Friday 20th January 2012

LINKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2011

WEATHER

December was a decent month certainly compared to last year, generally cloudy, with winds again predominantly westerly.  Gale force south westerly winds were experienced on both the 8^th and 28^th of the month.  Frosts were prevalent on 12 occasions and average noon temperatures were near normal at 6.5° C.  Total rainfall for the month was a little below normal at 35mm. 

December was a short month as usual due to seasonal holidays in the final week and the courses were closed for two days (20^th and 21^st) due to rain water lying over frozen ground. 

WORK ON THE LINKS

Championship Course

Fairway Top Dressing

Fairway top dressing continued early in the month when fairways 2,3,5,7,9,10,14,16 and 17 were completed, followed by the usual brushing in. 

Aeration

Verti-drain aeration during the month involved walkways and traffic routes using 1” solid tines while lower lying fairway areas were verti-drained using ¾” solid tines.  Greens were slit-tined towards the end of the month. 

Bunker Revetments

Bunker revetments during the month included:-

1 at 6^th green left hand side

1 at 12^th approach left hand side

1 at front of green 13^th hole.

Grow covers were fitted to certain new bunker faces where appropriate.

10^th Fairway

Work was completed on the fairway side of the burn on this hole with the raising of the lower flood prone section close to the burn followed by returfing.

Minor Turf Repairs

A few minor turf repairs were carried out during the month including the removal of disease scars on the 9^th and 13^th greens.

Liquid Iron Treatment

Greens and green surrounds were sprayed with liquid iron during the month.

17^th Fairway Level Adjustments

Following completion of turf removal, silty soil excavation was carried out, while decent re-usable topsoil was stock piled at the start of the fairway.  Sand was driven in to raise levels, particularly on the left side of the work area.  Sand was also required on the right side of the fairway to match up to the raised burn wall (1 block).  Following topsoil replacement and rotavation, where required, and the usual firming, a cover of fresh root-zone was applied over the area as needed.  Raking over was carried out in readiness for turfing over.

Irrigation System

The old (1985) irrigation water storage tank was carefully dismantled following emptying.  The concrete base was broken up and removed and the underlying pipe work uncovered.  A new sewage waste pipe leading to the septic tank was installed. The fusion-welded 10” pipe connections from the remaining tank feeding the pump house are scheduled for installation.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous jobs carried out included greens rolling, re-shaping bunker sand, salting service roads, paths and bridges and removing the fence round the turf nursery next to the practice ground lake. 

       

 BURNSIDE COURSE

Bunker Revetments

Bunkers reveted during the month included:-

6^th fairway right hand side (2)

7^th greenside right hand side (1)

3^rd green front (1)

18^th greenside right hand side (2)

Burn Bank – 3^rd Hole

Turfing on the burn banking above the stone filled gabions was completed early in the month and the boundary fencing was replaced.

Bunker Infilling

The bunker on the 8^th fairway was infilled and turfed over as arranged during the month.

Aeration

Teeing grounds were verti-drained using ½” diameter tines while the semi roughs to the 6^th hole were verti-drained with 1” diameter tines fitted.  Fairways were slit-tined to a depth of 4” with the Ryan Renovaire aerator.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous jobs carried out during the month included screening sand, spreading salt round the Starters’ Box, car park and service roads, cut and roll greens, blow pine needles from the 3^rd, 5^th and 16^th greens and place new, mobile framed tee mats at the 9^th, 14^th and 16^th tees.

BUDDON LINKS COURSE

Bunker Revetments

Bunkers revetted during the month included :-

7^th greenside (3)

9^th greenside (2)

Drainage Works and Ditch Clearance

The concentration of course work during December was on drainage installation and ditch base excavation to improve water flows. 

Ditches bases on the 5^th, 6^th and 12^th holes were lowered to suit appropriate runs using a laser, while trenches were excavated for wavin-coil drainage-pipe installation across the 10^th approach and southwards to run into the ditch behind the 13^th green; across the front and across the rear of the 9^th green, both of which were connected to the previous 6” main pipe installation running down through the trees to the left of the 7^th hole and on alongside the 8^th tee. 

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous jobs carried out included; shaping sand in bunkers, building tee-mat frames, blowing debris from certain greens and cutting and rolling greens. 

Environmental Work

Gorse was cut back around the 1^st and 15^th greens; right hand side of the 7^th and 9^th holes; left hand side of the 8^th; the 12^th carry; around the 12^th and 17^th greens; at the 5^th tee and right hand side of the 6^th hole and left hand side of the 12^th all on the Championship Course.  Broom growth was strimmed close to ground level in heather banks on the 8^th. 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 14^th and 15^th holes on the Burnside Course. 

A number of trees were blown down on both the 8^th and 28^th of the month.  These included three to the left of the 9^th hole and three behind the 9^th green / 10^th tee as well as a large branch from a pine behind the 13^th green, all on the Championship Course.  Several fallen trees were cut up to the left of the 16^th hole on the Burnside Course while fallen trees on the 6^th and 7^th holes of the Buddon Course were cut up and removed also.  Lower limbs of birch trees on the 7^th hole along with degenerate gorse behind the 8^th tee were removed on this course.  All arisings from such work were chipped or logged in the usual manner. 

John S. Philp

Links Superintendent