5KL43LVxCT49xnRNQRp6BKtIGGajgskG9O-dH0IN3PyFROGPDhEs9QPn9XxIMtpS-b88VYUU9o0p93oUGGxc6S98dKoD/s320/IMG_1266.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The final project we executed was something that I had wished to do for quite some years. To simplify; we had a back tee (was the 2nd tee, now the 11th tee) that was very small, landlocked and had to accommodate 3 sets of tee markers (white, yellow, red). It couldn't accommodate the seasonal wear. As we couldn't extend backwards, we had to go forwards. But we had to consider the adjacent 1st green and surround. So we incorporated the 1st surround into a new extended tee. All mown at the same height of cut, the 1st surround now segues (in a frictionless manner) into the 11th tee. A new trolley path was added along the boundary edge. The comments have been very positive. Personally, I am very pleased with the end result. It looks really modern and ties in superbly with the adjacent 1st green complex. A proper win/win!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0951Nm_oghA_hiJlo0RmjQxpp9GaYLepYaFC_TO1_QDgWMirmjn549YwkwKtDvlU0_gfUXi3CijAfsCWs8DPjkCt94FgNLmNGEl3XZsimeItQlOjjUykQFb0pBmsUn52A6awPFT9h4xqx7f6XFlDuegKOudtKioXkNT3ip82bxHPnnbL7i4tGj6z8/s4032/IMG_1272.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0951Nm_oghA_hiJlo0RmjQxpp9GaYLepYaFC_TO1_QDgWMirmjn549YwkwKtDvlU0_gfUXi3CijAfsCWs8DPjkCt94FgNLmNGEl3XZsimeItQlOjjUykQFb0pBmsUn52A6awPFT9h4xqx7f6XFlDuegKOudtKioXkNT3ip82bxHPnnbL7i4tGj6z8/s320/IMG_1272.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReQf7pVHCadA0KdG02whD2gwgqg41c3GTIv5hVbft25Qgqp_Chs6CuwLjTk6g47VE5BKMxqzHmf8eVIljPU5sZM_HwO2RA093iZGp2Hd-qJrM9KWE8hfh_UKQDUVy0BM-p-0U573u1uCvFS2_ZpHJfrCwzurQfiWVs_YpG4bFKtjR-FjsQqGOv_5d/s4032/IMG_1276.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReQf7pVHCadA0KdG02whD2gwgqg41c3GTIv5hVbft25Qgqp_Chs6CuwLjTk6g47VE5BKMxqzHmf8eVIljPU5sZM_HwO2RA093iZGp2Hd-qJrM9KWE8hfh_UKQDUVy0BM-p-0U573u1uCvFS2_ZpHJfrCwzurQfiWVs_YpG4bFKtjR-FjsQqGOv_5d/s320/IMG_1276.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlEJbhPfqYAL2Ah8spOSb5k41jewl8w6NCNs5NEk1v1r0_NNDrnujwK0jm_CwjarOJzmRdLwoAqXIBa3tdrmIHyqUUSSkZn08FEr1X71SXdxZxtgbjSGt-kVsSl1wx6oD2uSbc3iU56gixoKaVMtLrsV61wEWCYfHRM--uVZh2jumyfAPnodqhQPc/s4032/IMG_1277.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlEJbhPfqYAL2Ah8spOSb5k41jewl8w6NCNs5NEk1v1r0_NNDrnujwK0jm_CwjarOJzmRdLwoAqXIBa3tdrmIHyqUUSSkZn08FEr1X71SXdxZxtgbjSGt-kVsSl1wx6oD2uSbc3iU56gixoKaVMtLrsV61wEWCYfHRM--uVZh2jumyfAPnodqhQPc/s320/IMG_1277.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegF34jzu-6SWGcTv39KWKmDeaVF-sVlttMQCTce9lvBzQsPi8cYU5OkFs31cSOOqnxZsPUut1Ov9LNi760-TnXRt2JWAMHvYomYZc_DkcUIftIsGI4uXA35gI1jtZzwYHPMZF64dG1OO_NfYYxeZWvYK4cztHdRAyyu1QxHUaGQlrXIyb7HU4lWJO/s4032/IMG_1375.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegF34jzu-6SWGcTv39KWKmDeaVF-sVlttMQCTce9lvBzQsPi8cYU5OkFs31cSOOqnxZsPUut1Ov9LNi760-TnXRt2JWAMHvYomYZc_DkcUIftIsGI4uXA35gI1jtZzwYHPMZF64dG1OO_NfYYxeZWvYK4cztHdRAyyu1QxHUaGQlrXIyb7HU4lWJO/s320/IMG_1375.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYPB8bsYY6MPbu9SmPgB6W6XAx1nb1HAOlsttEZIR54P-P1Qd06NfiDkK9EfFn2s553CsknE95_DBkG1xTWOalxh4Amamjpb-ito3kn-iEm-ZP5JYwVUikzB7mpGQYvVbXbThS9oljnonu45VMCkojY0Dt-rekmMb8lWeOl7ZJxHjDzxaAzqMtrAJ/s4032/IMG_1513.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYPB8bsYY6MPbu9SmPgB6W6XAx1nb1HAOlsttEZIR54P-P1Qd06NfiDkK9EfFn2s553CsknE95_DBkG1xTWOalxh4Amamjpb-ito3kn-iEm-ZP5JYwVUikzB7mpGQYvVbXbThS9oljnonu45VMCkojY0Dt-rekmMb8lWeOl7ZJxHjDzxaAzqMtrAJ/s320/IMG_1513.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoZE2xTJW8mcqsGiczfQFF1IE-UfpvkaZKRTtP4dRr_BySYRIj04_sOFEomALYARF6e2zHTqlwmP3w3zT8Fnj8hAeP-z7HX7ttfsWfDSFneeTXvdi7vY7bI62Z0xTaoPw6WoxtZ5QNbD4-rER0tsy9NeVznqxbphJ4FRkY2P7jfLLJV58iqED1Mx8/s4032/IMG_1514.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoZE2xTJW8mcqsGiczfQFF1IE-UfpvkaZKRTtP4dRr_BySYRIj04_sOFEomALYARF6e2zHTqlwmP3w3zT8Fnj8hAeP-z7HX7ttfsWfDSFneeTXvdi7vY7bI62Z0xTaoPw6WoxtZ5QNbD4-rER0tsy9NeVznqxbphJ4FRkY2P7jfLLJV58iqED1Mx8/s320/IMG_1514.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Another wishlist item was also ticked off in February. The golf club made the decision to purchase a set of Bernhard's grinders. These enable the golf club to sharpen mower reels/blades in-house. The cost/benefit (financial numbers) was a no brainer in the end. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECuph1_pK1mARNkOXomhdlbixzCtilvpf60Pi5_iRNr2ArD6JlVn4pkK_97_VDXOIMgRUTHwx4DXr2rbNTvSeYI461BNnCEF-zgkMtQ9COjWVKimsQQViL7rMtZHgHVw62K7j6lnd9ITElmLvPPBoatK5wxc7RkSWDKSsNCskREsyVT3XjZAGydrQ/s4032/IMG_1348.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECuph1_pK1mARNkOXomhdlbixzCtilvpf60Pi5_iRNr2ArD6JlVn4pkK_97_VDXOIMgRUTHwx4DXr2rbNTvSeYI461BNnCEF-zgkMtQ9COjWVKimsQQViL7rMtZHgHVw62K7j6lnd9ITElmLvPPBoatK5wxc7RkSWDKSsNCskREsyVT3XjZAGydrQ/s320/IMG_1348.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSigEVyAEhSa7EfXoU8f4z5vsfZYueQYBGk-xs-KI6rO6ahsd93zL4ZPcr1OI4Xi1d-IlWmepbo0lsD8w_Sznvbf71EMHXVZBPJV88BtxT6wIYimn0xfAAy8tn4E0P1R8m17UORic_5bEgn5cY5LMEiGCdYIk6TcIYcV5n_JVl9tU-UUx5s6ahPy9v/s4032/IMG_1347.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSigEVyAEhSa7EfXoU8f4z5vsfZYueQYBGk-xs-KI6rO6ahsd93zL4ZPcr1OI4Xi1d-IlWmepbo0lsD8w_Sznvbf71EMHXVZBPJV88BtxT6wIYimn0xfAAy8tn4E0P1R8m17UORic_5bEgn5cY5LMEiGCdYIk6TcIYcV5n_JVl9tU-UUx5s6ahPy9v/s320/IMG_1347.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>What the golf club were paying for an external contractor to sharpen mower blades has been replaced by the golf club obtaining the finance to purchase the equipment needed to carry out this work in-house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The golf club typically used to budget for around £3k (including VAT) of external contractor sharpening. That expenditure is now redirected into finance repayments. But there is a bonus - we can now use our own grinding equipment as often as necessary. As an example, our tees mower used to be sharpened 2-3 times per year by an external contractor. In 2022, we sharpened the tees mower blades 4-5 times. This makes a huge difference to presentation of playing areas and enables our machinery to use less fuel, minimise parts replacement and reduce inputs of fertiliser & water.</div><p>Regarding the figures, the return on investment for this capital purchase is about 7 years. Thereafter, the costs are minimal (time and energy costs) and the equipment is then a true asset on the balance sheet. </p><p>As we moved into the traditional Spring months of March-May, things started to get a little drier. Growth inevitably slows with less rainfall and the golf course took on characteristics more associated with links golf; firm, dry and more aligned with the running game. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtBS25mmndYxMk1YcWTA0E71zEsK2ap6nKukHbBWulQgxwjC-LAb5eMy3DU8jHzA45cvpHZw8yjcxgmGh4XbKcd2qR_b3HMd0vFHuOTanRZjK9o6h6eblaWsZQS-Bfn0hyiF-9gS1TYdLfmHwugBarjraaoshqPWXokZ3pd37AY6sS_AW3Sv7YNni/s4032/IMG_1512.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtBS25mmndYxMk1YcWTA0E71zEsK2ap6nKukHbBWulQgxwjC-LAb5eMy3DU8jHzA45cvpHZw8yjcxgmGh4XbKcd2qR_b3HMd0vFHuOTanRZjK9o6h6eblaWsZQS-Bfn0hyiF-9gS1TYdLfmHwugBarjraaoshqPWXokZ3pd37AY6sS_AW3Sv7YNni/s320/IMG_1512.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Irrigation comes into its own with these conditions and for greens' staff, the objective is to keep grass <i style="font-weight: bold;">alive </i>rather than managing growth. Grass will typically shutdown once soil moisture reserves are depleted and rainfall is not forthcoming. Sun & wind only add to the problem. The issue with tees, in particular, is that wear from divots affects growth & recovery. Since grass needs moisture for growth & recovery, irrigation is then needed in abundance. There is always a compromise in life!</p><p>With this in mind, and tied in with our ongoing maintenance/development of the fairways, we continued our program of fairway fertilisation. This has been a long winded process and the aim has been to create <b><i>slow growth & density</i></b> rather than encourage <b><i>quick upright</i></b> <i style="font-weight: bold;">growth</i>.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>So we have made several applications of fertiliser over the past 2-3 years over most fairways. Longer term, members should have fairways that are more consistent and where the ball sits up more without the greens staff needing enormous inputs of mowing to stay on top of an excess of growth. They are certainly a lot better for it and the feedback has been good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVp5YQzPI14enDUlLeBYzJ_yQN4mFaySEevV1nPfLQW_VC-R9bTXSiEDAMu3pj1it-ntPbIom4J7yBgrK66hO6tEH10fw-EgNsarRZNr9D6nirnUTF8zWIRSXJsM-uTpCMxeOpiIf5ndSComEWY_CuagaIhbCfE6Zh2jjHN4-lGwyT3wFc5m5Nyi_/s4032/IMG_1602.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVp5YQzPI14enDUlLeBYzJ_yQN4mFaySEevV1nPfLQW_VC-R9bTXSiEDAMu3pj1it-ntPbIom4J7yBgrK66hO6tEH10fw-EgNsarRZNr9D6nirnUTF8zWIRSXJsM-uTpCMxeOpiIf5ndSComEWY_CuagaIhbCfE6Zh2jjHN4-lGwyT3wFc5m5Nyi_/s320/IMG_1602.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4l_ZVDr5OYzswcl7T4U2nVQnIt99nf9smtd7NgH25pl1IV75S9JwCdbPUPtun-ZybO2P2UyG0JGr_sp0GXBbcSNqZpQUqKouEBKc8mLNv_HCuAKKQ_Z1scixNyg8a4pxyO9GYtGeryf_vqjEKES6Q1xSYiquUacCtl6h1A31bftCZs1vtozGUYff/s4032/IMG_1751.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4l_ZVDr5OYzswcl7T4U2nVQnIt99nf9smtd7NgH25pl1IV75S9JwCdbPUPtun-ZybO2P2UyG0JGr_sp0GXBbcSNqZpQUqKouEBKc8mLNv_HCuAKKQ_Z1scixNyg8a4pxyO9GYtGeryf_vqjEKES6Q1xSYiquUacCtl6h1A31bftCZs1vtozGUYff/s320/IMG_1751.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uHfo394LZ2HdAWHNwoIo2fequ0bS3MNUmoRbHF4kYb7ipxT4FLOexM4Pf9bsJpnJyWSLA5c67kp-O33IL8-9xtCg2gFYowLl8g4f09ugTwLZHCBRW4RgPvyEMyiIV4mGati1YWE_UHlsV9srBz-aow3vjiO7CWzPqpbI2DEEEQVCwu-GxScUM_In/s4032/IMG_1604.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uHfo394LZ2HdAWHNwoIo2fequ0bS3MNUmoRbHF4kYb7ipxT4FLOexM4Pf9bsJpnJyWSLA5c67kp-O33IL8-9xtCg2gFYowLl8g4f09ugTwLZHCBRW4RgPvyEMyiIV4mGati1YWE_UHlsV9srBz-aow3vjiO7CWzPqpbI2DEEEQVCwu-GxScUM_In/s320/IMG_1604.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Greens have continued to provide good results this year. Consistency is key and the work we are carrying out to them now centres around verti-cutting, occasional scarifying and moderate inputs of top dressing. Over the next 2-3 years, they should be extra firm, providing excellent consistency year round. We are nearly there with them and it is pleasing to see the results of our inputs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC6JJ7GQ5qrtGjYSM6vGeZMQzPP64oCXrl2YhArVpSkXJuIT0uXYNsflOSX24md8X5wXT3btjJi0QYR7sY_Uie27072g4JPXEAEXUUvVLXqEJH3GWr2UXK-j1h7UeQDc4zUeci-6FanwdijUJh76mV8MQ3Sv3P_SoRwB2EiXnsRK7VGY9NlDx_MBq/s4032/IMG_1610.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC6JJ7GQ5qrtGjYSM6vGeZMQzPP64oCXrl2YhArVpSkXJuIT0uXYNsflOSX24md8X5wXT3btjJi0QYR7sY_Uie27072g4JPXEAEXUUvVLXqEJH3GWr2UXK-j1h7UeQDc4zUeci-6FanwdijUJh76mV8MQ3Sv3P_SoRwB2EiXnsRK7VGY9NlDx_MBq/s320/IMG_1610.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlqakYwAuFDPqu90wZRkfct_-HNxbHeKagw1StWUNMXyKW7XCFOacP6tX8oBfV0-VRBnNiOi3kIuilEPezH3uFBCACD4oiTuLbkQlGGFkXJUj-3h3aFh6xjYj6Ji-mMj0JPcgSMjTOswOo_BaZXQ0dNdy7MGLaDYjxnDKIKlflHNCD1iPTmfkI0h/s4032/IMG_1697.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlqakYwAuFDPqu90wZRkfct_-HNxbHeKagw1StWUNMXyKW7XCFOacP6tX8oBfV0-VRBnNiOi3kIuilEPezH3uFBCACD4oiTuLbkQlGGFkXJUj-3h3aFh6xjYj6Ji-mMj0JPcgSMjTOswOo_BaZXQ0dNdy7MGLaDYjxnDKIKlflHNCD1iPTmfkI0h/s320/IMG_1697.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienf90GaszZl5SV3gaEJ-P4h_pmXiUjyaJb9iFNpBKrhyEXfmvHB8mNS_VmUtZi80LSRsRrbYavkW8jVgmZ-TZIUTak5TcNkl4l6IN_rDBJ4J0_AAWA5GYRrQ0myUqX6o8MMw_cq3mLG37EgLpY2LZvw4mQaeNqVyyf7odNV-mR3EYEX2Qo0ySa08_/s4032/IMG_1611.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienf90GaszZl5SV3gaEJ-P4h_pmXiUjyaJb9iFNpBKrhyEXfmvHB8mNS_VmUtZi80LSRsRrbYavkW8jVgmZ-TZIUTak5TcNkl4l6IN_rDBJ4J0_AAWA5GYRrQ0myUqX6o8MMw_cq3mLG37EgLpY2LZvw4mQaeNqVyyf7odNV-mR3EYEX2Qo0ySa08_/s320/IMG_1611.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As we head into early 2023, we look forward to another challenging year, economically. Whilst membership fees will increase marginally, we feel confident that we can continue to offer members & visitors with a better golf course again. <div><br /></div><div>Much of our focus revolves around innovation - in effect, streamlining tasks so that they become more effective and efficient. So we must be flexible and open to change in order to meet rising expectations. </div><div><br /></div><div>We look forward to seeing you all at the golf club in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best wishes</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ben Allen<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-60197491810636162062022-02-03T07:09:00.002-08:002022-02-03T07:09:18.984-08:002021 in review<p>Here is a review of 2021 - another busy year at the golf club and continued progress on the golf course.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH-zdMrP5lIFrV23zeNpQLIRe04zELd6ceNzj_sC3LxsumgeIr1gpMY5_crpEqu3CoV3cD9643VeKK54CBpPXl4U2CY8xFBqlIRL7tf5k9jwzSnBQMzGwepYecHcLBaroMhc6BaK0_4ikUshVxJbPphDDIsuwm19AQXpv9C4Rfq-XvvsFYoXVzRDpH=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH-zdMrP5lIFrV23zeNpQLIRe04zELd6ceNzj_sC3LxsumgeIr1gpMY5_crpEqu3CoV3cD9643VeKK54CBpPXl4U2CY8xFBqlIRL7tf5k9jwzSnBQMzGwepYecHcLBaroMhc6BaK0_4ikUshVxJbPphDDIsuwm19AQXpv9C4Rfq-XvvsFYoXVzRDpH=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />We carried out our Spring greens' renovations in February 2021. It seemed appropriate as the golf club was closed. Scarifying, verti cutting and dressing were carried out and the weather, particularly soil temperatures, really helped with recovery. Bear in mind that we have usually carried out this work in April. Well, April provided 19 frost days. So in hindsight, the decision was correct - although we don't have the ability of foresight prior to hindsight!<p></p><p>The regular work required on our greens is due to the fact that they are of sand construction. These greens oftern produce more thatch because they don't retain nutrient or water so easily compared to clay. So the more demand for fertiliser often results in a build up of thatch and root systems. This has to be targeted with regular verti cutting, top dressing and occasional scarifying to remove this undesired material and dilute it with sand. It's an ongoing process. </p><p>We also need to be aware that most sand top dressing now contains a minimum of 20% fine particles. These can hinder the movement of water through the soil profile as they can block pore spaces through 'bridging'. A product has been used for a good year now that helps to clean out the fines and create a more open soil profile. There is still some work to do here but, considering the greens need to be enjoyed by golfers, all the required work cannot be fast-tracked in a year or two. That would simply involve too much disruption to greens' surfaces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbH5VBoHXwhKno-2pDgI2uo1q9N9W32QHfImmLwjw-Hv64gF0Wt8zgASKiROJsHuIdW2HTN8kJpcqkYVH8Xv3dNtT7KAgUDOq4Xn4CyH_OsImdfkiAmyLkaO-ApLjZc-PkKVMTPjQ9pchK6rFLJ9sqv6mw4SKcEMsHW9iK-8n_NFQ9t85Qjs5ioCZa=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbH5VBoHXwhKno-2pDgI2uo1q9N9W32QHfImmLwjw-Hv64gF0Wt8zgASKiROJsHuIdW2HTN8kJpcqkYVH8Xv3dNtT7KAgUDOq4Xn4CyH_OsImdfkiAmyLkaO-ApLjZc-PkKVMTPjQ9pchK6rFLJ9sqv6mw4SKcEMsHW9iK-8n_NFQ9t85Qjs5ioCZa=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>The nursery green has now more or less fully established. Admittedly, it is something of a pet project for me but it also serves as a 'go-to' green in case we need to repair any areas on greens on the golf course. It is 777 creeping bentgrass and was sown as a trial plot. It is a remarkable surface. We had a nematode issue with it in summer but this was mitigated with some fertiliser.