COURSE REPORT

APRIL REVIEW:  Another frustratingly wet month on the whole, though we had a week of glorious sunshine and temperatures rising up to 27 degrees in the middle of the month.  We went from two days of being closed due to waterlogging to priming the irrigation system and running an irrigation programme one week later. The summer temperatures dried the course out nicely and also brought a huge growth flush.  A big effort was made throughout the week where we were able to get out on machines and make a big improvement to the course presentation.  The greens were aerated, verti cut and top dressed as well as a liquid feed bring applied. The tees also were aerated and top dressed with a granular feed applied, which will give the tees enough nutrients throughout the summer.  All the greenside bunkers were edged and topped up with sand where necessary. 

MAY REVIEW:  As we look forward to some more settled, drier and warmer weather, this will hopefully enable us to get out and do work we have been unable to do because of the wet conditions, in addition to our cutting routines. We will look to finish off the area left of 7th fairway where the row of trees have been taken out and once the area has dried out, we will be able to finish preparing these areas for turfing and will overseed the surrounding areas as well.  We will look to overseed any thin or bare areas, particularly the sides of some fairways and semi rough areas.  Path work improvements will be ongoing, where we will look to level out and add more material.

Greens:  The greens will gradually improve throughout the month. A further pencil tine aeration and regular verti cutting and light sand dressings, along with the continuation of our nutrient programme, is the cultural work required to keep a healthy plant.  The cutting height, which is now at 4mm, and rolling using our turf iron should see a much more consistent, smooth playing surface and more consistent green speeds.  There will be very minimal disturbance during any cultural works but thank you for your understanding.

Tees/Approaches:  The main cultural works have been carried out on the tees - an application of herbicide which is a selective weed killer and a plant growth regulator have been applied. The height of cut will be brought down from 12mm to 10mm when conditions allow.  Keeping on top of divoting will also be priority.  The same works already done on the tees will be carried out on the approaches and green surrounds. 

Fairways:  We have now started cutting in the diagonal stripes and will continue to cut regularly in order to ‘burn’ these lines in. The height of cut will be reduced to 14mm.  A liquid feed will be applied to the fairways, including iron, a selective herbicide and plant growth regulator.

Semi Rough/Rough:  A selective weed killer and ‘PGR’ will be applied to selected areas where needed and a liquid feed will also be applied to the semi rough. 

Mark Ogden

Course Manager