Wednesday 29th February 2012

Not long until the start of the season now.

Been a while since my last post so here is a run down off what we have been up to.

Dangerman Jimmy has been out re designing grass heaps for the new golfing year.

At the 10th, more sand was driven in, the area was shaped, tramped and raked and ready for turf.

Back at the base, the tractor shed was getting a facelift. New panels replacing the faded and bashed(probably Jimmy) ones.

Turf arrived from Inturf.

http://www.inturf.com/testimonials/carnoustie-golf-links.html

Areas turfed at the 11th wall,

and down at the trackway

and mounding at the 10th.

Ditch work is still on-going, digging out the gravel/silt and replacing with fresh gravel.

With the mild winter there was not so much heading out divots on fairways this year.

Landing areas at the 3rd, 5th and 7th were given a quick check.

An old road was removed and returfed at the 5th.

We have two different types of bunker sand trialing at the moment on the 9th approach.

http://www.golf.hughking.co.uk/carnoustie-golf-links

The bunkers on the Championship course are all filled with Tay sand which was dredged from the River Tay near Perth. This proccess was stopped nearly 15 years ago now and we are coming close to using up our remaining stock piles. 

You know its nearly the start of the season when you start shaping bunkers.

All fairways top-dressed using just over 200 tonnes of washed dune sand.

Astroturf matting trimmed up.

Mechanics are busy as usual getting all the units ready for the new season.

Monday 13th February 2012

Frustrating weather last week.

Sandy (above) saluting the Queen's Jubilee.

The ground was solid with frost, then things did nt help with the rain.

Gorse maintenance was on the cards for most of the week.

Mobile gorse bushes.

Rain on top of the frost causing course closures.

Plenty of gorse chipping to get on with.

Dangerous Jimmy sorting the road at the dump.

I think the rake on the back window is for safety!!

Ditch being dug out to the left of the 2nd tee.

Handyman Barry washing the Links Espace.

Dangerman was a busy man last week.

Bridge replacements at the 3rd and one at the 5th.

Here he is again getting the Hardi Boss sprayer out of the back of the shed. We are looking to sell this on as we no longer use it.

One of the PowerRangers out for a run.

Tuesday 7th February 2012

Hard frost this week so far, closing the Burnside and Buddon (icy parts on fairways).

The focus the last two days has been on gorse management.

Back to last week, an area of burn bank was dug out at the 11th.

Another two rows of kerb were laid. This week we will drive in some sand upfill and get the area ready for turf.

More sand being driven into the job at the 10th walkway.

Another few days of driving will hopefully see this area filled up and ready for turf. 

A load of turf for the 14th Burnside tee arrived and the Championship team helped roll out the excess at the nursery.

Ditch work continues around the course.

Two new drains installed at the start of 7th fairway.

Hopefully they work.