</p><p>Golfer feedback indicated that the approaches and surrounds improved exponentially in 2021. Admittedly, more funds were allocated in the budget for this and the results were excellent. Myself and Ali played around with 2 mowers on these areas; the usual tees mower and the fairway mower. Surprisingly, we found that the fairway mower produced better results even when mowing at 11mm compared to the 8mm of the tees mower. This saved us a lot of labour time, even though the labour time on these areas increased dramatically.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyT6OBoamspKYweJzY-KzvZ8tthDeNgdoJ7fJ2pa9m_oVoB4f1K-6shlVH1b_qxcdrT_QNelXkPUG_OSutFvgtkMBbV1F9Rnys0Ak-ZVKJlkCBwhFgWgB_FZI3FWzI-w7zfQ8ZzL0eRxXdBDsYvvumEf-YTExC6Wd5WqnnQMehZ_bX33jJPYJypGd0=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyT6OBoamspKYweJzY-KzvZ8tthDeNgdoJ7fJ2pa9m_oVoB4f1K-6shlVH1b_qxcdrT_QNelXkPUG_OSutFvgtkMBbV1F9Rnys0Ak-ZVKJlkCBwhFgWgB_FZI3FWzI-w7zfQ8ZzL0eRxXdBDsYvvumEf-YTExC6Wd5WqnnQMehZ_bX33jJPYJypGd0=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGx7zBdwwGXV0eR7QEMi0o0Bpyf0ISDtmt15sv46WVJYCjFe4j1MZd17XqDsTo0cYTM3IImEP5pztVjAoyecGgEiB9Veb3oQtG_EgSQTE9AiGq3vZ_sK4Q75Sp68fa1NYSMPvl6YsYASPoPS9kaUMop_1NvnQkg2-ak1NfF68a4coGazWRrm6V6Okm=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGx7zBdwwGXV0eR7QEMi0o0Bpyf0ISDtmt15sv46WVJYCjFe4j1MZd17XqDsTo0cYTM3IImEP5pztVjAoyecGgEiB9Veb3oQtG_EgSQTE9AiGq3vZ_sK4Q75Sp68fa1NYSMPvl6YsYASPoPS9kaUMop_1NvnQkg2-ak1NfF68a4coGazWRrm6V6Okm=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgunr6ga3TfwU6pg5RzAMcsf8svwtNzEHi2jAYwVJqsU5_mJzmstoMQEc8xA_11USbZawDg4Ygt5x2EFnT4jn_6z37qSHKI3lJq0j8ypExOK3dAC67pGUhlqh2jwM1XnF2aJo1ciMOVystNfh-p2Jm1tHkF_BFmaQuvTYSeZCLDZJOoegFtsspM5wlE=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgunr6ga3TfwU6pg5RzAMcsf8svwtNzEHi2jAYwVJqsU5_mJzmstoMQEc8xA_11USbZawDg4Ygt5x2EFnT4jn_6z37qSHKI3lJq0j8ypExOK3dAC67pGUhlqh2jwM1XnF2aJo1ciMOVystNfh-p2Jm1tHkF_BFmaQuvTYSeZCLDZJOoegFtsspM5wlE=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The fairways also received an application of fertiliser in 2021. I was given a couple of free bags by a sales rep to trial on a par 3 fairway. This was used on the 2nd fairway and the product gave better density without too much top growth. This is what we are after to get a more uniform surface. The fertilisation of the fairways continued slowly right up until December - a very piecemeal operation but to fit in with other commitments. The 4th fairway remains by far the worst fairway. Lots of coarse ryegrass dominates and the only way around this is to scarify it and cut it low to discourage it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlCNhcWcFgiTM8VUVz-NEEN9qJSVpsfwzvqeZSRKdgUqDxvJV_oEpjmajVNA7w6h-PVWS94VIv9n1M54q5KO-xwWCxlQgr39GjdQCwGU5KRcZq2Ey9G9Ny1mc_lzgVYX7s98HI3Bt5nEZmHgnvEAdoIT7OsPXqek9nJJto7PztgFd1R-zk_FSA4ibK=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlCNhcWcFgiTM8VUVz-NEEN9qJSVpsfwzvqeZSRKdgUqDxvJV_oEpjmajVNA7w6h-PVWS94VIv9n1M54q5KO-xwWCxlQgr39GjdQCwGU5KRcZq2Ey9G9Ny1mc_lzgVYX7s98HI3Bt5nEZmHgnvEAdoIT7OsPXqek9nJJto7PztgFd1R-zk_FSA4ibK=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>Four bunkers (both at 3rd greenside and both chipping green bunkers) had fresh sand installed with old sand recycled elsewhere. We will look to continue this replacement slowly to counter the effects of sand contamination from silt (after heavy rain). It is all part of golf course maintenance - keeping these vital playing areas as good as they can be.</p><p>We continued to mow our rough shorter. 1.5 inches (37mm) is as short as it has ever been. The added definition and improved playability certainly benefit the golf course. Rough looks more inviting and lends the shorter cut tees, fairways, approaches and surrounds that extra definition.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpyYMznB7JMMoB2EgR7gPWn5sOFaUghHE1FkqJGered_d-_GlbtGicpU1QcryMMOuNI-WUuZn9HEX8SXUqhzVPV_zt4ojWUuPKOVci8juMrfgIcBNGxPNauj-DR83F1dFFqPGfSV6V81U0s79IYAFqK2Tmt8xZf0kZUpz5IbGNS66MmwMWeTLBIzRn=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpyYMznB7JMMoB2EgR7gPWn5sOFaUghHE1FkqJGered_d-_GlbtGicpU1QcryMMOuNI-WUuZn9HEX8SXUqhzVPV_zt4ojWUuPKOVci8juMrfgIcBNGxPNauj-DR83F1dFFqPGfSV6V81U0s79IYAFqK2Tmt8xZf0kZUpz5IbGNS66MmwMWeTLBIzRn=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3QvvKabF_uPzrao3c1wIkC6pgs0gvXGF0bBCgMzNOoxoCnlCmRrwUcp_LQtnOD1meX5Qyo3mC7NJiVd1i4vXLk8FN79OHg6cfuK5EyacCYiho-m6D3iUzaDCLo7OZqZL7vsJOjPK7Ypnxa10rbl9OVY48eHq6Lw8r9xCGsqdaTiDQkF2d4r-PS90L=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3QvvKabF_uPzrao3c1wIkC6pgs0gvXGF0bBCgMzNOoxoCnlCmRrwUcp_LQtnOD1meX5Qyo3mC7NJiVd1i4vXLk8FN79OHg6cfuK5EyacCYiho-m6D3iUzaDCLo7OZqZL7vsJOjPK7Ypnxa10rbl9OVY48eHq6Lw8r9xCGsqdaTiDQkF2d4r-PS90L=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>We have also carried out some great construction work in November. The tees at 4 (a new yellow tee) and 5/14 were a direct result of golf balls leaving the golf course into residential properties. The brief was to realign the orientation of these tees to direct tee shots away from these neighbouring properties. To my mind, we executed this brief.</p><p>The thinking behind the tee at 5/14 was to use the space better. The old path ran straight between the old tees, taking up valuable teeing space. So we combined the tees and redirected the path to the right which was dead space anyway. What we also managed here was to extend the 14th tee backwards by 100%. This provides extra teeing space, particularly if the golf club needs extra scorecard yardage in the future. The 'lost' yellow yardage on the yellow 4th can also be reclaimed at the 14th without any net loss of yardage to the yellow scorecard.</p><p>In conjunction with this, we also filled in part of the pond on the 5th. This was proposed years ago in our EDI Project Masterplan. The aim is to widen the fairway to the right to encourage golf away from the neighbouring properties. In time, this will work but I think golfers will have to see a few trees removed in order for this to materialise. So far, nothing has really changed - we just have a new (albeit much bigger) tee.</p><p>The 11th tee has always been too small - certainly to accommodate 3 sets of tee markers. It always got beat up with divots. So we have replaced the area in front of it with a lighter soil and it will be maintained as a surround/tee. I think some members have been left scratching their head at the concept! All I can say is that it now provides us (members and greens' staff) with options; since we are land locked, we couldn't extend the tee backwards as there is no room. So our choice was a) move the tee forward or b) do nothing and leave the issue unaddressed.</p><p>We also anticipate delivery of a set of cylinder grinders this month. They will help keep our mowers sharp, ensuring great presentation and perhaps more importantly, using golf club funds to 'own' this asset rather than paying a contractor to do this work. It's a bit like renting vs buying a house; renting pays off somebody else's mortgage. Owning pays off your mortgage and secures the homeowner with an asset. It is a great investment for the golf club and I am convinced it will reap dividends as well as reducing budgetary outgoings.</p><p>I'm really looking forward to the 2022 season with the new course improvements and the desire of myself, Ali and all the volunteers who have contributed their time to the golf course.</p><p>Enjoy your golf!</p><p><br /></p><p>Ben</p><p><br /></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-36200998914594971852021-07-11T09:20:00.004-07:002021-07-11T09:20:44.979-07:00Summer report 2021<p>Dear Members</p><p><br /></p><p>The weather this year has really presented some challenges so far. Nothing new there then!</p><p>Opening at the end of March, we were all ready to welcome everybody back with some course improvements and hoping for a decent April. The traditional April showers never materialised. Moreover, we experienced more frosts in April 2021 than in the previous 6 months combined! I think our weather chart showed approximately 18 days with a frost. </p><p>Added to that, we had no rain either. Growth was next to zero for the month. The drainage works on the 1st fairway had been executed fairly successfully but in order to get recovery, warm soil temperatures and moisture are essential for growth and, in particular, seed germination. Frosts do not encourage seed germination at all.</p><p>May gave back what April took away in the form of moisture. The rains truly arrived in May, only for June to be a month of drought. July has delivered some (much needed) respite from hand watering of our tees and surrounds. Extremes of weather are definitely in evidence this year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAzPx7w7tAO2YHPB9FILHpctXehVqkZOiU51K-1ZiwbIQe7yJvYObg5S7M3ibHLaMZgwNEntgb_GALH_7UOqO4puRG9UnGSFe6R0hf_76pKdIdyasuZJpsf3ikjS4trCHqsgI2vGyjjQ/s4032/IMG_0950.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAzPx7w7tAO2YHPB9FILHpctXehVqkZOiU51K-1ZiwbIQe7yJvYObg5S7M3ibHLaMZgwNEntgb_GALH_7UOqO4puRG9UnGSFe6R0hf_76pKdIdyasuZJpsf3ikjS4trCHqsgI2vGyjjQ/s320/IMG_0950.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFoDR3z0rQhaq9jVakvFM8Ak_aMvOLLlxcytTBbo9QkmSKCF8xApvTILSfFqh2Sg92xBnV2d4F2BbLHhudKs8VE0_OAB-cjWy8wMDvrTn4TyxCwU1mJHkaE9HzrwNlWhBf1IHSk7VGOg/s4032/IMG_0952.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFoDR3z0rQhaq9jVakvFM8Ak_aMvOLLlxcytTBbo9QkmSKCF8xApvTILSfFqh2Sg92xBnV2d4F2BbLHhudKs8VE0_OAB-cjWy8wMDvrTn4TyxCwU1mJHkaE9HzrwNlWhBf1IHSk7VGOg/s320/IMG_0952.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KWH790jwhoTkqT-YCKv3DlX0IbtlLwX-F_EKp395l2qNKBxi_xr3GEcGw2vZCITFHYOJks0tTX41q6K5bTn_JO4aSv_4Jk2YmXbOsl-NhMj7S542nTgzbdT8OJDtHdSer0YlbS15K1E/s4032/IMG_0954.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KWH790jwhoTkqT-YCKv3DlX0IbtlLwX-F_EKp395l2qNKBxi_xr3GEcGw2vZCITFHYOJks0tTX41q6K5bTn_JO4aSv_4Jk2YmXbOsl-NhMj7S542nTgzbdT8OJDtHdSer0YlbS15K1E/s320/IMG_0954.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>These are a selection of the contractors with their drainage equipment. The original idea was to excavate the existing drainage laterals across the fairway and to refill with clean gravel and root zone. Unfortunately, this hit a snag and so we had to revert to plan B which was to supplement the existing drainage with completely new laterals. Whilst ground conditions were far from ideal, the club decided to proceed with this work whilst the course was closed. It was as successful as can be and, in time, will prove to be the correct decision.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfowlTldQcITvb6OgiFUrcqlfJCgFuT59_gOED4V-gqHh5ou-fMgANI93o08nl2JwltC0-o-vDjRAPv_dskWbFMsbABkJQlf-_3XHYG3gm7ox6I6eYQS9wfRTGGdW22ySL5POjbKQZYM/s4032/IMG_0874.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfowlTldQcITvb6OgiFUrcqlfJCgFuT59_gOED4V-gqHh5ou-fMgANI93o08nl2JwltC0-o-vDjRAPv_dskWbFMsbABkJQlf-_3XHYG3gm7ox6I6eYQS9wfRTGGdW22ySL5POjbKQZYM/s320/IMG_0874.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjOra0_L3Zo6c3eqxpZmZBvwPP4L2YiAgB6OcdcocHPeBhi-bxex3NZZOhyphenhyphenspvfoPllWGq52NlpN_llZENP7Dnd0b9V6FjFqAwEZ-fRZ8F7z93XC_KGZoU2O4wJak0Zrjub3SPZVPF_I/s4032/IMG_0988.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjOra0_L3Zo6c3eqxpZmZBvwPP4L2YiAgB6OcdcocHPeBhi-bxex3NZZOhyphenhyphenspvfoPllWGq52NlpN_llZENP7Dnd0b9V6FjFqAwEZ-fRZ8F7z93XC_KGZoU2O4wJak0Zrjub3SPZVPF_I/s320/IMG_0988.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>We also completed the green side bunker on the 2nd hole. New bunker sand has also been installed on both green side bunkers on the 3rd hole as well as both practice bunkers by the chipping green. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE3ZIHefexrzV_JnKErxl4BzZyx59Se9ZQxd9Zs_OFFJmD9xf1kOrODV7zq5RG7wMvzxHlrlvkkabO52LSl5VLZyhpBXhDH-1Kqx7diBGvISCuJZdBAu6rBMWuqHgPotyRKKsPDqfvNg/s4032/IMG_0965.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE3ZIHefexrzV_JnKErxl4BzZyx59Se9ZQxd9Zs_OFFJmD9xf1kOrODV7zq5RG7wMvzxHlrlvkkabO52LSl5VLZyhpBXhDH-1Kqx7diBGvISCuJZdBAu6rBMWuqHgPotyRKKsPDqfvNg/s320/IMG_0965.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwlt9q0aIApGxLv9xYdv1EtV-w9_C5BbdhuOT7CD6UaT3uhN9nOkXB9x3BS6GF8PMnfm5191TthVqniFmY2O6yTwAZb0XOdDO6LumC1mYHoFQWcnrqhzkaigGcK4X4Sy83nFASFzP1xA/s4032/IMG_0969.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwlt9q0aIApGxLv9xYdv1EtV-w9_C5BbdhuOT7CD6UaT3uhN9nOkXB9x3BS6GF8PMnfm5191TthVqniFmY2O6yTwAZb0XOdDO6LumC1mYHoFQWcnrqhzkaigGcK4X4Sy83nFASFzP1xA/s320/IMG_0969.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2NabUGjfM-j1mz0-kpEpah0ZhsLGcNGF7dXr_UKpiFp48dzkC-GYrInLzVm4lT4mKLSRMrpbo9oSmZ5quE-XsHWo73pe8NJjX7l-ZrhbHwBfNln3QTC2Z5z49wmqET8I75ucm3g04bI/s4032/IMG_0971.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2NabUGjfM-j1mz0-kpEpah0ZhsLGcNGF7dXr_UKpiFp48dzkC-GYrInLzVm4lT4mKLSRMrpbo9oSmZ5quE-XsHWo73pe8NJjX7l-ZrhbHwBfNln3QTC2Z5z49wmqET8I75ucm3g04bI/s320/IMG_0971.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>The greens were scarified, verti-cut and top-dressed in February. It made perfect sense to do this then and ensure that members didn't have to endure any disruption to the greens surfaces in April. That the weather was cold and frosty in April meant that, weather wise, it turned out to be a wise decision. Expecting any sort of recovery from scarifying in frosty weather would have been impossible.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6W3OeG9YHESKuJeHGCtyiPJ1KovpP1j0OyvNbcQ018A5EkkWXxb3-eM4eNWkHjjwJfB-EnvXK1JY-VPVsSI6v-2ssCmkgA4nVvQYn7-uMaWbDCYd9zWFjnDFDjVVTyNPwBYqoiBQ5bk/s4032/IMG_1052.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6W3OeG9YHESKuJeHGCtyiPJ1KovpP1j0OyvNbcQ018A5EkkWXxb3-eM4eNWkHjjwJfB-EnvXK1JY-VPVsSI6v-2ssCmkgA4nVvQYn7-uMaWbDCYd9zWFjnDFDjVVTyNPwBYqoiBQ5bk/s320/IMG_1052.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1-f2aS6U0JgmsGTrBpG4RrrdWkJ-PPwAB-B77Y1AJv4MOuK-ebyvIPJrh3bS3PXGGCDVGFvOsI2AeWdXJFYPZOJTLvWkFBRjhYSmLzUcZNPVBSMhLTDxDfioAJwh1MIIdu6NjVnSe4k/s4032/IMG_1053.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1-f2aS6U0JgmsGTrBpG4RrrdWkJ-PPwAB-B77Y1AJv4MOuK-ebyvIPJrh3bS3PXGGCDVGFvOsI2AeWdXJFYPZOJTLvWkFBRjhYSmLzUcZNPVBSMhLTDxDfioAJwh1MIIdu6NjVnSe4k/s320/IMG_1053.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>Work continues on our greens surround run-off areas. This is a process of fertilising, regular low mowing, verti cutting and top-dressing. The process is continuous and doesn't really end. It's not a one-off task like building a conservatory extension on a house. We're dealing with grasses and soils - living, evolving things that are subject to weather, foot traffic and machinery. So we are constantly working on them to refine them so that they become firmer, more refined and enable a range of recovery shots to be played off them - be that a wedge, putter or chip 'n' run. The aim is to enable the golfer a choice of shot. </p><p>Essentially, we are taking our greens maintenance practices out into the surround and the approach. It is a time consuming process but hopefully one that golfers will benefit from in terms of experiencing improving course conditions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Buf1VzhqRPrpTelRKdE-k2iSZpj9rjmxSOZIygnbsxWXne5bhNSKfTeVS-VTE8SsS85W8VIk16ICDAC0cRdW635xvFEI2-g3_7VqicnLibnvS_xt_4273axX9oCynEVVNrDcXUSHNzk/s4032/IMG_1049.