WEST KILBRIDE SEPTEMBER LINKS REPORT 2022
September has been a relatively good month for growth with decent temperatures but twice the amount of average rainfall making ground conditions slightly softer than normal. Despite these conditions we have still managed to get a lot of productive and beneficial work to be carried out on the course.
The following work has been carried out on the course:
- Several fairways have been overseeded and top-dressed on holes 7,8,10,11,13,14,16,17, and 18. A slow-release granular fertiliser has been applied to these fairways.
- Walk off and bare areas around the course have also been overseeded and dressed.
- Several areas on the surrounds have been micro-tined, seeded, dressed and have had a slow-release fertiliser applied to help with seed establishment and to ensure there is adequate nutrition in the soil going into the autumn and winter months.
- Winter greens have been cut out, overseeded, fed and will be top-dressed and white lined over the next couple of weeks.
- General cutting and maintenance has been carried out throughout the course.
- Divoting has been carried out as much as possible.
- Sand has been added to the left- hand greenside bunker at the 4th.
On The Greens:
- Aeration practices have been carried on the greens including Sarel rolling, Air 2 G 2 and Verti-cutting.
- The greens have been overseeded using 100% bent grasses and top-dressed
- An application of wetting agent, seaweed, humic acid has been applied to help with seed germination.
- The 11th green is starting to show real signs of improvement and we have applied a product called Rootmass to encourage further root development and health.
- We have not had to core this year due to improving organic matter and advice from the R&A agronomist. Therefore, the greens have been vert-drained using 8mm tines to a depth of 180mm, then micro-tined to a depth of 100mm.
- I have sprayed a liquid feed on the greens containing ammonium sulphate, seaweed and fulvic acid this will help de-stress them, promote colour and encourage turf health.
- The height of cut on the greens is now 4.5mm and cutting will be reduced accordingly depending on the weather conditions.
Other course news:
- We recently had the Wiedemann super 500 machine in on demo. This machine is designed for rough grassland management as it cuts, scarifies and collects the grass. It removes coarser grasses within these areas to allow the finer fescue grasses to thrive and establish. The rough area to the right-hand side of the 18th green has been done as a trial to see if there is a significant difference in finer grass establishment during next season.
- Unfortunately, there is still no further update regarding delivery for the Toro machinery which we ordered last year.
- All gorse is now back in play with exception to a small area of bulb gorse in the section between the 3rd and 5th holes. This has been white-lined and will remain GUR.
- The winter programme has now been finalised and a copy will be available to read within the course newsletter.
- It is anticipated that winter playing conditions shall be introduced on 1st December, however this may be reviewed should weather conditions dictate otherwise.
Winter Programme 2022-2023
- Aeration of greens, tees, surrounds and fairways
- Lift existing rubber matting and create a new Astro turf path at the 2nd.
- Install a new bell at the 2nd.
- Excavate and inspect wet area at the Rhs rough at the 2nd
- Lift existing black matting and create new rye grass pathways at the 7th and 10th holes.
- Lift and re-level the putting green. Install new Astro-turf for practice.
- Install new Astro-turf path from car park down to the practice bays.
- Landscape practice area and excavate ground for concrete base for the practice nets.
- Replace drain at 11.
- Inspect and repair sinkhole at 3.
- Replace and repair sleepers at 13th tee.
- Further gorse plantation next to the 5th tee.
- Grinding and servicing of golf course machinery.
Bunkers that require to be rebuilt:
- 2nd greenside x1
- 3rd fairway at walkway x2
- 8th greenside rhs x1
- 14th greenside x2
- 17th greenside x2
- 18th greenside front left and right x2
Total 10 bunkers.
Bunkers that have been rebuilt will have current sand removed and will be replaced with new sand in March prior to the golf season commencing. Reconstructed bunkers will remain GUR until 1st April 2023
The winter programme will depend on weather conditions and any unforeseen maintenance work that we might need to carry out.
Richard Fulton.
Head Greenkeeper.