LINKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT FOR JUNE / JULY 2011
WEATHER
June was a changeable month with a variable airflow and light to fresh winds. Average noon temperatures were near normal at 15.5 ° C whilst total rainfall was a little above average at 68 mm.
July was a wetter month still with a total of 92 mm. An easterly flow was dominant during the month, mostly light. Average noon temperature was on the low side at 16.5 ° C.
WORK ON THE LINKS
Championship Course
Ecologist’s Visit
Mr R Taylor from S.T.R.I. carried out his annual ecological visit on 6 June and his report has been forwarded.
Weedkilling
Selective weedkilling continued over the two months in particular to certain roughs, fairways and bunker tops. Total weedkiller was used around the Starters’ Box, Hotel and Public Putting Green.
Golf Centre Site Work
A good deal of man hours were involved in preparatory work and subsequent turfing around the new golf centre in both June and July. The mounding on the west side of the building, encompassing the disabled access to the viewing platform, was laid in early June and included sea buckthorn and marram planting and grass-crete plastic pathway sections. Turfing continued along the front of the building, followed by the original 1st tee and the east and south sides as far as was practical in conjunction with the build for The British Women’s Open. Quarry dust was also placed as required around the Media Centre. The gas main supply trench from the 1st tee towards the Golf Centre was also turfed at this time.
Bunker Repairs
Minor bunker wall repairs were carried out on greenside bunkers on the 5th and 7th holes.
Fungicide
Further fairy ring control treatments were carried out in June and July using asoxystrobin both as a blanket spray and selectively in conjunction with wetting agent.
Greens were sprayed with a preventive fungicide, Instrata, in the middle of July along with a dew control product, Dew Clear.
Top Dressing
Greens were top dressed twice during June with a further light dressing in the first half of July. Green approaches and surrounds were top dressed early in June. Previously extended fairway sections (i.e. 5th, 6th and 7th holes) were hollow-tine cored, overseeded and top dressed in June.
Mowing
The usual intense summer mowing regime involving hand mowing of greens whenever possible continued through both months to playing areas with the inclusion of fairway verti-cutting at the end of June. Local areas of coarse grasses were strimmed accordingly.
Aeration
Certain greens were solid-tined early in June whilst all greens received hydroject aeration with liquid seaweed added in early July.
Bunkers
Bunker floors required cultivation on a number of occasions following heavy rains during the two months. Sand topping up was carried out as required.
Greens Rolling / Brushing
Greens rolling / brushing was carried out in conjunction with mowing as required.
Conditioner Treatments
A number of turf conditioner treatments were carried out over the two months, primarily to greens which included wetting agent, liquid iron, a range of micronutrient products, including liquid seaweed, as well as a dew control product and water conditioner application in June.
Green approaches and surrounds along with walkways , relaid turf areas, fairways and teeing grounds were sprayed with a tank mix comprising wetting agent, liquid iron and liquid nitrogen when appropriate. Any localised ‘stressed’ patches of turf on greens were treated with a specific wetter, Aqueduct, early in June.
Primo-Maxx
The top growth retardant, Primo-Maxx was applied twice in June as part of the ongoing programme.
Fertiliser
Certain weak areas including walk-offs were fertilised early in June.
Greens received a summer fertiliser treatment in the middle of June with the usual ingredients of dried blood, hoof and horn and iron sulphate. New turf on the 11th and 18th fairways were given a light dressing of an 8-0-0 fertiliser while the greens nursery was covered with 14-0-10 fertliser application. In the third week of July, certain weak spots on greens were sprayed with a liquid nitrogen and micronutrient mixture.
Women’s British Open
The course was prepared for this main event of the year in a very similar manner to last year’s Seniors Open. Tournament mowing arrangements and general course set up procedures were trial run on the Wednesday and all went smoothly through the event. Back up equipment from Toro suppliers Lely came in very useful and the staff performance was exemplary and even extended to manually hauling a search buggy out of the Barry Burn.
