Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in September

August provided us with just 9.4mm of rainfall. Most of this came on the very last day of the month. A further 4 four frosts were also experienced during the month.

The Greens were renovated to a depth of 95mm with 5/8 inch hollow tines.

·         Some of the smaller greens have been a bit slower to recover due to the holes punched on these greens being slightly closer together 

·         All greens were affected by the frost and cold weather in the 10 days after renovations. Greens were fed and soil amendments applied, Ethephon was also applied to reduce Poa seed head production. This decreases plant stress in the heat and provides a smoother putting surface.

The greens were dusted on September 12^th to help smooth over the visible core holes. Dusting is part of the monthly program and helps reduce thatch and improve the surface of the greens. 

The returfing of bare areas on the fairways continued throughout August and with turf scheduled to arrive each week during September the back nine will be the focus.  Fairways were fed and soil surfactants applied to assist with water penetration into the profile. Fairways have been well irrigated during August and, coupled with the feed, have held their colour coming out of winter.

The Tees have struggled their way out of winter and we have begun coring tees to reduce some compaction issues as well as moving some gasses from within the soil profile, allowing them to breathe. Cores from tees were then rubbed straight back into the tee surface. This will help to get soil temperatures up, as well as getting water into the root zone. 

Contractors were employed to remove 22 dead trees from various locations around the course, as well as trim dead wood from 4 other tree.

The old artificial grass has been removed from bay 4 of the Practice Nets. New drains have been installed and pipes cleared of tree roots. It is my intention to have all 4 bays completed by the end of September.