Course Manager's Report

You are here » Home » Course information» Course Manager's Report

Weather;-

We had seven days of rainfall amounting to 49mm and most of this fell in the first half of the month. It then became dry & very warm with most days averaging above 25 degrees.

Competitions & Societies;-

All Medals & Stablefords were played. Competitions include;- Junior John Ferguson Cup, Seniors Scratch v Mid Herts, Captains /Pro challenge, Seniors v Verulam and Mens Spring Invitation. Marquis Trophy, Ladies Friendly v Brookmans Park, Seniors v Mid Herts, 4 Way Challenge and Ladies Macmillan Trophy. Mid week Medal & Restricted Members Trophy, Seniors v Old Fold Manor, Ladies Stableford & Mercedes Qualifier, Saturday Stableford & Mercedes Qualifier. Club Championship Qualifier, Ladies v Whipsnade, Seniors Charity Stableford and Ladies Spring Invitation. CSL v Letchworth, Men v WGC, Tollafield Mixed Foursomes and Seniors Scratch v Verulam. Seniors and Ladies Centenary were also played.

Sixteen societies also visited the course.

Greens;-

The following operations were carried out on the greens (other than routine maintenance);-

-Sprayed Revolution wetting agent with Prestige Seaweed (2^nd/6).

-Verticutted using “Thatchaway” units (4^th/6).

-Top dressed with sand (7^th/6).

-Sprayed Primomaxx growth regulator with Amino-Sorb (9^th/6).

-Solid tined using 5” Pencil tines on the Sisis Javelyn aerator (14^th/6).

-Deep Verticutted using “Thatchaway” units (17^th/6).

-Top dressed with sand (21^st/6).

-Solid tined using 5” Pencil tines on the Sisis Javelyn aerator (28^th/6).

-Sprayed Revolution wetting agent with Porthcawl liquid organic feed supplement (29^th/6).

Their were concerns that the greens putted slow during the first half of the month and I am sure that wetness coupled with ideal growing conditions were contributory to this. Green speeds increased as they started to dry out coupled with a severe verticutting operation. Early next month, we have arranged to try some demonstration Vibratory Rollers for a week  to see if it will help in  increasing our green speed with out causing any detriment to compaction.

The recent heat wave has dried localised areas of the greens which were topped up by hand watering on four occasions. This avoids over watering the remainder of the greens that are sufficiently moist.

Tees & Surrounds;-

Due to increased play, the re seeding of divot holes on the tees has now been increased to three to four times a week.

Nothing to report on the surrounds.

Bunkers;-

Some bunkers have been topped up with sand. All bunker perimeters have had their grass trimmed back.

Fairways;-

Due to the hot & dry conditions, the fairways have not been cut in order to relieve stress. However, unsightly grass stalks are now appearing and these have been trimmed by using the rough rotary mower set at its lowest cut.

Automatic Watering System;-

-Impact drive pop ups on the tees have been tested for operation;- by resetting the arc of watering, cleared out blockages as well as some repairs.

-A temporary repair was made to a leak in the 12^th hydrant box.

-The grass around the pop up heads has been trimmed.

Work Completed;-(other than routine or already mentioned).

-Maintenance of rabbit fence.

-Serviced Wash down facility- by High speed.

-All marker blocks on the fairways have been re painted.

 -Cleaned out all ball washers.

-Cut hedge & put wood chips in flower beds in visitors car park.

-Trim & edge tee & fairway marker plates.

-Topped up areas of Red Pave pathways that got washed down by heavy rainfall.

-Totally weed killed Visitors car park and cut the adjacent hedge & generally tidied up.

-Repainted all white O.O.B.s, yellow 150 yd and yellow Water hazard marker posts.

-Repainted Putting green flag sticks.

-Put on fresh wood chip on base of ranch style fencing adjacent to the 1^st & 11^th tees.

-Reduced height of hedge in front of 11th Medal tee

-Removed suckers growing from the base of the trees.

Equipment;-(other  than routine servicing).

J.Deere 2500 B

(new) Greensmower;-    Backlapped cutting units x2.

J. Deere 8700

(new) fairway mower;- Carried out 200 hr service

J.D 3235c (old)

Fairway mower;-            Repaired middle front cutting unit gear box.

J.D8700 Terrain

Rough rotary mower;-   Carried out 800 hr service. Replaced front tyre.

Sabo Roberiene 1512

Rough rotary mower;-   Sharpened blades. Puncture repair on rear wheel.

J.Deere 4310 tractor;- Carried out 2400 hr service. Repaired steering.

 Next Months Work;-other than routine activities (& work already mentioned).

Continue with summer programe.

                               Andrew M. Kennett - Course Manager.