Burnside Course
Aeration
Greens were solid tined early in June followed by teeing grounds late in the month and approaches in early July. Drier greens were pencil tined while selected greens received hydroject aeration at the end of July.
Weedkilling
Selective weedkilling continued on tees, fairways and semi rough areas as required. Total weedkiller was applied round the Starters’ Box, the Maintenance Buildings and Burnside Car Park.
Finishing Work – New Tea Shop
The ground was prepared around the new building following building clear up. Sand was imported to provide suitable levels and the areas prepared in the usual manner prior to turfing over. Steps at the northern end of the building were installed to combat the difference in existing levels and gravel was spread in the adjacent soak away area.
Bunker Maintenance
Bunker maintenance followed the usual pattern with faces blown, edges trimmed, and sand shaped as required. Bunker floors were loosened accordingly following heavy rains in both months.
Top Dressing
Greens were top dressed in late June as were fairways following brushing and mowing.
Conditioner Treatments
Greens were sprayed with wetting agent, liquid seaweed and liquid iron on both months. Approaches were treated with wetting agent and liquid seaweed in a similar fashion. Tees were sprayed with wetting agent in June and July.
Fertiliser
Most fairways were sprayed with a seaweed, nitrogen and potash product in June.
Certain weak areas including the new 15th tee received a fertiliser dressing while greens were treated with the organic based fertiliser TX10. A 14-0-10 fertiliser was applied to the rough on the right side of the 18th hole.
Verti-Cutting
Approaches were verti-cut during June and greens in the middle of July.
Marram Planting
Marram grass was planted on the 15th tee bank.
Waterlogging
The 3rd hole was closed on the 7th and 8th of July following heavy rains. Standing water was subsequently pumped back into the burn from the area yet once again.
Overseeding Greens
During the closure week at the end of July, greens were solid tined, overseeded and top dressed followed by the usual brushing in.
Buddon Links Course
Top – Dressing
Greens were top-dressed twice during June in the usual manner.
Turf Repairs/ Planting
The re-routed irrigation pipeline which now goes round the Golf Centre was tidied –up and turfed over. A flood prone area in front of the 9th green was raised slightly and re-turfed following the introduction of fresh sand. Sea buckthorn was planted behind the 11th green and marram grass was planted in the new mounding behind the 17th green.
Aeration
Greens were pencil-tined in both months followed by rolling. Drier tees were similarly treated.
Overseeding
Certain “half-greens” involving the 16th,9th,10th,6th and 5th were tined and overseeded followed by top-dressing during July. The practice tee was similarly renovated as required.
Weedkiling
The weedkilling programme continued with clover the main target in playing areas including the practice ground.
Mowing
The mowing regime was in full force throughout both months as normal. Rolling and brushing was carried out in conjunction as required and greens were verti-cut in June.
Fungicide
Greens were sprayed with fungicide in late July for disease control.
Fertiliser
A 12-0-9 fertiliser was applied to the 2nd tee and previously relaid fairway areas early in June.
More recent new turf areas were treated with TX10, an organic based fertiliser.
Bunkers
Bunkers were affected by heavy rains as per the other courses requiring bunker floor cultivation as the weather dictated.
Localised Flooding
Standing water was pumped from local areas on holes 6, 7, 9, 10 and 14 on more than one occasion.
Conditioner Treatments
Wetting agent was sprayed on greens as was a tank mix of liquid seaweed and liquid iron towards the end of June.
‘Rescue’ Treatment
Patches of ‘Yorkshire Fog’ were treated with the gramminicide ‘Rescue’ on certain green collars in June.
Temporary Arrangement
The first hole was closed from the 4th of July and from the 11th, the 16th hole was split into two to provide 16 holes up to the tournament week.
Environmental Work
Environmental work included ditch clearance and spraying Timbrel on mare’s tail on the left hand side of the 6th and 18th holes. The burn wall was cleaned and the base cleared of weed on the 17th, 18th and 1st holes.
John S Philp
Links Superintendent
