GREENS BULLITINE

 

NOTES FROM THE CAPTAINS MEETING

 

 

1. Concerns were raised regarding the ditches on the 11^th fairway.
   

2. Some members made the comment that they felt the greens could do with more work such as more frequent hollow tining and dressing would be of benefit. Also that an agronomist should be engaged to set up a programme of work, It was pointed out to members that when an agronomist last set up a programme of work for the greens he considered that all the old greens should be replaced within two years of his inspection. Much of his plan is still in use. Chair of greens would speak to head green keeper regarding budget for greens.
   
3. Concerns were expressed about the state of the bunkers especially on Sundays when the main competitions take place, from the general discussion it would appear that members leave footprints as well as animals. 
   
4. Bucket holes for temporary greens are dangerous, can they be filled in.
   
5. Are all the steps being covered in astro turf.
   
6. It was also stated that the greens are getting smaller, can they be taken out to the sprinkler heads.
   
7. Can the gorse on the lower tee on the 6^th be cut as members are unable to see the green. The trees on the entrance to the 7^th fairway need to be cut back.
   
8. The bank down to the 17^th green needs to be kept short as members run the ball into the green
   
9. Can the bomb hole on the 5^th fairway be cut as long drives are caught up in the long grass.
   
10. 12^th green the new drain lines are subsiding can they be filled in.
    
11. Can the drainage ditch at the back of the green be extended further.
    
12. Is it possible to have several cuts of rough..

 

 

AUTUNM AND WINTER WORK PROGRAMME

 

Alan Prime  head green keeper had outlined to the board his programme of work for autumn and winter, members will see that some of the points raised at the captains meeting had been previously noted by Alan will be addressed in his programme of work.

His programme of work is as follows :-

 

• 7^th green.  Replace turf on back of green and put a small drain into left hand drain run. Put four drain runs through apron into main drain in fairway. Put two drain runs into a V shape where bare patch is, joining one main run down 7^th fairway running into rough behind the Coleshill Road winter green and re-turf bare patch. Some trees and branches to be removed at back of green and rough area to be tidied and made mowable. Back of green to be monitored over winter period.
  

• 10^th green. Dig out sump and drain line through wet area at front of green, pipe gravel and re-turf it.
  
• 11^th green. Clean up ditches on l/h side over bridge, gravel up fit pipe and re-soil. Cut away bushes next to bridge Remove self setters around pond, remove dead tree on island replace with weeping willow. Put in drain runs through apron of green into pond.
  
• 12^TH fairway. Add more drain lines through fairway to connect to new drains.
  
• 13^th green lift turf on l/h side and level out and re-turf, level and extend drain run at back of green.
  
• OTHER JOBS All greens and tees to have autumn renovation – spiking, over seeding, topdressing and fertilising, spray for worm casts and fusarium.

All fairways to be spiked, bad areas vertidrained, this may be carried out a few times dependant on weather.

Heavy rough to be cut down for winter

All bunkers to be renovated, forked over, weeded, edged, lining removed where it is showing through and topped up with sand. Some bunkers to have drains put in.

New tee construction for ladies on 14^th.

Tree work, thinning out of trees and stakes removed from 9^th fairway, several trees around course and down driveway to be pruned.

 Hedges cut back around the course.

Gorse on tees to be cut.

Some fairways to be sprayed with selective weed killer in September and March (to remove clover).

Astro turf to be fitted to all steps and bridges.

Path on 7^th temporary tee to be levelled.

 

There have also been a number of complaints as to why the greens have slowed up.  They have slowed up because of the work necessary prior to the onset of winter.

This work is necessary because if we do not then the greens would deteriorate to a point where they would be unplayable.

There are various forms of green maintenance that are carried out at certain times of the year and invariably when the greens appear at their best which infuriates the majority of golfers to the point they criticise the chair of greens and the greens staff incessantly.

I hope in the next few sentences to give reasons why work has to be carried out.

1.      AERIATION   Aeration is the process by which holes are put into the greens to allow for air to be able to get into the soil beneath the green.  This is certainly the most important single operation in green keeping, few operations show more or varied benefits than aeration. There is a long list of benefits which includes relieving compaction, restructuring deflocculated soils, improving drainage, break down thatch by oxidation, correcting stagnation, building up a health aerobic soil micro life, encouraging deeper rooting grasses and thus drought resistance, curing dry patch, helping the absorption of top dressings without layering and increasing turf resilience. Shallow aeration aimed at minimising surface disturbance gives poor results and that depth must be varied. Ironic as it seems the best time for aeration is when the grasses are at their strongest.

2.      TOPDRESSING There are many reasons to top-dress greens some of them are as follows :- fresh topdressing encourages new growth of grass shoots and stems to form a dense, fine –bladed turf, thatch control, reduction of disease and insect activity and it helps alleviate compaction. Top dressed greens usually have better holding qualities for the golfer, it gives weed control and protection against winter injury to the greens. These benefits are in addition to the improved putting green quality usually achieved because of the smoothing firming and speeding of the putting surface that topdressing provides.

 

Clearly for a period after the work the greens will be slower especially as we added fertiliser to them which encouraged grass growth.

The greens during the summer months are cut to 3mm, currently they are at 5mm and for winter they will cut to 6mm.

 

I hope that the above has answered some of the complaints and that I have shown a balance of benefits against complaints, so as to not present you with a fait accompli I would hope to give advanced warring as to when work on the greens will take place.

 

Some of the difficulties Alan and his staff face is the narrow window during the golfing week (Monday/Tuesday), the amount of competitions and the length of the competition schedule. He also has to attempt to pre judge the weather which over the last few years has been unpredictable to say the least. On balance judging from the majority of the members comments Alan and his staff have done a very good job this year. 

 

Maintaining and improving our golf course is an ongoing task, there may be occasions where it may appear to members that we don’t quite get it right or we don’t seem to care.  But be assured Alan, his team and the greens committee are committed to producing a course the members can be proud of.

 

 

 

R J Thomas

Chair of Greens