14th/16th Drainage Progress
To date all quoted/priced drainage work has now been installed by the contractors. Drainage tracks/lines that have been soil/seeded by green staff are now germinating and growing well. Hopefully by the first signs of winter we will see a significant improvement in grass coverage to these areas.
Due to a mechanical fault with the sand banding machine, approx 75% of the sand banding has been completed to the lower part (14b) of the fairway. The remaining work will be scheduled for completion by the end of September. For the best results ground conditions favour in the moist side so that any crowning of the sand slit will easily be pressed back to ground level. Hopefully we will continue to see improvement in surface water removal and grass coverage throughout this coming winter and into spring 2014.
I think its fair to say that the work carried out to the beginning of the 14th fairway has proved to be extremely beneficial and money well spent. The condition of the turf has improved dramatically beyond all expectations this is obviously helped by the fine summer weather over the past few months. Now that the drainage work is near completion we will be continuing similar aeration, thatch removal and sand top dressings to part B (lower level area prior to ditch) as part A (road to bunker) with hopefully similar results.
Any minor bare areas that have not fully recovered will be excavated and re-turfed as part of this years winter programme. Preferred lies will remain on for both fairways until further notice.
2nd Banking
8th Green Drainage
As you may have seen throughout the past few weeks drainage work by Mr Lawson (farmer) has been getting installed to the r/h/s of the green in his part of the field. Installed is a 150mm twin wall pipe leading in to the old reservoir. This will remove any ponding/flooding which usually encroaches onto the course of which we regularly see during lengthy periods of rain. I have conveyed my appreciation to Mr Lawson for his time and effort in this project and hopefully this winter we will see this area significantly dryer.
Winter Programme
Details of our winter programme are currently being discussed and hopefully be finalised by next month. I'm sure we all remember last years appalling summer weather therefore drainage will continue to be on the agenda. Areas will be selected from our drainage report carried out last year by Jim Westwood (drainage consultant for the STRI).
On Behalf of the green staff and greens committee i would like to thank you for your recent kind and encouraging comments regarding the course conditions recently.
Thank you for your attention,
Douglas McIntosh
