We have been very active on the course in recent weeks as growth rates increase,the greens were verticut in two opposite directions,then mini solid tined or as now refered to as "venting the greens" and then topdressed and brushed.This is routine work as far as greens maintenance goes as part of our set programme.

Terry brushing in topdressing 8th Hawk

New flags.pins and cups have been put out on all 3 courses which will give a better presentation to eveyone playing on the greens

Sean Eady placing a new hole 8th Hawk with a new flag and pin

 

Watering the greens is always best done by rain  but when the weather is kind to golfers we rely on our irrigation system which is never as efficent to irrigate the greens.This often shows up issues like dry patch on the greens.These are areas which have become hydrophobic,and repel water,this in turn causes the grass to become stressed ,seen as brown areas,To help over come this we solid tine  them and treat these areas with wetting agents which helps to re-wet the droughted areas and aid the recovery of the grass,
 



3rd Green Hawk

To enable us to carry out the many tasks required on the course having the right machinery is very important to us ,as old machine become less reliable and more costly to maintain replacing them become necessary,and we now have  a new Gator  

One of the tasks carried out recently and not covered by my greenkeeping college course was to repair the entrance drive way with its numerous pot holes  the result of  last years record rainfall and winter snow and ice.Using disc grinders and wacker plates we have  now repaired them,they say Jack of all trades............... we are now available tor roads,driveways !

Sean and Luke work on the pot holes

 

On the course we have sprayed the mown rough areas to contol weed invasion especially white clover and to improve the visual apperance and uniformity of it

if not carried out the weed plants will become more invasive

spraying on the 3rd Hawk

Finally as the longest day of the year approches the grass plant is reaching its peak ,as its natural state is to flower and set seed and this is much in evidence especially in the environmental roughs were the grass is allowed to mature,this gives definition to many of our golf holes as well as being good for the flora and fauna habitats,after setting seed the leaf will start to die