LINKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
FOR NOVEMBER 2011
WEATHER
Although mostly cloudy, November was milder than usual with an average
noon temperature of 11.5 °C. Slight
frost was experienced on only 2 occasions and winds were generally westerly
with an easterly flow dominating the second week of the month. Rainfall was a little below normal at 47mm
WORK ON THE LINKS
Championship Course
The mild weather conditions meant for good progress in the “Winter
Works” programme and the two week course closure was fully utilised.
Aeration
Aeration work focussed on verti-drain treatment firstly on greens using
8mm solid tines with medium heave followed by green surrounds, teeing grounds
and certain roughs using 13mm tines.
Near the end of the month verti-draining was commenced on walk-ways
using 19mm tines. Access routes to the
works on the 7th hole were verti-drained on completion.
Bunker Revetments
A good number of bunker revetments were carried out during the month and
included the following:-
2 on the 2nd fairway right hand side
1 at the second greenside right hand side
1 on the 3rd fairway (central at ditch)
2 on the 4th fairway right hand side
1 at the 4th greenside right hand side
5 on the 5th hole
1 on the 9th fairway right hand side
2 at the 9th greenside
1 on the 10th fairway left hand side
2 at the 10th greenside left hand side
3 on the 14th fairway left hand side
1 on the 18th fairway right hand side (Miller’s)
7th Hole
Re-Positioned Bunker / Fairway Section Raising
Work commenced at the start of the month lifting turf in the area of the
new right hand bunker position in conjunction with the adjacent poor fairway
section. Re-usable turf was stored
nearby while most of the fairway top-soil was stock-piled on site. Clean sand was transported to the site to
raise levels (8"–10") whilst the new bunker was constructed and
surrounding contours merged into the adjacent mound. The inner bunker head was lowered and the
original bunker position infilled to suit before turfing over. The salvaged top-soil along with fresh
root-zone mix was spread over the raised fairway section which was re-turfed
with material from the 17th fairway along with the salvaged turf
from the site.
Top-Dressing
The 9th green was top-dressed at the beginning of the month
following the scheduled hollow-tining.
At the end of the month conditions allowed for a commencement to fairway
top-dressing involving the 1st, 4th, 11th and 15th
fairways, followed by the usual brushing-in.
Iron Sulphate
A dressing of iron sulphate was applied to greens and approaches in the
middle of the month.
Fungicide
Greens received a fungicide application during the month with liquid
seaweed and a dew prevention product added to the tank.
Turf Repairs
Several turf repairs were carried out during the month. Rye grass was “headed” out from the 1st
, 2nd and 15th green surrounds, whilst Yorkshire fog
patches were similarly replaced on the 12th and 13th
greens. Turf repairs were undertaken in
the hollow to the right of the 14thgreen and on the track to the right of the
17th green. Patching was also
carried out at certain bridge crossings.
Imlay Bridge / Raising Burn
Walling – 10th Hole
Work continued to complete the new bridge with coping stone and the
laying of stone slabs on the walking deck.
Walling was also completed by the end of the month on the vehicle bridge
on the left had side of the hole following the laying of a 6 inch concrete
screed on the decking. After the removal
of the existing turf along the front and right side burn bankings of the 10th
approach sand was driven in to raise these banks as arranged. Two layers of used kerbs were laid to raise
the right side walling to suit the bridge and new banking heights while one
layer of blocks was laid on the 10th fairway side of the burn wall,
again to suit new surrounding levels.
Following the usual preparatory work suitable turf was re-laid to cover
the raised bankings. Work on the fairway
side of the burn is ongoing with the aim of removing the poor quality existing
turf and raising the low lying section therein, to allow flood waters to return
to the burn effectively.
Island Fairway – 17th
Hole
Turf from the start of this fairway was cut and removed, some of which
was used at the 10th approach.
18th Greenside
Flooding
Flood water from the burn overflow was pumped from the left surround of
the 18th green on Monday 28th of the month. Silt removal was also required from greenside
bunkers.
Visit to King’s Quarry-
Kilwinning and Royal Troon
Myself, S. Mitchell, C. Boath, P. Atkins, G. Lowe and S. Kerr visited
King’s Sand Quarry at Kilwinning, our top-dressing sand suppliers, on the 17 of
the month, for a tour of their very impressive facility. We then went on to visit Royal Troon, which
was a first for the staff present, where we were shown round by Course manager
Billy McLaughlin.
BURNSIDE COURSE
Aeration
Greens and approaches were verti-drained during the month followed by
rolling. A start was made to verti-draining
walkways at the end of the month. Greens
were slit-tined also as were the 12th and 15th fairways.
Fungicide
Fungicide was applied to greens in the middle of the month as a
preventative measure.
Iron Sulphate
Greens were treated with an iron sulphate dressing at the end of the
month.
Bunker Revetment
The only bunker revetment carried out in November was that in the middle
of the 12th fairway.
6th Fairway –
Raising and Re-Turfing
This work on the 6th fairway section nearest the greens was
the main concentration of the workforce during the month. Re-usable turf from the area (1300 sq mts)
was laid out for future requirements.
Some poorer turf was re-laid behind The Golf Centre and on the burn bank
at the 3rd hole. The existing
dark layer was excavated to clean sand and was placed in a low section within
the adjacent tree plantation, awaiting future finishing for a prospective
wildflower sown out area under the “Operation Pollinator” project. Following base rotavation clean sand was drive-in to raise the area some
7"–10" above original levels.
Following the usual firming and shaping seaweed meal and pre-seeder
fertiliser was raked into the surface prior to turfing over at the very end of
the month.
Greens
Greens were hand cut and rolled as required to fit in with verti-drain
and aeration during the month.
3rd Hole – Bridge
and Banking Re-Instatement
The bridge decking was laid on the strengthened railway line understructure
which has been repositioned nearer the cycleway/ service road than before. 6' wide concrete decking was used in the
restructure. The existing silty soil was
removed from the banking and clean sand brought in prior to turfing over with
turf salvaged from the 6th fairway job. Finally the boundary fence was replaced.
BUDDON LINKS COURSE
Bunker Revetments
Bunker revetments during the month involved the following:
2 at 3rd greenside
2 at the 8th hole left hand side
3 at the 16th greenside
1 at the 18th green left hand side
Bunker Maintenance
Bunkers were tidied and sand shaped as required during the month.
Aeration
Greens, tees, fairways and walkways were slit-tined during the month.
Bridge Replacement
The bridge at the front left of the 8th tee was refurbished
with new timbers early in the month following ditch clearance work alongside
the tee and beyond.
Greens
Greens were brushed, cut and rolled as required during the month
Course Drainage Developments
There was a major concentration on ditch clearance and drainage pipe
installation through the month. The ditch running alongside the 6th
hole is currently under excavation to establish suitable base levels as is the
extension behind the 6th green and alongside the 13th
hole. The ditch to the left of the 7th hole which started some yards
behind the 8th tee was developed southwards through the trees and up
alongside the 9th green. 6" perforated pipe was laid in this
trench, gravel backfilled and sand capped. A lateral using 4" pipe was
laid in across the 9th green approach. A similar pipe was installed
across the 10th green approach which was run alongside the 10th
green surround mounding to an outlet into the cleared out ditch behind the 13th
green.
Environmental Work
Environmental work carried out included gorse cutting to the left of the
6th hole, Burnside Course, and gorse chipping. Heather brash
previously cut and collected from the Buddon Course was dried on a heated
tunnel before screening to produce “cleaned” heather seed for future courses
use.
John S. Philp
Links Superintendent
