March Update. 

Welcome to our latest blog, as usual the weather as controlled our work programme, Growth on the course has been minimal with the cool temperatures holding it back.

The greens have been verti drained again and top dressed twice, with little growth it has been difficult to work  the dressing into the sward.

To work the dressing into the upper profile we will procore with 8mm solid tines.This practice will not only aid aeration and drainage but will allow the dressing to fill the holes and take the dressing off the greens creating minimal surface disturbance.

When the temperature rises, we will apply a fertiliser to the greens to aid the plants development through the next few months





The dry period in early March allowed us to work on our fairways and practice area.

We sprayed them with Soluble Iron to check any small areas of moss and to aid definition and presentation. They were then scarified with the Wessex  and divoted.


Considering all the winter play, the fairways have stood up to the play quite well.The regular aeration work is really beneficial in moving water off the surface and developing strong healthy roots.







Over the past month we have cut out and shaped a new path from the 4th tee through to the 4th green. the path runs alongside the ponds and offers a great view of the wall garden.

 Over the past few years we have added additional paths at the 8th 11th 12th 13th 16th and 17th holes.

The paths enable us to create traffic routes from the tees and control the wear. The picture shows the new path from the 4th tee.



April work programme.


Another month flies by and we move into April. We hope for a balanced period of weather so we can continue top dressing and apply the greens fertiliser.

 The mowers are all ready for when the temperature rises to start the grass growing!!!!!


                      Terry Wharton   Head Greenkeeper

February Blog



Welcome to our February blog, it contains a summary of the work that has taken place throughout the month.

The weather enabled us to Vertidrain the greens and tees, with contractors Mallinsons coming in to vertidrain the fairways.

However the last ten days of the month as seen significant rainfall which stopped us from cutting and shaping  the course.
The greens received their monthly spray of soluble iron and are holding up well.

The rate of growth on the greens has been minimal throughout the month as you would expect at this time of the year. To achieve good ball roll on the greens in February we've rolled them with the Turf Iron achieving good results.

 To get the benefits of using the turf iron at this time of the year the rolling needs to be followed up with a regular programme of aeration to reduce any surface tension in the turf.

     
Tree Maintenance 

 February has seen the greens team working in the woodland copses, thinning out areas. This practice of tree management is recognised by the forestry commission.

 Our aim is to allow the trees to develop with good shape with adequate space between them.This will allow air and sunlight to penetrate through the trees on to the course enabling the ground to become firm and dry.

It is so important that we get the balance right in creating the correct growing environment in and around the various woodland areas on the course.
Heavily planted copses in a southerly position will greatly reduce the drainage qualities of the surrounding areas.This is due to the reduced air and sunlight penetration through the trees,leaving the areas around the copses constantly wet and difficult to maintain.

Trees planted close to land drains will reduce the draining qualities, the tree roots follow the drains in periods of dry weather in search for moisture,and over a period of time the drains will be blocked.

 We aim to manage the trees on the course in a appropriate way with guidance from the Sports Turf Research Institute and the estates tree surgeons.




Edging up bunkers 

We've started edging up the bunkers giving them great shape and reducing any overhangs on them.

The depth of sand is checked and over the next few weeks levels will be corrected going in to the start of the season.

The bunkers on the 13th hole are draining well, the bunker mat is reducing any wash down from the bunker face, this stops the sand from getting discoloured and losing its qualities.

We will follow up this work with regular tilling and raking  to keep the sand loose.


In March we will start to edge up the paths around the course and shale them.

Fertiliser will be applied to greens and tees (weather permitting) aeration will continue and the mowers may come out.

 The work programme is being cranked up ready for spring. Lets hope for some good weather.

                                                          Terry Wharton    Head Greenkeeper

January Update.

Welcome to our January blog.

We've been busy over the past month working on various projects, with the weather dictating our progress.

Throughout the month the team has been busy pruning and cutting lower growth and overhanging branches from the trees. Most of the lime trees in the Colonels Wood, have had their lower growth removed.This work gives the trees better shape with the overall area looking tidy and managed.

We took advantage of a dry period in the month, it enabled us to do some cutting,on greens tees, and the fairways, this gave great presentation to those areas.

The picture below shows the 4th tee that we seeded in September,it is coming on nicely.When the soil temperature rises in spring we'll apply a fertiliser to give the sward density and strength.

                 
            The picture above shows the 18th tee looking well presented for January.



Greens Aeration
Throughout January we've managed to aerate the greens weekly. It is so important to keep the surfaces open to relieve surface tension and allow water percolation through the root zone.

This practice alongside regular top dressing will reduce any thatch build up in the upper profile of the surface.          



                               The picture below shows the sisis slitter in action

The 3rd green which we drained last October is performing well. We need to check the surface around the drain lines over the next few months to ensure we go into spring with true levels.



Ornithology Programme.

We have cleaned out the bird boxes that are positioned around the course, ready for spring. All the boxes we cleaned last year had been used, this was really pleasing.The landscape around the course is a haven for wildlife and with the boxes in position it gives the birds additional nesting options.

           
                              Jack Hosker and Chris Lewis checking one of the boxes.

We hope for a period of dry weather in February to enable us to complete our winter work.

Vertidraining will be taking place on the greens tees, and fairways. We'll start to put some additional cutting in place to give the course some better definition.       (Weather permitting!!!!!)

                                                                         Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper.

December Blog.

Welcome to our December blog, the team have been busy on various projects.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Greens team for their workmanship and enthusiasm in delivering great surfaces at Haydock Park this year.

 The weather in December made some of the work difficult with periods of heavy rainfall and the end of the month we seen significant snow fall.

                          The view down the 9th hole with the club house in the distance.

