Gerry, Kevin, Willy, Alan, Stewart, Alistair
Monday, 31 December 2012
Happy new year
From all the green staff
Gerry, Kevin, Willy, Alan, Stewart, Alistair
Happy new year & a great season for 2013
Gerry, Kevin, Willy, Alan, Stewart, Alistair
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Dec Update
Good morning
We are coming out of the end of a most welcome cold spell which allowed us to carry out some drainage issues in areas that were letting us down during the playing season.
To date 130m of drainage was installed and the conditions could not have been better.
Below is some pictures showing the work carried out during the cold snap.
Left side 18th green
14th right rough
18th right rough
10th Fairway
2nd back right green
Car park prepared area for new clean down bay
Sump dug for flooded irrigation box 16th
Burns from 13 medal tee to back 8th green cleaned out
Started new path that will take golfer to 17th tees
Cleaned any branches growing through boundary fence Clarkston rd
We will be going to a skeleton staff during the holidays and I would like to wish everyone at the club from the greens staff a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Roll on spring 2013
Friday, 23 November 2012
November update
Good evening
As am sure you are aware the weather conditions have been awful of late and I am sure we are all looking forward to some cold dry weather.
Some recorded stats
Total rain fall Nov 110 mm, Highest rain day 19th Nov 32.7 mm, Total rain days 22.
With the poor weather conditions continuing we have changed our focus to the winter overhauls of the machinery.
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As am sure you are aware the weather conditions have been awful of late and I am sure we are all looking forward to some cold dry weather.
Some recorded stats
Total rain fall Nov 110 mm, Highest rain day 19th Nov 32.7 mm, Total rain days 22.
With the poor weather conditions continuing we have changed our focus to the winter overhauls of the machinery.
All machines are deep cleaned, cutting units stripped
All units stripped from each machine
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Bottom blades removed, inspected, sharpened.
All cylinders painted and frames touched up.
In total we have around 30 units including hand mowers to get through.
The new TB200 brush arrived today and all the staff got their training of use and servicing from the dealer John Condron.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Course Conditions
COURSE CLOSED
30mm rain recorded in less than 12 hrs
Next inspection tomorrow morning
G Bruen
30mm rain recorded in less than 12 hrs
Next inspection tomorrow morning
G Bruen
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Course update
Well what a difference from last week
Last week heavy rain restricted our work on the course as ground conditions were saturated.
This allowed us to get on with some tree work. We cleared the area right of the 1st green, any new growth from the base of trees and any broken dead branches hanging down.
We have prepped all we need to start trafficking the golfer round the course for the winter.
The restrictions will start with the Blue stakes being put out on fairways to mark were you must move your ball to the side from the start of November.
There has been a ongoing issue with the pond at the 15th that hasn't caused that much of a problem as the weather has been so poor but during dry weather water has been escaping. We took the decision to completely drain the pond and will be trying to locate and solve the issue.
During the prolonged periods of rain there has been a few low lying areas with standing water around the 14th hole to alleviate this in the mean time we have hand dug channels to divert the water away.
This week was much better arriving on Monday even after just a weekends drying was reassuring as ground conditions had extremely improved.
This allowed us to carry on with our scheduled fairway - semi rough verti draining and by the end of the week we have only the par 3 areas to do. This procedure will be carried out again at the start of the season.
Temporary greens were also prepared for the colder weather that was forecast and all main playing areas were cut.
Leaf removal will be the main issue of the forthcoming weeks to keep the course as tidy as possible.
Last week heavy rain restricted our work on the course as ground conditions were saturated.
This allowed us to get on with some tree work. We cleared the area right of the 1st green, any new growth from the base of trees and any broken dead branches hanging down.
We have prepped all we need to start trafficking the golfer round the course for the winter.
The restrictions will start with the Blue stakes being put out on fairways to mark were you must move your ball to the side from the start of November.
There has been a ongoing issue with the pond at the 15th that hasn't caused that much of a problem as the weather has been so poor but during dry weather water has been escaping. We took the decision to completely drain the pond and will be trying to locate and solve the issue.
During the prolonged periods of rain there has been a few low lying areas with standing water around the 14th hole to alleviate this in the mean time we have hand dug channels to divert the water away.
This week was much better arriving on Monday even after just a weekends drying was reassuring as ground conditions had extremely improved.
This allowed us to carry on with our scheduled fairway - semi rough verti draining and by the end of the week we have only the par 3 areas to do. This procedure will be carried out again at the start of the season.
