Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in June 2023

Published Friday, 16th June 2023

May was very dry with just a touch over 12mm in rainfall for the month. The average maximum temperature was 21 degrees, but a cold snap included a couple of good frosts late in the month just to let us know that winter was on its way.

The greens performed very well during May. They are firming up nicely, which is the norm for autumn and winter. Pitch marks once again are becoming a problem on our greens. An un-repaired pitch mark not only obstructs the golf ball, but also provides an access point for pest and disease to enter the turf plant.

Please repair your pitch mark and at least an extra one to help us keep our greens in good order.

Solid tine verti-draining is scheduled to take place in the middle of June to relieve compaction and to incorporate some oxygen into the soil profile.

Tees have a full coverage of grass heading into winter. The couch has slowed down dramatically with the very cold mornings. Pigment has been and will be applied during winter to assist with presentation and to gain a small bit of growth and recovery during the colder months.

All golfers are requested to replace their divots and/or fill with sand.

Some areas on the fairways are beginning to dry out a touch. This can be contributed to an invasion of tree roots, soil quality, and in some cases, ground pearl. Some tree root pruning was carried out in May and will continue throughout winter and the arborist will remove some dead trees on the 5^thin June.

On the 11^th fairway 300m of turf has been laid in the thinner areas as well as over the new work at the green end for access to the new path. Further turfing and fertilisation work will be carried out going forward. The trimming of several trees in this area will also help with turf quality.

Turf was also laid on some patches on the 10^th and 14^th with more returfing to be carried out in June. Un-repaired divots cause problems with the overall presentation and playability of the course so once again members are requested to repair divots.

The dry weather has seen an improvement in the bunkers.

As a courtesy to your fellow golfers please rake the bunker after playing your shot.

Work is ongoing with the 16^th bunker; the drainage lines have been excavated and pipes cleared. Weather permitting, I hope to have this bunker back in play in shortly. We will work our way through bunker maintenance this winter.

Shay Tasker
Course Manager