Course Information Blog W/C 17.12.2012

Course Information Blog W/C 17.12.2012

As I put together this blog I am looking out of my office window and witnessing something rare and of which we have not experienced in sometime.  Glorious sunshine! All be it cold, nether the less dry and sunny!
Apologies for absent blog reports recently as myself and the staff have been taking full advantage of the hard ground conditions and concentrated on installing additional drainage to the 13th and 14th fairways.
The drop in temperatures mixed with the odd shower has obviously made ground conditions extremely slippery and dangerous over the past few weekends, therefore, my staff unfortunately made unpopular but necessary decisions to keep the course closed throughout these hazardous conditions.  At present, the ground is thawing but due to the severity and prolonged frost the turf is still frozen approx 3" underneath the turf, this is called 'permafrost' which is extremely damaging to the plant if walked on or driven on, in addition the surface becomes extremely moist and soft caused by the barrier of frozen soil 3" bellow the surface.  Unfortunately temporary greens will be in play until main greens have completely thawed.

7th/13th Drainage

To date we have now installed approx 170m of twinwall pipe drainage.  I am confident the work the staff have put into this area we will see an significant improvement in the removal of surface water around this area.  Additional secondary drainage may be required in places however we will monitor this throughout the winter period.
Staff are now concentrating on the last and final stage of the area's to be drained which is the l/h/s and rear of 7th green.  As expected, this area requires extensive rock removal(there's a surprise!!) in order we can extend the pipe work as far as possible beyond the green, yhis is another area where we have seen surface flooding this summer hopefully not in 2013.

14th Drainage

We are currently upgrading the main drainage pipework from our septic tank located close to our maintenance building, from here pipework flows towards and down parallel with the course road and finally into a concrete chamber to the r/h/s 6th.
This work has become necessary due to the deterioration in the old pipe work and also we are preparing for the proposed additional lateral drainage that myself and recent drainage consultants  have identified.  On this note I have recently contacted Jim Westwood - Drainage Consultant for the S.T.R.I last week regarding our drainage appraisal report.  He predicts this will be with us soon after the festive period now.  On it's arrival myself and the C.O.M will discuss the way forward and inform the membership as to what our intentions are for improving the current and additional drainage issues.

On behalf of the green staff and myself may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and good luck in 2013 golf season.

Yours in golf,
Douglas

Course Information Blog For W/C 26/11/2012

Welcome to this weeks blog.

Apologies for the absent blog reports recently as this was due to a staff shortage that i had to attend to at short notice therefore my overalls made a comeback as I mucked in with the staff to continue installing more drainage.  On that subject, we will continue this week installing further drainage to the 7th and 13th area.

To date we have installed approx 85m of 100mm twin wall pipe and back fill, unfortunately, as usual we encountered approx 63m of Cathkin rock which is a slow and monotonous task to remove and one we come across often on the course.

 

Current excavation has uncovered the original clay tile drainage which has unfortunately been damaged during the irrigation installation back in 1999/2000.

 



 

This and the 3 inches of thatch are a contributing factor to the current flooding which can be seen around this area at present.  Although we have drainage plans dating back to 1994 of which Brian Renaux has kindly updated to disc form.  Thanks Brian.  Existing drainage prior to 1994 has unfortunately not been recorded or if so has been misplaced.  However we could possibly identify older drainage using Google earth.

 

R/H/S 14th green/15th rough and 16th fairway

 

Recently our staff have been investigating continual flooding to the above areas the 16th fairway especially is showing signs of improvement due to the work carried out previously to the R/H/S of the 15th green.  The good news is that the main 150mm drain running from the L/H/S of the 16th bunker flows down towards and underneath the 16th tee is flowing fine.  We will continue to remove thatched turf and rootzone on top of the existing lateral drainage to the L/H/S of the fairway and rough.  I have scheduled this to start as and when we have completed the 7th and 13th project.

