December Blog

December Blog. 

Welcome to the December blog.

Our winter work programme continues with most of the bunker work being completed. We've recently purchased a AFT 45 trencher to be used on draining problem areas. It is a great piece of kit that will allow us to tap into existing drains around the course.

The weather throughout December was quite mild and damp with the occasional frosty spell.These conditions are ideal for the development of turf disease.

The most common disease at this time of the year is Fusarium Patch caused by Microdochium nivale. This Fungus attacks the grass plant and kills affected areas.It is most noticable on the greens but can attack all the other grass areas on the course.

The mild damp, humid, conditions in December have been ideal for the disease to attack the turf.To prevent the attack we apply a prevetative fungicide,but if the disease pressure is stronger than the chemical then an attack can take place.

Photographs below showing some of the points that's been discussed.

                                         Sprayer ready to apply a preventative Fungicide.

                                                                 Fusarium Patch

                                                               AFT  trencher

In January we hope to continue with  drainage work and start on cutting back low branches from around the trees.

November Blog

Welcome to our November blog. 

The weather allowed us to make a great start to our winter programme. We looked at shaping,draining and taking off the overhanging lips on selected bunkers.

Work was completed on taking out the small mounds on the 5th hole, the mound on the 1st hole and filling and turfing the small bunker on the 11th hole, The temporary tee on the 12th was taken out because it is no longer used and this area will be prepared ready for seeding.

Removing the leaves continued with no help from the wind, the majority just dropped and were removed off the course with the tractor mounted blower.

We continued our aeration on the greens and tees. The fairways were cut to give definition. The greens were sprayed with a preventative fungicide to control Fusarium patch which is a fungus that attacks fine turf. I will go into more detail in our December blog explaining the conditions that enable the disease to damage the turf.

Below are a selection of photographs showing some of the work that's been carried out.

                                                             6th Cross Bunker

                                                            2nd Greenside Bunker

                                                       Small mounds on the 5th hole.

We hope to continue with our programme throughout December, And as usual the weather will decide what order it is carried out in.