Welcome to our May Blog.

The months are flying by and the greens team are busy with these excellent growing condition's.Many members have commented on how early the course has come on this year,with the course shaping and definition noticeable already.Greens top dressing targets are on track and regular aeration is in place,conditioners and wetting agents have been applied.

The application of slow release fertiliser that was applied to the tees in February is still creating good colour and controlled growth.

The fairways are growing well and the regular divoting parties are helping to create a good surface, the fairways are cut with the Toro 5610 machine pictured below with Greenkeeper Daniel Gildea delivering great presentation.

 

Regular edging,raking and checking sand depth is keeping the bunkers in shape, however, periods of heavy rainfall wash the sand off the faces and creates discolouration of the sand. This problem is reduced on the bunkers that have grassed face's and the new cross bunker on the 13th that has a bunker liner in it. 

On Thursday the 29th of May we had our Annual Agronomy visit from Mr Alistair Beggs who is Head of Agronomy and Ecology at the Sports Turf Research Institute and Agronomist to the R&A Championship Committee.Alistair is the Captain of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club this year which hosts the Open    Championship in July.

During the visit advise is given on ongoing management and project work alongside performance data taken from three indicator greens. We look at firmness, moisture levels, trueness, and speed.More information on the performance data will be on our June blog. 

The picture above shows the greens team at Haydock Park.

From left to right  Daniel Gildea  Terry Wharton (Head Greenkeeper) Chris Lewis, Alistair Beggs STRI

Jack Hosker, David Traynor (Deputy Head Greenkeeper) In addition to those mentioned we also have  Ken Bennison on the team who was unavailable when the photograph was taken.

We will be busy in June with preparation for the Victory Trophy which is a competition between Haydock Park and six other local golf clubs those being, Ashton in Makerfield, Dean Wood, Gathurst, Hindley Hall, Leigh and Wigan. The June blog will explain our work programme when we will look to apply weed control to the fairways and plant growth regulators to the bunker banks, along side the regular course presentation.

                                                         Terry Wharton    Head Greenkeeper.

April Update.

Welcome to our April blog,the weather has been kind to us and allowed us to create good presentation and set up to the course. Cutting heights have been lowered and top dressings on greens and tees are on target.The greens have been fertilised and received their monthly application of conditioner and wetting agent.

Aeration as continued on the greens with a pass of the pro core fitted with eight mm solid tines, we time this practice to coincide with the application of top dressing enabling the dressing to access the root zone profile.



We recently had a demonstration of the Air 2G2 air inject machine, pictured below.The machine injects a probe in to the soil structure at a depth of between 175mm or 250mm.At the required depth it injects compressed air in to the soil profile creating fracturing and reducing compaction.This action  helps to develop a strong root structure, and a great exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen with no surface disruption.The machine was very impressive and will be in demand throughout the year on many courses

 Special thanks to Ian Cambell from Campey turf care systems  for arranging the visit.

 

Regular dressing and over seeding of the tees is so important in keeping the turf density. The tee's have received  an application of wetting agent this month to enable them to retain moisture in the soil  profile.  

The greens are coming on nicely, with the good spring temperatures.Cutting heights need to be controlled to enable good surfaces to be played on throughout the year and not just the summer.With sensible cutting heights and rolling along with top dressing / aeration and controlled nutrient in put, we look forward to delivering good smooth surfaces. 

In may we will continue to maintain the course presentation with most heights of cut on the machines already set at summer heights. Divoting on the tees and fairways will be increased due to more play as the day light increases.

 Special thanks to the members who attend the divoting parties as seen below. This work really keeps the fairways in good condition, it would be difficult for the greens team to keep on top of this work along side all the additional work at this busy time of the year.

                                                                      

                                                                         Terry Wharton            Head Greenkeeper

March update.

Welcome to the blog, we've managed to complete most of the work that was planned for March.Greens, tees and weak areas have been fertilised to strengthen the grasses.Top dressing of the greens as started with us aiming to deliver one hundred tonnes over the next few months. The start of our monthly applications of wetting agent, sea weed and micro nutrients as also been applied.

 Compared to last spring we've noticed earlier signs of leaf growth on the horse chestnut trees and hawthorn bushes around the course. And in monitoring soil temperatures we are gradually seeing the temperature rising.

                                                 Early signs that spring is on its way.

                                         The first application of greens fertiliser.

                                                      Top dressing the greens.

                                 Application of wetting agent, sea weed and micro nutrients.

