February Links Report
During the month of February, the green staff have been busy landscaping and preparing the new practice area. New Huxley turf is now in place and the putting green has been lifted and re-levelled with 840sqm of turf been laid. New Irrigation valves have been installed and the sprinklers will be getting replaced and re-positioned to ensure maximum coverage of the playing area. The pathway has been prepared for new Astro-turf which will be laid shortly and new posts and rope will be added to create a safe separation between the practice area and path. The practice area has been widened slightly on the right-hand side and extra flag pins have been added to ensure there are plenty of targets for all areas of the practice bays and range.
The gorse bush as the right-hand side of the 18th has been topped to ensure golfers can be seen coming down 18 from the practice range.
The base for the practice nets is near completion and the concrete will be poured once the weather allows. Asto-turf will cover the concrete pad prior to the nets going up.
Other work on the course has included excavation of the wet area of ground near the second green. We found and dug out a large piece of rock armour which was very close to the surface causing this area to remain wet. This rock has been removed and a new drain has been added as well as straight sand prior to rootzone to help dry this area out. Preparation work has been carried out on the path at the second for Astro turf which has also been laid.
All newly built bunkers have been turfed and we have started to add rootzone for bases and sand into the newly built bunkers. The remaining bunkers will be checked and fresh sand added as required.
Tees have been cut and divoted on a regular basis.
On the Greens:
DID YOU KNOW
The average number of pitch-marks made on greens per round is 8 per golfer.
Assuming only 130 rounds are played each day on the course, then our greens would receive:
- 1040 impressions per day or
- 31000 per month or
- More than 374,000 per year
Are you wondering how to make a putt under these conditions?
Due to little growth at this time of year and softer ground conditions, could I please remind all golfers to please repair their pitch-marks correctly. The information above is taken from a study that was carried out regarding pitch-marks on a golf course.
- The greens have been verti-drained to a depth of 275mm
- The height of cut was 7mm and greens have been cut twice during February
- Due to the dry weather and limited spraying windows, the greens have received no treatments. Lawn, sand and micronutrients will be applied shortly when the weather allows.
Other Course matters:
The shed roof repairs have finally commenced.
I hope to have the fence installed around the petrol tank within the next couple of weeks prior to the tank being filled.
Richard Fulton
Head Greenkeeper