LINKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
FOR APRIL 2012
WEATHER
April
was a poor month and a complete contrast to March. Following the record high
temperatures at the end of March we had snow on the 3rd of the month
resulting in a morning closure of the courses! Average noon temperatures were
down 4° on March at 8.5°C and total rainfall of 101mm was 8 times the March
figure of 12.4mm. Winds were variable, light to fresh and sunshine hours were
lower than normal.
WORK ON THE LINKS
CHAMPIONSHIP
COURSE
Greens
The greens were
Hydro-Jected (water injected aeration) with added seaweed at the beginning of
the month and received only bespoke feeding to weaker areas to help encourage
growth during the cold weather.
Greens were
double verti-cut and were brushed on 3 occasions to help refine coarse and
prostrate growth.
As there was
very little growth in general, cutting was only required 3 to 4 times per week
with rolling often taking place in substitution.
Approaches & Surrounds
These areas were
all verti-cut as required and trafficked areas were mini cored and top-dressed.
Selected weaker
areas were fed and the wetting agent and conditioner program commenced.
Fairways
Fairways
received a blanket spray of Ammonia and Iron with weaker areas and bumps also
receiving an extra feed without the Sulphate of Iron.
Bumps and weak
areas were Hydro-Jected with wetting agent added.
Newer turfed
areas were top-dressed.
Tees
All tees
received an application of a granular fertiliser and the Hogan tees were
verti-cut as required.
Roughs
Weak and
trafficked areas were fed with a compound, low nitrogen fertiliser.
Bunkers
Hard bunker
floors were rotovated to loosen them up.
General Work
·
Irrigation
pipe was ploughed into new turf nursery at 5th hole and other minor
irrigation repairs were carried out as required.
·
Commercial
turf was laid on nursery next to practice ground and behind the Golf Centre.
Seeding work also took place around the Golf Centre.
·
Trafficked
areas around the course were midi-tined as required.
·
Public
putting green was solid tined, top dressed, fed and was verti seeded as
required prior to re-opening.
·
Plastic
Grass-Crete was laid on top of turf at gaps in fences behind and in front of 6th
tee, this will prevent these areas from being worn down to the soil each winter
by foot and machine traffic.
·
Golfers
car park behind the Hotel was cleaned up
BURNSIDE COURSE
Turf Conditioners
The wetting agent dispatch was applied to higher spots on fairways
whilst breaker curative or alternative product was applied to tees. The monthly
application of Revolution was carried out early in the month.
Aeration
Greens were solid pencil-tined during the month and fairways star-tined.
Approaches were
midi-hollow-tined followed by top-dressing and brushing. Certain
walk-offs and bridge approaches were similarly treated. Rubber crumb was
applied and brushed in at bridge approaches. Walkways round the course were
verti-drained and fairway high spots hydrojected. Certain greens also received
hydroject aeration.
Top-Dressing
Greens were top-dressed in the middle of the month followed by the usual
brushing-in and mowing. Re-turfed bunker heads were also top-dressed.
Fertiliser
Various areas received a spring fertiliser dressing during the month.
SSD (8-0-0) was used on green walk-offs and a 12-0-9 fertiliser was applied to
certain walk-ways, the new 14th tee and recently re-turfed fairway
areas on the 6th and 13th fairways. Newly turfed bunker
heads were sprayed with a liquid fertiliser (12-0-7) combined with liquid
seaweed. Greens received a 4-0-8 fertiliser late in the month.
Primo-Maxx
The top-growth control product Primo-Maxx was applied to greens as part
of a summer programme on the 13th of the month.
Selective Weedkiller
Selective weedkilling commenced with spot treatment in roughs.
Minor Turf Repairs
Worn-out turf was replaced beside winter mat positions as required and
rabbit scrapes were plugged as required. Gorse stumps to the right of the 4th
hole were removed and turfed over.
Mowing
Greens brushing, mowing and rolling was carried out according to the
slower than normal pick-up in growth. Strimming was undertaken round the course
generally including round sprinkler heads. Fairways, tees, green approaches and
surrounds were mown weekly and semi-rough and selected coarser full rough areas
were mown at the end of the month.
BUDDON LINKS COURSE
Top-Dressing
Greens and approaches were top-dressed in the first half of the month.
2nd Tee
The 2nd tee required renovation following divot damage from
The Dunhill in the main and to a lesser extent The Woman’s British Open last
July. The tee was deep scarified using the Graden machine, hollow-tined and
overseeded followed by top-dressing.
Bunker Maintenance
Bunker maintenance involved brushing new faces, trimming as necessary
and sand shaping in the usual manner.
Conditioner
The monthly wetting agent treatment with Revolution was sprayed on
greens in the middle of the month.
Fertiliser
Fertiliser (4-0-8) was applied to the greens and approaches whilst tees
were dressed with a (14-0-10) fertiliser. Previously re-turfed fairways, i.e. 7th,
9th and 14th were treated with a (12-0-9) product.
Aeration
Solid pencil-tining (8mm tines) was carried out on greens, green
approaches, surrounds and walkways towards the end of the month. Greens were
power brushed along with approaches followed by mowing in the second half of
the month.
Mowing
Greens and approaches were lightly verti-cut towards the end of April.
Mowing and rolling was carried out according to conditions throughout the
month. Semi-rough and certain rough areas were mown at their respective heights
late in the month and strimming was undertaken generally.
Environmental Work
Dr Bob Taylor made his annual visit on behalf of the R & A at the
beginning of the month.
On the Championship course young gorse was planted around the new turf
nursery at the 5th hole and on the burn banking behind the compost
shed. Further Marram grass planting was carried out to the left of the 5th
hole and on the mounds to the left of the 10th.
Young saplings were re-planted on the 6th, 7th
& 16th triangle on The Burnside Course.
Further stump grinding was carried out in this area and some Scots Pines
were planted on the 17th hole close to the service road junction at
the 6th tees.
On The Buddon, gorse was cut out next to the service road to the left of
the 11th hole along with some lower tree branches in preparation for
the re-routed core/path service road. A number of pines were removed to clear
the site for the new 12th green. Further gorse clearance was
required to the right of the new 12th hole line and all cuttings
were stock-piled for burning.
Glyphosate was sprayed over the required areas within the new hole
locations after mowing while soft rush was strimmed back as required to deter
birds. These areas of rush are targeted for transplanting into wetland areas
within the development.
3 members of staff attended a sustainability seminar at St Andrews which
included general waste recycling.
John S. Philp
Links Superintendent
