West Kilbride March Links Report 2022
It has been another busy winter programme this year but we have managed to complete all main tasks that were planned slightly ahead of schedule. This allowed us to rebuild the back bunker at 12 and also gave us a good start for spring maintenance work to be undertaken on the course.
After February’s wet and windy weather March has been reasonably dry with only 32mm of rain and the temperatures have been fairly good for the time of year allowing the course to dry out nicely.
The following work has been carried out on the course:
- All servicing and grinding of cylinders and bottom blades has been carried out on all cutting machinery.
- All plantation of gorse has been completed on several areas of the course.
- All bunkers have been fly-mowed, edged and new sand has been added. Sand levels and bunker maintenance will be monitored and carried out regularly throughout the season.
- The wetter tees and surrounds have been holo-cored and heavily top-dressed
- All walk-off areas and compacted areas have been Verti-drained
- Several rabbit holes and path ends have been re-turfed.
- The irrigation system is now up and running with no major issues to report just usual adjustments and replacement of sprinklers and decoders.
- Hand-watering has been carried out to all newly turfed areas.
- All fairways, practice area, surrounds, tees and tee banks have been cut.
- All tees have been sprayed with ammonium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, wetting agent and seaweed to promote colour, growth and density to the turf.
- New hole cups and flag-pins have now been put out on the course.
- New flags have been put out on the practice area.
- Divoting has been started on fairways and all semi rough areas. This will be on-going over the next few weeks.
On The Greens:
- All greens have been aerated using micro-tines down to a depth of 4 inches
- Top-dressing has been carried out with roughly 0.5 tonne being applied per green or 10 tonne per hectare.
- Lawn sand has been applied to all greens to promote early season growth.
- Active R granules have been applied to the greens to help with root development, assist with nutrient retention and general plant health which will result in a vigorous turf sward.
- Two applications of Wetting agent and Liquid Aeration have also been applied. This helps with moisture balance and retention as well has helping to break down the black layer within the soil profile.
- The greens are now been cut twice per week and given an occasional roll. The height of cut is 6mm but this will come down over the next couple of weeks.
Jobs still to be completed:
- Pathway irrigation at 14. This job has been delayed as TIS irrigation are 5 weeks behind installing a new system at another course.
- Strimming under gorse that is in play on certain holes. This will be carried out during April.
As the new golf year is about to get underway could I please remind all golfers to follow directional signs around the course and please continue to repair their pitch-marks. Many thanks and good luck for the season ahead.
Richard Fulton
Head Greenkeeper