14th fairway progress
At last summer temperatures are here. This has boosted grass growth especially at this part of the fairway (14a) on plan. In conjunction with hollowcoring and reseeding work, applications of granular calcium/lime have proved to be beneficial and successful as we now can see encouraging signs of improvement in grass coverage, especially to the poorest areas. This work will continue throughout the summer and into early autumn to ensure we have as much grass coverage as possible going into the winter period.
Next months application of calcium/lime will take it into the 1 ton of product applied since April this year. Soil samples will be taken this week and sent for analysis so that we can monitor how effective these applications have been in adjusting the soil PH. Incorrect soil PH is one of the contributing factors of poor plant health and thatch accumulation.
At this point i would like to remind you all that contractors (Souters sports turf) are arriving on Monday 1/7/13 to begin installing drainage to the 14th, 15th, and 16th fairways. Their work will consist of installing approx no 1100m of drainage running diagonally across the 14th fairway and around the green and 15th tee area (14th B & C on drainage plan ) .
On completion of the 14th drainage work contractors will start on the 16th fairway installing approx 150mm twin wall pipe replacing the exciting outdated pipe, with a further 500m lateral drainage concentrating on the l/h/s of the fairway and rough. This will link up to the work that our green staff carried out during the winter period.
In order that the contractors can carry out their work safely and effectively from Monday to Friday a shorter hole will be in operation this means that a temporary green will be installed approx 230 yards from the main tee. Contractors Are instructed not to work at the weekends so that sat/sun competitions can be played. Playing surfaces will be affected during this period of work therefor can I ask for your patients and cooperation during and after their work is complete . Hopefully the good weather will continue so that contractors can produce work to their high standard that they/we expect, again your patients and understanding are essential.
Timescale for completion of drainage works is difficult to predict due to the weather and the quantity of rock removal that is required, never the less we are hoping contractors will be off site in approx 2 to 3 weeks if all goes well.
On completion of all drainage works and as part of our thatch removal plan we have instructed the contractors to return at a later date to hollowcore and top dress the 14th and 16th fairways. This will reduce some of the compaction created by their drainage equipment and also remove a percentage of the thatch which is contributing to surface flooding that we currently see on these fairways, i will post regular updates on Souters progress via this blog.
Thankyou
Douglas