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Buf1VzhqRPrpTelRKdE-k2iSZpj9rjmxSOZIygnbsxWXne5bhNSKfTeVS-VTE8SsS85W8VIk16ICDAC0cRdW635xvFEI2-g3_7VqicnLibnvS_xt_4273axX9oCynEVVNrDcXUSHNzk/s320/IMG_1049.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p>We are also fertilising our fairways, albeit slowly, this year. The idea is to provide them with a small amount of nutrition to enable the finer grasses to compete more with some of the coarser rye grass and to improve the density of the playing surface. Then we can refine the coarser grasses with some scarifying and verti-cutting. Again, this is a process and is not a quick fix. We feel that the fairways are now developing really well and the fertilising has provided members with better surfaces on the 2nd and 6th. Last week, I fertilised the 5th and 9th fairways so hopefully, these will start to thicken up in the next few weeks. We intend to do the remaining fairways in September after they have been scarified. </p><p>Ok, that is all for now and I wish you all continued enjoyment out on the golf course.</p><p>Enjoy your golf!</p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-21483409145701993602020-08-25T12:32:00.002-07:002020-08-25T12:32:42.705-07:00Summer report<p>Hello all</p><p><br /></p><p>Hot (or wet) on the heels of Storm Francis comes this (better late than never) course report to update members on 2020. It's been a strange year so far as most will agree with Covid, the ensuing lockdown and May re-opening of golf in England.</p><p>In March, the directors made the tough decision to furlough me along with Ann and Kim. As the finances of the golf club were precarious, this decision was forced upon them. As a result, Ali was the last man standing, holding the fort. The issue presented to the golf industry, as a result of the government lockdown, was the fact that staff shortages were common place across the UK. It posed the challenge of a skeleton staff having to maintain the principal asset with no idea of when lockdown would end.</p><p>This dilemma was recognised early on by the main golf organisations; R&A, GCMA, PGA and BIGGA. They collaborated quickly to produce some guidance for golf clubs so that greenkeepers could still carry out essential maintenance. This information is accessible via the link below:</p><p><a href="https://www.bigga.org.uk/uploads/assets/2ca066d3-4502-41a4-b0896e1c67e42e31/Essential-Maintenance-Update-17-April-2020.docx">Essential Maintenance Update 17 April 2020.docx 38 KB</a></p><p>I would like to re-iterate my thanks to Ali for keeping the course maintained through lockdown. He did exactly what was required in accordance with these guidelines and kept the course ticking over despite being on his own.</p><p>Since we re-opened for golf in May, the golf course has been busier than it has ever been. Membership is higher than it has ever been. It's quite incredible how a pandemic has been the making of the golf industry after a number of lean years. Green fees have been very healthy too and the really positive thing to come out of this year, for our golf club at least, is that it has a secure future going into 2021 which is fantastic.</p><p>The first issue that we had to address when I returned from lockdown was a need to fast track the course in order to get it up to speed for returning golf. The second issue was that April and May were incredibly dry - so much so that we were in drought conditions. Hot, dry weather is great for golf but when you've got a golf course that has just re-opened after a lockdown with golfers. The major drawback is getting recovery from divots - particularly on tees - when the grass is basically in shutdown mode. The grass is basically focused upon survival once there is significant soil moisture deficit. Hence why the tees started to get hammered so quickly. </p><p>Think of it like this - once the level of wear exceeds the rate of growth and recovery, you will get tees that look like a practice ground tee.</p><p>So we had 3-4 weeks of tees needing regular hand watering just to keep them watered. We have no tees irrigation so hand watering is plan A, B and C. Morgan, our junior captain, has recently joined us for a couple of months to assist with tee divoting and he has done a stellar job.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_RUZJBUwb12lS7Rs0to_tI7ij-zC1nt7uyRGaQ6dCdEXlqc0Gve23YOLXQN9m2xLXcAyPdr5aBwvzEwcVRgehJovc0pCAlP9MywqOMCQSr-SqG_d_Gng-e38b2Mh5a1Vxam3Ia_lTs/s4032/IMG_0539.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_RUZJBUwb12lS7Rs0to_tI7ij-zC1nt7uyRGaQ6dCdEXlqc0Gve23YOLXQN9m2xLXcAyPdr5aBwvzEwcVRgehJovc0pCAlP9MywqOMCQSr-SqG_d_Gng-e38b2Mh5a1Vxam3Ia_lTs/s640/IMG_0539.HEIC" /></a></div><p></p><p>We are currently mowing tees twice/week at 8mm and the presentation is excellent. The tees are fertilised according to growth and to maintain that mowing height, they have to be cut twice/week. But I think the members are fairly pleased with the tees on the whole. Some just need to be significantly bigger - the par 3s in particular.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3UN_c_vCmXig2uvclRUvljKRuqjXn0S1lFk3Ix72qlOze0Z4IJ9XKFRKEJjcTI8_dMHbqMp3SpKEAxgBpbc3vDKkZbXt-rjzyb0eF4CCauMJiXoRQ9WS6Wtz4HSfo_BML555F-XVmn4/s4032/IMG_0571.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3UN_c_vCmXig2uvclRUvljKRuqjXn0S1lFk3Ix72qlOze0Z4IJ9XKFRKEJjcTI8_dMHbqMp3SpKEAxgBpbc3vDKkZbXt-rjzyb0eF4CCauMJiXoRQ9WS6Wtz4HSfo_BML555F-XVmn4/s640/IMG_0571.HEIC" /></a></div><p>You will also have noticed that we have extended some of our greens' surrounds since lockdown ended. 3, 4, 5 and 6 have more run-off areas and the reason for doing so is to offer members more shot making opportunities (putter, wedge, bump 'n' run) just off the green. Aesthetically they look miles better, are more resilient as they are mown more tighter and offer more interest to the course rather than thick rough just off the green. But perhaps the most important thing, for me at least, is that the surrounds should be an extension of the greens surfaces. We need to get them to look and play as close to greens surfaces as we can. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLL5fbyMIFhFsdWZ6KkkjZhPnTIiEMI6GR3C8QUn-97XfYwvqhu4B00-9AJ1hiAoK5GCWIEQFKUJYtQoK8gH06sv4h5LSL0B-mutSzId8nQJP1bYkpE66LGGUbtq8nmGOpl_RfbQiy4s/s4032/IMG_0621.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLL5fbyMIFhFsdWZ6KkkjZhPnTIiEMI6GR3C8QUn-97XfYwvqhu4B00-9AJ1hiAoK5GCWIEQFKUJYtQoK8gH06sv4h5LSL0B-mutSzId8nQJP1bYkpE66LGGUbtq8nmGOpl_RfbQiy4s/s640/IMG_0621.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maintenance of the approaches and surrounds has also had to be taken up a notch. They are also cut twice/week at 8mm. Some have needed additional fertilising to thicken them up as well as continued topdressing, brushing and extra mowing to refine them. It is not simply a case of mowing them and then announcing that they are all sorted. This refining work has to continue indefinitely if members want to have approaches and surrounds that continue to improve. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMzs_xgzMVSHsSzvvGE-7zHk3uEN4XzfasF4f7BM-9QG5aXyMg-JC8G5PYICNmv2Jhqk-L-dkfAWme-EHzhs-bMTVgHpdZpYKGDry7wBCj3iRkBj9tj8xYY6k92xdNzJdaZwR__0wIzE/s4032/IMG_0698.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMzs_xgzMVSHsSzvvGE-7zHk3uEN4XzfasF4f7BM-9QG5aXyMg-JC8G5PYICNmv2Jhqk-L-dkfAWme-EHzhs-bMTVgHpdZpYKGDry7wBCj3iRkBj9tj8xYY6k92xdNzJdaZwR__0wIzE/s640/IMG_0698.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our 8th and 9th greens are now about 18 months old. We carried out a micro hollow tine of them in June and the reason for doing so was to remove the turf (mat) layer that is within the soil profile. This is undesirable as it can become a barrier to root growth and drainage if left unaddressed. so the hollow coring pulls out small plugs that contain the turf layer. The sand that is incorporated into the holes provides a continuous channel of sand from surface to soil for roots to grow into and for rainwater to filter through. This has to be an ongoing process but will, in time, support these new greens moving forward.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGCAde8T9VMA2e2thwfRjb4kmHW1TjYfV0qju-uI9vhZHwOHTpCEkqgpTfevITwb6EUPiIAwRSbyCrNFP5BFDmELy3NRx62auPJdsi0NNhjOsW0LL_dRKsiXlE80wdmzn9eVN1o_JBzE/s4032/IMG_0611.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGCAde8T9VMA2e2thwfRjb4kmHW1TjYfV0qju-uI9vhZHwOHTpCEkqgpTfevITwb6EUPiIAwRSbyCrNFP5BFDmELy3NRx62auPJdsi0NNhjOsW0LL_dRKsiXlE80wdmzn9eVN1o_JBzE/s640/IMG_0611.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSiOyJQelsGvqpGddgLe2Chbw8AASjsXTRsF-CakB8BR7-Nq-mszF6-ykUqk5SM-nEEm049q4z68sFRMZa_OU0EwYxVAmIex_jR4Mql1z-4GoNcx8FX1dOh9Q4LKqistEqSjqmqkb-zM/s4032/IMG_0612.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSiOyJQelsGvqpGddgLe2Chbw8AASjsXTRsF-CakB8BR7-Nq-mszF6-ykUqk5SM-nEEm049q4z68sFRMZa_OU0EwYxVAmIex_jR4Mql1z-4GoNcx8FX1dOh9Q4LKqistEqSjqmqkb-zM/s640/IMG_0612.HEIC" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, the new greens have suffered with some Take All patch - a disease of turf and a common one for new sand construction greens. Generally, a number of factors combine to cause take all patch to rear its head; high soil pH, lack of microbial activity due to the inert nature of sand and bent/poa grass species. More information is available by following the link below:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">https://www.greencast.co.uk/turf-disease/take-all-patch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo0pSf3wcfOsJ33DzE1nSVm65XRRk0FNjGeo75c9mkHiXojO71vtbeB2KQApGrxzV1s2wm0YVPDKcvfWr8lBt_BLiiZs0gjGM_Gu8A7b4REynJqMuSmdjSWr1x8kmJER8v03sbwYNmC4/s4032/IMG_0664.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo0pSf3wcfOsJ33DzE1nSVm65XRRk0FNjGeo75c9mkHiXojO71vtbeB2KQApGrxzV1s2wm0YVPDKcvfWr8lBt_BLiiZs0gjGM_Gu8A7b4REynJqMuSmdjSWr1x8kmJER8v03sbwYNmC4/s640/IMG_0664.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIyDqLGpHMLbQjs4JHKPWzIGZtPRPAeDE4HDN96P805Fkfqyz7YrgOk4eCOt-FMaDfQiUWVnGofFLxaLB9E4m78xy1_H-7GB3aTaDDJhZzgGnDQ0Jimx4vgKA3gRf8dga14ek0Srf-BI/s4032/IMG_0656.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIyDqLGpHMLbQjs4JHKPWzIGZtPRPAeDE4HDN96P805Fkfqyz7YrgOk4eCOt-FMaDfQiUWVnGofFLxaLB9E4m78xy1_H-7GB3aTaDDJhZzgGnDQ0Jimx4vgKA3gRf8dga14ek0Srf-BI/s640/IMG_0656.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>In order to mitigate the effects of take all, we have applied a fungicide, used acidifying fertilisers to lower the soil and surface pH and we will gain recovery as the fescue grass (colonising the area within the 'ring' above) is unaffected by take all patch. Please be reassured that this is a common turf disease prevalent in new sand construction greens and it has been evident on golf greens throughout the UK this year. Like humans, plants get diseased sometimes. They are living, </span>breathing things too and, like us, are sometimes affected by the environment that they live in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>As many of you will have noticed, we have upgraded our rough mower. It was sourced from Cheshire Turf Machinery, our local Toro dealer. Compared with the last mower, it is much more versatile and provides an excellent finish on both flat and contoured areas. It is the contoured areas (tee banks, greens surrounds, bunker surrounds) that this mower comes into its own. Furthermore, we have lowered the mowing height of the rough down from 2.5 inches to 1.5 inches. This provides a much more consistent rough to play out of and the grass density is much improved. The differential from fairway, approach and surround to the rough is less pronounced too and, conversely, this improves </span>definition between these playing surfaces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_vS5ml4kYqmv2WybadPi8Df0QeLz2N63zEh3pJqPhlT5PtCDzXa6twLKZKeDmRuRWP4luGpvaHbFk1hwwSpBFMmtHefOCKk5PxWeFZSA0cdD-L6pME8IuJKaXfzdvWFK8sp3-41LorQ/s4032/IMG_0436.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_vS5ml4kYqmv2WybadPi8Df0QeLz2N63zEh3pJqPhlT5PtCDzXa6twLKZKeDmRuRWP4luGpvaHbFk1hwwSpBFMmtHefOCKk5PxWeFZSA0cdD-L6pME8IuJKaXfzdvWFK8sp3-41LorQ/s640/IMG_0436.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out turf nursery (behind 9th tee) was seeded in early March. Then lockdown occurred in conjunction with a sustained dry spell. When I returned from furlough, it had progressed to what you see below:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-h-1foEaokMy7ntzIIBS1VlMndBoTFPIjoBYvKrXMOXAfwXldbSOM6jl3WOfZI6Jcg296xCLm8NmEhPD380TctAexMWwKMlRWQsezD7vlF0rxLHAJy65st0zAC0uAJZrmxFtMiYbNaE/s4032/IMG_0541.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-h-1foEaokMy7ntzIIBS1VlMndBoTFPIjoBYvKrXMOXAfwXldbSOM6jl3WOfZI6Jcg296xCLm8NmEhPD380TctAexMWwKMlRWQsezD7vlF0rxLHAJy65st0zAC0uAJZrmxFtMiYbNaE/s640/IMG_0541.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was seeded with a (free) trial pack of 777 creeping bent grass courtesy of Germinal, a seed supplier. We have created this nursery as a 'go-to' area in case we get disease scarring, hydraulic oil leaks or other damage to our greens. It has been created at very little cost and, to me at least, is a no brainer for us as a golf club. It doesn't affect play and has been given relatively little attention since golf resumed in mid-May. Now it looks significantly better, despite very little inputs (below):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87IBhfWQgMQzH_HHxvmn90r9FpRNkGwUFRUoSmGoqsAd0msDn47JzUXgmJ0jgWUCJH7nBkWlo-5QHdYYkbvfZdj-XXKwVjo464F5P7eqQSJ9OwuLqBsbitBZFm4LElJ7m3MM1sp3pahQ/s4032/IMG_0642.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87IBhfWQgMQzH_HHxvmn90r9FpRNkGwUFRUoSmGoqsAd0msDn47JzUXgmJ0jgWUCJH7nBkWlo-5QHdYYkbvfZdj-XXKwVjo464F5P7eqQSJ9OwuLqBsbitBZFm4LElJ7m3MM1sp3pahQ/s640/IMG_0642.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is being mown at greens height and will be ready as we head into the Autumn and Winter. Please have a look at it when you are passing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There always seems to be regular discussion about our paths. Myself and Ali had started scraping the paths in February with a view to finishing them in March. Then we went into lockdown. The essential maintenance guidelines made no mention of path work. Hence why they were not addressed during lockdown. Come May, that was way too late to start work on our paths for myself and Ali. There were bigger challenges. Ultimately, paths are a route from A to B. The choices are to spend tens of thousands of pounds on each one to give them a clean, maintenance free surface or, alternatively, to accept them for what they are. 2 staff can only do so much on the golf course and if the golf club really want better paths then we either hire more staff or we rely on volunteers to do said work. But they will never be anything more than what they are now - not in my lifetime anyway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCYZ4ZQox0uAvTzQbWjM3YHgGvdW1Fy-jtHl9ZKmoP8Sa0GEggc_rMfqYHLEtm08D3Od4eAk9fPVI8SjRVctWk1sxM6EdtXXgNN0qBKnLMLnbkzOu2FEOZ2QniOPbv8TcSHQ6iUe0jLE/s4032/IMG_0604.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCYZ4ZQox0uAvTzQbWjM3YHgGvdW1Fy-jtHl9ZKmoP8Sa0GEggc_rMfqYHLEtm08D3Od4eAk9fPVI8SjRVctWk1sxM6EdtXXgNN0qBKnLMLnbkzOu2FEOZ2QniOPbv8TcSHQ6iUe0jLE/s640/IMG_0604.