Course Conditions 9-12-11

Course Conditions 9-12-11

Good Morning

Course Closed Next inspection tomorrow morning

What a day yesterday around 35mm rain recorded from Wednesday evening to this morning and gusts well in excess 75mph.

However I must say I was surprised and relieved how little damage we have had.

No feature trees have been affected ( there is probably a few members that were hoping that was not the case ) and there are about 6 trees in total blown over and 3 of them were already dead in the woodland areas of the course.

There is allot of branches to be cleared which will take us well into next week to finish.

G Bruen

Course Conditions

Course conditions

Good morning

Well am afraid there has been no let up in this years poor weather conditions.

The first fortnight in November seen some dryer weather which allowed us to present the course and also clean the course of leaves.

Since then the rain fall has been rather appauling.

Click below for up to date rain record.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/106429575/Rain-fall-record

It has been mentioned if I could update the blog each day due to the changeable conditions to show current course conditions which I will do.

The poor course conditions has allowed us to start carrying out winter overhauls and Grinding of the machinery and project wise we are well into bunker renovation work.

Please click on link to follow winter projects.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/collections/

Gerry

COURSE INFO 24/5/11

Good morning
Due the the clear up operation we are left with after the storm yesterday we will remain closed and a further inspection will take place at 10.30am.
As i hope you appreciate there is a large clear up operation ahead of us with branches and leaves having to be removed from greens, tees, bunkers and also a couple of mature trees blown over.
Gerry Bruen

Congratulations to Alan & Julie wish you all the best and also big Alister in his news father to be ( that's the golf done and many sleepless nights )

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white frost

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Hi

Its that time of the year again and the ducklings are a favourite with the members

The late Easter, Royal wedding & holiday weekend have left only 3 working days out of 10 which to put politely is very trying indeed.

I must thank the guys who are on board with this hectic period and are trying to present the course as well as possible during this shortened working period.

The changes to the right 15th green are coming on nicely and standing on the new 16th tee gives a great feel for what will be a far improved teeing position.

The disease scarring is still present on the worse greens affected during the winter months.

This is affecting the roll and trueness of the putts we are combating this by overseeding with Bent grass, frequent light sand dressings, regular rolling all to improve ball roll.

There has been good signs of germination so far and this will continue as the weeks go on.

G Bruen

Course Info 20-4-11

The great weather continues and couldn't have been any better for the fairway scarifying which is now completed.

Greens soil temperatures were measured today at 13 Degrees which should promote consistent growth.

The club had there final site meeting for the new 16th tee and reshaping around 15th green on Tuesday evening and work commenced this morning.

Most of the project will go on with little disruption to the golfer and if there is any change I will post it here and inform Stewart in the shop.

G Bruen

Good afternoon

We have a busy week ahead of us now that the growth is consistent we will be over seeding all sand greens and spot seeding disease damage on others.

We are trialing a relatively new seed product on the market were the seed is coated with a fertiliser to give it the best chance of survival after germination.

All fairways will be scarified and blown into piles for collection.

Unfortunately this will cause some disruption to play and I would ask if we are working on a particular fairway if the member would pick up and proceed to next hole to speed the process up.

If we get the weather forecast we should have all fairways completed by Thursday.

G Bruen

course info 14-4-11

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Well dare I say it spring is here.
Starting to see some recovery winter disease damage and course showing some definition.
Forecast a good weekend and I may even get a game myself enjoy this good spell.
G Bruen

course info 6-4-11

Just returned from a fee days holiday and the course is slightly damper than I left it.
We have recorded almost 2.5" rain since Friday with the worst spell being this morning.
Course closed next inspection 12 o'clock
G Bruen

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Course info 21-3-11

Good morning
We seem to have a decent spell of weather for the next few days.
I am hoping to have all aeration to greens and tees finished by tomorrow.
All restrictions lifted on fairway all main tees back on play. I have moved the tee mats onto par 3 holes just untill soil temps start to rise.
G Bruen

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Course Maintenance week

Well it was a mixed bag this week with some challenging conditions and a big thanks to the staff for there efforts this week. We did not get all maintenance completed but weather permitting we will have it done early next week.

