Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in February 2021

One of the milder January's in recent memory with an average maximum of 28.3 degrees and 50mm of rainfall. We experienced a short dry spell through the middle of the month, seeing dam levels drop quite considerably, but rain late in the month has replenished our supply.

The Greens are flourishing and loving the milder January weather. There is little pest and disease activity, and the Corella activity has reduced due to the physical deterrents placed on the problem greens. We will continue to monitor the situation and make the appropriate adjustments.

Tees have thickened up to the point where I need to apply growth regulators. Thatch has built up in some of the tees which is affecting surface presentation, but the tees are healthy with particularly good coverage.

Tees would benefit greatly if divots were filled on a more regular basis by players.

During the dry weeks in January the fairways struggled, but after the rain they are recovering well. Turfing has been carried out on the 11^th fairway on some of the bigger Ground Pearl patches. This fairway is coming along but is suffering badly with tree root invasion. Turf will be placed on the 13^th and 1^st fairways during February. We are seeing some positive results on fairways with Ground Pearl control trials and there has been little new activity this season with a noticeable decline in numbers noted while patching fairways with turf.

Every year at this time, thatch build up in the fairways becomes an issue. Mower height has been set at 12mm throughout spring and summer and I will trial raising heights gradually to the “winter height” of 14mm during this “peak thatch” time.

Some repairs were made to the matting under the sand in several bunkers and new sand added. The drains were cleared but our resident foxes have managed to locate some underground drainage in the 17^th bunkers, contaminating them with gravel in the process.

Members are expected to rake the bunkers.

Shay Tasker

Course Manager