Latest Updates / News

Greenlepers Report May/2023

Dear Member,

Growth rates remain slow at present following a cold and wet month of April, however based on previous years of experience growth levels should start to improve during this month. A spring feed was applied last week to help boost potential growth. 

 As growth levels start to increase and the grass sward becomes stronger and more resilient to stress levels our new thatch away verti cutting reels will start to become a regular maintenance operation on our greens. As mentioned in previous reports these verti cutting reels are a type of scarifier which helps remove thatch and shallow rooted weed grasses. ( poa annua ) They are also useful at this time of year when growth is patchy as they also groom the grass sward upright before cutting, which helps produce a more uniform cut and thus a smoother roll of the golf ball. 

 Our greens are currently being maintained at a height of cut of 4.5mm and require cutting four times per week. Again going by previous years experience during this month of May cutting frequency will increase to a daily requirement as soil temperatures reach their optimum, once this happens our height of cut will be reduced to our summer height of 3mm. 

Our fairways have never looked better going into the golf season thanks to our members and visitors using the fairway tee mats for the first time throughout the winter months. However due to the weather and ground conditions in recent weeks we have decided to continue adopting the use of preferred lies for the time being. This will be monitored and a decision made on or before May 12th to either remove preferred lies and play the ball as it lies from May 12th or if we deem necessary we will request an extension to continue preferred lies use beyond that date. We will keep you all up to date before any potential changes take place. 

Tees have recently been fertilised to boost early growth and aid recovery from the winter months. A selective weedkiller will be applied in the coming weeks as growth rates improve. Recently turfed tees at the 10th and 11th have taken well and are back in use quickly, tees at the 3rd and 7th where we had to add more material are taking a little longer to settle but should be back in play in the next few weeks. 

Ditches, pathways around the clubhouse and carpark have all been treated with a total weedkiller and will be monitored for re emergence and treated again when required. 

Approx 60 tonnes of sand has been added to top up sand levels in the bunkers requiring. Bunkers have been edged to tidy and will be rotavated when required throughout the season to alleviate compaction. 

MACHINERY. 

All plant machinery has now returned from annual servicing and blade sharpening and is now in full use, good definition is being achieved around the course. 

 Finally could I ask you all to help us and your fellow members by repairing pitchmarks, raking bunkers after you and replacing your divots.(let's not spoil all of the hard work you've all done over the winter months using tee mats to protect our fairways.)

David Sharkey, 

Head Greenkeeper.