All sand greens hollow tinned 10mm quod head, followed by one pass thatchaway reels 2mm below surface and then approx 1 -1.5 tonne top dressing brushed in and rolled.

All soil greens verti drained 13mm tinne 8 - 10" depth still to carry out mini solid tinne and one pass thatchaway reels & topdress

12 holes all tees 13mm hollow tine 2" centers followed by heavy top dressing & brushed in.

The irrigation system was also pressured back up ( in house ) and a diagnostic check carried out for our automatic system which reported no major concerns. Over the next week there will be a complete check of all heads and any adjustments necessary.

G Bruen

Course Info 14-3-11

Start maintenance week.
3 temp greens on today 1, 16 & 18
Any work being carried out on greens the temp will be in play
G Bruen

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Course Info 13/3/11

Still a good covering of snow on the course.
Course closed
Next inspection tomorrow morning
G Bruen

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Course Info 11/3/11

Good Morning

The unsettled weather we have been getting will peak tomorrow with some significant snow forecast. ( Lets hope the weather man gets it wrong )

The light snow last evening and low temperatures have made ground conditions slippery and in certain areas of the course impassible.

Course Closed Next inspection 11.00am

G Bruen

The need for aeration on the course

Course Info 3-3-11

Good Morning

Another keen frost this morning all tees & greens on temps.

Next inspection 11am

The 13th hole will be closed for the next 2 days and i would ask the golfer to proceed fro the 12th green to a temporary teeing position on the 14th fairway.

We are reshaping the front of the green & approach.

A view from 8th fairway after bunker on right removed.

Course Projects / Aeration 2011

Good Morning

We have came into a much needed settle period of weather which has allowed us to get on with existing projects and start outstanding ones.

There will be allot happening on the course in the next 4-6 weeks finishing all projects and carrying out essential aeration work to the course prior to the season commencing.

All aeration work is carried out so that it will have a minimum impact to the member but sometimes due to weather windows we will have to push on with the job to get the best results.

It will be published every day if I feel our programme of work may impact on 18 holes of golf.

It is my in tension to start withdrawing current restrictions on the course over the next few weeks ie roped off areas on approaches, forward winter mats par 3s etc so that by late march we will have spread and kept all winter play / damage to a minimum.

We have a maintenance week scheduled for starting 14 March I will be monitoring weather conditions closer to the time before deciding what aeration we will be carrying out.

Here is a list of projects some completed & some ongoing

1) Clearing area right 15^th green.

2) Reshaping back 11^th tee cutting back branches left side.

3) A number of turfing jobs on bare / worn areas ongoing at 1,2,3,5,6 & 16.

4) New drainage channels installed bunkers 10 help with sand wash down faces

5) Removed old sleeper bridges no longer in use at 5^th hole.

6) All medal stones jet washed & treated with stone preserve

7) New stone feature created top weir pond 10^th. Some repair work ongoing.

8) Extra drainage channels installed 10^th fairway still ongoing.

9) Path left side 10^th installed.

10) Clear up work carried out after storm 7 Feb two trees blown over.

11) Rhododendron bush trimmed front 14^th tees trimmed to improve view pond.

12) Trimmed hedge row right 16^th hole.

13) Filling levelling 8th fairway bunker

14) Reshaping work approach 13th green

All course furnishings have been looked at and either cleaned, repainted, or new powder coating which should reflect well on the course this season.

Hope you enjoy the course this year and we have a prolonged playing season

Gerry Bruen

Course Info

Good Morning

Low temperatures during the evening left us with a frost this morning all tee's and greens on temps.

There will be another inspection at 11am

Gerry Bruen

Orlando Trip

Today we are at Champions gate golf club designed by Greg Norman.
We will be showed equipment that is still at the proto type stage and asked to give feedback to improve the efficacy of the machine.
All new equipment seems to be of a hybrid type to reduce fuel costs and hydraulic oil with some machines being fully electric.
G Bruen

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Orlando show

Americans know how to put on a show the place is huge.
Show this morning then discussion groups this afternoon
should have been in training to prepare walking round this.
G Bruen

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Golf Industry Show

I am attending the golf industry show this week in the states.

http://www.golfindustryshow.com/

I will be in good company as I am traveling out with other greenkeepers at Royal troon and Loch lomond.

