Verti Draining Fairways

Work has started on verti draining the fairways this may take a couple of weeks depending on weather and ground conditions. We ask members and guests to be patient with us at this time of year we may get in your way at times but will do our best to keep your golf round flowing. 

Fairways are generally aerated with tractor mounted aerators throughout the winter months (November-March) when the ground is moist enough to penetrate. Operating a deep tine with varying degrees of heave will prove beneficial for removing surface water and to maximise air movement through the soil.

• Improves soil surface drainage.
• Helps to increase soil temperatures.
• increases soil pore space, allows gases exchanges in the soil (oxygen in carbon dioxide out) that improves root growth and development.
• Aids integration of top dressings into the soil profile.
• Aids breakdown of thatch/organic matter.
• Promotes better surface levels that will increase ball roll/speed
• Aids surface firmness/dryness thereby increasing ball bounce and surface grip.

The Tractor is moving at 1.5mph, tines depth at around 100mm and spacings of 70mm.

Soil Temperatures

The soil temperature in the greens is still at 10-11 celsius. Our average air temperature this month has been 11.7 celsius, fairly high for this time of year explaining the extended growth we are seeing. We are still cutting the greens 3 times a week and still harvesting a great deal of grass. Once the soil temperature drops to 5 celsius and below the grass will stop growing significantly.   

The soil temperature in the month of July when we are at our busiest. There's a dramatic difference in temperature from summer to winter really halting the grasses growth. I will record the soil temperature towards the end of December to compare the variation.  

A diagram to show  members and visitors the benefits of why we aerated the greens a few weeks back.  

Short Game Tee Now Open!!!

Range Renevation

The practice range tee has had a few more man hours put into it recently, having a new sign made up, a specific area for practice that will be moved daily, hand cut more regularly and a marked space for Head Pro Darren Bartlett to carry out his lessons. 

We ask that members and guests use the divot mix provided after using the practice facilities thanks.

One of our projects to be carried out over winter is to construct some greens range targets. If you have been up to the range you would have seen we've already made a start on marking the targets out and dumping some material. 

More to come on our progress on the range facilities.......