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