I know I have been saying something very similar for the last few weeks but we have had another good week on both courses given the weather we have been experiencing. The raw winds and frosty mornings have made progress very difficult but given we have our planned aeration on the Lodge Courses next week conditions must improve!

Right, aeration or should I say our planned three days with the Lodge course closed so we can complete some focused aeration. As you are probably aware the main reason for aeration for us at this time of year is to underpin the various kinds of aeration which is completed throughout the year with some very focused work when we can have the course closed for a couple of days. The aeration over the past three years has seen far less disruptive work being completed due mainly to the fact that our organic matter levels through out the soil profile are well within the recommended ranges so therefore given the regular aeration completed through  the year and the amount of top dressing we use which dilutes any organic matter build up, enables us to be less disruptive. There are also other practices which reduce our OM levels such as controlled fertiliser inputs and austere irrigation application which all go hand in hand in producing firm, true putting surfaces consisting of the finer grasses.

Anyway back to the aeration next week, the picture below shows the two types of tines we will be using. On the right is a solid 10mm tine which will be used on all greens and collars to a depth of 130mm. The 15mm hollow tine on the left which removes a core will be used only on some of the greens which have held a little more moisture than is required during the very wet period last year. The greens which these tines will be used on will be 7th , 9th, and 10th greens.

Once this work is complete we will top dress all green,collars and aprons. We will be applying in the region of  50 tones of dressing to these areas. We will also be completing verti draining of all approaches and walk areas. The picture below shows the verti drain in use on the Lodge fairways this week fitted with 18mm tines.

All greens this week have been pedestrian cut at 5.5mm but given the very cold weather we have seen very little growth but the pedestrian mowers do help to lightly roll the surface to maintain levels after frosty conditions.

All of the Highgate tees have been solid tined this week and top dressed using a blend of soil and sand.

As a result of the strong cold winds we have been experiencing we have had to keep a very close watch on all newly turfed areas, so we have been out this week hand watering around the new 5th surround on Highgate.

The weekend sees our first qualifying competitions so the 9th Lodge will be fully open with a mat system on the fairway areas to protect the new turf. All tee markers are now back on summer tees.

We have also been out for the first time with the surrounds mowers to just start and get some definition around the greens and to maintain our cutting heights going into the spring.