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also have a difference of opinion over our fairway presentation. Mid to higher handicap golfers like the ball to be 'teed up' on the fairways. Low handicap golfers like a tight lie. Tight lies enable backspin to be achieved from a well struck golf shot, whereas fluffy lies don't. We are trying, as greenkeepers (and myself as a low handicap golfer) to deliver playing surfaces that reward and encourage good golf. Fairways that are long do not do that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But perhaps the bigger problem is that she of our fairways contain broad leafed rye and meadow grasses that just don't get cut at higher mowing heights. The mower just rolls them and they remain not cut. To discourage these grasses, we need to constantly refine these surfaces (scarifying, verti-cutting) and lower mowing. Removing grass clippings with the mower has been carried out since 2015 and the reduced nutrient of the soils encourages finer leafed grasses to thrive in the fairways. What that now means is that we only have to cut our fairways once/week. If we mow them at a higher mowing height, they will need mowing twice/week and still look worse. That is time we can ill afford with 2 staff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The regular refining work (scarifying, verti-cutting) is just not achievable with 2 greens staff. We have to be realistic about how we utilise our time and these operations are a step too far with 2 people. A contractor is coming to site in September to scarify some fairways and this will continue to refine them but I must stress that this work must continue if members want fairways to improve. You can't just perform this operation once and expect a complete transformation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBqVwMCO737ADlSRa9k9rz0dP8O9lg-uA6kx2c67Ak0oyuuk6g2kCWfK8tkl8rY8TBhT4LA97zrdaYx6ikQTkq8xy9fAiEwvfumnOlGHc1X6nDPHgvuFkyQeqfgoTZ_UtNON5gOIm05U/s4032/IMG_0655.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBqVwMCO737ADlSRa9k9rz0dP8O9lg-uA6kx2c67Ak0oyuuk6g2kCWfK8tkl8rY8TBhT4LA97zrdaYx6ikQTkq8xy9fAiEwvfumnOlGHc1X6nDPHgvuFkyQeqfgoTZ_UtNON5gOIm05U/s640/IMG_0655.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The directors had to make the decision in June to have the poplar trees felled between 4 and 7. This was advised by the golf course architect in 2014 as a safety precaution to ensure that the golf course could be future proofed from errant tee-shots hitting neighbouring properties. Unfortunately, this situation has escalated to the extent that these houses have been peppered by golf balls and the repair bills for roof tiles, windows and car dents are no longer acceptable. I understand the golf club's insurer has instructed the golf club to address this immediately in order for the insurance policy not to be invalidated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully (and let's hope this never happens), no resident has ever been struck by a golf ball. Should that occur, the repercussions will be a whole new level of seriousness - hence a few trees removed is small sacrifice to ensure the safety of these residents and their properties. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In time, there will be a shared fairway between 4 and 7. It will look fantastic and will be a great win/win for the members. Poplars are simply awful trees and should never be planted on golf courses anyway. Their roots are a nightmare and cause endless problems. I would like to see the back of every poplar on the golf course in the future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I would like to say thank you to all the volunteer assistance that we have had this summer - in no particular order, step forward Len Dilnutt, Tom Frame, John Newns, John Buffel, Barry Barlow, Barry Hignett, Alan Ritchie, Terry Broadhurst, Phil Lockett, David McIntyre, John Walker, Steve Fisher, Darren O'Dell, Mike Hall, Andy Maher, Gary Cunningham. <span> If I missed anyone, my apologies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>Enjoy your golf and thank you all for your continued support.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-15124886315165021042020-01-05T04:04:00.003-08:002020-01-05T04:04:49.189-08:002019 in review2019 has now gone and maybe, just maybe, that might be a good thing. The weather, once again, called the shots and golf clubs had to endure a massively wet summer, autumn and early winter. The rainfall records make for quite bleak reading:<br />
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January - 48mm<br />
February - 45mm<br />
March - 130mm<br />
April - 25mm<br />
May - 40mm<br />
June - 137mm<br />
July - 145mm<br />
August - 104mm<br />
September - 152mm<br />
October - 121mm<br />
November - 112mm<br />
December - 97mm<br />
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Perhaps it's a sign of changing weather patterns that the driest months of the year were all in the first half of the year. Certainly the second half of the year was just brutal with numerous deluges interrupting the golf calendar.<br />
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A new top dresser was added to the equipment fleet and this will assist in speeding up the process of topdressing various surfaces. Shovels and a trailer have been replaced by a modern spinning disc spreader. It has helped us to start work on the approaches as well as greens.<br />
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The difference that dressing (sanding) the approaches makes is fantastic. These areas become more refined, tighter and firmer. Mowing is much better because all the small depressions are smoothed out, leaving golfers the option of a variety of shots from these areas; pitching, bump 'n' run or putting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYWNdJ3u_gde7BcILGGDqbAxKAYPb2vBSbr10ydK1opf0mvIIEZyk9NvP7v1tTEOEgYN0uAQcHBmBV9OtT8BFyr-26zmo_4SjxWsWQd34Pa3qHaItuPC2hI9fcXNFxkHV1actloX_7WQ/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYWNdJ3u_gde7BcILGGDqbAxKAYPb2vBSbr10ydK1opf0mvIIEZyk9NvP7v1tTEOEgYN0uAQcHBmBV9OtT8BFyr-26zmo_4SjxWsWQd34Pa3qHaItuPC2hI9fcXNFxkHV1actloX_7WQ/s320/IMG_0277.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our new greens have done fairly well considering the poor weather and challenges that brings. We have managed to create some nice tight surrounds from them and this owes a lot to their design and construction. We hope they have been well received and would like to stress that they are still new relative to the other greens on the golf course. They are still in their infancy and we need to look after them over the next few years to ensure that the considerable investment in them is a long term as well as a short term decision.<br />
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We also managed to scarify the fairways in September. Bancroft Amenities carried out the work and the operation, whilst intensive, assisted in removing some thatch and debris from the top of the soil profile. As we remove (box off) clippings from the fairways in order to control growth and try to encourage the finer grasses (bents, fescues), we don't feel that the fairways are particularly thatchy but the scarifying also helps to refine the fairway surfaces with a view to discouraging some of the coarse grasses that are undesirable.<br />
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The process was, as mentioned, quite intensive. Firstly, we cut the fairways with our fairway mower. Then the contractor scarified, a second contractor collected the surface debris in a sweeper/collector before we blew off remaining debris with a tractor mounted blower and then finally, they were cut a second time to provide a nice clean finish. Omelettes are not made without cracking a few eggs but the operation was excellent and is a step in the right direction for our fairways.<br />
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These photos reflect a depressing end to summer and continued right through the autumn. I distinctly remember that we had, at one point, to start cutting the 6th fairway-approach with a walk behind push mower. The biblical rain never seemed to end and often, tasks like these, whilst time consuming, have to be employed to try to continue providing some kind of playing surface for golfers, however wet. Sadly, the 5th fairway stayed extremely wet right through the autumn months and at times, it was nigh on impossible to get large vehicles out onto the golf course.<br />
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Some work has been carried out on the 1st hole to try to alleviate the drainage issues associated with it. A carrier drain to the brook has been replaced and hopefully, this will help enormously in shedding water away from the golf course and into the neighbouring brooks.<br />
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A small project that we carried out recently was the addition of a path in between the 8th white/yellow tee and 8th red tee. It was always a bit of a wet area and now, it should be much drier as well as an area to place bags and trollies before teeing off. We will finish the surface with some path grit once the course is a bit drier.<br />
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Fairway vertical-draining has now started and the idea is to relieve some compaction that comes with machinery and golfer traffic. The 'forking' action of the vertical-drain (based on the principle of the garden fork) helps to create fissures in the soil, providing more gaps for the drainage of surface water. Whilst this is not a total solution for drainage issues, the process helps to get some air into the soil and encourages roots to push deeper into the soil. The holes enable the surface to dry out too, creating a firmer playing surface.<br />
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Happy new year to everyone at the golf club and let's keep our fingers crossed for a drier 2020.Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-86509278775074558802020-01-05T03:28:00.003-08:002020-01-05T03:28:56.547-08:008th hole - fairway to green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-65836043073386286492019-05-03T11:38:00.001-07:002019-05-14T10:11:31.444-07:00New 8th and 9th greensIt's been a while since my last blog post. In between a screaming toddler (joking!) and an online diploma, it's been a busy winter and spring (have we had a spring yet?!).<br />
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By now, most of the members will have played to the new greens. This blog post charts their development which, hopefully, is quite interesting from a visual perspective. I will focus on the 8th green so as to give members an idea of the progress. The process was essentially the same for the 9th green - it is just the design and location that are different.<br />
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Above, we see the 8th green prior to breaking ground with the contractor, Lakeland Earthworks. We needed soil in order to raise the green and this was taken from a 'borrow pit' in the rough grassland behind the 9th/18th tees. This gave us approximately 450 tonnes of earth (total for 2 greens) to essentially 'lift' the greens to their finished, future levels. This is exemplified by the lone oak tree. In the top picture, you can see the base of the trunk. In no further photos is this visible.<br />
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This photo shows already the working area. We did have an old bunker in the foreground (just beyond the roped area) that years ago was grassed over, leaving a small hump. This was removed so that the new green side bunker would be more visible from further back down the fairway.<br />
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Very quickly, the Course Architect and Shaper had fashioned a bunker that sits into the front left portion of the green complex. The wooden stakes indicate the perimeter edge of the new green. What has also been created is a 'well' - basically, a void into which drainage channels, gravel and root zone are installed to create a USGA green.<br />
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<a href="https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/images/course-care/2004%20USGA%20Recommendations%20For%20a%20Method%20of%20Putting%20Green%20Cons.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/images/course-care/2004%20USGA%20Recommendations%20For%20a%20Method%20of%20Putting%20Green%20Cons.pdf</a><br />
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Thereafter, we see the process; a herringbone drainage system, gravel carpet, irrigation pipe around the externalities of the green and then the root zone.<br />
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Once the shaper has arrived at the final levels, the greens surrounds are shaped, raked and then the area is raked in preparation for turfing.<br />
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Unfortunately, January through to early March were cold, dry and frosty in equal measure. Conditions such as these are not conducive for turf to be able to establish roots and enable the growth required for the development of these greens and greens' surrounds. </div>
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Finally, in March, we got to the stage of rolling and mowing the new turf. The bunker base was graded with shovels and rakes before being nicely edged. Then we could install the new bunker sand.<br />
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The greens surfaces themselves were opened for play for Captain's Drive-In. I must stress that a 3 month grow-in period (from turf being laid to a hole being cut into the greens surface ready for play) is a very narrow window to establish a golf green. In an ideal world, a greenkeeping team would have longer to get 2 new greens (a £50k + investment) ready for play.<br />
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Whilst I understand completely the excitement that this project work generated around the golf club, we should all remember that it really is early days for both of these new greens. I am confident that, in time, they will provide excellent playability and will prove a great challenge for golfers coming down the stretch.<br />
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Please understand that regular top dressing is being carried out to establish the levels required for a really smooth surface. This is very time consuming but it is essential for these 2 greens for the long term as well as the short term. These greens will perform differently to the older established greens on the golf course. That is perfectly normal. But the real positive is that these greens drain fantastically compared to the previous 8th/9th greens. USGA greens offer year round playability and this will serve the members very well for the long haul.<br />
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I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to oversee the construction of these 2 new greens. It was ultimately a team effort; golf course architect, construction team and greenkeeping team were all part of this process. Without the efforts of the directors to generate the necessary funding, it is unlikely that these 2 new greens would have materialised.<br />
