Course Management

Course Manager’s report for February 2013

Fine Turf Management

We are currently cutting the greens on average twice per week at 5.5mm and unlike my report in January, we have seen a little growth at the beginning of the month as a consequence of the mild conditions we experienced, however in recent times we have completed very little pedestrian mowing due to the prolonged frosty conditions. When we are able we are continuing with rolling, but are applying the care that must be taken at this time of year, as it is very easy to seal the surface and restrict good recovery in the spring.

The plan and intention is to give all greens a light top dressing over the coming weeks, as suggested in my last report, as this will deliver additional help to even-out the surfaces.

Over the next few weeks, the schedule also includes the application of the first feed to the greens and tees; this will be in the form of a lawn sand at a rate of 20gms/m². Lawn sand has a high percentage of Sulphate of Iron, which helps to remove any moss and small weeds within the sward.

During the month we have been able to verti drain all greens and collars with 12mm tines to a depth of 250mm.

Fairways

We are now into completing our second pass with the verti drain on all fairways, the tines we use for fairways are 19mm diameter and 350mm long. It was our goal at the beginning of the winter period to complete two passes and we will almost certainly achieve this. When completing the fairways we also verti drain walk ways and heavily trafficked areas around tees and approaches to greens.

Over the coming weeks we will also look to start divoting areas of fairways to help with recovery in the spring.

Tees

During this period of the year we are cutting the tees when required dependent on growth at 10mm, we also use rotary brushes on them to help remove any debris and lift the grass prior to mowing. We will also be top dressing the tees during the coming month to help with recovery in the spring and an application of lawn sand will be applied.

Improvement/ alteration projects.

3^rd Tee Highgate

This is now complete and will be available for play during the late spring. The elevation on the new tee increases dramatically the view of the hole and therefore increases the playability.

5^th Green Surround

We have almost completed the front and right hand side of the hole with only turfing remaining to complete in this area, bunkers and contouring is complete and really does give a different look and feel to the hole. We are hoping to move onto the left hand side during the week commencing 25^th February. I am very hopeful that the project will be completed during March.

9^th Fairway Lodge

As the fairway area is turfed we are now turning our intentions to the contouring, here we are preparing the contouring ready for turf and on some of the tops of the mounding we are turfing with fescue/heather turf. The old right hand greenside bunker has been removed and replace with a grass bunker, this area will be turfed shortly.

General

The bunkers on the 8^th Highgate have now completely dried out due to the water table decreasing so we can prepare the sand and take away the GUR during the coming days. This is also the same for the 8^th ditch area, were the majority of the water has filtered away, it will be my intention to monitor these two areas and if drainage is needed then this will be programmed into future winter renovation projects. After one of the wettest years on record and more to the point a very wet winter period we have had very little damage and these two areas are the only real areas of concern.

Jonathan Wood

Course Manager

jw@j-wood.co.uk

07977448149