Tuesday 12th February 2013.

A new filter for our irrigation system was installed in late January. This was necessary due to the failure of our existing filter that had served us for some 18 years.

Parts for this filter were unobtainable due to its age and the fact that this particular model had been dsicontinued some time ago.

The filter is a very important part of our irrigation system, removing all foreign debris from irrigation water before it enters the mainline system. If this was to enter the system, it would have a detrimental effect on our irrigation valves and rotors.

The filter selected has the capacity to operate with greater water flows than we currently operate at allowing us to use it for many years and will be an efficient component of our system should we complete an upgrade to our pump station in the future.

 

 

 

 

Friday 25th January 2013

The 8th green and surroundings are growing in well though we have had some issues with a case of Pythium disease recently. This has come about due to the moist conditions required to establish the turf and the high humidity we have had on occasions over the past couple of months. This disease has since been treated and turf is recovering well.

Insects have also proven to be destructive with an invasion of Argentine Stem Weevil causing some damage to new shoots but a management programme has commenced for this pest and this will bring them under control.

Neither of these pests will cause long term damage to the green with a sound control programme.

We are continuing regular mowing and rolling of the green while gradually lowering our mowing heights. Regular topdressings are being made to help protect new growth and the crown of the plant and these will continue for the next couple of months.

Bunkers have been prepared for play with the importing of bunker sand and turf on the surrounds is establishing itself well.

It is anticipated that we will be opening the green for play on Wednesday 6th February not withstanding any further issues.

Monday 7th January 2013.

The 8th green and its surroundings are developing well and, like the rest of the golf course, has come through the hot spell over the Xmas and New Year period very well.

Regular mowing of the green and more recently a topdressing have had a good affect on toughening up the surface and preparing it for the rigours of play.

Further topdressings will be made to the green before it is open for play which, everything being well, could be early February but this will depend on its progress over the next 3 weeks.

Monday 24th December 2012

Much of the reconstruction work for the 8th green is now complete with the final turf going down last Friday 21st December and this is all now in the grow-in stage.

The turf on the putting surface itself is showing good growth and regular mowing is now underway. This surface will be topdressed for the first time very soon and this will help firm it up for play.

Some extra grass will be planted on the extremities of the construction site to blend turf to surrounding areas and this should develop fairly rapidly.

A light scarification of the older fairway turf on the approach soon, will encourage good recovery of this turf that had been stored for a couple of weeks and looks somewhat scarred.

Once turf on the surround has established itself well enough, the bunkers will receive their final shaping and have bunker sand placed in them.

All things going well, the anticipated opening of this hole should be mid February.

Friday 14th December

We have had a very productive week this week with the relaying of the 8th green and the commencement of turf laying on the approach and surround.

Next week the remaining turf on the surrounds and around bunkers will be completed and a irrigation station will be installed to water this surround.

All turfing should be completed by the end of next week and grow-in underway over the Xmas break.

The finished turfed green.

 

Approach to the green has been re-turfed with just the turfing of surround and bunkers required.

 

Wednesday 12th December.

Work has progressed well on the reconstruction of the 8th green complex. Harvested turf from fairway has been relayed and the irrigation stations to serve the approach area and green have been installed.

Final levelling on the green was completed earlier in the week and the laying of the putting surface started on Tuesday. The laying of the green will be completed by Wednesday.

Thursday will see the installation of another irrigation station around the back and sides of the complex to service the surround areas and we shall also commence the returfing of the remainder of the approach and surrounds. As this is quite a large area, I am expecting that this will go well into the middle of next week.

 

The relaying of turf on the approach and operation of new irrigation station.

 

 

The laying of turf on the putting surface using turf grown on our bentgrass nursery for the past 9 months.

 

Thursday 6th December.

Work is progressing well with the reconstruction of the 8th green complex. Final shaping of the green and bunkering as well as the approach area is almost complete. A ring main to service the green and an irrigation station to service the approach have been completed and work will commence very soon on the re-grassing of the approach area. Turfing of the green will most likely start around next Tuesday 12th December.

Shaped greenside bunker.

Installation of irrigation on approach area.