LINKS REPORT FOR AUGUST 2010
WEATHER
August was a changeable month with variable wind direction, usually light to fresh, and intermittent rainfall with some heavy showers. Average noon temperature was similar to July at 17°C , whilst total rainfall was lower at 39mm
WORK ON THE LINKS
Championship Course
Top Dressing
Teeing grounds were top-dressed early in the month along with green surrounds.
Over Seeding
Greens over seeding was carried out on the 10th & 11th of the month as agreed. Multiple shallow solid –tine holes were back filed in the usual manner with sand, seaweed meal and soil master (a drainage agent) following seed application which was sprayed with the humic acid product Activate ‘R’ to enhance germination. Any holes not completely filled in were topped –up thereafter. Certain greens were treated with thin ‘pencil’ tines to aid hole closure whilst providing additional aeration to the root-zone. All procedures were followed by brushing, mowing and rolling accordingly. Results have been most encouraging. Similar over seeding work took place on green walk-offs, walkways and weak fairway areas, with the inclusion of fine rubber-crumb worked into the holes on walk-offs and walkways.
Turf Repairs
Turf repairs were carried out at the large scoreboard position behind the 16th green along with some seeding. The test hole excavated by Mansell on the public putting green was back filled and turf replaced near the end of the month.
Conditioner Sprays
Conditioner sprays were applied to greens and practice green on several occasions during the month comprising micro-nutrients, wetting agent, liquid seaweed, liquid iron and water acidifier as and where appropriate. Approaches were covered, as were high parts of the fairways, including any weaker growing areas, with liquid ammonia added where required.
Fertiliser
The public putting green and the greens nursery received a liquid feed comprising liquid nitrogen, liquid iron tank mixed with a selective weedkiller. The new turf laid on the early part of the 18th fairway was similarly treated along with certain tees.
Selective Grass- Killer
The selective grass-killer ‘Rescue’ was applied to certain coarse rough areas to remove ryegrass and Yorkshire fog species in particular. Holes involved were 1,4,5,9,10/11,12,15 and 18.
WEEDKILLING
Selective Weedkiller
Selective weedkilling continued round the course generally as required. Greens were sprayed with Mecoprop to control pearlwort.
Total Weedkiller
Total weedkiller was applied to dry ditch bases and on hard standing round the Hotel and Starters’ Box.
Fungicide
Greens and certain teeing grounds were sprayed with a fungicide mix as a preventative to control early signs of dollar spot disease
Bunker Maintenance
Bunker maintenance followed the usual pattern with bunker floors being loosened with the powered bunker rake especially after rains. Certain bunkers were topped –up with fresh sand as required.
Mowing
August was a busy mowing month as usual with the majority of man hours involved in mowing, brushing and rolling playing surfaces throughout the month. Strimming was carried out round the course as was ditch, burn bank and tee bank mowing. Green surrounds were verti-cut in the middle of the month.
Environmental Work
Environmental work during the month included the installation of dog bins around the courses adjacent to the service road network. We now have 20 bins on the Links. Further weed clearance was carried out in the Barry Burn. Three leaning pine trees were felled to the left of the 9th hole on the Championship Course and the stumps turfed over. The brush-killer Trimbel was applied to young broom growth on the Burnside Course and previously burnt gorse was chipped at the 15th hole on this course. Debris was cleared from the T.V. compound at the 2nd hole.
Bob Taylor, head of Ecology and Environment at S.T.R.I. carried out his annual visit to the Links on the 11th of this month.
