Greens News - August 2017
30 August 2017

This month’s report is to discuss the maintenance week which has just past. But also to remind the members that aeration is carried out at this time of year to maximise a quick recovery. Just to note that it is encouraging to see on social media how many clubs around the county are doing exactly the same.

Our preparation began mid-July with soil samples taken from the 5^th, 7^th and 16^th greens. The analysis will identify nutritional levels and organic matter content which we aim to be around 4%. Interestingly they were as follows 5^th (4.5%), 7^th (5.7%) and 16^th (3.3%).

The week before a preventative fungicide was applied to protect the grass plant through the stresses of aeration. Seaweed a bio stimulant was added to the mix which contains plant hormones and amino acids to stimulate growth, aiding recovery.

Aeration Process:

• Solid tine greens                    8mm tines                   150mm deep
• Verti cut greens                     -2mm                          greens blown of excess clippings
• Graden CSI                             20mm deep                 core harvestor to clear excess and blown
• Hole changed green in play
• Overseeded                            40kg                            browntop bent seed
• Top dressed                            15 tonne approx.
• Brushed and drag matted
• Hole changed green in play

To complete maintenance week a granular application was made with a product called Marathon TCR. It was “developed to provide rapid recovery from stress situations on fine turf areas caused by essential maintenance.” The following week we have made two spray applications, the first being a bio stimulant to relieve stress and phosphite to stimulate healthy growth. This included primo maxx which reduces vertical growth and improves lateral growth. The second application was a wetting agent and more seaweed, ideally done to maintain moisture levels at the surface so it does not dry out.

On the whole the week went very well and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the greenstaff for their efforts. A week has passed since and I would estimate that we have about 75% recovery. Another good week should see full recovery.

This month so far we have had 81mm of rainfall, 61mm of that came in one day. It was good to see that the ditch and culvert at Hull Road worked very well with very little surface flooding dotted around the course.

Finally can I express my thanks to Colin Evans and Peter Bridges for their fantastic work so far renovating the greenstaff facilities.

Gareth Williams, Course Director

Rainfall                        81mm (25^th August)

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