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  THIS YEAR BLUE POSTS ARE BEING WITHDRAWN HOWEVER BLUE LINES WILL STILL BE APPLIED TO INDICATE THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE PROTECTED AREAS.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