WEATHER
After another
cold 2-3 weeks at the start of the month the warmer weather eventually blessed
us with its presence in the latter half of May. Despite the cold start to the month
growth was quite even and a good shower of rain every few days supplemented the
sunlight that occurred on the dry but cold days. The last 2 weeks of the month
have seen temperatures increase considerably and again with some welcome rain
has seen the growth become more vigorous on all surfaces.
WORK ON THE LINKS
Prior to the
onset of proper growth it is our aim to encourage growth where necessary to
cope with the increased traffic and allow us to produce consistent surfaces of
good standard. This is achieved by bespoke feeding, brushing, top dressing,
careful water management and by ensuring our cutting and rolling regimes are
adjusted to suit.
In May month
we give careful consideration to the playability of the roughs throughout the 3
courses as it starts to grow properly. It is standard practice for us to cut
some intermediate rough and leave it thereafter so that it can still produce
seed heads, this is what gives a links course its definition. There are some
areas of rough though that we need to cut more regularly, these are areas where
the quality of the grasses is not so fine or where growth is just very thick.
We are very conscious of finding the correct balance of ensuring that the pace
of play is acceptable without compromising the challenge the golfer expects and
the definition of each hole.
CHAMPIONSHIP
COURSE
Greens
The
turf conditioner programmes continued as normal on the greens and they were
also top dressed and hydro-jected. Cutting frequency increased with hand
cutting and/or rolling being fitted in as much as practical to help produce
good surfaces whilst keeping heights up which is good for the health of the
sward.
Other
work
Tees: Hydro-jected and top dressed with the
Hogan tees being mini cored and over-sown also. Selective weed killing
commenced.
Surrounds/Approaches: Traffic routes and walk-offs fed;
wetting agent applied
Fairways: Bumps and weak areas sprayed with mix
of fertiliser, seaweed and wetting agent, one fairway per week top dressed.
General: Removing weeds from burn, shaping
sand in bunkers.
BURNSIDE
Greens
The
greens along with the walk-offs were hydro-jected and were lightly fed and
top-dressed whilst the monthly conditioner programmes continued.
Other
work
Tees,
fairway bumps and walkways fed. Areas of new turf were mini-tined and
top-dressed. Timbrel applied to control growth young broom.
The
15th, 17th and 18th fairways were widened
slightly in odd areas so that areas of thicker rough can be encompassed during
routine rough cutting.
BUDDON
LINKS
Greens
Greens
were fed, top-dressed and sprayed with wetting agent, seaweed and sulphate of
iron. The purchase of new hand mowers has allowed more frequent hand cutting on
the Buddon Links where suitable and possible.
General
work
·
Walk-offs
and weak tees were cored, over-sown, top-dressed and fed as was the practice
green.
·
New
tees were top-dressed
·
Weed
killing commenced on tees, approaches and fairways.
New
holes
The
re-located 12th green opened for play at the start of the month and
is performing very well.
The
two new holes have been receiving intense treatments including feeding, over-seeding,
rolling and top-dressing. Greens, tees, approaches/surrounds, fairways and
semi-roughs are now all being cut regularly with heights decreasing as and when
suitable and now look proper, well defined golf holes.
In
general the new seed is doing very well, at this stage the greens still need to
thicken a little but we are confident that this will be achieved by end of the
summer.
OTHER
INFORMATION
·
The
work to restore the burn wall and bridge at the Burnside Car Park commenced and
is near completion.
·
We
built 3 small bunkers on the entrances to the town at the request of the
Carnoustie Community Council.
STRI Reports
The
Championship Course received its spring agronomy visit on behalf of the R&A
and the Burnside received its spring visit as part of our subscription with the
STRI both from the agronomist Richard Windows. Both courses received very
favourable reports, it is a great credit to the input from all concerned and it
is something both the greenstaff and the organisation can take great pride in
knowing that the work we are carrying out is producing good results. There are
areas we still need to improve on however and we will be looking to make
further gains going forward.
Training
Six
men completed training and testing in various forms of Pesticide Application
(Spraying) whilst 10 of the greenstaff completed a refresher in defibrillator
training.
Retirements
and Appointment
Eric
Watson, our Maintenance Engineer of 25 years retired at the end of May with his
replacement, Sandy McCubbin previously of Monifieth Golf Links, now in
position.
James
Riddell retired after 36 years service on the Links; he is however staying on
as a seasonal through the rest of the season.
Sandy
Reid
Links
Superintendent
7th
June 2013
