Welcome to the January Blog. 

The weather throughout January has made managing the golf course difficult, but spare a thought for the people around the country who have seen utter devastation to their homes and work places.

 January 2013 seen rainfall figures of 65mm against January 2014 of 144mm yet even with such excessive rainfall over the past month the greens team have managed to complete regular work programmes to the greens, they have been  slit tined and procored, rolled and have received applications of soluble iron  to harden the turf and aid presentation.


     The photographs below show additional work the team have completed throughout January.

                               

The 13th bunker with a mat positioned in the base and on the face to reduce any stones from becoming loose and affecting its playing quality. It also reduces soil erosion from the face which over time changes the characteristics of the sands playability and drainage qualities.

The completed bunker, it feels like this bunker took a while to finish, but due to the large amount of soil movement and shaping it had to be worked when the soil was dry. It would be foolish to have attempted  the shaping in really wet conditions only to break down the structure of the soil and make it difficult to dry out.


Bunker Drainage

                       We redrained the two greenside bunkers at the 17th  recently.

                    This picture shows the joint from the drain connected to the main outlet

                       

               The drainage pipe positioned in the bunker ready to be covered with 2-6mm grit.

         Drainage stone being levelled above the pipe in the trench ready for rootzone and turfing

                                                         Completed bunker.

In February we hope to start a programme of vertidraining / slitting  the greens, tees and fairways.Edging up paths and re stoning them is another job we aim to tackle, it could be a busy time if the weather is kind.


                                                                            Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper

Welcome to our December update,  i hope all the readers of the blog have a happy and peaceful new year.

It also gives me the opportunity to thank the greenkeeping team at Haydock Park for all their commitment and passion throughout the year in maintaining the course to such a good standard.   

       In December we managed to complete the levelling and returfing of the 18th/12th/14th and 8th tees. 

                                            The turf used is LT 4 supplied by All turf.  


Bunker Maintenance

Work as started on the 13th cross bunker, the team have re shaped it and put in a new drain, this will be followed up with a bunker mat positioned in the base to reduce sand discolouration, stone movement  and the sand being washed down from the face in heavy rainfall.

The bunker work is a part of our winter programme to maintain and reshape them with our aim to achieve better playing qualities and visual appeal.

   

Raking bunkers 

Below is a picture showing the wear of the teeth on a rake less than 12 months old, compared to a new rake. The seventy six bunkers on the course keep us busy and its now obvious they also wear the rakes out.

The January blog will show work on the drainage of the 17th green side bunkers and the finished bunker at the 13th hole.

                                                                                 Terry Wharton      Head Greenkeeper