 

Drainage Consultant Visit

 

I met with John Westwood from the Sports Turf Research Institute (S.T.R.I) on the 23rd and 24th of November 2012 for a 2 day course inspection which will include a drainage appraisal report for Cathkin Braes Golf Club.

Myself and Jim walked over most the flowing current drainage issues especially on holes 14 and 16.  Also lengthy discussions about thatch build up and tree's.

After our course inspection we analysed photographs and drainage plans over a cup of tea in the club house.  As you know our rock sub base is a severe handicap when coming to install drainage but one we will have to overcome to improve certain areas of the course.

Jim will now study his findings and a report will be with us shortly, approx 2 weeks from the time of his visit, Jim predicts!  Unfortunately it would be sooner but understandably he has been in undated from golf clubs requiring his services.

In the meantime I have identified areas throughout the course where in my opinion we require additional drainage and renovation to our fairways and transferred this information on to a course plan in addition, obtaining drainage installation rates from various contractors so an approx budget can be set, however i would prefer to wait until we receive Jim's report in case further drainage requires pricing.

Jim is extremely qualified in this area and has a history of advising high profile clubs including open championship venues, therefore in my opinion we should seriously consider his recommendations so that we can produce an installation and budget drainage plan to ensure the course stays open and playable as long as it possibly can.

 

Pitch marks

 

It has been brought to my attention that pitch-marks are not being repaired on our greens, especially if the flag pin is located to the rear of the green.  Golf balls landing at the front of the green generally roll to the back, therefore, pitch marks are often overlooked. 

Research into unrepaired pitch marks from various institutes have stated that not only do they cause uneven and unsightly putting surfaces but also, damage to the leaf blade can have and effect on disease(fusarium) establishment especially in periods where environmental conditions are favourable IE: Autumn/Winter.

I have included a short video to illustrate the amount of pitch marks to our 5th green.  226 golf balls(mainly Gordon's practise balls) were used but not harmed in the making of the video!!

 

 

 

This highlights the amount of pitch marks on the green, all be it this is a par 3 hole and a small green never the less we have to be more aware especially now the winter period is upon us.

It is in our own interest to protect our putting surfaces throughout winter as this will be extremely beneficial as we enter spring 2013 competition season.

I would also like you to view a short video outlining the procedure on repairing your pitch mark by visiting - Golf Monthly

 

Thank you for your attention and co operation, until next week.

 

Douglas McIntosh



Course Information Update for 05.11.2012

Hi and welcome to this weeks blog.

Drainage was on the menu this week and no doubt for the foreseeable future to.
This week our staff were busy upgrading the main pipe and lateral drainage on the first fairway approx 100yds from the green.
This is one of a number of areas throughout the course where we have seen water lying for longer periods than usual contributed by the poor wet summer we had this year.
The existing 150mm main drainage pipe has now been renewed with all new and existing lateral pipe drainage being connected to the main drain.

During excavating, we noticed the extensive thatch and black layer build up within the soil profile as highlighted in the following picture;

A simplified explanation of thatch is basically the accumulation of dead plant material that has accumulated over a period of time.  Thatch restricts oxygen circulating within the root zone producing a black layer beneath the thatch layer which leads to poor turf health.  Thatch also effects percolation rates by decreasing water flow through the root zone, therefore surface flooding occurs.

With this being identified, we will now require to increase our aeration, hollow coring and topdressing activities to include this area, also in-conjunction with applying thatch degrading products on a regular basis throughout next years growing season we should see an improvement in surface drainage and turf health.

This week (12.11.2012) we will continue with our drainage installation and begin installing additional drainage to the l/h/s and rear of the 7th green linking this to the beginning of the 13th fairway.

I have estimated we will have this completed on or around 26.11.2012 should no rock removal be required.  Extremely doubtful for cathkin braes!!

For our green staffs safety the temporary green will be in play during this time (Monday-Friday) until work is completed.