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The investment, whilst significant, will seem relatively cheap over the long term. Take a new green at approximately £25k; over a 25 year period (the age of the 1st green), that works out to £1k/year. That, in itself, is cheap as chips. It becomes a no-brainer in the end.<br />
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We hope you will enjoy them. Please be patient whilst they establish and, in time, they will really repay the initial investment.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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<br />Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-66593698664511817362018-10-21T06:41:00.002-07:002018-10-21T06:41:51.242-07:00Course Improvements 2018/19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sure by now that the majority, if not all, of members have viewed the sketches and visualisations for Holes 8 and 9, produced by James Edwards. They are on display in the clubhouse for those members yet to see them.</div>
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They represent a long term plan of both golf holes. It is unrealistic to expect that the golf club has sufficient funds to implement all of these changes or modifications this winter. Indeed, it is highly likely to take 2-3 years to complete many of these design alterations.</div>
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However, the golf club have sensibly engaged and employed the professional services of a golf course architect. James Edwards has an excellent track record of golf course design work in the UK. He is also a former professional golfer and so his credentials are undisputed.</div>
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James has produced 2 excellent and credible designs that will serve to improve the overall strategy for both of these holes. This will enable these holes to become highly playable for golfers of all standards, rewarding those who are bold with their play on each hole. Similarly, golfers who take a more prudent route to each green will not be unfairly penalised either. So each design has been produced, using professional expertise (a skillset that is not currently available within the golf club) for the long term benefit of the golf club. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyInATr3D31Ftcy8s91UszAhihN9hmssTukH1F3_hJ6u9EaK0g9jZ3QvWw_6Le57r86l5Tfo0xQZKgNWSI91G3D7yBCQM5pr4sAKxBcGYz4E05fTI7NnDBp2zSqFDErLrO22IrPIXg_xY/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyInATr3D31Ftcy8s91UszAhihN9hmssTukH1F3_hJ6u9EaK0g9jZ3QvWw_6Le57r86l5Tfo0xQZKgNWSI91G3D7yBCQM5pr4sAKxBcGYz4E05fTI7NnDBp2zSqFDErLrO22IrPIXg_xY/s320/IMG_3507.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course, members will question the designs (as they are entitled to do so) but in the end, these designs are both impartial and backed with professional credentials. </div>
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In any event, the golf club has stated a desire to have James Edwards oversee the construction of greens 8 and 9. This will provide the golf club with a guarantee of quality and peace of mind that these 2 golf greens and greens' surrounds will stand the test of time, facilitating maintenance and providing golfers with a great golfing test and enjoyment.</div>
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We can expect an excellent finish from our appointed contractor, Lakeland Earthworks. They were previously engaged by the golf club to carry out course improvements between 2014-2016 as well as the Environment Agency Flood Defence Scheme that traverses holes 4 and 7.<br />
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Please feel assured that this major project work will be well executed by seasoned golf industry professionals. It will benefit all golf club members and visitors, providing 2 new free draining golf greens that will be playable year round.<br />
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We hope you are looking forward to these works and please feel free to speak to me with any questions you might have.<br />
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Have a great weekend.Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-61754576576847071152018-08-17T08:33:00.002-07:002018-08-17T08:33:35.486-07:00Heatwave over?As we approach the third week of August, it's worth reflecting on the summer of 2018. It was dry. Very very dry. In fact, it was the hottest summer since 1976. I'm guessing that a fair few of our members were either a) not born then or b) were too young to really remember/care about it!<br />
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It's safe to say that as greenkeepers, it's been challenging. I would go further than that and say that it was a struggle. I don't mind working hard at all. But struggling is a whole new ball park and not one I'm keen to revisit anytime soon.<br />
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I took the photo above, of the 10th tee, at the end of May and by then, we'd already had a dry spell of weather. I was, at the time of this photo, applying some wetting agent to our tees. The way wetting agents work is that they assist to retain moisture in the soil, thereby maximising soil moisture. They also help water to penetrate the surface more readily. But they are not some "miracle cure" in a bottle.<br />
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Water, be it irrigation or rain, is still needed to ensure the efficacy of wetting agents. The thing was, between the start of May and the end of July, we had 7 days of rainfall of 5mm or more. Of those 7 days of rain, 4 gave us 10mm or more of rain. So essentially, we had 4 meaningful days of rain in 3 months. No wonder my back garden didn't grow and turned biscuit brown. No wonder the golf course didn't grow either.<br />
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Grass growth occurs with soil moisture and soil fertility. The grass roots take up moisture and nutrients from the soil. But if there is no moisture in the soil, the grass won't grow - at all. That was the scenario we faced for 3 long months. Any irrigation water that was applied to greens or tees was, for the most part, negating the incredible evaporation and moisture loss from hot, sunny days that never seemed to end. Does anyone remember struggling to sleep at night due to the heat? Imagine being a golf green or golf tee exposed to heat all day and all night with no respite - and repeat - and repeat etc etc<br />
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Hence, our turf just stopped growing. The tees had a nice application of fertiliser at the end of April which, in theory, should have provided growth for 3-4 months. But the amount of water needed to mitigate the effects of the summer was just impossible to apply. We have no tees irrigation and that is the compromise we face during a hot spell. So, if the rate of wear (divots from golfers) exceeds the rate of growth and recovery (requiring soil fertility and soil moisture), the result is going to be tees that get battered.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SxNg4cLFwQnbnl9vwjasiAPK2wqG6_ZLQFDSb0G4sxb6Qp39asDkeLtGoQajO6DBMNCrinUqYUazLp_sJPHpqh1rrgBIry-ZuwHm_tioPdXfsDZGETEjAbew5wTJEvdMC3lVllEIgoc/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SxNg4cLFwQnbnl9vwjasiAPK2wqG6_ZLQFDSb0G4sxb6Qp39asDkeLtGoQajO6DBMNCrinUqYUazLp_sJPHpqh1rrgBIry-ZuwHm_tioPdXfsDZGETEjAbew5wTJEvdMC3lVllEIgoc/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The greens have also been through the mill this summer. For the majority of May, June and July, I spent every morning from 6.00-10.30 am hand watering our greens. Sprinklers, in that consistency of heat, simply do not deliver the necessary irrigation water that the grass needs. In fact, they get nowhere near the requirement. Sprinklers just mist the surface in reality, providing more of a cooling effect. I remember back to my days working in North Carolina in 1998/99. During the summer months, even with the most sophisticated irrigation systems, we needed to hand water greens in the early morning and then the rest of the day, we would spend time 'syringing' greens - applying a light misting of water via a hose to cool the turf. This would counter the effects of evaporation from the grass plant. It has just been an exceptional summer and I am glad it is over.<br />
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Interestingly (or not - you decide!) our greens have taken both a pummelling but also not. The above photo demonstrates the 2 types of grasses that we are dealing with; Bent (darker green) and Poa (the sickly looking one). Bent grass needs very little water, little fertiliser, produces a lovely putting surface and as above, didn't even look like it had been affected by the hot weather. The Poa, by comparison, needs tons of water, tons of fertiliser, tons of fungicide and tons of attention just to keep it alive.<br />
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Poa is an annual species. It grows, produces a seed, drops the seed (for next year's crop) and dies in one year. Hence the term annual. Look at it like a bedding plant - no matter how hard you try to keep a pansy or a marigold alive in a hanging basket, it won't matter because it will die.<br />
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The issue we currently face, with our golf greens, is trying to convert them to a predominantly bent grass surface at the expense of poa. The overseeding with bent is working but the process is not an overnight one. We still have to manage poa through the transition.<br />
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Remember the other issue with poa? Ah yes, the white seed heads that, as golfers, you have to putt over. Then you curse when the ball bobbles. Poa produces a seed head because it is under stress and it is a natural reaction from the plant because it thinks it is going to die. So, with the heat of the summer, all of our greens hand watering has mainly been done to keep something alive that will die anyway. This is the major frustration of this grass species. It generally dominates golf greens that are soft, moist and have lacked aeration + topdressing. Poa is shallow rooted and exploits a gap in the turf where it grows - and produces endless seeds.<br />
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We now have firmer, drier golf greens and the bent grass coverage is increasing. Now, we have to ensure that continues. This will form part of the summer maintenance program. Next week, we will aerate, top dress, verti-cut, vertical drain and overseed the greens in preparation for the autumn and winter months. A granular fertiliser was applied this week to kick start growth before maintenance week. Hopefully, the recovery should be good as we are still in August.<br />
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This week, we have brought in Tim to do some hedge cutting work with his tractor & flailing arm. We have taken back a lot of growth along holes 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 where the understory was just getting out of control. The results are really positive but we need to do this work every year in order to keep on top of it. Doing it 5 years ago and then leaving it until this year is simply not enough. Sure, it costs a few quid to do but doing it little and often is much better than having to go mental at it every 5 years.<br />
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Thanks to all the volunteer assistance this week. Len, John, Tom have all helped with the clear up. John Buffel has kindly assisted with some path work, edging them and removing weeds. Well done John - they look really good.<br />
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Hopefully, with the cooler and wetter conditions of the last week or so, we will see the golf course revert back to something more green and one indicative of a parkland course. There will be a few areas that are still recovering from the summer but they should, in time, start to recover. A few tees are being eased back to normality. We will try to baby them through this period until we see the seeded areas recover.<br />
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Let's now look forward to the autumn and winter. This should be an exciting period, with greens 8 and 9 being reconstructed at the end of November. We have James Edwards, golf course architect, producing the designs and overseeing the project. His initial design sketches have been approved thus far and we are now awaiting further detailed drawings that will soon be presented in the clubhouse for members to view. Watch this space for more!<br />
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Have a great weekend, a great August bank holiday and enjoy your golf!Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-53141335271029357072018-06-08T12:51:00.003-07:002018-06-08T12:51:37.754-07:00Oak before AshFirstly, apologies for the lapse in blogging. Things are busy at home. Terrible twos have taken away our lovely daughter. Please can we have her back instead of the TANTRUM child??!!!!<br />
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So here we are in June, it's summer and it is getting fast, firm and dry. At the end of April, we still had areas on the golf course that were wet, soft and to be avoided. From one extreme to another in under a month.<br />
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As the old saying goes, "Oak before Ash - Splash. Ash before Oak - Soak". True enough, the Oak trees were first out in leaf this year. So let us expect a dry summer. Look on the bright side though, all members will be bombing drives 300 yards (like Dustin Johnson) with all the run on the ball. Handicaps will tumble. Guaranteed no one will complain about having to wear waterproofs or about course drainage issues or course closed. It's a WIN-WIN for everybody. Or is it???<br />
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A familiar sight to golfers and greenkeepers at present is the seeding poa. The greens look good but unfortunately the poa takes to seeding in the spring. It is an annual species and as such completes its life cycle in 1 year. The reason it produces seed heads is in readiness for dying. At the end of summer, the plant will die and the seeds that it drops will become next years plant. And thus the cycle continues again...</div>
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So, it tends to be a real bind for greenskeepers as the seed heads interfere with a true ball roll, giving golfers a less than ideal surface to putt on. We use a plant growth regulator (PGR) to help with this issue. The PGR prevents vertical growth taking place and instead allows the plant to grow horizontally. As such, the poa seed heads sit that bit tighter to the surface. In the long term, we aim to overseed the greens annually with bent grass. This will compete with the poa and is a far finer grass species - more tolerant of dry conditions, more disease resistant, less demanding of irrigation and fertiliser. An all round better grass species. </div>