 

We targeted small  areas on a couple of the greens with the pro core fitted with 8mm hollow tines.  Cores were removed at a depth of 25mm to reduce any potential fibre build up.The area's were top dressed, rolled and back in play with minimal surface disturbance.

In April we hope to get in to a regular pattern of cutting and course presentation along with the top dressing, aeration and spraying applications.

                                                                                Terry Wharton    Head Greenkeeper.

Welcome to the February blog.

The Weather as continued to have a massive impact on our work programme throughout February with ground conditions dictating the various work we have undertaken. The met office have produced data that confirms it has been the wettest winter on record. The table below shows our rainfall figures for the winter  period.
                                   
                                       December 2013        80 mm
                                        January    2014      144 mm
                                        February  2014        91 mm
                                         
                                                                      315 mm  Total
                                                                                               
Considering the above data we have managed to complete various work, the photographs below will show how we have progressed throughout the month.

Aeration to all parts of the course as been continuous this month. We used the services of John Mallinson to vertidrain our fairways. Mallinsons are a leading company in sports ground management and construction.
Aeration to the soil is a recognised technique for breaking up compaction, allowing better water peculation to the sub soils and drainage systems, it aids better rooting, and enables the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the soil structure.


Mallinsons heavy duty machinery allows us to use our soil reliever on greens and tees, it is hoped this practice will prolong the life of our machine. The picture below shows our soil reliever in action on the 18th green.

We regularly use the procore throughout winter relieving surface tension and allowing the turf to breath, this machine creates minimal surface disturbance.

After the various aeration machines have been used we follow up with the turf iron to settle and smooth out the surface.

Course Presentation

With the arrival of spring!!! we have started to edge up the paths and prepare them for resurfacing with shale.Whilst this is a time consuming job it improves the presentation of the course. As shown in the picture.

The path at the side of the 10th tee looking good.










Golf course ornithology























We really encourage wildlife on to the course it adds so much interest for the members and visitors as they play the course.In positioning bird boxes we feel we are contributing in creating additional habitats in a landscape that offers great nesting opportunities.


It's that time of the year again, when the bird boxes get cleaned out ready for their new inhabitants , Daniel Gildea is cleaning out the box, Chris Lewis is footing the ladder.



Special thanks to Mr Derek Walkden, Mr Brian Wakefield and Mr Stephen Reynolds who have generously supplied additional bird boxes this year.

I conclude in the hope that my next blog will inform you that we have commenced;  top dressing greens and  tees, applying fertiliser and wetting agents and yes you've guessed it continuing aeration work........this is of course, all dependent on the weather!!!!                                                              
                                                                                   Terry Wharton    Head Greenkeeper

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

November update.

Welcome to our November blog, the weather has enabled us to complete  the positioning of our winter tee mats on the 2nd 4th 8th 13th and 18th holes and put in additional paths to ease wear and tear around them.

Our programme of levelling the 8th 12th 14th and 18th tees is moving along well and we hope to see them turfed very soon. Below are some pictures showing our progress on the 18th tee, and additional work.

   

The picture above shows Chris Lewis using the turf cutter to lift the turf. 

  The turf is stripped off, unfortunately because of its high sand content in the upper profile it is difficult to lift and put back down.We will be re turfing with a turf containing fescue and smooth stalk meadow grass species.These grasses are hard wearing and offer great presentation when the turf is mown.             

                       New levels are positioned on the tee, which are the white dots in the picture, the tee is firmed and raked numerous times to achieve the correct surface levels.

Throughout the past month the greens team have been busy removing the leaves off the course with hand blowers and the tractor mounted blower. The picture above shows the leaves from the 11th fairway being blown in to the colonels wood.

We recently purchased a power brush to keep the mats clean and to aid in their presentation. 

The winter tee mat at the 14th is being cleaned with the power brush.The brush does a great job in removing debris from the pile of the mat and is used regularly  

The picture above shows the toadstool Fly Agaric which as been growing  in many areas around the course.It was traditionally used as a insecticide,the toxic toadstool contains ibotenic acid which attracts and kills flies. And in Victorian and Edwardian  times it was commonly found on Christmas cards as a sign of good luck, its colours may have been the inspiration for Santa's red and white suit.

In the December blog i hope to show you our work on the cross bunker on the 13th hole, the completed tees, and the drainage of the greenside bunkers at the 17th green.

                                                      Terry Wharton    Head Greenkeeper