Course Management
Course Manager’s report for December 2012
The start of the month presented us with some very wintry weather. The ground had been saturated with the heavy rain fall we experienced during November and then in December the cold weather had frozen the soil leaving us with some very treacherous conditions. However the course has remained open with in most cases temporary greens in play due to the frozen surfaces. The middle part of the month up to the 14th has remained very cold and frosty with frost penetrating deep into the soil. However, during Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th we saw a change to much milder conditions allowing us to get on with some much need course preparation.
Greens, Collars and Aprons
There has been very little work completed on the greens, collars and aprons during the first part of the month but we have been able to apply our monthly application of chelated iron and seaweed during the lead up to the Christmas period along with cutting and rolling to true up the surfaces after the frosty conditions. The height of cut for the greens remains at 5.5mm completed with pedestrian mowers.
Conditions improved enough so we could complete slit tine aeration to all greens, collars and aprons on both courses during the week commencing 17th December.
All yellow markers are now in position on winter teeing grounds with the white tee markers remaining in position for winter competitions.
Divoting of tees continues when possible along with regular slit aeration work. Over the coming weeks we are also aiming to verti drain all tees using 18mm tines to a depth of 250mm- 300mm.
All tee have been cut with pedestrian mowers at 10mm.
During the recent period of cold weather we have taken the opportunity to paint tee markers and hazard markers.
Fairways
All fairways on both courses have now been verti drained once with 18mm tines to a depth of between 350mm and 400mm. The aim is to complete a second pass of all fairways during February/March. We have also completed three with the fairway slitter on 1-9 fairways on the Highgate course and on fairways 1-3, 13-18 on the Lodge course.
Surrounds to greens have been aerated with 15mm solid tines to a depth of 110mm with a second pass being completed during January.
Major Renovation Projects
3rd Tee Highgate
Due to the frosty weather we have been unable to greatly progress the tee, however we have been able to install the new sprinklers in position taking into account the new size of the tee and begin to prepare the surface for the final levels. We are then aiming to begin turfing in the New Year.
5th Highgate Green Surround
This project has not been started due to the frosty weather; we are aiming to start this project early in the New Year.
9th 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. It is hoped we can complete the turfing of the fairway during January.
6th Lodge Tee
The initial phase of tree thinning to allow light into the tee complex has been started with the renovation of the teeing complex being started in the New Year.
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.
Heather cutting will continue when the weather becomes a little more conducive.
Finally may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Jonathan Wood
Course Manager
Enville Golf Club
07977448149
No comments:
Post a Comment