COURSE NEWS 9th NOVEMBER
Leaf drop is in full swing
Our course team is stretched at the moment - we are one man down, another on holiday, and a third is effectively still on light duties.
Although we’re into November it’s not yet winter. The unseasonably mild weather is creating some different challenges. We’ve only had 7.5 mm of rain this week, and the ground remains dry and very firm, but there are daily heavy dews which can lie around all day. We’ve had to bring in a buggy ban because of problems caused by damp and sticky worm casts being smeared by buggy wheels, creating an unsightly muddy mess which doesn’t clear. We are still able to mow but the greens have first to be cleared of casts which otherwise build up on the rollers and destroy the height of the cut.
The humidity is ideal for fungal infection, and fusarium is everywhere across the region. We may need to spray the greens again, and to treat the tees. Currently we are not forecast a proper winter cold spell until the end of the month - frosts will check the fungi.
The course has had a full cut. Leaf drop is in full swing: we’re currently dealing with it using the Ventrac to cut under the copses and shred the fallen leaves. We have the blower attachment in reserve, but at the moment its mower facility is more important.
Callum has completed edging and shaping the refinished tees, which will now be left alone until March. He has stripped the turf off the black tees on 2 and 5, with 6 and then red 15 to follow. We can restore them ourselves using a levelling bar and the left-over turf from the main tees. It’s not cheap - we can’t afford to waste it.
Course committee
Although we’re into November it’s not yet winter. The unseasonably mild weather is creating some different challenges. We’ve only had 7.5 mm of rain this week, and the ground remains dry and very firm, but there are daily heavy dews which can lie around all day. We’ve had to bring in a buggy ban because of problems caused by damp and sticky worm casts being smeared by buggy wheels, creating an unsightly muddy mess which doesn’t clear. We are still able to mow but the greens have first to be cleared of casts which otherwise build up on the rollers and destroy the height of the cut.
The humidity is ideal for fungal infection, and fusarium is everywhere across the region. We may need to spray the greens again, and to treat the tees. Currently we are not forecast a proper winter cold spell until the end of the month - frosts will check the fungi.
The course has had a full cut. Leaf drop is in full swing: we’re currently dealing with it using the Ventrac to cut under the copses and shred the fallen leaves. We have the blower attachment in reserve, but at the moment its mower facility is more important.
Callum has completed edging and shaping the refinished tees, which will now be left alone until March. He has stripped the turf off the black tees on 2 and 5, with 6 and then red 15 to follow. We can restore them ourselves using a levelling bar and the left-over turf from the main tees. It’s not cheap - we can’t afford to waste it.
Course committee