The last week has been a very white one with the snow that fell last Friday remaining and fresh snow falling during the week. There are some pictures below of the course during this period.

The majority of our work over the last week has been focused on continuing our thining programme in conjunction with Natural England to fulfil our obligations in our Higher Level Stewardship.

We have also continued with servicing and repair work in the workshop along with reel grinding work.

The weather has also presented us with the opportunity to spend time working on Health and safety issues and updating all records.



Robert Jones and Steve Golder have also progressed their college work (HNC) submitting a number of assignments.



And finally in the hope that the snow will go over the coming days here are a number of pictures to remind what the course looks like without snow!



Here are some pictures of the course from today, looking great in the snow!

The work continues but conditions getting much worse.



Course Management

Course Manager’s report for January 2013

The start of the month was a continuation of the mild and wet weather we had been experiencing throughout the majority of December; however the rain was far less prolonged. At the time of writing we are now in the grip of a very cold spell and the snow which had fallen on the 14^th is still hanging around, with heavy snowfall and prolonged cold weather expected in the coming days.

Rainfall totals for 2012 700.1mm  Rainfall totals for 2011 332mm.

Greens, Collars and Aprons

General maintenance has progressed well during the latter part of December and into January, with all greens being slit tined and pedestrian cut. We have managed to pedestrian cut five times to date which  has helped to level out surfaces.

All surrounds have also been solid tined using the Toro pro core fitted with 15mm solid tines; we aim to complete this kind of work 3 to 4 times during the winter period as part of the continual improvement of playing surfaces further away from the putting surface.

The three new greens (11^th + 15^th Highgate and 11^th Lodge) have been verti drained using 18mm tines, and top dressed. This forms part of the extra aeration work these new greens receive.

Over the last month we have spent an increasing amount of time repairing pitch marks. It appears there is an increasing number being left un-repaired. Please help in this area and make sure you and your playing partners repair pitch marks, as it helps dramatically in the conditions of the putting surfaces.

During this winter period we have refrained from placing white lines on the approaches to greens to direct golf traffic away from sensitive areas in favour of a number of hoops and ropes in areas of the greatest need. Unfortunately there are a number of golfers which have seen this as an opportunity to take trollies as close to the putting surfaces as possible and in some cases onto the playing surfaces themselves. If this continues, we will have no alternative but to put back the white lines. Please observe these sensitive areas and if you see anyone taking trollies close to these areas, please correct them. The conditions of our approaches have improved dramatically and it would be frustrating and upsetting to see the condition decline due to the wear caused by the actions of a small amount of people.

Performance testing of the greens has taken place on a weekly basis and I have posted the results on the blog, so please visit it to see the results. http://envillegcgreenkeeping.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Tees

In the last week, all tees have been verti drained using 18mm tines and it is expected that another pass will be completed during February/March.

All tees have been cut with pedestrian mowers at 10mm and divoted at least twice per week when conditions allow.

Fairways

All fairways on both courses have now been verti drained once with 18mm tines to a depth of between 350mm and 400mm. We have now started a second pass on 10th to 18th fairways on the Highgate course.

Major Renovation Projects

3^rd Tee Highgate

The tee is now ready to be turfed. The turfing was scheduled to begin the week commencing the 14^th January but given the current weather conditions this has been suspended until more favorable weather conditions return.

5^th Highgate Green Surround

Given the recent weather conditions, we have once again had to delay the start of this project but I am optimistic that we will get underway very shortly.

9^th Lodge Fairway

All of the excavation and shaping to the fairway area has been completed and the turfing of the fairway was progressing well until the weather changed. The mounding around the fairway will be shaped and made ready for turf/seed after we have advanced the turfing of the fairway. The turf was scheduled to arrive on the 15^th January but the turf suppliers have been unable to cut the turf due to the weather conditions. I am still hopeful of completing the turfing of the fairway area before the end of January.

6^th Lodge Tee

The initial phase of tree thinning to allow light into the tee complex has begun, with the renovation of the teeing complex being started over the coming weeks.

Environment Management

During the recent weather conditions we have been able to make progress with thinning work around the courses which is part of our Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. In the majority of cases the areas which are thinned will allow us to create more heathland environment. There are some areas amongst the pine woodlands (Holes 4-12 Lodge Course) which will be thinned to encourage a more native broad leaved environment along with more extensive openings to allow for heather regeneration.

We have also completed planned thinning work in line with our stewardship on the 10^th Highgate and 12^th Highgate. These areas of thinning will also improve the overall air circulation and sunlight penetration onto playing surfaces.

Jonathan Wood

Course Manager

Enville Golf Club

07977448149

jw@j-wood.co.uk

The last week has been productive given the snow which fell on Monday and has been with us for the whole week and as I write this we are experiencing further heavy snow fall. This type of weather has given us the opportunity to catch up with all our work on the environmental management and our Higher-Level Stewardship. The main focus of this work has been woodland management and the thinning of trees to create areas for heathland creation and to allow sunlight and airflow onto playing surfaces.

Here are some pics of the course with the snow cover.

Machinery servicing is ongoing however during weather like we are experiencing we can really focus on getting grinding and servicing work completed.

The week has gone well with work continuing and progressing on both courses. The 3rd tee on Highgate is now ready for turf and we hope to start turfing next week but given the predicted weather this may not happen!

The 9th fairway on Lodge has also progressed well and we are now in a position to complete the fairway area turfing. We are expecting a delivery of turf next week but as above we are in the hands of the weather.

All tees on both courses have been verti drained using 18mm.



All surrounds to greens and bunker run-ins have been aerated using the Toro Pro Core fitted with 15mm solid tines, it is our aim to complete this aeration on regular basis through to the spring. This machine is really very versatile and allows us to aerate areas which normally would be out of reach.