              The picture above shows the trench dug from the clubhouse to the colonels wood.


13th Green Bunker Work

The pictures below show the green side bunkers at the 13th, we positioned a new drain in the left  hand side bunker, the picture shows the dig ready for the pipe to be positioned and stoned.


                                                                                 

Below you can see the bunkers sanded turfed, and shaped ready for play in the spring of 2015 when the turf will be rooted.

Both bunkers had a bunker mat positioned in them to aid drainage, reduce stones from effecting the sand quality,stop discolouration and washdown of the sand in periods of heavy rainfall.

They now match up with the cross bunker on this hole.

January 2015 will see us cleaning up the lower branches on the trees, continuing turfing worn areas, and edging up bunkers.

Thanks for reading the blog, i hope you find it interesting.  

 Have a happy and peaceful New Year from all the greenkeeping team.


                                                                                 Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper

November Blog

Welcome to our November blog.

Over the past few weeks we have been busy removing leaves from around the course. The leaves first started falling around the end of September, this work can continue through to December,depending on the wind speed and temperature throughout the period.

November was quite dry with an overall rainfall figure of 55mm.

We sprayed the greens with soluble Iron, to harden the plant against disease going in to the winter period.

The picture below shows the bottom of the hole cutter taken from the 6th green,a good root structure is visible at a depth of ten inches .Its great to see, showing the benefits of the continuous aeration programme.

 In December we will reshape and drain the 13th greenside bunkers,and continue with the aeration work on the greens. Throughout the month, worn and weak areas around the course will be turfed.

 A trench will be dug for an electric cable to be positioned from the supply at the club house to the Colonels wood for a water pump to be positioned in the pond.

                                                                              Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper.

Welcome to our October blog.

On the 29th of September we commenced work to re-drain the 3rd green and to level and extend the 4th tee. This work ran into October and is therefore covered in this blog. 

The 3rd green has performed well and over the past few years contour adjustments have been used to move the water off the surface, however the percolation rates of the moisture moving through the profile were not adequate.

It was decided to re- drain the green in late September, to take advantage of the dry soil conditions, that would enable good recovery and settlement of the surface before winter.

The main drain was marked out alongside eight laterals, the turf was lifted and boards were placed down to protect the green, a mini digger was hired to excavate the trenches to a positive draining outlet.

We dug the trenches and removed the upper profile of rootzone, below this was a thick layer of clay  sitting at a depth of 300mm. The clay (pictured below) was removed allowing adequate depth for the drainage pipe and stone.              
                                                                                       
   

         
This picture below shows the green with the laterals and main drain excavated. It is now ready for piping stoning, and turfing

     

                                                          

  The picture on the left shows one of the laterals dug out and the drainage  pipe in position, The trenches are backfilled with hard 2-6mm grit which is laid in 100mm layers to within 300mm of the surface.  The picture on the right shows the trench filled and firmed with rootzone ready to be turfed
                                                                                             

The picture below shows the turf iron levelling the surface of the relaid turf. Over the next few months we will monitor the levels to achieve good ball roll and smoothness.

The 4th Tee

It was decided to extend and level the 4th tee as part of our winter programme.Sprinkler heads were made visible and the turf was removed. The levels were marked out along side the extension to the tee

     The usable pieces of turf will be saved and used to repair weak areas around the course.

Special thanks to one of our members, Mr Ian Moore for the use of his machinery in this project,it greatly assisted us to speed up the work and remain on track. It was important to get the levels and preparation of the tee in place before the weather changed .

The picture above shows the tee extended levelled,and prepared to be seeded.We decided to seed the tee using Johnsons Pro 40. It was felt that the south facing location of the tee and the soil temperature at the time of sowing would give us strong germination.

Germination of the seed took place after fourteen days, and the mild weather conditions allowed us to apply a granular 4.0.8 fertiliser to aid the plants development.

It is hoped with a mild winter and good growing conditions in spring, alongside good surface preparation the tee will be fine for the start of the season 2015.

Special thanks to the greenkeeping team in showing great workmanship and enthusiasm in delivering these projects on time.


  Our November blog will highlight our maintenance work throughout the Autumn period.


                                                                       Terry Wharton  Head Greenkeeper.

September update 

What a difference in the weather, August produced a rainfall figure of 127mm and in September the total monthly amount was 13mm.

The dry conditions allowed us to vertidrain the fairways achieving excellent results the firm profile was shattered with the tines.This action reduces compaction aids better drainage,develops stronger roots,and allows air into the profile.

The vertidrain from John Mallinson pictured above is used on all the fairways and walk ways,and over the past few years it has greatly improved the turf quality and effectiveness of the drainage system on the course. To keep the fairways in good condition we have also held monthly divoting parties, special thanks to all the members who have helped throughout the year.

     The picture above shows the divoting party in action, it really helps to improve the surfaces .



To continue on the aeration theme it was critical throughout September that the greens aeration was carried out regularly, the warm / dry conditions were ideal for disease.

If the plant was allowed to be stressed it would create ideal condition's for turf disease to attack. The Moisture levels were monitored and cutting heights checked along side daily visual inspections of the plants health.

 Numerous fungal diseases have been reported throughout September, these being Microdochium Patch  Anthracnose, and Thatch Fungus. These diseases will kill the grass species they attack and will greatly effect the smoothness of the surface. It is important to address these conditions early,so we applied a fungicide to prevent the disease and keep the the greens clean.

 It is hoped we go in to Autumn with healthy greens,pictured below is Daniel Gildea using the procore.

The October blog will cover the work carried out on the 4th tee and 3rd green.



                                                           Terry Wharton                 Head Greenkeeper