I will be posting pictures and thoughts of the trip over the next few days.

Gerry Bruen

Course Info 4/2/10

What a evening.
20mm rain recorded and still heavy and gusts of 50mph which has left allot of branches & two trees down.
There is a few days clearing up ahead of us.
Course closed next inspection 5/2/10
G.Bruen

Course Info 30/1/11

2 temp greens in play still a bone in greens 2 & 15.
G Bruen

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Course Info 29/1/11

All greens on temps due to the frost this morning.

There will be another inspection at mid day.

G Bruen

Course Info 28/1/11

Good Morning

Ground frost this morning all greens on temps we will inspect greens again at 11 & 1 o'clock.

Gerry Bruen

Course Info 26/1/11

Good Morning

Bone still not out 5 greens this morning.

Temps on at 2,3,5,12 & 15

Remaining greens in play.

Course Info 25-1-11

Good morning
7 full greens on remaining greens still temps due to the bone in ground.
The swans arrived back this morning, as the pond is no longer frozen over.
Gerry Bruen

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Course Info 24/1/11

Good Morning

Due to the hard frost end last week & weekend frost ( bone ) still in all greens

All 18 temps in play

Next inspection tomorrow morning

Gerry Bruen

Course info 18-1-11

Good Morning

All greens on temps due to a surface frost.

Greens will be inspected at 10am.

Gerry Bruen

Course info 14-1-11

Good Morning
Course open and all holes in play.
The frost ( bone ) is still in the ground but is moving down at the moment it is around 2".
This may cause us some problems with flooding with some heavy showers forecast and water not being able to drain freely.
On a positive note air temperatures to remain well above freezing until Tuesday next week.
All main greens off 18 temps in play.
G Bruen

Course info

Good morning
Our prevailing wind is now blowing bringing some milder temperatures
Course still holding water with the ground still frozen and some ice about.
Restricted course open
Holes 4 to 7 and back up 18 open.
G Bruen

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Course info 12-1-11

Good morning
Course inspected first light course condition very poor.
Overnight rain and freezing temperatures have made areas of course impassable.
Course closed next inspection 13-1-11
G Bruen

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Course info11/1/11

Good morning

The rain has been clearing the snow away well but this has left us with some flooding as the ground is still frozen.

Course inspected first light temp greens still unplayable due to the flooding and areas of ice on paths.

Course Closed Next inspection 12/1/11

G Bruen

Happy new year Course info 5-1-11

Today the full course back in play all be it all temps.

I imagine after the last six weeks weather there will be a few people wanting to get out the house and get some golf played.

The prolonged snow has left some disease scaring on the greens which has been disappointing and will be slow to recover until soil temperatures start to rise going into the spring weeks.

The disease is called snow mould and ranges from a few isolated scares to at least 5% - 10% of the surface being affected on some greens.

I have been walking the course as the snow has been melting over the last week to plan a course of action this started by once the affected greens were clear of snow they were spot treated with a contact fungicide to check any fungal activity that was still active.

The damage is caused when the ground temp rises and the snow then acts like a incubator keeping the heat on the surface and the fungal pathogen starts to spread, but when its under frozen snow we are unable to apply the fungicide to stop it in it tracks.

The larger scars will either be plugged out to the side of the greens or seeded out with bent grass seed in the spring.

At the start of 2010 we trialled new products on the market with good results to give us some early recovery and growth which we will be looking at again this year.

These out breaks used to be very common in the Scandinavian countries were snow can be on the ground for 4-5 months at a time but unlike us they are not allowed to spray any chemicals as they are band.

So they have had to adopt a more traditional greenkeeping principle which I follow at Williamwood of managing the fine grasses and trying to get the biology right to maintain a healthy plant which will ultimately be less susceptible to these disease outbreaks.

And the proof of this is in the greens that were hit the worse they are all sand based greens which are great draining greens but the root zone they are built on is made up practically of a sterile material which has no biology in it to protect the plant from these disease outbreaks.

We have been addressing this issue by over seeding with bents grass seed using organic materials in our fertiliser and brewing our own compost teas to supplement the beneficial bacteria in the ground.

Ultimately what we need now is a early spring to promote some recovery and to remember that the greens always recover from what ever is thrown at them.

Gerry Bruen