Other work which has been completed this week includes tidying up some paths by filling up pot holes, we have verti drained and top dressed the 11th and 15th Greens on Highgate and the 11th green on Lodge. The back nine fairways on Highgate have started to be verti drained and out standing worn or bare patches aroung aprons have been re-turfed on the Highgate course.

Below are the results from the last week and this weeks performance testing on the greens. I have also posted a report which briefly out lines the protocols and reasons why we complete this eprformance testing on a regular basis.

Greens Performance Testing
Date: 4th January 2013			Time: 10.30am
Highgate
Green	Speed	Roll	Firmness	Moisture	Temperature
1	8’6”	8	87	35	6.7°C
8	9’	8	88	33	6.2°C
15	8’3”	7	89	36	6.4°C

Greens Performance Testing
Date: 11th January 2013			Time: 11am
Highgate
Green	Speed	Roll	Firmness	Moisture	Temperature
1	8’4”	7	82	38	5.7°C
8	9’	8	85	36	5.8°C
15	8’1”	7	87	38	6.1°C



Greens Performance Testing
Date:4th January 2013				Time: 11am
Lodge
Green	Speed	Roll	Firmness		Moisture	Temperature
2	9’	8	85		32	6.5°C
8	8’7”	7	84		35	6.1°C
16	8’9”	8	84		34	6.7°C

Greens Performance Testing
Date:11th January 2013			Time: 11am
Lodge
Green	Speed	Roll	Firmness	Moisture	Temperature
2	8’7”	7	81	36	6.1°C
8	8’3”	7	78	38	6.0°C
16	8’2”	8	82	36	6.4°C

Performance Testing

Performance Testing

•         The R&A and STRI developed a system for measuring the performance of greens and playing surfaces.

•         A system which would deliver a consistent means of measuring performance on all types of surfaces in order to set specific standards.

•         These measurements could be used to adapt management practices to correct any discrepancies in the performance of the playing surfaces.

•         The system set-out to enable the development of an easy to interpret and clearly understandable set of performance data that correlates with the management practices that influence their performance.

•         Taking measurements of the playing qualities enables the accurate description of the standards being set and a method to compare the results against performance levels.

•         The fundamental aims of Performance Testing:

•         To produce a set of greens that receive approach shots correctly

•         To provide smooth/true and well paced surfaces for putting.

•         And to keep management practices focused and in line with our objectives.

Organic Matter Testing

•         Organic Matter (OM) refers to the amount of fibre build-up at the base of the grass plant.

•         This organic matter consists of dead and decaying plant tissues and root growth.

•         Too much OM and the surfaces become soft and spongy with a tendency to hold water.

•         Too little OM and the surfaces become unstable and prone to erosion.

•         Enville’s target - between 4% and 7% in the top 4cm

To calculate the amount of OM we do the following:

•         9 cores are taken from each green to be tested (6 on each course).

•         These cores are taken randomly from around the green.

•         These samples are sent for testing at the STRI.

•         This process is completed once each year normally during the growing season.

Moisture Content

•         The moisture content of the soil profile has a significant impact on the playing qualities of the greens and the health of the turf.

•         Too much moisture and the surfaces become soft and the turf health will suffer.

•         Too low and the consistency and uniformity of the turf will become compromised.

•         At Enville - this is why we aim to keep the moisture between 15% and 25%, so the turf and surface firmness are optimal. Obviously there are going to be times during prolonged periods of rain or drought when readings will fall out side of the guidelines.

Firmness

•         The firmness of the greens is measured using a Clegg Impact Hammer.

•         At Enville the aim is to create firm surfaces that place a real premium on true and accurate ball striking when playing into greens.

•         Achieved from our target firmness range - between 80 and100 gravities regardless of weather conditions.

•         At these firmness levels, balls from well struck shots taken from tight fairway lies will impact, release, check and quickly stop.

•         Improperly struck shots or those taken from the rough, offer far less control and will roll off putting surfaces and finish further away from the greens.

Smoothness

•         The smoothness and trueness is measured with the Trueness Meter™

•         This device is not regularly available to Enville due to its cost and rarity:

•         Only 10 of these devices currently available worldwide as they are hand built at Hallam University.

•         Since 2009,  the Trueness Mater has been used at The Open Venues to manage the performance of the putting surfaces.

•         At Enville - on a regular basis we use a table to visually assess the trueness and smoothness of the putting surface.

Smoothness table

STRI Smoothness Scale
Scale	Description of smoothness/trueness
10	No chatter or snaking. Perfect roll.
9
8	Smooth, isolated chatter and insignificant snaking.
7
6	Chatter, isolated bobble and occasional snaking.
5
4	Distinct bobbling with some snaking.
3
2	Bobbling and snaking.
1
Chatter  = Distinct vertical vibrations discernable but ball does not leave ground. Snaking =  Lateral deflection from intended path. Bobble = Distinct vertical movement where ball leaves the ground.

Green Speed

•         The speed of greens is measured using a Stimpmeter™.

•         The speed is expressed as the average distance rolled by three golf balls delivered from the stimpmeter ramp, on a flat area of the green in two opposite directions. This is repeated on three areas of the green to obtain a good average.

•         At Enville - target speeds aimed for are between from 7ft in the winter months and 9ft 6in during an average summer course set up. Tournament set up aims for speeds of 9ft 5in up to 10ft 5in.

•         There is ongoing research on green speed - already know: Club golfers of a good handicap expect to hole out from six feet, a club pro from 9 feet and tour players from 12 feet.

Benefits of Performance Testing

•         Implementing long-term management plans to improve and maintain the targets and standards we are achieving.

•         Greater specific environment management.

•         Improved grass composition.

•         Continuing R&A research which will put greater emphasis on the best surfaces to achieve the best performance.