November course update

Well it is amazing the difference a year makes.

Just a quick recap on the weather and course growing conditions to date for 2013
Please see the link below for rain record we keep for the course
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_dsdjUppW9HWHI2SXF5WlBoek0/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_dsdjUppW9HeW4zNkJBLU5FbmM/edit?usp=sharing
As you will see it was a excellent year which allowed the course to be presented to its full potential.

Although we did have another relatively slow start with temperatures remaining low until mid May after that we never looked back. From a personal view I was extremely happy to have a good growing season and see many areas of the course that have been week  due to the amount of rain over the last two seasons finally turning the corner.
The lack of rain did mean the irrigation system was being used and this showed on the pond level at the 12th & 14th. In over 10 years working at the club have never seen the pond maintain such a low level for so long in the season. ( I am not complaining )

All main playing areas performed well during the good growing season and all analysis and visual inspection show we are well down the road of a sustainable approach to the way we are managing the course. Our main goals are still to encourage the finer grasses into all main playing areas and keep a fair balance of aeration work with a view to the members enjoyment during the main playing season.

Course up date Nov 2013

The month of November is when we start some of the restrictions we put in place to give the course the best possible start to next season. The blue stakes out on the fairways highlight a area were unless you are using a winter mat you must move your ball to the semi and play your shot from. Ropes are put out around most greens to keep approaches and areas close to greens from winter wear.

Allot of time is dedicated to leaf removal during this month as it is important not to let areas build up as this will damage the grass which will not recover until late spring.

2nd green

Below are pictures of jobs with brief descriptions of what has been going on so far this Autumn

Improve exit from facility

Golpla installed

Re instating grassed area cottage




Aeration work 1st tee


Autumn aeration greens


Aeration approaches


Gully pots installed to stop areas flooding


Good root development shown from hole changer

Some links to video showing some of the operations being carried out 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/10295035815/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/10295057233/

Gerry 

Some picture of the course during this great weather

View from 11th tee over holes 9 & 10.

View from the 14th medal tee

2nd Green 

View across pond to the 12th green 

Ducklings and mum looking on.

My daughter Sophia drafted into help with irrigation in the evenings 

February / March Course Up date

Good morning

We are nearing completion of our winter program with only a few projects still outstanding.

I have been happy given some periods of wet weather with what we have managed to get through this winter.
We have tried to use the colder spells to our advantage and this has left very little damage by heavy machinery on the course.

Below are some pictures of recent projects with brief description.

14th hole before changes. Bunker on the right no longer in play, and a very narrow lay up area

14th hole completed. New bunker on the right. Fairway bunker moved left allowing  fairer lay up

16th tee after leveling work  

Fairway sand dressing ongoing


Burns needing edged & cleaned out

Cleaning out burns


All ponds 10th hole cleaned out

Bunker renovation at 4th complete 

Aeration work ongoing 

Fairway aeration ongoing Blec ground breaker 

The new TB200 greens brush on the putting green

Areas that were prone to flooding gully pot installed 14th fairway

Areas that were prone to flooding gully pot installed putting green

Low lying rough area right 6th fairway

Path installed new tees 17th

10th path extended

On the bad days review our Risk assessments & Safe working practice.
  

Hopefully we will come into some warmer weather soon until then then mail focus will be aeration work to get as much air into the ground as possible.

Frost

Hi
We seem to be going through a welcome dry spell.
This has seen some low temperatures and frozen ground which has lead to temp greens be used to protect the greens please see attaches a short video highlighting why we use temp greens during frozen ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR7eAloWCpM

Gerry

Jan 2013 Up date

    Good afternoon

Am sure everyone has got over Christmas & new year and are looking forward to the start of the season. 

The end of December seen some unseasonable temperatures which was good for the golfer & the course.

This lead to some growth and main playing areas were cut during this period.

The weather soon changed and the firmer ground conditions gave us the opportunity to continue with bunker renovation work and other jobs.

Below is pictures of works carried out with a brief description

7th green side right 

7th green side complete

4th back left original

4th back left now visible from the tee 

                                  

4th back left new position

4th green side left 

                               

4th green side left extended drain. Bunker face revetted

5th green side right 

5th green side right ready for turfing

16th medal tee re leveling work underway

14th fairway bunkering

This picture shows how far the right fairway bunker is in the rough and the left fairway bunker closer to the centre of the fairway.

Goals discussed to re position these bunkers

: Create a fairer landing / lay up area between the bunkers.

: Re shape the fairway around the bunkers slightly to the left to improve the frequent sliced shot over towards the 10^th tee walk off.

: Bring the right fairway bunker back into play

14th fairway bunkering proposed

This photo shows a better positioned fairway bunkering which covers the goals set.
To date both bunkers have been re shaped and drained just some finishing work to carry out before re turfing 

Please keep up to date with project pictures 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16068144@N08/collections/72157631684854504/

Gerry Bruen

This made me laugh

1st cut 2013

The weather never fails to surprise me 3rd January air temperature 12 deg.
1st cut 2013 and there is some grass in the boxes.