Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in May 2021

After receiving 467mm of rain in March, April delivered just 14mm representing the driest April in nearly 160 years. Interestingly this was just what we needed to help the course recover properly after all that rain in March. April was warm with the average maximum of 23^o which is perfect for growing cool season grass.

The Greens have thoroughly enjoyed the warm sunny days and cool nights of April and recovered well from renovations needing only a small solid tine and another dust of sand to help relieve some stress after the constant rain in March. With the sunny weather greens have remained clean and free from pest and disease, although with the wet start to May we could see some Fusarium activity. A selective herbicide has been applied to green edges and collars to suppress the encroachment of Kikuyu.

Our Couch tees copped a bit of a knock from the herbicide application in March for Kikuyu and Poa control but with the warmer weather they have bounced back and have come through April well. An application of organic fertilizer took place early in the month, this was then followed by synthetic fertilizer later in the month to keep the colour in the Couch.

Coming into the cooler months the fairways are in magnificent shape. The inactivity of Ground pearl combined with great weather has really helped the condition of the fairways. Further turfing of bare areas took place in April but mostly on surrounds this time. We will see how the weather goes during winter, but I suspect that will be it for turf now until August or September. Our preventative, early control of Fusarium took place on fairways in mid-April.

The irrigation system suffered two major leaks in April. Both were Main line tapping bands that had corroded over time. These leaks caused some flooding on the 11^th and 12^th fairways respectively, but we were able to get the repairs done quickly without causing any disruption to golf.

Shay Tasker
Course Manager