A Busy Month of Renovations

Sanding the 11th green



Greens were fertilised with an application of a biologically enhanced organic fertiliser, the week prior to the start of renovations, to promote active growth to aid with the recovery process.

Despite the inclement weather that gave us 35mm of rain for the week, greens renovations took place as scheduled. All greens were scarified on the Monday to a depth of 25mm; they were then cored using 19mm tines to 125mm depth over the next two days using a closer pattern (50mm x 50mm) than previous years to impact a greater surface area. Due to the rainfall the majority of greens were not sanded until Thursday, with some greens then receiving a top-up of additional sand on Friday morning (a total of @100 tonne of sand was used throughout the renovation process). The sand on the greens was worked into the core holes using a rotary brush and received their first cut at 4.5mm one week after coring. They were then reduced back to their normal height of 3mm in stages over the next week.  I am extremely pleased with the speed of the recovery of the greens and also the fact that we were able to achieve this with what I believe to be minimal disruption and inconvenience to the membership.

Renovation of tees has also been completed with all tees cored using 19mm hollow tines to a depth of 75mm to remove a percentage of the thatch that has built up since the autumn renovation. Tees have also been overseeded and then sanded.

Fairways have been sprayed with a combination of products to eradicate Poa annua, ryegrass and broadleaf weeds that have germinated since the last application of product.

August Weather Data



	August 2013	August 2012	average
Rainfall	136.5 mm	107.5 mm	112.5 mm
Year to Date	618.5 mm	739 mm	610.6 mm
No. of rain days	19	17	-
Average Temp.	16.3°C	13.4°C	-
Average Humidity	77.8%	77.5%	-

The above average rainfall we received this month has meant that this winter has exceeded last year and been the wettest since 2004. On top of a very wet July this has meant that the course is now starting to become very wet and boggy in the usual places. The upside of this is that the main dam is now full and overflowing. 

The main emphasis of last month’s workload can be split into two parts –

• The first two weeks seeing staff concentrate on the removal and clean up of the River red gums approved by the council for removal from the righthand side of the 5^th fairway. The stumps were ground out prior to the heavy rains and we are now waiting for the ground to dry out to allow us to complete the clean-up.
• The second two weeks saw staff working on the tasks needed to drain the two bunkers on the second hole. The works needed to carry out the project were undertaken in the following stages –

Ø  Old sand removed

Ø  Re-grade base of bunker

Ø  Dig out drainage lines (herringbone system)

Ø  Install geofabric liner to base of bunker

Ø  Install drains (100mm slotted ag-drain/stone/shade cloth)

Ø  Add sand shellgrit mix

Ø  Consolidate base and shape/pack faces

Following the Ladies Foursomes Championship, spring greens renovation will be carried out, with coring and sanding of greens on the front nine scheduled for Monday 16^th September and the back nine on Tuesday 17^th September. All greens are also being scarified as part of the renovation process, with this operation being carried out by a contractor throughout the day on the Monday.

Renovation of tees are also scheduled to be carried out this month, with tees being cored to a depth of 75mm and then oversown and sanded to complete the renovation process.

Fairways will be sprayed for Poa annua that has germinated since the last application of product. Areas of broadleaf around the course will be also continue to be targeted as time permits over the coming weeks

A More Typical Winter Week

15th approach looking back from the green

This week has been a very stark reminder of previous winters with 78mm of rain falling since last Saturday making the course extremely wet underfoot, hence the decision to ban carts. The course is now at saturation point and any further rain we receive just compounds the issue. On a positive note, the main 15th dam has reached full capacity with the overflow starting to discharge excess water yesterday morning. 

2nd bunker prior to the start of drainage work

This week work has started on installing better drainage into both of the bunkers at the 2nd green. The bunkers have been stripped of the old sand, both the bases rough shaped and the outlet for the front bunker has been dug across the fairway to the masterline which runs down the lefthand side of the fairway. The terrible weather throuhout the week has slowed progress more than I would have liked, but with better weather forecast for next week we should be back on schedule to complete the project by the end of next week. 

