Greens blog for w/c 22/2/16
Welcome back to our
course blog after a long absence, however its my intention to resume
informing members of the ongoing activities and future plans for our
course.Apologies on my behalf for the absence.
So whats been going on lately??
Firstly, details of this years winter programme as follows:~
1) Improve/repair drainage on 2nd fairway
2) Path renovation at the 1st tee
3) Extension to the entrance and exit to the 2nd path
4) Green side bunker renovation at the 10th and 17th holes
5) 3rd ladies tee- re level existing tee to include an AstroTurf winter tee to l/h/s of main tee
6) 3rd ditch- repair to timber edging and grass banking mainly to the r/h/s near hawthorn tree
7) Improve drainage on the r/h/s of the 14th apron/fringe
8)
r/h/s of the 5th hole- Planned removal of 5 trees to maximise light and
air circulation, pipe and infill of narrow ditch leading to pond,
install soil and landscape area where trees were to provide a improve
landing area more so from the new tee direction.
9) Investigate drainage problem to the l/h/s of the 10th rough
COMPLETED PROJECTS TO DATE :-
1) 2nd fairway drainage
2) Path renovation at the 1st and 2nd tee's
3) Vertidraining and disc slitting to all fairways
4) Hollow coring and collection of cores to all main teeing areas
MAINTENANCE WORK TO DATE :-
1)
Following hurricanes Gertrude and Henry earlier this year and combined
with higher rainfall levels, certain winter projects have had to be
temporally postponed until ground conditions improve in order for our
machinery to access these area's with the minimal amount of damage to
the course.
During periods of high rainfall and the postponement
of winter projects our green staff have been busy 'crown lifting'
(cutting tree branches from the base upwards) trees throughout the whole
course. This will allow access around the base of the tree for golf
shots and easier maintenance for our green staff.
WINTER PROJECTS OUTSTANDING :-
1)
10th and 17th green side bunkers - Final turfing was delayed to allow
the new soil and bunker sand to compact. Greenstaff will return within
the next couple of weeks to complete the rest of work required to
complete the project. Once the new turf has completely rooted into the
new soil then play will resume from the bunkers but until then these
area's will be treated as GUR.
2) 3rd ladies tee - Construction is
almost complete, however hard frost and snow have hampered the re
turfing process. hopefully there will be break in the weather to allow
us to complete this project by the end February.
3) 5th hole
renovation- This project will unfortunately be postponed to later in the
year approx OCT/NOV due to the deterioration in the turf on the 6th
medal tee. After numerous treatments and with considerable periods of
rest, the surface had shown signs of recovery during last season and
into early autumn, however as temperatures and daylight decreased and as
we approached into winter, grass coverage began to deteriorate
significantly. After consultation with our committee it was agreed that
the 6th medal tee is now more of a priority now than the 5th hole
project. Factors in the deterioration of the surface have been a
considerable lack of sunlight and air circulation, acidic rain droplets
from pine needles from over hanging tree branches, plus soil tests have
identified high levels of sulphur found in the root zone (cause
unknown). A solution has been agreed to crown lift all trees surrounding
the tee to maximise the air and sunlight issue, of which tree
contractors are currently carrying out. For budgeting purposes we have
decided to repair only the first third of the 6th medal tee just now,
leaving the additional two thirds for Oct/Nov, once the competition
season has come to an end. Hopefully the new turfed section will be
ready for the first competition in April, however if not the white medal
markers will be located to the rear of the gents tee until the new turf
has completely established.
3RD DITCH
Due to
deterioration in the timber edging sections of the ditch it will be
necessary to renew these timber sections which are located mainly to the
r/h/s near the hawthorn tree. Repair work will begin when we have
completed all our outstanding projects. This I have scheduled for late
March. If left unrepaired this could have serious flooding issues within
and around this area.This could also affect holes 3, 4, 6, and
14,therefore it is essential this repair is carried out as soon as
possible.
R/H/S OF14TH APRON/FRINGE
As rainfall
records keep getting broken, this area has been gradually been
deteriorating for a number of years now, therefore new drainage was
required to improve the quality of turf especially so close to the
green. New pipe drainage has now been installed with final turfing
required to complete project, again final turfing had been purposely
delayed to allow new root zone to compact further. Turfing is scheduled
for the w/c 8/3/16.
I hope this keeps you up to date
so far with all the goings on within our winter programme however if
you require further information then you can email us at
Greens@cathkinbraesgolfclub.co.uk.
The greens
committee, greens staff and myself would like to wish you all a great
golfing season and hopefully we will all be basking in sunshine this
summer !!! wishful thinking LOL !!
Finally, i would
like to thank Lyndsay Ross for his time, effort and enthusiasum during
his reign as Greens convenor and welcome Kenny Alexander who replaces
Lyndsay as Greens convenor. I hope you will join me in wishing Kenny the
very best of luck in his new position. He will need it working with us
!! LOL.
Thank you for your attention
Douglas