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Otherwise, the greens are looking fairly decent. We have applied a wetting agent recently and this helps to maximise irrigation water application (and rainfall - if we get it!!) in the soil profile. The idea is that the wetting agent assists water in penetrating the surface much easier and is held around the soil particles for uptake by the roots. However, it is important to ensure that the moisture is there so that the surfaces remain consistent. Hence why I have been out doing a lot of hand watering with a hose recently. In dry periods, growth slows down and the plant is focused on staying alive rather than growing. Therefore we must help it out with water if the rain does not arrive.<br />
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The fairway bunker on the left side of the 3rd hole has been a challenge to say the least. We are still working on it, determined to get it right and, more importantly, to ensure that should the wet weather come, it drains effectively. I had James working on it this week and he took out a bit more clay from well under the base. Guess what - there was still water sitting there from winter! Despite a month of dry weather, the water table had still not dropped! So what we did was to dig a large hole down into the subsoil and place a pipe vertically into it. So James dug down about a metre. And the water that was sitting there just drained immediately!!! So now we are in the process of back filling the soak away with clean gravel. It will get sorted soon.<br />
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One thing that we have been addressing recently is the growth on fairways and roughs. Actually, the fairways are doling really well. 4 years of removing grass clippings has helped considerably. We are regularly running the scarifier through them to continue to stress the broad leaf grasses and to stand up grasses for a better quality of cut. But we are also doing something similar with the rough. The idea is the same in that we are trying to thin out the rough, removing material and blowing away the clippings before and after mowing. It is a long process but very worthwhile.<br />
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The 8th fairway bunker has bedded in really well and is a much better shape than what it used to be. Given, it is a bit more challenging for golfers but I suppose it is the same for everyone. In the end, all golfers have a choice - either knock your drive over it or lay up. If you knock it in from the tee shot, remember not to do it again!!<br />
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It is of course the club's 40th anniversary year in 2018 and we hope all members are enjoying their golf. The really positive news concerns the club's commitment to investing further in terms of golf course improvements over the next few years. This winter, we will re-build the 8th and 9th greens and this will allow us to provide members and visitors with 9 playable golf greens - year round. It is fantastic news and I will provide further updates as we continue the process of selecting contractors. The planning and execution of this project work is so important. We must get it absolutely right without compromise and the intention is to do just that, providing members with 2 stunning greens complexes to finish out their rounds.<br />
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In the meantime, please enjoy your golf!Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-82350942227502571312018-02-25T04:19:00.000-08:002018-02-25T04:19:29.979-08:00A cold snap to hasten SpringAs I write, we are heading into what is forecast as the coldest week of winter to date. I remember thinking a few weeks ago that we weren't out of winter yet and just maybe there was a final sting in the tail before we reached April. Step forward February!<br />
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The last week or two has actually been quite good, weather wise, and we have all noticed a bit of budding on trees along with snowdrops and other spring bulbs starting to push through. A bit of birdsong has also hinted at an early start. As with March 2017, it may be a false start.<br />
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We had a little snow too in February which halted a very disappointing and wet winter. Our rainfall statistics have made depressing reading. Certainly, many local golf courses have endured a similar plight this winter. Weather patterns indicate wetter, milder winters and certainly a mixed bag in summer. It seems also that Spring starts later every year.<br />
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I think that next winter might be a good time to execute some drainage installation on certain areas on the golf course. Getting playing surfaces returned to something approaching 'dry' is essential, given golfers want to play year round. Drainage certainly won't overcome torrential rainfall - but it certainly won't do any harm either.<br />
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We have recently completed an overhaul of the 2 beds by the putting green. They were looking a little tired, overgrown and unkempt if I'm being honest. Moving into PPGC's 40th year, we thought that giving them both a bit of TLC was the order of the day. A low cost, immediate impact improvement. I managed to snag some lovely lavender from my local Waitrose. I was given some money from Alan Whitty - thank you Alan, and the seniors section - to get a few more shrubs. The 2 others in the bed (above) are Leucothoe scarletta and Berberis 'Tiny Gold'. The contrast of the foliage of the silvery blue Lavender against the crimson/green and yellow of the other two will make a lovely contrast.<br />
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We recently finished off the shuttering around the 11th tee mat to finish this part of path area. It now looks a lot more defined and the path is now wider and, more importantly, drains really well after heavy rain. As you may recall, when we installed a new valve assembly, we put a lot of gravel as a soaraway around this area which used to consistently puddle after rain. Now, it is pretty decent.<br />
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Last week saw the (near) completion of the 1st green side bunker. It has been a really enjoyable winter project to transform a bunker that was always difficult to maintain and to keep looking good.</div>
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The photo above shows it in happier times (dry weather). The photo below shows it at its worst; devoid of decent sand, very poor aesthetically and compromised from a playability perspective - the ball would never gather in the middle of the bunker as it sloped from back to front.</div>
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We also found irrigation pipe running through the middle of the base and so we had to re-route that around the back edge which worked out well, considering the valve assembly needed to be replaced as the wiring was corroded among other things.</div>
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The part of the bunker that has been filled in and turfed has also had a large soak away installed to keep it dry - the soak away actually sits above the drain that will take water away from the bunker and out too the ditch near the 11th tee.</div>
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The above photo is interesting in that it demonstrates how sand splash from years of bunker shots can accumulate and raise the edge of the bunker (light sand on top of dark sandy soil). This became obvious as we were edging the bunker and grading the face & base of the bunker.<br />
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A skimming of path grit should hopefully bind to the clay base and provide a more sterile base that weeds will find hard to colonise. It will also help to stop the bunker sand from migrating into the drain.<br />
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Now that the bunker has been sanded, we just need a few more weeks to allow it to settle. Dare I say it but a bit of rain will help it to compact!!<br />
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We are now progressing with the 8th fairway bunker. That is a little more challenging as it has been pelted with rain and needs a bit more work doing with the drain. That said, a dry week will help us to crack on with it.<br />
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Enjoy your (dry) weekend and hopefully a round of golf too!Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-42719516868685783522018-01-12T12:25:00.002-08:002018-01-12T12:25:30.946-08:00Looking forward to 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are a good week or so into January and we've finally had a prolonged dry spell - the first for quite some time. It has been good to get the greens striped up and at least presented nicely. Granted, they will not be lightning fast but it is the middle of winter and the main objective for now is to maintain play (and good grass coverage) on the greens.<br />
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They have, this week, been verti-drained and this is the first opportunity that the weather has allowed us to do this since our autumn renovation work in September 2017. Don't be surprised that the greens are a bit soft. They've never had much opportunity to dry out since. In the coming months, slitting and spiking will be very useful to keep the greens surfaces dry and to encourage some root growth in preparation for spring.<br />
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It's fair to say that the winter so far has been a little bit naff but hopefully the worst of the rain has fallen and now we can look forward to a bit more sun & wind thrown into the mix. I certainly agree with some members who have suggested that we need to crack on with some drainage improvements. Whilst drainage will not totally solve the problems associated with constant, heavy rain, the alternative of doing nothing is not exactly proactive. I think everyone knows which areas need to be addressed. There is no issue with doing the work - we just need a mini digger and a few more raw materials like gravel & root zone. I stress again, doing the work is not hard. Given the necessary resources, it will get done.<br />
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The green side bunker was one of our winter course improvement projects. As it was, the bunker was pretty dreadful (never pretty, mind) and not an aesthetically pleasing bunker to find oneself in by the 1st green. So we set about reducing the size with a view to creating a nicer shape, in line with our other renovated bunkers. We did however encounter a hitch - the irrigation ring main running straight through it. So, that had to be re-routed and while we were at it, we replaced the drainage pipe too.<br />
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Following this, we had installed a new valve assembly to replace the old, knackered one and this was relocated into the widened path by the 11th tee. Then we just needed to lay the turf to ensure it had a chance to slowly root in before spring. Bunker sand will be added nearer the time and when budgets allow.<br />
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Also, we decided to fill in the 8th green side bunker. It wasn't a great bunker and it was sat in shade all the time - never a great idea if you want the sun to dry out wet sand. So at least this area is now a bit more presentable.<br />
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Lastly, the 8th fairway bunker got a makeover - literally. Before, it was a terrible bunker with zero drainage capabilities and zero redeeming features. I used to cringe whenever I went past it. The real problems though were that it wasn't very prominent from the 8th/17th tees. I think it's important to be able to view hazards from afar. It gives a hole real impact and gives the golfer a better mental picture of how they visualise their shots. The other issue was one of poor aesthetics and an elevated leading edge. Bunkers should gather a wayward shot with the ball feeding into the base.<br />
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To achieve our target, I said to myself "what is it going to look like?". So, I looked at the first bunker on the 3rd fairway and thought, "just like that". Therefore what we did was basically imitate it.<br />
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The contouring around the 3rd fairway bunker (above) served as a model for the 8th, below:<br />
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I do think that we have achieved what we set out to and I also believe that these 2 renovated bunkers will look fantastic once they are completed. I will, of course, post more photos of the continuing progress at a later date.<br />
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To date, we have (woodland work aside) achieved the following from our course master plan over the last 4 years:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Remodelled 12 tees</li>
<li>Remodelled 10 bunkers</li>
<li>Filled in 3 bunkers</li>
<li>Reshaped 3 greens surrounds</li>
<li>Environment Agency flood defence work at 4/7</li>
<li>New permanent winter tee mats at 1, 2, 4, 5, 8</li>
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I think that is a productive 4 years work. Throw the ongoing woodland work and new paths into the pot and we have ourselves a much improved golf course.</div>
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I know that temporary greens are a bugbear. We don't enjoy golfers having to play golf on temporary greens either but sometimes they are a necessary evil. Over the next few years, they will improve. It is like with everything - they will not miraculously get better overnight. This year, they will improve again and with a bit more budget, patience and time, they will be more playable next winter (should we need them).</div>
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James is making great progress with his NVQ Level 2 and he should be qualified in February/March. I have completed a third of the GCMA Diploma in Golf Club Management. Education is important. Golf clubs hopefully recognise that employees who continue their professional development become a greater asset and stay motivated as a result. </div>
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We both hope to see you all on the golf course in 2018. </div>
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Have a great weekend and enjoy your golf!</div>
Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-85430093555487061862017-11-10T14:12:00.001-08:002017-11-10T14:12:55.854-08:00A cooler start to November<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greetings pop pickers.<br />
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We are now over a week into November and at last we are starting to experience some sustained dry weather. It has only taken 4 months (the last full dry week before October end was June!!). Joking aside, the weather since July has been truly abysmal and I was starting to wonder whether the golf course would ever dry out. </div>
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So a few things to catch up on then since the last blog...</div>
