August 2022
The prolonged spell of dry weather is starting to cause some issues for the upkeep of the course. Our legal levels of usable water are running low, which means we have to stop watering tees & approaches for the time being and concentrate on greens. We will hose some of the turf surfaces until rainfall levels increase. Grass is a very sturdy plant and will recover in time, and we will overseed any necessary areas.
The greens are being cut every other day at a height of 4.5mm and regular feeds are being applied to keep the sward healthy. Solid tining the greens regularly is also helping the water get to the root of the plant where it is needed the most.
Due to the weather we have decided to postpone our renovation work this year and a new date of the week commencing the 26th September has been added to the diary. Tees and approaches will be left for longer to try and help the sward to compete with the dry weather. We will take this opportunity to bring forward the cutting back of the long rough areas, which will give us more time to concentrate on re-establishing the course when the weather breaks. Areas around the 2nd, 15th, & 16th tees have also been cleared to improve the visual aspect of the course.
Please help by repairing your pitch marks and raking your footprints in the bunkers.
June 2022
As we moved into June the much-appreciated rainfall kept the grass plant healthy, with strong growth levels on all areas of the course. Greens heights are at 3.5mm and are being cut daily, with applications of fertilisers and seaweed applied every 12 - 14 days. This keeps the nutrient levels stable and monthly aeration helps to relieve compaction and allows airflow through the sward.
With Captain’s Day approaching we will also increase the rolling schedule just to get a bit of extra pace for the special day. The following week the greens will be scarified (two passes) and top dressed with sand.
Fairways are being cut twice a week to a height of 15mm. When you are picking up a divot bag, please concentrate on that specific hole and place the empty bag at the receptacle by the next tee. Bunkers will all be edged ready for Captain’s Day, with sand top ups where required. Please help to maintain the standards of the course by repairing pitch marks and raking bunkers - by doing this you will help improve the playability of your course.
May 2022
Introduction
Coming into the first real days of spring, soil temperatures are still on the low side and we’re seeing still slowing growth rates especially on the sand-based greens. As their rates start to increase the greens heights will be lowered to our normal playing heights and a programme of scarifying and regular sand top dressing will be applied. The scarification will help reduce the thatch layer in the sward and the sand dressings will help to firm the reinstate levels in the putting surface. This along with liquid feeds every 10-14 days will help to maintain a healthy sward.
Fairways
All fairways have been sprayed with a feed and iron mixture to aid growth and improve course definition. The divot bags have been reinstated to help repair the fairways after a heavy winter use. Please take a bag from the stand and use it on that designated fairway, then after use place the used bags in the receptacle by the next tee. Hopefully by the time you receive this update we will have another product to try and help reduce the number of divots damaging the fairway surface - more information to follow.
Flags
Another reinstatement since Covid this year is the winner’s flags for the Club Championships. The flag will be placed on the 18th green and presented to the winner. By now you should have seen our new flag poles for this year. These have a 4mm carbon fibre base making putting with the flags left in the holes easier.
Member Notices
Please help to maintain the standards of the course by repairing pitch marks and raking bunkers. Repairing your pitch mark quickly helps to aid the health on the grass plant as well as levels in the sward surface.