We will also be looking into maintaining the existing clay tile main drain that flows from the ditch on the r/h/s 15th down towards the concrete sump located at the r/h/s 15th green., now that we have this outlet flowing.  Once we are satisfied with the flow in the clay tile drain we can begin to clear the ditch on the r/h/s of the 15th approx 240yds from the green hopefully with our own machinery, if not hired equipment will be necessary.

Thank you for your attention.

Douglas McIntosh





Course Update 29/10/12

1. Now that we have completed our Autumn renovation to our greens it has allowed us to concentrate on the open drainage areas this week to the 1st and 12th fairways.
To date, the 12th has been excavated, new drainage pipe installed, back filled with gravel and root zone installed to turf level.  We have also included vertical storm drains to the lowest areas to cope with flash flooding.
It is my intention to delay turfing to the top of the drains until February or March 2013 prior to the competition season starting, as I feel this will act as a sealant and reduce perculation rates, therefore we will not benefit from the new drainage system.  However once the new turf has been applied and given time to establish we can begin to aerate.

1b. We are currently installing a new 150mm main drainage pipe across the first fairway which flows to the concrete sump to the right hand side near the boundary wall.  The main pipe is in need of renewal and I also intend to install lateral drainage with additional storm drains to cope with the increased rainfall we are now experiencing. If weather permits we hope to have this completed by 09.11.2012.

 

1c. Drier ground conditions this week has allowed us to access the area to r/h/s 15th green with our machinery to continue excavating an open ditch which connects to an existing ditch further into the old practice ground.
Further investigation has revealed the main drain from the 16th fairway was connected to an existing clay tile drain.  The clay tile drain was found to be blocked with tree roots.  We have now by passed the clay tile drain and connected the 16th main drain to the open ditch.  Water flow has dramatically increased from the two inlet pipes from the 16th fairway, however we will continue to monitor how effective this has been and if no significant improvement on the fairway is seen we will continue to investigate existing drainage.  I also intend to remove the thatched turf on top of the existing drains so that further surface water can enter the drainage system at a faster rate.
To date we have had two drainage consultants looking into this area and other areas throughout the course and we are awaiting the reports.

2. 7th green/13th fairway drainage

As of the week commencing 12.11.2012 I intend to begin installing further drainage to the l/h/s and rear of the 7th green and also connecting o the start of the 13th fairway.
As i mentioned in a previous blog the problem is the depth of drainage.  As you know I have excavated open drainage tracks to the existing drainage system in the green.  Unfortunately this is not deep enough to install additional drainage to the rear of the green and to the start of the 13th fairway.
My intention is to connect to existing deeper drainage to the r/h/s of the 8th tee and excavate back to the 7th green.
On the basis we do not occur any rock excavation, we hope this will be completed by 26.11.2012.  The temporary green will be in play during this time.

3. Fairway Protection

As of week commencing 05.11.2012 I will be introducing fairway protection.  As I mentioned last week blue lines will be installed to indicate the start and finish of the area of fairway we are protecting.  This applies to all of the fairway's marked with blue lines.  Please comply with fairway protection as this is extremely beneficial to the condition of the fairway's in spring 2013.

Thank you for your co-operation
Douglas McIntosh

Dry Weather at Last!!

WELCOME TO THIS WEEKS COURSE INFORMATION BLOG

1.     WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!! RAINFALL READING FOR THE LAST WEEK TOTALLED 67MM – THIS WEEK IT HAS BARELY REGISTERED A MARK ON THE RAIN GAUGE.

THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE OUR AUTUMN RENOVATION OF SAND INJECTION TO ALL OF THE GREENS.

YOU MAY ASK WHAT IS SAND INJECTION AND WHAT DOES IT DO? THIS IS A PROCESS WHERE WE SCARIFY TO AN APPROXIMATE DEPTH OF 25-30mm THIS IS IMMEDIATLEY FOLLOWED BY THE INJECTION OF DRIED KILN SAND DIRECTLY INTO THE SCARIFYING CHANNELS MADE BY THE 2mm THICK BLADES WHICH ARE SET AT 30mm APART – THIS COMPLIMENTS OUR DRILL AND FILL PROGRAMME THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS.

