Playing the growth and task game!

Firstly I would like to apologise for the delay of my updates. We have been extremely busy out on the golf course and the time has just flown by! 

What a month this has been. It feels like we have been playing a game of cut (because of the growth) and then trying to get a task done (see below), growth, task, growth, task. I think it's to much to put into one blog so I will try and spread it out. 

Growth rates 

The growth rates at the start of the year were very high and have helped with the over seeding and divotting around the course. The strike rate (how much seed came through) was very impressive indeed and allowed to start presenting the course a lot earlier compared to last year. (Below you can see the light green seed coming through a divot).

One thing I have been looking into this year is GDD (growth degree days) and during the summer months growth potential. Both of these systems use maximum and minimum daily tempratures, minus a base number (which is the default temprature the plant starts to grow) to give you a number.  These numbers are used to help guide our fertiliser, growth regulator and applications of chemicals to plant by predicting low growth or high growth flushes. 

This year greenkeepers from across europe sent their figures in to a company for the data to be analysed between January and April. 

So I sent our figures in and got an almost instant e mail back asking if I was in Spain (ha ha) and the scientist was so interested in our figures that he was going to look into it further. Why? Because we had the highest growth rates in the UK and most of Europe. 

This is the GDD graph sent out. If you see we are down as North London. We had 383 GDD compared this to the highest in other parts and it's a big difference. The closest amount of growth to us was in Frankfurt,Germany! 

So why is this? (Below is from Mark Hunt Technical Director of Headland) which may help to explain it simpler!  

So that's why we are top of the pops as they say. Ok, now your thinking what does this have to do with the golf course... 

Well, there's two ways of looking at this! High growth rates mean more cutting than other clubs at the start of the year meaning our projects need to be done earlier because we have less time available at the start of the season to complete. This is something I have always said but it's been proven that we need to plan to finish things earlier in the year so when the growth comes we are ready. 

The upside to the growth being high, is the greens become smoother quicker than other parts of the country, the course can repair from the winter months and presents better at the start of the year.  Meaning we come out of winter quicker...surely that's got to be good for our golf swings:-) 

That's enough on GDD and growth rates. 

What else has been going on-

Divotting 

We held another divot day on the bank holiday Monday with 10 holes being divoted again by the member in 45 mins followed by some golf in the junior find raiser. The remain holes were divoted on the Wednesday evening by the Roll up and the greenstaff the following morning. I would like to thank all those involved again. 

All hands on deck to make up the 225 buckets again. 

Woodland management  

The greenstaff have been busy lifting trees around the course. This not only improves the view, allows us to get machinery in under to cut these areas, improves air flow but it also speeds up play as the golfers can see there ball easier. 

The oak at the bottom of 7th lifted

The willows around the course were given there haircut also! 

The hedges around the course given there first cut of the year. Many other areas were trimmed back or tidied up. With walkways, bridges and encroachment on tees all being addressed.

We also finished off the last of our shredding of the piles from the winter woodland work. These were left in areas around the course due to course being to wet in the winter months to get the chipper out to them. 

After. 

Pathways 

The pathways around the course were edged. This is very, very time consuming for the staff. 

The low points on pathways were then topped up with type 1

Then topped up with red pave 

And then wacker plated in to try and keep in place. With over 106 man hours just used on the worst pathways this is one of our most laborious tasks on the golf course but they look great when they are done.... Until this 20mm of rain in a couple of hours and they wash away! 

 

I must admit this is frustrating but we will not be beaten so we start again :-)

Thankfully most of the paths have stayed in place but we are looking at designs and other alternatives to improve these areas around the course. This will make a huge difference in the long term. 

Bunkers 

The bunkers were given another top up. Bunkers with enough sand were given a renovation with the sand moved to the correct levels across the bottoms. This is always on going process as the rain or irrigation can move the sand following a shower. 

Our daily repairs to the bunker faces has also been a challenge over the last couple of months. We know who's playing these games with us, as he likes to watch us repair it :-)

The ditches 

The ditches around the course have had there first major cut back of the year. These play an important roll with in the course strategy and the drainage of the site.

Once the strimming was complete broken or faded hazard posts were replaced.

We then clearly marked hazards, GUR and boundarys. 

Irrigation

Irrigation repairs have also been carried out. The picture above is of the new valve assembly to the right of the 3rd. This has been a troublesome box over the years so it was decided to replace it all once and for all rather than just to keep repairing it. 

Some of the sprinklers arcs (the areas covered by the irrigation system) were also re-adjusted ready for the dry spell ahead. 

Gardens

Since Dukey the clubs gardener retired last year, it's been a bit of mix of members and staff to try keep control of the gardens.

This year, the greenstaff, Ollie (from the pro shop) and Barbara Jackson (past chairwoman) have been involved in improving the feel around the clubhouse. I would like to thank Barbara (who is a keen gardener and who opens her garden for charity every year) for all of her time and expertise. 

The detail stuff 

Some of the yardage stones were moved to their correct positions. The difference now is that yardage stones are placed using GPS. In the past the stones were set out using a wheel and tape. The trouble with that, is the wheel and tape have to go across the ups and downs of the course so you don't get a true reading. 

New towels were placed out on all the ball washers. 

Robin Toovey, our mechanic/greenkeeper also gave the machines a sharpen up on the grinders. This improves the plants health as it creates a clean cut on the plant rather than a ripping effect which can cause diseases to get into the plant. The main thing from a players perspective is the greens increase in speed without lowering the height of cut. 

(Below is a unit being sharpened along the cylinder). 

I think that's enough for now. I will blog again soon and talk about the South England County week plus lots more. As you can see it's been very busy but also rewarding getting all these tasks done along with getting the daily cutting and play set ups completed with the golf course growing like crazy. 

I hope your all enjoying the sunshine and playing as much as you can. 

Matt