LINKS SUPERINTENDENT REPORT FOR MARCH 2013
WEATHER
We
experienced one of the coldest March’s on record with an average daytime
temperature of less than 3oC due to an extended period of cold
easterly winds. We had snow which lay on the course on 6 different occasions
and experienced a few hard frosts. It was also a very dry month with only one
day where any rain was recorded.
GENERAL POINTS
The
target on all 3 courses was to complete the winter work program and to get them
ready for the start of the new golfing season. Due to the wetter weather
earlier in the winter in meant that although all the winter projects were
completed in time we were still turfing during the last week on March meaning
that this turf hasn’t had the usual amount of time to take root and establish
prior to the season resulting in a few of these areas being marked as G.U.R for
a few weeks until such time as the turf has established and any gaps have
filled in.
The
greens on all 3 courses are looking and performing better than expected for
this time of year and because of the cold winds and dry weather the surfaces
are firm and the grass is very fine in texture resulting in very quick greens,
indeed they have been similar all winter. Although we strive to maintain the
surfaces like this throughout the year I just want to make the point that once
the temperature starts to rise, especially from late April through to mid June,
the growth naturally becomes more vigorous and the grass leaf becomes juicier
which will most likely result in slower greens than at present even though
cutting heights will be lowered and the rollers will be used on a regular
basis.
Irrigation
Update
Towards
the end of the month we also commenced the work to install the new operating system
for our irrigation network which involved digging up over 500 sprinklers on the
Championship Course to carry out some rewiring and installation of new decoders.
Once completed we will be the first facility in the world to have Hunter
Irrigation’s latest control system, this will allow us to reduce run times,
ensure the system is being used as efficiently as possible and give us a more
accurate account on the actual amount of water we use.
WORK ON THE
LINKS
CHAMPIONSHIP
COURSE
The
greens received an application of liquid seaweed early in the month to assist early
season plant health and promote root growth. The monthly program of wetting
agent and conditioner commenced during the last week of March as well as them
being brushed, cut and rolled.
Winter
Works
·
Bunkers
revetted at the 5th, 10th, 14th, 15th,
16th and 17th holes
·
Area
of rough between 10th and 11th holes contoured and turfed
·
Bridge
and burn wall work at the 1st and 17th holes
·
Slab
work next to the 1st tee
·
Plugging
divot scars from 3rd and 8th tees
·
Young
gorse planted between the 12th forward tee and the 7th
tee of the Burnside
Other
work
In
preparation for the new season trafficked roughs were brushed, fairways were
top dressed, bunkers were topped up with our new bunker sand (from Hugh King
Quarry, Ayrshire), new yellow tee stones were installed and traffic routes
around greens were solid tined with rubber crumb being worked into the holes.
BURNSIDE
The
greens received a foliar nutritional conditioner spray at the beginning of the
month to take advantage of any heat and sunlight we received and they were also
given a light top dressing.
Winter
Works
Bunkers
were revetted on the 6th, 7th and 13th holes,
traffic routes were verti-drained, turfing was completed on the 3rd/4th
holes where bridge and contour adjustments had been made and previously agreed
tree thinning took place to the left of the 7th hole.
Other
work
Fairways
were top dressed, bunkers were topped up, young birch trees planted on mound to
right of 4th fairway and strimming new broom growth between 10 and
11 took place in preparation for chemical control.
BUDDON
LINKS
Greens
were star tined (8mm), received a top dressing, and were brushed, cut and
rolled prior to being fed with a low nitrogen compound fertiliser. Tees were
verti-drained, walkways were slit tined and the young trees to the right of the
13th holes were strimmed around to control the thick vegetation.
Other
Work
·
The
turfing on and around the 5th tee was completed and odd turf repairs
were also carried out as required
·
Fairways
and new turf area were fed using a processed chicken litter fertiliser
·
Pot
holes on the boundary road were filled up using a mixture of sand/soil/stone
which had arisen from jobs on all 3 courses
·
The
Buddon team were also very involved throughout March assisting the Burnside
with verti-drain and turfing work and also with the irrigation work on the
Championship.
New
Holes
Richard
Windows from the STRI made his final official visit as part of the new holes
project and gave us recommendations on nutritional inputs for the coming season
with a target of having them playable for the start of next season. It will be
a fairly intense program whereby the new holes will almost require a member of
staff to be working on them full time to carry out all the required work. It
will also mean a sizeable increase in the amount of fertiliser we will need to
purchase; this will hopefully be covered within the current Course Maintenance
Budget
Iron
Play Area
The
area to the south of the main practice area (junior area) has now been set up
as an Iron only practice area where players can hit from turf to a distance of
approx 230yds. Play is from East to West and access to it is by foot along the
new path to the left of the practice ground.
TRAINING
Craig
Boath and Allan Begg attended a one day course in Rabbit and Mole control
organised by one of our suppliers.
Sandy
Reid
Links
Superintendent
4th
April 2013
