Course Managers Report - Around the Greens in August 2023
Published Monday, 14th August 2023
Welcome to the dry spell! 12.6mm of rain fell in July,
bringing our year-to-date total to 477mm. To bring this year-to-date reading
into context, this time last year we had had 1,886mm of rain. The days during
the month were very warm with the average maximum being a touch over 20
degrees.
The greens are performing very well. The surfaces have
firmed up as they usually do over winter. The Greens were verti-drained with
8mm solid tines in July to alleviate some compaction and get some air into the
profile and renovations are scheduled for the 16th to 18th
of August. This year we will be using 10mm hollow tines and soil amendments and
sand will be added as usual.
Tees are in their usual mid-winter condition, clean, flat
and dormant. The warmer weather has seen an ever so slight increase in growth,
but we won’t really see them wake up until the overnight temperatures reach
15-16 degrees.
Fairways are looking and performing quite well at the
moment. Pigment and fertilizer applications have helped them to tick over and
hold some colour. They are very dry though and are screaming out for some rain.
With the dry weather we have seen some Ground Pearl activity, particularly on
the 5th and 6th fairways. The 11th fairway has
improved dramatically and will come out of intensive care in August. A
selective herbicide will be applied to the 11th, and some other
areas to control some Rye grass that has popped up over the years. In is
important to take out this grass as its allelopathic properties are detrimental
to surrounding/desired turf plants.
Bunkers have been well behaved with the dry weather. The
16th bunker is now in play and work has begun on the 1st
green side bunker. This work will see the face lowered and repaired, as well as
the length shortened.
Please remember if you walk into a bunker, you must rake the bunker.
Further tree work is scheduled for the 17th
and 18th of August while the course is closed. The plan is to focus
on encroaching trees on the 2nd tee and 3rd tees.
Shay Tasker
Course Manager