LINKS SUPERINTENDENT REPORT FOR APRIL 2013
WEATHER
The
first half April continued where March left off with below average daytime
temperatures (9oC) and plenty of strong, cold easterly winds. The
second half of the month improved slightly with temperatures increasing (11oC)
and some welcome rainfall (on 6 days).
WORK ON THE LINKS
Due
to limited growth the targets for April month are to stimulate growth where
possible (greens and newly laid turf especially) by fertilising and top
dressing and to get the greens as smooth and consistent as possible coming out
of the winter via top dressing, brushing, rolling and cutting when necessary.
The
work to replace the control network for our irrigation system continued
although not without few a few problems resulting in the installation of new
cabling in many places. This work is expected to continue through May although
any disruption on the courses will be minimal.
CHAMPIONSHIP
COURSE
Greens
The
greens received a home mixed granular fertiliser once soil temperatures had
risen suitably; they also received their monthly applications of Wetting Agent
and Seaweed.
Towards
the end of the month Hydro-ject work commenced where by water is injected into
the soil profile. This is a superb method of aeration as it is non-disruptive
to the surface yet creates small channels in the soil profile which helps
provide deeper rooting. Seaweed is normally also injected with the water which
again is great for stimulating root growth.
General
work
·
Approaches
and surrounds receive an application of wetting agent, fertiliser and sulphate
of iron
·
Tees
and weak/trafficked areas all received granular fertiliser as required and all
new turf received a liquid application of fertiliser
·
Minor
turf repairs to winter damaged areas and rabbit scrapes were carried out as
required
·
Newly
formed tight turf to rear right of 9th green was cored, top-dressed
and fed
Other
work included:
Cleaning
weed from burn; adding slabs under gravel in ditch alongside 9th/12th
and 10th tee; installing slabs alongside current ones on path up to
practice nets; installing old astro-turf at entrances through fence and
alongside grass clipping bays; strimming mounds and sea lyme as required.
BURNSIDE
Greens
The
monthly program of wetting agent and seaweed commenced at the start of the
month then were fed with a compound fertiliser and top dressed later in the
month.
General
work
·
Approaches
received an application of wetting agent
·
New
turf and the low areas of the 3rd & 4th fairways were
top dressed
·
Young
broom in the heather areas of holes 10, 11, 12 & 14 was cut
·
Newly
turfed traffic routes had rubber crumb applied to surface to help improve wear
tolerance
·
Fairways
brushed prior to their first cut
·
Trafficked
rough between 2 & 4 was verti-drained
·
The
astro-turf mat in front of the 3rd tee was removed and turfed over
whilst the silt in the neighbouring hollow was removed prior to the area being
oversown
·
Minor
turf patching took place on the 3rd and 11th holes
BUDDON
LINKS
Greens
The
green received an application of wetting agent and seaweed and were also top
dressed.
General
work
·
Tees
and new turf was top dressed
·
Selective
feed on tee’s and traffic routes
·
Fairways
brushed prior to first cut
·
Minor
turf repairs as required
·
Sand
from strong easterly winds blown from beach was removed from tented village
area to left of 1st hole
·
Assisting
on Championship Course with Irrigation update
New
holes
New
turf on current 12th (new 10th) hole was fed and top
dressed in preparation for its full opening in May. Once opened there will be
GUR on both sides of the hole where the seeded areas still have to develop.
All
the seeded areas on the new 11th and 12th holes were fed
with a controlled release fertiliser early in the month to aid development. The
greens and fairway received their first cut and were over seeded where
required.
A
light application of Glyphosate (a systemic total weedkiller) was made to the
majority of the new 12th fairway in a bid to control the ingress of
annual meadow grass as it is an undesirable grass especially on new turf.
Turf
Nursery
Three
quarters of the turf nursery alongside the contractor’s compound was turfed
with commercial turf.
Training
As
we are usually waiting for the grass to grow and with it being the start of the
staff holiday entitlement for the year (they never take them at the start!),
April is a good month for providing training for the greenstaff. This month we
had men receiving training in/on:
·
Digger
·
Forklift
·
Tractor
·
Spaying
·
Abrasive
wheel and Stone cutter
·
Fire
Extinguisher use
I
also arranged for Grant Moir, the R&A’s Director of rules and Course
Set-up, to conduct a presentation to the staff on course set-up and on ruling
issues that we should be aware of whilst managing the golf courses.
Sandy
Reid
Links
Superintendent
3rd
May 2013