Leaf removal will be the main issue of the forthcoming weeks to keep the course as tidy as possible.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Aeration week
The better weather at the start of the week seen good ground conditions which allowed us to carry out all our planned aeration work to our greens. The focus after this was to improve the surface so extra rolling has been done and the ball is rolling good considering the work that has been carried out. There will be some more solid tinning done to the greens during the winter months to keep the surface open but that will not be as aggressive as work carried out this week.
Our latest soil analysis came back and we have had to bulked up on some nutrients as there has been some leaching due to the wet summer. This was applied after aeration was done to allow products into the green profile.
Over the next month or so main jobs will be to carry on aeration work to all areas of the course and leaf removal.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Autumn 2012
Good morning
Well its that time of year again grass starts to slow down and leaves are falling from the trees and aeration week is only 1 week away yes depressing I know.
I would love to be saying we had a long season but like 2011 the weather was very much against us.
If anything the weather only highlights the importance of a aggressive aeration program on all areas of the course to make them playable as soon as prolonged periods of adverse weather has passed.
We have much to get through this winter and on Monday morning I submitted my finalised course improvements for this coming winter.
The wet season has left us with a number of drainage issues that will be getting investigated, we will be carrying on with our bunker renovations and when ground conditions are favorable we will be carrying out aeration to all areas of the course to get water moving through the profile as quick as possible.
I have demonstrated a lateral draining machine that would compliment our existing equipment which was very impressive.
I have already done a number of areas on the course here is a link showing this type of the machine in operation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJKwEZmq8s&feature=youtu.be
I will be posting all project pictures on my flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/collections/
updating course conditions if necessary and weekly sumeria of project work.
Roll on spring 2013
G Bruen
Well its that time of year again grass starts to slow down and leaves are falling from the trees and aeration week is only 1 week away yes depressing I know.
I would love to be saying we had a long season but like 2011 the weather was very much against us.
If anything the weather only highlights the importance of a aggressive aeration program on all areas of the course to make them playable as soon as prolonged periods of adverse weather has passed.
We have much to get through this winter and on Monday morning I submitted my finalised course improvements for this coming winter.
The wet season has left us with a number of drainage issues that will be getting investigated, we will be carrying on with our bunker renovations and when ground conditions are favorable we will be carrying out aeration to all areas of the course to get water moving through the profile as quick as possible.
I have demonstrated a lateral draining machine that would compliment our existing equipment which was very impressive.
I have already done a number of areas on the course here is a link showing this type of the machine in operation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJKwEZmq8s&feature=youtu.be
I will be posting all project pictures on my flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/collections/
updating course conditions if necessary and weekly sumeria of project work.
Roll on spring 2013
G Bruen
Monday, 12 March 2012
Course conditions 12/3/12
Good Morning
Today is the start of our aeration week and with a favorable forecast we will be carrying out hollow tinning and topdressing to all areas of the course
We will try and keep the disruption to the golfer to a minimum whilst we carry out all aerification.
Below is a link showing the work we have carried out to date
Below are a few links explaining aerifiction and why it is essential that we are carrying this out.
Gerry Bruen
MEMBERS NOTICE
Restrictions for playing off the fairways has now been removed.
Can we please ask though, that you replace your divot after your shot and replace at least one other divot if you see one that needs replacing.
If you still wish to use your mat please do as it reduces the amount of divots that need replacing at the beginning of the season.
Mats are still to be used on Par 3 holes to protect the main tees.
Thanks Gerry Bruen
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Attended BTME 24th - 26th January 2012
I attended BTME 2012 in Harrogate over the last few days.
www.harrogateweek.org.uk/index.php
The show was excellent this year and I believe the most attended since it began adding to the atmosphere when making your way round.
I also attended a few seminars which were very informative and well presented.
The event is a great opportunity to find out exactly what is going on in the industry and also speak to other greenkeepers.
The main topic that was discussed surprise surprise was just how poor & challenging a season 2011 was weather wise with the worst rain fall records coming out of the west of Scotland area. Some greenkeepers had seen this before and others had not but we all agreed when we have such a wet Autumn it is going to be a very challenging winter.
I hope I am not painting a picture of a bunch greenkeepers moping about feeling sorry for ourselves, it was quite the opposite with everyone discussing just what they had done to do to make a bad situation better, always being positive and looking forward to season 2012.
G Bruen
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