July

Below is photo of all the equipment we use to change holes 

To give  good hole presentation

The Hot Dry weather we experienced clearly shows the parched ground against the irrigated green on the 8th Heron

The change into more unsettled weather and heavy downpours has meant more of this type of course condition

After trying different products and application methods to eradicate silver moss with very limited effect , we are trying a different tack this time by apply the product after heavy rain onto the green  when the moss is very wet using watering cans with dye added.we will continue to monitor the results

 The free wood chip we are supplied with has recently been used to cover around the base of the trees between the two first holes  now there is no ecology rough in these areas

August

August the 7th and 8th saw us start our greens renovation with hollow coring  as shown in the video .The work was complete in two days as all the staff worked well, and quickly got into the routine to accomplish each task .Paul hollowcored,Geoff was using the Blower ,I fertilised and seeded,Steve top dressed and George matted in the sand.This was then followed by 40mm rainfall on the following day to wash in the dressing .

On the Thursday and Friday we mowed and rolled the greens and the surface was getting back to normal which is why we carry out this work in August to get the quick recovery 

The wet warm weather has created good mushroom growth around the edges of fairy rings .

Some greens are showing signs of take all patch which is a fungal disease especially seen in late summer 

July 2017

Spraying is being  carried out regularly to apply soluble feeds,tonics and wetting agents to the greens,other areas are sprayed with selective weed control  or total weed control on paths.The greens are sarel rolled and brushed.We are planning to hollow tine the greens in August and then apply a granular feed followed by topdressing.

The photo below clearly shows the hedge between the 3rd Heron and Hawk and how it has now grown to divide the two holes where as before there was nothing to separate the two holes from each other.

 

Damage to the greens surface occur occasionally  from machinery ,animals or golfers which we then repair and restore using our turf repair tool

Bright colourful image of the day lilies near the clubhouse

With the recent  dry and at times hot weather it is so important to be on top of issues with the irrigation system.We recently had two bursts to deal with and  at the same time an electrical failure occurred in the pump controller.These were quickly dealt with.

Below is a photo were we have had to reset some of the popups which have sunk,this then affects the arc of the spray and results in areas of the green not receiving enough water.

Views of the clubhouse showing late spring colour

The dry spring continues but the flowers around the course gave there colour and beauty for all to see while playing golf.

 The early spring flowers have now passed as we approach early summer but the bees enjoyed the nectar and pollen from the crocuses (see Video)

Greens have been fed with a liquid feed and treated with wetting agent and seaweed.

We have also applied over 90 tonnes of sand to the greens through the spring to restore the surfaces after the scarring from the disease  we had in the late autumn.This week we are also overseeding the greens,rolling them and following this with a light dressing.

I recently attended Crown Golf's Course Managers conference in St Mellion,where we were able to meet up with the new Course Managers in the Group and have some bonding time, including an afternoon on the Nicklaus Course playing golf.The course being in excellent condition .We also had our own meeting as well as visiting trade speakers.You may also see us now driving new Nissan Navara trucks as well.

The path project on the Heron course is now complete (see Video)

As we were still short on the green staff and the playing season ever closer ,we recruited 2 summer casuals,both play golf. George Hockley and Nick Bird to help us in our course maintenance.

Below you can watch a video of the spring renovation work carried out on the greens recently as we work to improve the surfaces after the winter and disease scarring.We have also been working
on the tees as well scarifying,fertilising and seeding to aid recovery after the winter play.













Work continue on the path project as we aim to complete a cart path around the Heron course.
In March Francis Lesser one of our Assistant Green Keepers left to take up a position on a course in Germany,so we are in the process of recruiting  replacements.
Following on from our topdressing we had some sand left which we added to the bunkers on the 8th Hawk.



Steve,Paul and myself attended  a BIGGA short seminar programme at Writtle College as part of our ongoing training and Continuous Professional Development  targets

Spring is in the air with longer daylight, and temperatures starting to increase ,blossom and spring flowers  are good indicators that a new season is underway.

February

In the last couple of weeks we have been out with our Weidenmann aerator using 20mm solid tines to aerate those compacted traffic areas of the course around tees ,greens and paths.



We are working through our early spring maintenance on the greens a video to follow later as well as the new path work on the Heron coure

Some of the Maintenance staff attended a recent Bigga Seminar day at Oaklands College to listen to a variety of speakers covering topics from soil science to irrigation. There were two Course managers  who covered what its like to manage a big golfing event at The Grove and whats its like when a club committee decide to invest in there staff  machinery and course at Stoneham golf club. Interesting to hear what goes on at other clubs.

 

One of the tasks not seen by our members and golfers is the excellent work done by our Mechanic Justin who works on all the repairs to our equipment to keep them woking so we can carry out out our regular tasks on the course.Here he is working on the Kubota tractor wiring loom,The Ford Tractor in the background is split in half to find the gearing problem.

 

Spring is in the air with the daffodils coming into flower and crocuses on the clubhouse lawn with a honey bee looking for early nectar and pollen.

 

 

Carrying out essential work on the Greens

 

We have used the weather window after the snow and frost to carry out essential work on the greens see video below

 

 

 

Now that the greens are a little softer and more receptive to turf repair we have returfed the damage on the 9th Hawk green that was done  by a hydraulic oil leak a few months ago see video below

 

 

 

We would like to pass on  a Happy New Year to our members and visitors and trust you continue to play and enjoy your golf at South Essex.
 I have just passed a personal milestone by celebrating 20 years service at South Essex as Course Manager. My desire has not changed to see South Essex as one of, if not the best course in Essex. Of course certain aspects are out of my hands in being able to achieve that aim. All the work that we do though is to improve the course for our members and visitors as best as we are able to.

 At the start of the new year we continued with our maintenance programme until stopped by the weather, Greens were slit,brushed and cut, walk off areas sanded,and ditch clearing work continued.

3rd Hawk left of Green

Ditch behind 4th Hawk Tee before and after work

 

 

Winter arrived giving a couple of centimetres of snow followed by days of frost

 

 7th Green Vixen

 

Trolley lines in the frost over the collars and green 1st Heron What happened to using the paths around the greens?

 

 

Work is being undertaken to repair the Weir in the ditch 9th Hawk to comply with the Environment Agency as its the point where we abstract from to supply our Irrigation Reservoir

January comes with the annual visit to Harrogate for BTME to visit the turf Exhibition as well as attending workshops and Seminars. A number of Crown Golf Course Managers attended as well as Steven Towers CEO of the Company.

Time to Dream of new Machines for the course

 

Early morning sunlight on a clear frosty morning brightens up the clubhouse

 

We have completed putting in a new post and rail fence around the back of the 9th Tees on the Heron to give definition between the new path and the Tee area

Our paint brushes have been well used repainting and treating the Benches on the course as well as various seats ,posts and signs to protect the wood and appearance

We have replaced missing Out of Bound posts and repainted them

Work has started on edging up bunkers, this gives definition to the shape and improves the appearance, improving the standard on the course.