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Greens are looking okay heading into winter. We finally got some recovery following the autumn coring and scarifying. As it was so wet and cool in September, the recovery took forever. However, the greens are finally drying out (with the exception of the 9th - a perpetual headache) and going into winter, they look fairly decent. We will try to get a really light dressing to them over the next week or so.</div>
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I did see Ronnie Minshull with a wry look on his face this week as we topdressed the putting green! The issue we had with some greens was that because it was so wet in September, we never managed to topdress the greens and drag in DRY sand. So we couldn't top up all the holes created from the hollow coring. Hence some greens just need a wee bit more. The sand will also help to protect the plant against winter play too (the abrasiveness of the sand should mitigate against spike marks and general foot traffic, particularly when rain is thrown into the mix). Ronnie knows this anyway - and with him being a demon putter, he actually dreams of playing on freshly top dressed greens.</div>
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As is normally the case these days, more trees have been felled following the latest round of chainsaw training on site. And as is normally the case, when the trees have been felled, logged and collected, it doesn't look like anything has been done! Such is the quantity of trees in certain areas on the golf course, a few removed here and there barely scratches the surface.</div>
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However, in some areas (such as between the 1st and 2nd, above top), we really are making great progress. This area is now much improved and can now start to support some maturing trees that will develop correctly. It also continues to remove our leaves burden - a task I find so demoralising and unproductive. I would much rather be carrying out course improvements than dealing with leaves. But, deal with them we will and I hope they will all be fallen soon.</div>
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Many thanks to Tom Frame and John Newns for installing a permanent mat behind the 5th tee. This will serve both 5 and 14 in the winter. Well done fellas, it looks great!<br />
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Recently, we took an opportunity to dig a soakaway in the middle of the 9th green. It presented a chance to work on this problematic green whilst it was closed for play. The top photo shows the base of the green after removing a sand improved rooting layer. Unfortunately, once this was removed, we hit a really wet, compacted heavy clay soil. Not the sort of soil that will drain well or quickly nor will support good root growth.<br />
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In saying that, the photo above at least demonstrates that roots will grow through a verti drain hole. Punching holes in greens, despite the complaints of golfers, does actually draw many benefits. But 12 inches down, we found gravel (unfortunately capped off by clay and then gravel covering another layer of clay. This is probably (and I'm sticking my neck out here) why the green floods during really heavy rain. The water just sits on the surface because the drainage rate is so poor. The photo below shows just how wet it can sit.<br />
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With that in mind, the soakaway was filled with a thin layer of grit before we added 6-8 inches of a sandy root zone (similar to our divot mix). This should at least drain better than what was previously here and provide us with a starting area on which we can expand this work further into the green. It is by no means a quick solution nor a long term solution. However, the alternative is to do nothing and that is in no way proactive.<br />
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We also started something similar at the back of the 8th green. You don't need to see the gory details of the soil below this green to realise why this doesn't drain. I'll give you a clue though; it's a bit like the 9th! </div>
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All we can do is adopt a piecemeal approach to these 2 greens. There is simply not the budget available to do anything bigger or more drastic with either the 8th or 9th green. The compromise is that, during heavy rain, they puddle/flood and we go to a temporary green. Enough said.</div>
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Have a great week and (weather permitting) enjoy your golf.</div>
Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-12901517057639290182017-10-07T03:06:00.004-07:002017-10-07T03:06:43.188-07:00Trees on the golf course <a href="http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/clubhouse/2017-ungated/10-17-ungated/five-things-to-know-about-trees-on-golf-courses.html" target="_blank">http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/clubhouse/2017-ungated/10-17-ungated/five-things-to-know-about-trees-on-golf-courses.html</a>Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-52311040141867068512017-09-15T12:25:00.001-07:002017-09-15T12:25:32.727-07:00September update <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, the weather has been a bit naff. So wet in fact that the autumn renovations have stretched over 3 weeks (when all finished). Really, when working as a team of 2, you need everything to work in your favour to get the work done in a week. We were grateful for the help of Dave Asprey, Colin Riley and John Newns for their assistance. Great work guys!<br />
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The trouble we had was that it tipped it down from 4th September and trying to pull cores out of wet greens is a nightmare. They just don't come out. Dragging in wet sand is just as bad too. So the work really has dragged on because everything has been so stop-start.<br />
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We must get the work done so that the greens are nice and dry (and firm) as we head into autumn and winter. We aim to finish next week.<br />
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One positive to report is that I arranged a demonstration day with Bernhard's. We managed to get the greens mower cylinders re-ground FOC. This saved the golf club about £250-300 which is money that won't be lost out of the budget. Re-grinding is a pricey business (maintaining golf courses is a pricey business but that's the way it is when you're running a business that caters for a luxury hobby such as golf) and to keep greens, tees, approaches and fairways looking in good condition, mower cylinders need to be regularly sharp.<br />
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Regards the weather, it has been a terrible summer in all honesty. The monthly rainfall totals are as follows:</div>
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• January - 51mm</div>
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• February- 79mm</div>
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• March - 84mm</div>
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• April - 18mm</div>
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• May - 46mm</div>
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• June - 99mm</div>
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• July - 81mm</div>
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• August - 75mm</div>
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• September - 94mm (so far)</div>
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Interesting that the wettest month of the year was June with September close behind. It has been a summer of extremes really and I guess warm & wet will become the norm for our summers from now on!</div>
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Many thanks for all volunteers who have assisted this summer with a special nod to Len Dilnutt for getting wet on a rough mower!</div>
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Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-45076446018928140942017-08-04T11:22:00.002-07:002017-08-04T11:40:28.476-07:00The cooler months of summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisHZgifCS6U85i2cI3MSB8q-j6M-3RSOW6pnT10VFqAvEeuoPX6dGR5_EHZDIqKj7biTD9dejFSl6JuaR0mE5IxIsEPPjljql_3r3SUUUT6wcGasI_B7xvmNH8GtlQAvjT8GnK9WffGI/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisHZgifCS6U85i2cI3MSB8q-j6M-3RSOW6pnT10VFqAvEeuoPX6dGR5_EHZDIqKj7biTD9dejFSl6JuaR0mE5IxIsEPPjljql_3r3SUUUT6wcGasI_B7xvmNH8GtlQAvjT8GnK9WffGI/s320/IMG_2495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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As we head into August, we can reflect on a couple of quite wet months; June and July. Rainfall records show that June was easily the wettest month of the year so far. July was third wettest after March. </div>
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So the heady days of May have been replaced by cooler, wetter days. This week, in particular, has been almost Autumn like. Winds and rain have provided a challenging week. However, there has been a noticeable slowdown in growth, understandably so, given the cooler days and nights. Casting worms have been really active too - the 4th fairway, normally quite wet and fertile, has been hammered by worm activity this week.</div>
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Greens are now looking smoother with the poa having stopped seeding. You will notice some anthracnose disease has hit the poa in places. We will overseed these areas with bent grass seed to hopefully fill in any minor gaps (replacing poor quality grass - poa, with something significantly better - bent).</div>
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Complete Weed Control were recently hired to spray fairways and roughs with a selective herbicide. The weeds are now dead, evident from the 2 examples above of dandelion and plantain. The cost of weed control is quite high due to the quantity of product required to cover the whole golf course. However, this operation will ultimately prevent weeds from regenerating in greater quantities in future years.</div>
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It has been nice to spruce up the fairway yardage discs with a well needed jet wash. These products are made from recycled plastic and as such will never rot or break easily. Keeping them clean and trimmed up enhances the golf course. A new set of tee signs has updated our course furniture and is long overdue. They look really sharp and modern. Thanks to John Newns and Tom Frame for their efforts in siting the new tee signs. Some more sponsors should help to repay the investment.</div>
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Elsewhere, Mark has been prominent in the woodland with more chainsaw training. Continued attention to woodland areas is now bearing fruit. Areas that never had grass growth before are now beginning to pick up. In addition, close examination of this essential work shows that the careful selection of trees to be removed has in fact created more space for other trees to flourish. The removal of trees is considered and Mark's expertise in identifying rotten or dying trees helps the golf club to meet the requirements of the Course Masterplan.</div>
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We continue to mow fairways with grass boxes to remove clippings (and reduce nutrient from the soil) so that the fairways stay shorter for longer. This work that started 3 years ago is now starting to click. We are now in the position where certain fairways are growing much slower and this will reduce the need to mow fairways so regularly. Mowing is a big expense - diesel, labour, cylinder re-grinding and replacement of machinery parts are all a considerable burden on the course maintenance budget.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPpRPeZkL1a9e0Y0zXJsaTGbLIUb-VbH11nOYDiYzmbmq0bjsqFqNqsxJYk79Ax9Z51zowpHhvfe9rd8uZSXX2_ZVI1Nt92w1v8XyU2NOJg7YcSYxnowB0odYFwjKEZ_tBOj9XbS-qUE/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPpRPeZkL1a9e0Y0zXJsaTGbLIUb-VbH11nOYDiYzmbmq0bjsqFqNqsxJYk79Ax9Z51zowpHhvfe9rd8uZSXX2_ZVI1Nt92w1v8XyU2NOJg7YcSYxnowB0odYFwjKEZ_tBOj9XbS-qUE/s320/IMG_2506.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We have also purchased a trailed spring tine harrow to help us address dense growth in fairways and roughs. The idea is that the harrow will help to thin out these areas by removing unwanted thatch from the surface. In time, fairways and roughs should start to improve further in regards to playability. We hope that any balls landing in rough shouldn't sit down too much. Broadleaf grasses will also be discouraged. With the removal of thatch, these areas should also firm up more and hold less surface water in inclement weather.<br />
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Well done to James for some stellar tees and approach mowing. He is proud of his stripes and loves mowing these areas, particularly with the brush on the mower. "They look much cleaner and tighter" is his usual remark. Nice to hear!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx00ivBP9azKP7Eak6PFLGt6hzCt7x8O84RcJyBKp1C74HIIOWpXJSIF4nlVQYa3fh86XJQiQvtMQOtrjROZoyrOOXl5UEjjKadlen5kz3qXsXrVUXYt8nPtiAJfMlv7AaBTpowvHFTs/s1600/IMG_2515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx00ivBP9azKP7Eak6PFLGt6hzCt7x8O84RcJyBKp1C74HIIOWpXJSIF4nlVQYa3fh86XJQiQvtMQOtrjROZoyrOOXl5UEjjKadlen5kz3qXsXrVUXYt8nPtiAJfMlv7AaBTpowvHFTs/s320/IMG_2515.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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A small project has seen the weeds sprayed and trimmed down on the bank by the 15th tee. The views of these 2 adjacent holes are really good. However, maintaining a huge bank like this is just not practical due to the severity of the slopes involved.<br />
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This whole teeing area ultimately needs to be redeveloped in the future. It would really make a huge statement for the tees at holes 6 and 15 to be modernised. In their current state, they are not capable of being maintained effectively. The 6th tee, for a par 3 that gets hammered by divots, is way too small. It can never recover from wear because there is not enough room to allow divoted areas to recover.<br />
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The 15th tee has similar issues. The encroachment of trees and the hawthorn hedge to the left of the path renders the left side of this tee unusable (in the same way as the 7th, 8th, 14th and 16th tees. Look closely at the wear (divot) patterns and this tells you everything about the limitations of the aforementioned tees.<br />
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Hopefully in the future, funds will be available to make more efficient use of the current 15th tee site. It would make this hole an outstanding par 3 and allow a redeveloped tee complex to be maintained much more easily.</div>
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I thought it would be nice to sign off with a lovely photo of my daughter Violet. She's an absolute beauty and is doing really well.<br />
