As we are now into the autumn months our management of the fine turf areas is to prepare the surfaces to with stand the winter months when growth eventually slows down, and recovery from any damage either from disease or golf traffic is slow
The fairways were sprayed with soluble fertiliser, the tees had a slow release granular fertilise applied, and the green also had a granular feed. The  fertilisers used are low in nitrogen as lush growth is not required this time of year, but the potash and phosphates will in courage root development and harden up the plants .

Our Aeration programme continues with the greens and teetops being solid tined as well as slit tined

                                            Geoff Turner slit tining the 8th green Hawk

October is an ideal time to plant bulbs for the spring and this year we have added to those already planted previously with 1500 daffodil bulbs,500 crocus and 100 alliums planted around the clubhouse area.

                                        Sam Cooke planting Daffodils near the Putting green

 

We have been receiving free wood chip from a local arborist which has been used around the flower beds near the clubhouse, This acts as a weed suppressant ,soil improver and aids moisture  retention

 

October has proved to be a wet month especially the week 6th to 18th when we had 100mm of rain but the course is holding up well apart from some bunkers which are slow to drain.

 

There are those who are unaware that golf buggies should not be driven into bunkers

 

  This time of year autumn mists can often  change the views across the course

 

As the autumn months approach  we have now started to increase our aeration programme ,with 2 passes of slit tining and a single pass of solid tining  on the greens completed so far and a  pass on the fairways completed . This will continue as long as the weather conditions are favourable. It is hoped to solid tine the tees and aprons as well.

An end of season spray on the roughs using up our last supply of selective weed control will help to keep these areas cleaner when we reach spring.

The greens have been sprayed with a fungicide due to an out break of fusarium disease and with an application of soluble feed the scaring has grown out.

There was some damage to certain greens with a hydraulic oil leak from the greens mower  but the steady growth from the feed has allowed this to quickly grow out .

The fairways have all been sprayed with a combination of soluble fertilisers to encourage recovery of the turf going into the winter months.

I can now add to my CV  course presentation  of the Ryder cup achieved at very short notice when we hosted the Football Golf Ryder Cup shown on Sky TV.With Brad Freidal representing America and Jimmy Bullard representing England. America the winning team.

Brad Freidal and Jimmy Bullard

 

Sky Tv filming at South Essex on the Vixen