Course update.

Welcome to our August blog,the weather has been kind to us and we have been able to complete the work that was planned for the month.

Soil Reliever             Greens Aeration


The soil and turf conditions were perfect for our aeration programme in the early part of August.

We opened up the greens with 12 mm solid tines to a depth of  175mm.

Each month the greens are aerated with the procore,but we felt that the soil reliever would give us a variation in depth.

This action would aid the root structure, benefit the air exchange and relieve surface tension of the soil structure.

We followed this up with the turf iron to smooth out the surfaces, After the rolling the surface was fine to putt on with great ball roll.






                                                 Overseeding the greens

We used the Vredo compact seeder to overseed the greens,using Johnsons J All Bent grass seed with cultivars Arrowtown and Manor.

 The machine cuts a slit at a depth of 5mm through the turf, the seed drops into the cut channel.

 The slit in the turf enables the seed to have good contact with the upper profile soils which will facilitate good germination . We noticed the first signs of the seed coming through after seven days.

 The Vredo machine was hired from Greener Grounds, who provided us with a first class service.

Soil Temperature/Germination.

The timing of the overseeding on the greens was important, we needed to have good soil temperature to enable the seed to germinate. The picture below shows our soil thermometer reading when we seeded the greens. The germination of the seed was aided by some moderate rain showers, giving us ideal conditions for germination.

This picture shows the putting green cut on the right hand side and the early morning dew on the left. You can see the germinating seed coming through from the double pass with the Vredo.

We did not change the cutting height, but have raised the front mounted brushes on the greens machines.

The results are very pleasing.

 Over a period of time using this method we will aim to boost the bent composition of grass species on the greens.










 September work programme 

We hope to cut the mounds and rake off the grass and overseed any weak areas with bent seed. We will also try to reduce the weed in the ponds at the 8th and 11th,

 Deep aeration work will begin on the fairways, and our usual work programme of course preparation.


                                                                               Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper