Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in September

30mm of rain fell on the 30^th August after another dry month right up until the very last day. We also had some very cold mornings with several frosts causing some damage to fairways and surrounds.

Greens renovations were carried out as planned on the 21^st August. The grounds staff would like to thank the volunteers who came in to lend a hand picking up cores, you made a huge difference and gave us a great head start. The result was fantastic with 40 ton of sand being spread over the next couple of days. Amendments and fertiliser were applied at this time too. Greens were cut 7 days later at 5mm and after 12 days we are back at 4mm. A regular “dusting” program will commence at the end of September.

Tees are showing their dislike of the frost. Tee surfaces were punched with half inch solid tines to alleviate compaction and speed up the increase of soil temperatures. Hopefully the warm weather we’ve experienced in early September will kick them to life. A synthetic fertiliser application is scheduled for the end of September, or once night time temperatures reach, and hold, 16 degrees.

It is an understatement to state that our fairways needed the rain we received in August. Tree root infested areas are really starting to show signs of drought stress, even though we applied plenty of irrigation. Tree root pruning will commence in some trouble areas by the end of September. Turfing of Ground pearl patches will also recommence during September. A synthetic fertiliser application is scheduled for the 3^rd week of September, this will give us a burst of growth which will last through Championships and into November.

During August the Bunkers were relatively trouble free and handled the 30mm downpour reasonably well, with only a handful requiring pumping.

The cleared pipes on the 4^th, 3^rd and the 14^th have passed their first test and handled the 30mm downpour without spilling onto the surface.

Shay Tasker

Course Manager