A Busy Month of Renovations

Sanding the 11th green



Greens were fertilised with an application of a biologically enhanced organic fertiliser, the week prior to the start of renovations, to promote active growth to aid with the recovery process.

Despite the inclement weather that gave us 35mm of rain for the week, greens renovations took place as scheduled. All greens were scarified on the Monday to a depth of 25mm; they were then cored using 19mm tines to 125mm depth over the next two days using a closer pattern (50mm x 50mm) than previous years to impact a greater surface area. Due to the rainfall the majority of greens were not sanded until Thursday, with some greens then receiving a top-up of additional sand on Friday morning (a total of @100 tonne of sand was used throughout the renovation process). The sand on the greens was worked into the core holes using a rotary brush and received their first cut at 4.5mm one week after coring. They were then reduced back to their normal height of 3mm in stages over the next week.  I am extremely pleased with the speed of the recovery of the greens and also the fact that we were able to achieve this with what I believe to be minimal disruption and inconvenience to the membership.

Renovation of tees has also been completed with all tees cored using 19mm hollow tines to a depth of 75mm to remove a percentage of the thatch that has built up since the autumn renovation. Tees have also been overseeded and then sanded.

Fairways have been sprayed with a combination of products to eradicate Poa annua, ryegrass and broadleaf weeds that have germinated since the last application of product.

August Weather Data



	August 2013	August 2012	average
Rainfall	136.5 mm	107.5 mm	112.5 mm
Year to Date	618.5 mm	739 mm	610.6 mm
No. of rain days	19	17	-
Average Temp.	16.3°C	13.4°C	-
Average Humidity	77.8%	77.5%	-

The above average rainfall we received this month has meant that this winter has exceeded last year and been the wettest since 2004. On top of a very wet July this has meant that the course is now starting to become very wet and boggy in the usual places. The upside of this is that the main dam is now full and overflowing. 

The main emphasis of last month’s workload can be split into two parts –

• The first two weeks seeing staff concentrate on the removal and clean up of the River red gums approved by the council for removal from the righthand side of the 5^th fairway. The stumps were ground out prior to the heavy rains and we are now waiting for the ground to dry out to allow us to complete the clean-up.
• The second two weeks saw staff working on the tasks needed to drain the two bunkers on the second hole. The works needed to carry out the project were undertaken in the following stages –

Ø  Old sand removed

Ø  Re-grade base of bunker

Ø  Dig out drainage lines (herringbone system)

Ø  Install geofabric liner to base of bunker

Ø  Install drains (100mm slotted ag-drain/stone/shade cloth)

Ø  Add sand shellgrit mix

Ø  Consolidate base and shape/pack faces

Following the Ladies Foursomes Championship, spring greens renovation will be carried out, with coring and sanding of greens on the front nine scheduled for Monday 16^th September and the back nine on Tuesday 17^th September. All greens are also being scarified as part of the renovation process, with this operation being carried out by a contractor throughout the day on the Monday.

Renovation of tees are also scheduled to be carried out this month, with tees being cored to a depth of 75mm and then oversown and sanded to complete the renovation process.

Fairways will be sprayed for Poa annua that has germinated since the last application of product. Areas of broadleaf around the course will be also continue to be targeted as time permits over the coming weeks