SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
August Summary
On the course
Keith has begun to clear the rubbish out from under the trees on the left of the eleventh and, already, there is a marked improvement to the appearance of this area, exposing the gorgeous large fir tree.
More work will be undertaken here in the coming weeks, cutting back all the way to the end of the fairway.
The greens speeded up in August as the grasses on them became dormant. Once the grass stops seeding the benefit of scarifying is enhanced, we get more play on grass which is the correct density for a true roll.
The greens showed early signs of the disease Fusarium at the start of August so Keith quickly eradicated this with an application of fungicide. They had a light spiking later in the month to relieve compaction and black layer (lack of oxygen) using small pencil sized spikes and a feed of iron to green them up and strengthen the plant to prevent further disease.
Turf removed from the site of the area for new mounding at the top of the ninth fairway has been used on the new practice bunkers. As Keith begins the new mounding no materials will be wasted. Turf is stripped to be re-used and the top player of soil underneath is put to one side to be used as top soil. If we are inventive and careful we can save a fortune by finding and using materials off the site e.g. when we built the new bunkers on 12 and re shaped the side/rear of the 15th green we had quotes totalling £30,000 for these jobs. We sourced turf from the practice field and found all the hardcore on site and did these two projects in house for less than £3,000.
The fairway mower sprang a leak of engine oil on a few of our fairways on the front nine. Engine oil is not as hot as hydraulic oil and does not burn the grass or kill it. It just leaves a black mark until it is grown out, which should not take too long.
The apple tree falling down behind the ninth tee will have to be removed unfortunately. Do you know why we have so many fruit apple and pear trees along there? When the railway line ran along the length of the course travellers would throw their apple cores out of the window. So the poor tree that is being chopped down would have started life in the hands of a passenger any time between the turn of the century and the Second World War, judging by the size of the tree.
September Works
In the run up to Captain’s day we demonstrated a greens iron. We measured the pace of the greens prior to using the iron for the first time and they were 7.5 on the stimp, on completion of the work they rolled at 10. The iron gently presses down the grass leaf with 4 rollers (applying only 3lb of pressure per square inch, your footstep is up to 30lb).
This produces an amazing, true roll-almost like a snooker table, unaffected by the grass. The club were so impressed they have purchased one and Keith has just taken delivery of it. Weather permitting the iron will be used as required and we will see our greens progress from good to excellent surfaces.
The greens will be verti drained, subject to the weather, on 12th September with 9 inch deep holes and a heavy dressing of sand. This is to prepare them for winter and strengthen the root development and is the last heavy tining until spring. Works should be completed on the Monday and play will be to temporary greens on this day. The iron will assist here too, it will be able to flatten the surface, following the tining, and produce a better roll on the spiked greens.
The greens will also have an autumn feed which can vary; Keith is very scientific about this and has just sent off soil samples from around the course to the laboratory at Scotts who will be able to determine the content of phosphates, potassium, magnesium and trace elements in the soil. They will recommend what we need to ensure the grass remains healthy.
The programme of winter improvements begins this month. As you can see from the schedule below there will not be much rest for the greens staff;
With all winter works the length and quality of the growing in period is determined by the start date-start early and we may affect autumn competitive golf, start late and we may affect spring golf. The schedule is produced by the greens committee who consider the affect on play and the need to have any works completed and in play by the following season.
Old Putting Green.
Re-locate to rear of the first tee.
Start Date; 7th September
Method
Strip old turf in sections.
Construct a new base for the green, re shaped to be circular.
Add in drainage to the main drain at the rear of the mounding behind the green.
Run irrigation to the new green.
Replace the sections of old turf.
Remodel site of the old putting green to become a feature at the rear of the new ninth green.
Plant evergreens between the 18th green and new putting green to hide players practicing on the green and in the net.
Disruption;
There should be no disruption to play.
Hole 11.
Re-model left side of green to shape it with raised mounding, preventing balls running off this side.
Start Date; 19th September
Method
Strip the turf on the left side of the green.
Move the irrigation to give adequate coverage of the new mounding.
Place hardcore around rear and left side of the existing green (filling in the old bunker). Shape the top of this with clay and put on that a 200mm root zone mix.
Replace the stripped turf and fill gaps with new turf.
Area to be left clean and tidy with GUR well defined each day, possible use of a DZ at front if required.
Works to be carried out from 6am on weekdays only.
Completion; 27th September
Disruption; Given fair weather the new mounding will be GUR for 1 month from completion.
Hole 13.
Enlarge the rear tee.
Start Date; 19th September
Same start date as the 11th Green to make good use of machinery hire.
Method
Re- route the path to go through the small copse of trees to the side of the tee.
Place hardcore around the rear and to the right side of the existing tee to provide 90m2 of additional teeing ground. Shape the on top of this with clay and 200mm Rootzone.
Seed the teeing area and banking (seeding is preferred to turf in order to provide the firmest possible surface).
Cut back and clear some of the bushes to the left side of the tee.
Completion; 30th September
Disruption; White tees out of play until Spring, play will be from rear of yellow tee (loss of 15 yards).
Hole 6.
Reconstruct the entire tee to one continuous level.
Start Date; 10th October
Method
Strip off existing turf for re-use in other areas on the course where possible. Remove topsoil and re-use also. Level off sub-structure and replace topsoil. Seed the new tee.
Completion; 20th October
Disruption; Entire tee will be out of play for most of the winter. A mat will be placed at the side of the yellow/white tee and one in front of the ladies tee.
Following on from this we will re model the front of the eighth tee and re build the 14th tee, we shall determine start dates for these once we see how the other works have progressed.
Throughout the winter the programme of clearance will continue under our trees. We will remove many of the weaker firs on the left of 18, scrub out to the right of the tee and between holes 3 and 4. By the end of winter it is hoped that most of the trees on the course will have their canopy’s raised to above head height. This will allow the rough mower access underneath them, cut back drastically on our strimming time and allow you to play from underneath.
If you have any feedback about the course or this newsletter then please contact Simon (simon@bsgc.co.uk) or a member of the greens committee.
We hope that you enjoy the course throughout September,
Kind regards,
Simon and Keith, on behalf of the Greens Committee.
The Course
Course Closed, clubhouse open