Summary of works
January has almost passed with very little rainfall as at the time of writing. The average temperature across the month of January was 30 degrees, with strong winds exacerbating the issues caused by the lack of rain.
The forecast for Spring and Summer was for ABOVE average rainfall which hasn’t materialised.
- Spring 2017 – Rainfall 135mm (Average 236mm)
- December 2017 – Rainfall 55mm (Average 80mm)
- January 2018 – Rainfall 25mm (Average 225mm)
- February 2018 – Rainfall ? (Average 92mm)
The course is feeling the dry. While the greens and tees are the priority, the fairways had their water turned off at the start of December due to low dam levels.
The greens are going well considering the summer heat. Unlike last year, they are currently disease free and have been all season, but are starting to feel the effects of a long dry, hot Summer and an increase in traffic.
We had a stump grinding company come in and remove 11 stumps from around the course. There are another 27 out there, and during the cooler months we hope to get them back. Thank you to Sam Knox for your help on this project.
The work on the 17th green surrounds project is continuing. We don’t get a lot of time to do projects during Summer, due to trying to keep the place alive, but we will continue when we can. The left side is complete and looking good. The back is also finished once the pile of soil is removed. On the right hand side, now the stumps are removed we will build a slight mound to cover tree roots e.t.c with fresh clean fill which we hope will provide a good bed to grow turf on. We have added more sprinklers to this area and endeavour to keep water up to this area. The bunker on the R.H.S has been redrained and new sand will be added.
Works undertaken during January
Greens
- Verti-drained greens twice this month 3 weeks apart to relieve compaction and to help in the aid of fighting disease and summer decline, as well as allowing water to penetrate the surface. We use 8mm tines which go 100mm deep.
- Applications of fungicide targeting Pythium prevention. 4 applications were put out.
- Applications of fungicide targeting Anthracnose and dollar spot prevention. 4 applications were put out.
- Applications of kelp products to aid in root development and disease resistance. 2 applications were put out 3 weeks apart.
- Applications of wetting agent to aid in water penetration, to dry thatch layer and help roots to search for deeper moisture. Applications applied every 2 weeks.
- Applications of gypsum applied directly to the plant, every 2 weeks.
- Applications of gypsum applied directly to the soil, every 3 weeks.
- Application of soluble fertiliser to aid plant health, every 3 weeks.
- Application of soil conditioner.
- Application of Magnesium.
- Application of insecticide.
- Greens are currently getting cut at 4mm, 4 times a week (most weeks during summer)
- Greens are currently getting rolled twice a week (most weeks during summer)
- Holes get changed 5 times a week.
- Surrounds
- Surrounds are cut twice a week at 15mm.
- Apron cut around the green is at 6mm and done once a week.
- Surrounds were sprayed with insecticide.
- Green side sprinklers trimmed
Tees
- Tees cut twice a week at 15mm
- Application of liquid kelp fertiliser applied once a month
- Application of wetting agent applied once a month
- Tee sprinklers trimmed
- Tee markers moved everyday
Fairways
- Application of growth regulator to all irrigated fairways and some others.
- Application of kelp fertiliser to all irrigated fairways.
- Fairways cut once a week at 18mm.
- Fairway sprinklers trimmed
Bunkers
- All bunkers had the bobcat in them to loosen up the sand with the teeth of the bucket
- 20 bunkers were recognised for needing sand in them. 33 tonne of bunker sand was put out across those 20 bunkers. Levelling and addition of sand is always an ongoing project, due to high winds, irrigation and golfers.
- All bunkers were edged and the grass edges were sprayed with a growth retardant.
- All bunkers are raked fully 3 times a week and on Saturdays all foot prints are raked out by hand.
- Partial renovation of 17th RHS bunker including new drainage and installation of new sand
Rough
- Rough cut when needed.
- Try and cut around Tees and Greens once a week.
Irrigation / Dams
- Dam water tested once a month for Salt / Sodium levels. 2nd dam clear, 15th dam empty
- Foot valve on the pump at the 2nd dam broke between Christmas and New Year (of course) Pumps were down for a week while we could find a new one.
Staff
Course Superintendent: Mr David Nicholls
Assistant Superintendent: Mr Craig Coleman
Senior Greenkeeper: Mr Mathew Smith
Greenkeeper: Mr Shaun Hill
Groundsmen: Mr Darren Orchard and Mr Peter Ceaser
All work, Course Construction, Machinery setup and repair, Irrigation installation and repair as well Club house maintenance is done in house with the help of F Troop.
Works Planned for February
Greens
- Verti-drain greens
- Applications of fungicide targeting Pythium prevention.
- Applications of fungicide targeting Anthracnose and dollar spot prevention.
- Applications of kelp products to aid in root development and disease resistance.
- Applications of wetting agent to aid in water penetration, to dry thatch layer and help roots to search for deeper moisture.
- Applications of gypsum applied directly to the plant.
- Applications of gypsum applied directly to the soil.
- Application of soluble fertiliser to aid plant health.
- Application of soil conditioner.
- Application of Magnesium.
- Application of insecticide.
- Greens cut at 4mm, 4 times a week.
- Greens rolled twice a week.
Surrounds
- Surrounds will get cut twice a week at 15mm.
- Apron cut around the greens at 6mm and done once a week.
- Surrounds sprayed with insecticide.
- Green side sprinklers trimmed around
Tees
- Tees cut twice a week at 15mm
- Application of liquid kelp fertiliser applied once a month
- Application of wetta soil applied once a month
- Tee sprinklers trimmed around
- Tee markers moved everyday
Fairways
- Fairways cut once a week at 18mm.
Bunkers
- All bunkers will be edged and the grass edges will be sprayed with a growth retardant.
- All bunkers will be raked fully 3 times a week and on Saturdays all foot prints will be raked out by hand.
Rough
- Rough cut when needed.
- Plan to cut around Tees and Greens once a week.
Irrigation / Dams
- Dam water tested once a month for Salt / Sodium levels.
- Dams will hopefully be full.
- Excavator will be brought in clean out vegetation in dams on the 2nd, 3rd and 10th holes
Other
Finish the 17th hole project.
February / March are normally the hardest months of the year, so our main focus will be on the greens, and getting them over the line and into the March renovations.