A Return to Blogging

 

18th Green - Saturday 20th July

 

	May 2013	May 2012	average
Rainfall	85.5 mm	125 mm	101 mm
Year to Date	189 mm	317 mm	243 mm
No. of rain days	11	17	-
Average Temp.	19.9°C	15.7°C	-
Average Humidity	68%	74.8%	-

 

	June 2013	June 2012	average
Rainfall	92.5 mm	208 mm	125 mm
Year to Date	281.5 mm	525 mm	368 mm
No. of rain days	11	18	-
Average Temp.	16.5°C	12.5°C	-
Average Humidity	78.5%	79.2%	-

 

The weather pattern for both May and June was very similar with long, warm dry spells broken up by periods of heavy rain. However, both months received below average rainfall, and up until the 122.5 mm of rain we received between the 18^th and 23^rd of July the levels of all of the dams were lower than normal for this time of year. That all changed when all of the dams virtually filled over the corresponding period. The level of the main dam is approximately 1 metre below the spillway and I am now fairly confident that it will be full before the end of August given that the long term forecast for the next three is for above average rainfall.  Groundwater levels are now at the point where any further rainfall that we receive will be captured through the drainage system and discharged into the dams.

The 200.5 mm of rain that we received over the past month has meant that this July has been our wettest since 1996. As can be seen from the chart below, the past three months have also been significantly warmer than average and this has enabled us to spend a larger proportion of staff time on course presentation than normal and this is noticeable in the general condition of the course. The fairways, in particular are as dense and green as they have ever been for July.

	July 2013	July2012	average
Rainfall	200.5 mm	106.5 mm	130 mm
Year to Date	482 mm	631.5 mm	498 mm
No. of rain days	16	20	-
Average Temp.	14.8°C	12.5°C	-
Average Humidity	81.6%	78.8%	-

CFS Volunteers burning the reeds in the dams

 

The Start of the Winter Rains?

Our resident kangaroo on the 15th hole



The much cooler temperatures and the 50mm of rain of the past few days is hopefully the start of our normal winter weather pattern. We are currently sitting at @100mm of rain less than our average for this time of year, this obviously means that we need above average winter rains to recharge the bore aquifers and refill our dams in preparation for next summer.

The rain we have recieved has thouroughly washed the recent fairway gypsum application into the profile. Greens have received an application of fungicide to target an outbreak of Dollar spot and Anthracnose that has flared up due to the high disease pressure caused by the warm temperatures and high humidity during the last month.

All greens, tees and surrounds will receive applications of liquid fertilizer and iron in the coming weeks. These scheduled monthly applications are to help to maintain acceptable nutrient levels, colour and aid with disease suppression throughout the winter months.

A second application of pre-emergent product will be applied to fairways to give us further Poa annua control over the next 12-14 weeks. Poa annua that is present will also be targeted with a post-emergent product.

April Course News

	April 2013	April 2012	average
Rainfall	42 mm	44.5 mm	54 mm
Year to Date	103.5 mm	192 mm	141.5 mm
No. of rain days	7	6	-
Average Temp.	23.5°C	22.1°C	-
Average Humidity	64.2%	61.6%	-

Once again April provided us with a very similar weather pattern to the previous two months; a very dry start to the month with above average temperatures giving us the warmest April in the last seven years, and then some much needed rain at the end of the month which significantly boosted the total for the month. The 25mm of rain that fell on the 21^st of April was the biggest single day rainfall that we have received since the 17^th of August last year, a period of approximately eight months.

In lieu of a full autumn renovation, this year greens were mini-tined and fertilised with an application of a biologically enhanced organic fertiliser; this will further improve the health, vigour and condition of the sward prior to the start of winter.

Further landscaping works to continue to improve the area at the 11^th/15^th tee paths have been undertaken, with a large number of positive comments being received from members.

A significant amount of staff time has again been spent on clearing the storm debris generated from the strong winds we received throughout the month.

 Gypsum applied to 1st fairway

An application of @8 tonne/Ha of Gypsum was applied to all fairways using our own machinery and labour. The dry weather at the time of application also meant that we were able to dragmat the gypsum into the fairways straight away meaning less impact on play than in previous years.

Tasmainian Blue Gum at clubhouse prior to maintainence pruning

After maintainence pruning