16th tee progress

Full Tee size can now be more clearly seen.  Just levelling existing tee has doubled the usable space.

Should be ready for turfing in about 10 days.

Sleepers going in on 16th Tee

Beginning to grade and level tee

 A wild weekend in terms of weather.  10mm on Friday night with gale force winds.  These knocked out two trees by the clubhouse 1 into the neighbors property and the willow by the pond which is still upright but is now leaning and unfortunately will have to be removed.

The wind has enabled the course to dry to the point of allowing trolleys back on.  With rainfall for the week looking minimal.  This will be coupled with increased roping and sanding of soft areas.

The 16th Tee moves on at a steady pace.  Tee has now had the back removed and an incredible 60-80 ton came from this and sits in the middle car park.  We have dug a trench for the irrigation which is now located to the side of the tee.  This increases efficiency allowing the water to hit the tee and not the bushes, as before.

Rough level

Digging in irrigation

I was lucky enough to be chosen to attend the Golf Industry Show in Orlando at the start of February.

40 buggies ready to go

The trip included an 18 hole shotgun golf day, a demonstration day, factory tour and a presentation evening.

Jacobsen factory

Machinery Demonstration

A links style golf course

Together with all this hard work came evenings out drinking, partying and general fun.  Their was a number of things learnt and a good deal of networking amongst colleagues and I would like to thank Jacobsen and Crown for the opportunity.

The weather is still causing problems on the golf course with wave after wave of wet and windy weather.  New T-plinths are all in place but now ballwashers need to be re-sited.
Work is now backing-up but we are continuing on ditches and this is reaping rewards with the discovery of old land drains and the cleaning of old almost defunct ditches.

Ditch behind middle practice ground

The 16th Tee on the Abbotts is finally being re-levelled.  The first job is to remove turf.  Followed be laying in new sleepers.  The ground will be roughly levelled before pegging and the beginning of stage 2.

Ground being broke on 16th Tee

Bridge from Par 3

The bridge above comes from the par 3 course.  It will eventually link the 16th path right through to the clubhouse path.  It will allow staff to use a back path to the Priors at anytime of the year without driving on the golf course.  We will complete this work in stages with the two ends being finished 1st.

Ditching work continues on the course with the digger now clearing the 7th, 4th, 16th and then 18th on the Abbotts.  New T signs are going out on the course as you will have seen.  Although it will take a while to move the ballwashers and other furniture. 

The 1st Tee is having sleepers added to the scrub bed and planting will be increased if we ever see the sun in spring.

Crow damage on certain parts of the course has reached an unacceptable level.  The pecking is caused by the birds eating grubs within the turf.  There are 2 types of grub in the sward 1 is called leatherjackets and will be sprayed as soon as conditions allow.  The other are called Chafer Grubs an these cannot be treated until late spring.  With the milder wetter weather the grubs have moved closer to the surface to feed and left them open to attack from the crows. At the moment we are cutting, brushing and divoting these areas on a regular basis which will hopefully keep these areas clearer.  As we move towards spring we will spray for leatherjackets and then treat for chafers later in the season.

Lifecycle of a chafer grub

The courses are going through a good deal of pain at the moment with the Priors now having trolleys suspended.  Weather for the weekend looks poor but hopefully after we may see a colder more seasonal feeling return.

The picture below are key to improving drainage on the courses.  The first is a before of a ditch located to the left of the 12th fairway Abbotts and the second is the area cleared.  This ditch connects with the 11th T and 10th green both of which are very wet.

Before, What ditch!

There it is

  V-deep tining on the Priors greens this week.  10mm solid-tines down 10 inches.  This aggressive practice should help moisture move quickly through the profile and holes will allow air and root movement through the green.

  We will repeat this process next week on the Abbotts were water movement through the profile has been slow in the last few months.

  Lots of rain in the last 3 weeks and the course is now moving into soft and greasy conditions.  As ever rope and post is going out to protect areas on the course.