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Have a great weekend and enjoy your golf!Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-16430142886915349062017-07-03T12:07:00.002-07:002023-11-21T06:53:13.567-08:00Looking closer at fusarium disease outbreaks <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'd like to communicate some information about disease outbreaks and disease control. It is quite topical because the past week has, due to rainfall and humidity, prompted some fusarium patch (michrodochium nivale) disease on the greens.</div>
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It is important to understand the reasons for an outbreak of disease and a simple but effective diagram is the disease triangle, below:</div>
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Basically, as the diagram demonstrates, disease occurs because a pathogen (fusarium), environmental factors (moisture, humidity, thatch layer etc) and a susceptible host (poa & bent grasses) are present at any particular time. If any of the factors are not present, then disease will not occur. </div>
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For example, it is extremely unlikely that fusarium will occur during hot, dry weather because the disease favours humid, moist conditions. Given, the pathogen will be present at any time and the host (grasses) are always present but without the correct environmental conditions, an outbreak will not occur.</div>
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Fusarium can occur at any time of the year, providing it has favourable conditions to do so.</div>
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Control of disease can be addressed either culturally or chemically.</div>
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Cultural control includes dew removal (mowing, switching, brushing), well timed aeration (grooming, verticutting, scarifying) to encourage a less humid grass surface, regular aeration and topdressing to provide a drier surface, overseeing with grass cultivars that are more disease resistant, thatch removal (scarifying, hollow coring) as disease pathogens inhabit the thatch layer, irrigating only when necessary and fertilising correctly. </div>
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We are aiming, always, to keep putting surfaces DRY. Fusarium requires MOISTURE. Hence why so much of the work over the last 3 years has been targeted towards providing greens that are firmer, less thatchy and drier. Essentially, cultural control forms part of an annual greens maintenance program.</div>
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Chemical control is essentially applying a fungicide to achieve control. It is generally a last resort because it is expensive. The other issue is that, legally, fungicides can only be applied so many times per year and this will generally be determined by government and industry bodies. The product label will specify the maximum number of doses that can be applied in any year. Beyond that, an alternative fungicide (generally with a different active ingredient) will have to be used.</div>
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So it becomes evident that common use of fungicides can become expensive. That is why we first aim to achieve control with sound turf management practices.</div>
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Secondly, we look at the time of year that the disease occurs. Although an outbreak can occur at any time, summer and autumn are not as problematic as winter and spring. This is because of growth. Fusarium is most problematic during winter because there is often very little growth and recovery from grass due to low temperatures. </div>
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Conversely in summer, disease may be present but regular growth will help with disease control because regular mowing will generally remove the affected grass leaves. Importantly, an application of fungicide in the summer will often be wasteful because it too can quickly be removed out of the grass plant by mowing. That is why we are less concerned about disease occurring in the summer as well as the obvious point that applying a fungicide that will give control for 10-14 days in the summer is a complete waste of money. Far better to deploy fungicides during winter time when the grass needs assistance due to lack of growth and recovery.</div>
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As a point of interest, I've included a diagram of the fusarium disease life cycle below. This explains more about using different types of fungicides at different stages of the disease.</div>
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A preventative fungicide approach can be useful, particularly in autumn and winter because it will help to control disease before an outbreak occurs. </div>
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A curative fungicide approach targets disease when it has progressed (stages 2 & 3).</div>
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The use of a fungicide with eradicant mode of action is deployed at stages 4 & 5 when the disease is advanced and causing turf loss. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzPlPx8v0m9P-nednhYtNDmjskTf6eRKo9bGEZ-iwEpTLA2thJNkI1JzqQitjXo1OLXpFThaYAxVubQ5nin-NRrZ5QaS3usftqgjeP7V3r6UW7rgtoOk8dTX4SKmwwCaxnuXYiK6awWo/s1600/Disease-Life-Cycle-01-02-Circled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzPlPx8v0m9P-nednhYtNDmjskTf6eRKo9bGEZ-iwEpTLA2thJNkI1JzqQitjXo1OLXpFThaYAxVubQ5nin-NRrZ5QaS3usftqgjeP7V3r6UW7rgtoOk8dTX4SKmwwCaxnuXYiK6awWo/s640/Disease-Life-Cycle-01-02-Circled.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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What we always have to consider is cost because chemicals are extremely expensive to purchase. With our budget, we cannot afford to be continually spraying fungicides to control fusarium. There is simply not enough money within the budget to do so.</div>
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Secondly, and maybe this is more a moral viewpoint, is that we have to ask ourselves if continuous fungicide spraying is environmentally friendly. To which the only answer is no. Additionally, we have to consider pathogen resistance to repeated use of the same fungicides.</div>
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Just as penicillin has been over prescribed by medical practitioners over the years, causing bacteria to become resistant to it, disease pathogens in turf can develop resistance to over use of fungicides because like everything else that lives, they adapt.</div>
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So, in conclusion, we do not enjoy to see fusarium disease. But as we have a limited budget, we must utilise fungicides sparingly and at the most critical times during the year. If we can achieve control without resorting to chemicals then that is the best outcome financially and environmentally.</div>
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It is a bit like type 2 diabetes which is linked to excess sugar in the diet and insulin resistance alongside other elements of a poor lifestyle. If we stay healthy, exercise regularly, limit sugar consumption then we are less likely to need the last resort (insulin injections). Prevention is better than a cure, as the saying goes. Or, perhaps cultural control is better than chemical control.</div>
Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735197782381077882.post-66375928618401124012017-06-11T11:43:00.002-07:002017-06-11T11:43:48.635-07:00May & June - Chalk & Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIpfBXh31Sv7N-292kgle71gapPRj6ArznBrn-EibIxpVi0oS6fgBZ6d0AnTtkoyk4t_v4U_6U0FwGyUpilWdL0F_CbSNR_JOgHszWkIl4lyTg32tOm2m-M75hly7OYkxHERTQQsQ3D8/s1600/IMG_2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIpfBXh31Sv7N-292kgle71gapPRj6ArznBrn-EibIxpVi0oS6fgBZ6d0AnTtkoyk4t_v4U_6U0FwGyUpilWdL0F_CbSNR_JOgHszWkIl4lyTg32tOm2m-M75hly7OYkxHERTQQsQ3D8/s320/IMG_2425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It must be June as the rain is non-stop. This is the 9th green on Saturday, the supposed Day 1 of the Club Championship. Let us contrast this with May as demonstrated in the photo below<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjrqZFb4cCKzQaD67bOIyJb6-ujQQ9Oke1dH4dz1Nz5jqFfy4YxusRLsi5fMmWU1K_I-PkgoBhYaL_2OYBMxQPKcsw11UgFFQvTd9uBfym8Db7oamKy43v2W5g6tTjuIYTwv7U6YW3HU/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjrqZFb4cCKzQaD67bOIyJb6-ujQQ9Oke1dH4dz1Nz5jqFfy4YxusRLsi5fMmWU1K_I-PkgoBhYaL_2OYBMxQPKcsw11UgFFQvTd9uBfym8Db7oamKy43v2W5g6tTjuIYTwv7U6YW3HU/s320/IMG_2406.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Both months have posed different challenges. But let's start with May and we'll answer a few questions with it too. We followed April (cold nights, frosts, drying winds, very dry weather indeed), with quite a warm, dry May. </div>
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The photo above demonstrates the perimeter of the 4th green. Localised dry spot (LDS) was evident on several greens. I think in the case of the 4th green, several issues played a part in this; thatch dries out quickly in the surface and any roots (from shallow rooted poa annua) suffer without constant water. Warm, drying winds will also contribute to turf deterioration. But what is perhaps a bigger issue - and it is very common on parkland golf courses - is tree roots. Ultimately the height of a tree will indicate the width/extent of the tree roots, and tree roots care little for what is in their way, be that a golf green or a land drain, as long as they are able to access water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qZYF3AbP77BhffnwFhjEGvGGp2rs0h1k8FojgR3mUI7QWJukDjlG2PA4GxDh59eT3eYSgZA9KXXW9Czlpsm3HhI6czapR3fodluaXIwITATWn13ZdCrJH8d_y78x875D9mELzgAE29o/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qZYF3AbP77BhffnwFhjEGvGGp2rs0h1k8FojgR3mUI7QWJukDjlG2PA4GxDh59eT3eYSgZA9KXXW9Czlpsm3HhI6czapR3fodluaXIwITATWn13ZdCrJH8d_y78x875D9mELzgAE29o/s320/IMG_2407.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The photo above with the screwdriver shows a tree root in the collar that is a yard or two from the dry patch on the green. Coincidence? I very much doubt it. Luckily, we are moving in the right direction with large tree removal like what has taken place in the woodland adjacent to the 4th green as shown in the photo below. When turf (and particularly turf on a golf green) is compromised by tree roots then the question is - what is the bigger priority - trees or the golf course turf? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSjU9QPA6ZhdyKCRcUlwUiyZ4tnEaw1GmllfosbQ9lNFu3zreOMkhgby-z6BOEFwbfFxMWVxzNnTw8_qR-vzPJbl64xUQYKgQ9BTZJAD6_UOSjCIJJgsJNnhmalD2AEMgyr_thJIO698/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSjU9QPA6ZhdyKCRcUlwUiyZ4tnEaw1GmllfosbQ9lNFu3zreOMkhgby-z6BOEFwbfFxMWVxzNnTw8_qR-vzPJbl64xUQYKgQ9BTZJAD6_UOSjCIJJgsJNnhmalD2AEMgyr_thJIO698/s320/IMG_2405.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Another question asked recently (related to dry patches on greens) was whether the greens had been irrigated. If irrigation was not being used, then surely the whole green would look dry. The fact that the patches at the 4th green and those seen at the 6th green, below, are surrounded by green turf demonstrates that the problem is localised and is not an irrigation issue. I think that the areas affected on the 6th green are partially due to tree roots but also due to the affected area being on a south facing slope. Let's not also forget that sand based golf greens are also prone to drying out too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qz33vWE0kb8BnN2j71szsT8_-zauv4pEJGJ6jDbdt0hsuIau9Ky0N1CSwnqoWfKYaM3NuLqn7-MwoZPSyP1PtGtawjYI5nchLaVletGdtv1JSrTOU44hEMLio_0V0WAs8o5Fwk7Nlcg/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qz33vWE0kb8BnN2j71szsT8_-zauv4pEJGJ6jDbdt0hsuIau9Ky0N1CSwnqoWfKYaM3NuLqn7-MwoZPSyP1PtGtawjYI5nchLaVletGdtv1JSrTOU44hEMLio_0V0WAs8o5Fwk7Nlcg/s320/IMG_2411.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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At least with the onset of June, these areas are no longer affected. Perhaps if we get a mix of a little rain mixed with a good dose of warm, dry weather then we will be onto a winner!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFSZ7WMZbLGgsbhnXz0X1MWZspLEc56h1rdrDlzopD1OA8ADyeCWUVIC1ME8385pPAumSRMMRjR5zGjiNUwOgSQh2SV6yXSH6kHCxXFoDs5gzTsE2vRTMw8xEnAnjBTtEOIyYXUxt0rk/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFSZ7WMZbLGgsbhnXz0X1MWZspLEc56h1rdrDlzopD1OA8ADyeCWUVIC1ME8385pPAumSRMMRjR5zGjiNUwOgSQh2SV6yXSH6kHCxXFoDs5gzTsE2vRTMw8xEnAnjBTtEOIyYXUxt0rk/s320/IMG_2400.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Other work that has ben carried out includes mowing rough slightly shorter. We are now mowing at 2 inches and this has benefited by making the rough look less patchy, more tight and giving better definition too. Maybe it helps, it being shorter, of helping with recovery shots too. </div>
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We are also looking at other small areas on the golf course that we can improve. The woodland edges near the 7th and 16th tees have been sprayed to knock down weeds and to improve the aesthetics of these areas. A small improvement but that said, it is progress and eventually small things contribute to the aim of continually improving the golf course. </div>
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We are able to present the greens fairly well at the moment but one obstacle we have to overcome during May, June and July are the poa seed heads that are present on the greens. Poa seeds because it is an annual (weeds are annuals and also produce seed heads). The seed heads produced by poa are due to stress (e.g. heat, cold, lack of moisture, lack of nutrient, mowing etc). The problem for golfers is the seed heads can often affect ball roll and give a 'snakey' ball roll. We use a plant growth regulator to tighten up the turf, reduce clipping yields and as top growth is reduced, the seed heads produced by poa sit closer to the surface.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldIK6FR93tD4ihxhBB6KEVeKCjSRnXzEYVI1C0CTxVJS5iOZcmde5O4bhuMj77k5-O6agdlgrX-BslJr9-xayPmN757TgeUA8r3BJbESaVgN3_BqLrDbT5P1F9lVMRrYDC75nME22pSQ/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldIK6FR93tD4ihxhBB6KEVeKCjSRnXzEYVI1C0CTxVJS5iOZcmde5O4bhuMj77k5-O6agdlgrX-BslJr9-xayPmN757TgeUA8r3BJbESaVgN3_BqLrDbT5P1F9lVMRrYDC75nME22pSQ/s320/IMG_2404.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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You can see the white seed heads above and they are very noticeable at this time of year. Often, the greens can look 'white' from a distance. The seed heads will eventually set as seed at the height of summer and will produce future generations of poa annua. Getting rid of this weed grass is next to impossible. It is germinated by seed that is often carried by wind and will germinate anywhere. All it needs is moisture and that is in abundance in the UK.</div>
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As I write, the Club Championship has been postponed due to the heavy rain of Saturday. Hopefully, the course will be drier next time around which should make for more enjoyable golf and enable us to produce slightly faster greens.</div>
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Have a great weekend and enjoy your golf.</div>
Ben Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03469706172997634623noreply@blogger.com0