December

Assistant Green Keeper Francis Lesser who has never played golf before had his first golfing experience when we were invited to play in the Seniors Turkey Trot. He scored 2points for his team .

No doubt modelling himself on the golfer Ricky Fowler,you possible can see the connection 

Work continues on ditch clearing , below working on the 3rd cross ditch Hawk

Golfers are often seen using buggies on the course, but the picture below shows that the name golfers in this case is inappropriate, other names quickly come to mind I'm sure

9th apron Vixen 

2nd green Heron

Flag pin broken,green damaged 9th Vixen 

Still some variety of  fungi and lichens to be seen around the course

Fungal issues on Greens Tees and Fairways have been a real problem for golf course managers in the south east. Even though preventative  spraying was applied additional applications were required to try to keep on top of the disease .We have used 4 applications this autumn period on the greens and some courses have applied 6 in trying to control it. The photo below taken in late December was on the 9th tee Hawk. We only spray greens as its to costly to apply to other areas. We continue to use cultural control as well ,in keeping the greens as clean as practically possible.

The shrubbery around the starters hut has been trimmed and cleaned and then we applied our free woodchip around the plants.

 

The green keeping team had an event at a nearby scout camp where we did archery, with Geoff and Steve having the best team score.

When  the weather conditions and light  are right there are some good photo opportunities.

Oak tree on the 1st and 6th Heron

Below 7th hawk and 3rd Heron in the mist

I would like to wish all our members and visitors to South Essex an enjoyable Christmas and New Year and hope to see you all on the course in 2017

NEW PATH Extensions

Our autumn /winter work programme continues with the greens having been sprayed with a fungicide,and a wormicide. Aeration work with regular slit tining and rolling continues as well.The tees have been solid tined and sprayed with the wormicide. The dry autumn had restricted the amount of slit tining accomplished on the Fairways but recently we have been able to carry this out as well.

We have completed 2 new path extensions on the Heron course on holes 6 and 9 from the tees to the greens A video of the work done is on youtube to watch.




During the frosty weather we have been clearing some overgrown areas, below is a photo of ditch clearing behind the 8th green Vixen

 Here we have opened the view into the Pond behind the 4th green Vixen

As last winter was so wet we identified certain areas that would benefit from using the free Astroturf that we had and a number of areas around the course were completed. That left 3 walkout areas to do  and this also has been  completed  on 2nd green Heron,4th Green Vixen and 6th Green Hawk 

Working on Ditch clearing 9th Vixen left of the green

 Some of the green staff have attended a one day first aid course as well as attending for the first time the  BIGGA South East Regional Seminar which covered topics such as Soil Biology,Use of seaweed product on turf,Golf course ecology as well as other topics held at Surrey Downs Golf Club.

Below is the Bigga Learning Programme booklet for Harrogate 2017 with a photo of the South Essex Course Manager (fortunately) looking interested at a workshop in 2016

 I took this photo just as I was leaving work  late afternoon by the 4th Vixen