 

 

 

THE THEORY BEHIND SAND INJECTIOINS IS THAT AS RAIN FALLS THE SURFACE WATERFLOWS DOWN THE LATERALL SAND FILLED LINES, CONNECTS TO AND  FILTERS DOWN THE DRILL AND FILL VERTICAL CHANNELS, THE SURFACE WATER THEN FINALLY ENTERS THE EXISTING OR NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
 

WE TRIALLED THIS MACHINE ON THE 18^TH GREEN IN OCTOBER 2011, OVER THE FOLLOWING 6 MONTHS THE GREEN WAS MONITORED.  FEEDBACK PROVED TO BE EXTREMELY POSITIVE  AND IN AUGUST THIS YEAR WE DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE MACHINE AS WE FEEL THAT IT MAKES BETTER FINANCIAL SENSE THAN CONTINUING TO HIRE IT.

 

 

HOPEFULLY THE DRY WEATHER WILL CONTINUE AND THIS WILL ALLOWS US TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE GREENS BY THE 26^TH October.  AS PART OF OUR WINTER PROGRAMME WE WILL CONTINUE SAND INJECTION TO THE TEE’S

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE MACHINE:  www.kensettsport.co.uk

2.     FAIRWAY AERATION

AS OF MONDAY (22^ND), A LOCAL CONTRACTOR ‘SOUTARS’ BEGAN DEEP VERTIDRAINING OF THE FAIRWAYS WITH THE DEPTH VARYING DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF ROCK TO THE SURFACE.  HOPEFULLY WITH THE DRY WEATHER CONTINUING AND WITHOUT ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES THEY WILL BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK

VERTIDRAINING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR AERATION PROGRAMME TO ENSURE THE COURSE STAYS PLAYABLE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON.

     

 

3.     FAIRWAY PROTECTION

WE WILL BE SHORTLY INTRODUCING WINTER FAIRWAY PROTECTION TO ALL OF THE FAIRWAYS THIS YEAR.  NORMALLY WE INSTALL BLUE POSTS TO SELECTED FAIRWAYS TO INDICATE THE START AND FINISH OF THE AREA WE ARE PROTECTING.  THIS YEAR BLUE POSTS ARE BEING WITHDRAWN HOWEVER BLUE LINES WILL STILL BE APPLIED TO INDICATE THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE PROTECTED AREAS.  THIS WILL MEAN IF YOU’RE BALL LANDS ON A PROTECTED AREA ON THE FAIRWAY YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO LIFT AND PLACE THE BALL IN THE SEMI ROUGH – THIS WILL APPLY TO ALL 18 FAIRWAYS.

 

I HOPE YOU AGREE AS WE ENTER THE WINTER PERIOD WHEN GROWTH IS RESTRICTED THAT PROTECTING THE TURF ON THE FAIRWAYS IS BOTH SENSIBLE AND REASONABLE.  THIS ACTION WILL ENSURE THAT THE FAIRWAYS WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE BEST CONDITION POSSIBLE IN SPRING 2013.

 

 

4.     G P AIR

 ON WEDNESDAY 24^TH I ORGANISED A LOCAL CONTRACTOR TO  VISIT THE COURSE AND ATTEMPT TO REMOVE SURFACE WATER THAT CONTINUES TO LIE IN THE LOWER AREAS OF THE COURSE AND TO TRY AND ALLEVIATE COMPACTED AREAS AROUND VARIOUS APRONS AND WALK OF AREAS.

THIS TYPE OF MACHINE IS EXTREMELY USEFUL IN INJECTING COMPRESSED AIR INTO THE GROUND WHERE TURF IS BEING AFFECTED BY ANEROBIC CONDITIONS.

AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW DETAILS OF THE MACHINE AT:   www.kensettsport.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

IT IS MY INTENTION ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO UPDATE MEMBERS VIA THE BLOG WITH INFORMATION ON THE PROGRESS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKS BEING UNDERTAKEN.  I HOPE THAT ALL MEMBERS WILL FIND THIS USEFUL AND AS YOU KNOW WE ARE ALWAYS KEEN TO HAVE FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS REGARDING THE COURSE. 

PLEASE CONTACT US VIA  greens@cathkinbraesgolfclub.co.uk

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

DOUGLAS McINTOSH

COURSE MANAGER

                 

Course Status Update

1st Fairway This is one of the lowest areas on the fairway and naturally water will accumulate here.  However, drainage has been installed in previous years and is clear and working well.  Unfortunately there is no main outlet due to the extensive rock formation in the surrounding area.  There is however, a large sump located to the R/H/S near the main road which stores rain water and filters it slowly into the natural ground system. As you know, we have experienced an increased volume of rainfall causing this area to flood for lengthy periods, this has accelerated thatch levels to the turf on top of the drains, therefore slowing percolation rates down causing this area to continually flood.  At present, we have removed the thatch-affected turf and soil down to the gravel layer to ensure no further flooding occurs and also to aid recovery of the existing turf.  As part of our winter programme we intend to install additional lateral drainage to control further flooding. L/H/S 7th Green As you know a few months ago we excavated new drainage tracks to L/H/S of the green as a temporary solution to remove surface flooding which was deteriorating the condition of the turf in this area. Unfortunately the depth of the tracks were determined by the depth of the drains in the green. Therefore, it is my intention to locate and connect to existing drainage to the R/H/S of the 8th tee where the depth is greater allowing us to instal additional drainage to the rear of the green and to the start of the 13th fairway. There are no serious issues with this area other than it being a low-lying site. Also this year experiencing the poorest summer on record and only hope this will change. Installing additional drainage will require excavating across the apron. Therefore for safety reasons a temporary green will be in use until work is complete.

12th Fairway Our green staff are currently installing lateral drainage across the fairway.  They are taking extreme care not to damage services to the Ex. Farm Building on R/H/S which run from the R/H/S of the 8th across the fairway to the fence on R/H/S of the 12th fairway.  For safety reasons tee markers will be located approx. 100yds from the main tee to allow green staff to work safely and effectively. 14th Fairway This fairway has suffered the most in the way of flooding this year. I contacted a reputable drainage contractor a few months ago to seek advise on improving drainage to the fairway. I followed his advice and agreed in carrying out hollowtining, scarifying and sand topdressing with sand banding to follow at a later date. Sand banding will link surface water to the existing drainage system as a cost-effective alternative to installing further drainage, however this could possibly be at a later date! To date hollowcoring, scarifying and sand topdressing have been carried out. Unfortunately, to the end of the scarifying procedure we were hampered with torrential rain showers and also into the following morning. This affected and delayed the application of topdressing sand and didn’t produce the quality of work expected. However, the last few days we were able to apply the sand, which is now disappearing into the turf and significantly, improved turf stability and firmness. Soil conditions and thatch controlling products will be applied at a later date.

16th Fairway As you are aware.  To the L/H/S of the fairway and rough has become extremely wet due to the poor summer we have had this year.  Thatch levels have significantly increased within the turf on top of the drains, which is reducing the percolation rate in which water passes through the root zone.  The existing drainage flows from the L/H/S of the green down towards and underneath the 16th Tee leading to a sump located to the R/H/S of the 15th green in amongst the tees.  Further investigation has revealed that the flow of water is restricted when exiting the sump therefore causing a backup in the 16th fairway.  As part of our winter programme we intend to install additional drainage around the sump outlet, also if weather permits carry out renovation work i.e. hollowcoring, topdressing and vertidraining To the fairway to improve turf health and pliability.

Your co-operation is essential and appreciated so our staff can carry out their work safely and efficiently. Your patience and understanding is appreciated through this difficult climate period.   Thank you   Douglas McIntosh