Fairway drainage works update 1

In typical fashion as we started work on installing drainage into the 1st, 2nd & 3rd fairways the weather reached a scorching 33 degrees and we had the hottest September day in 105 years...!!! A good omen or not I'm not sure but it sure made for dusty work as the contractors made their way through the fairway.
The drainage to be installed consists of a main carry drain across the 1st, 2nd & 3rd fairways with laterals at 7 metre spacing's to be installed into the main drain.
The main drain will consist of a 200mm pipe that will feed into the area behind the 10th tee with the lateral drains being 60mm pipe. The main drain is being installed at 700mm depth with the laterals being installed at 600mm depth.
All the drains are being installed using laser guided technology to ensure accurate depths are maintained across the drainage runs. The laterals are all situated to intercept both surface & subsurface water as it moves across the land.

As can be seen from the above photos the contractors we have engaged to help us on this project have both the equipment & expertise to help make this project a success. Great progress has already been made in just 2 days.

An interesting find, one of many I'm sure, as the main drain was being dug in a previous drain that had been installed that was full of tree roots & silt. This meant the drain wasn't functioning and was set too shallow in the first place.

I'll keep updating the blog as we progress with the drainage and post some more pictures.

As ever I really appreciate everyone's understanding whilst we carry out these works and will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum.

Cutting down the roughs....

A lot of work has been undertaken this last week in cutting down some of the longer rough areas around the course. These works are carried out to help maintain & achieve rough that has more desirable finer grasses in that are aesthetically more appealing, provide good ecological benefits and enable golf balls to be found more quickly and hopefully not too punishing a shot out.
All the grass that is cut down is boxed off and composted or raked up and then taken away to be composted.
These works are carried out every year so year on year the quality & composition of the rough grasses improves. This year we are aiming to try and put out some wildflower mixes around the course to improve the course both ecologically & visually.

Fairway Drainage works

Next week will start of what is too be a busy period on the golf course in terms of course improvements and developments.
Strange as it may seem to be talking about drainage after the last couple of warm dry months, but we all know the winter months are coming and with it the rain that makes Muswell Hill a very different place than the one we enjoy over the summer.
The main aims of installing drainage onto the golf course is to offer better playing surfaces during the winter months and also to allow us to be in better shape come the spring and the new golfing season.

The first phase of the drainage works will see fairway drainage system installed across the 1st, 2nd & 3rd fairways.

The above images are taken from January this year and show the water collecting on the first fairway with the existing drainage system unable to cope with any heavy rainfall events.
The system we are installing, working with contractors ProFusion, will see over 1400 linear metres of drainage installed across all 3 fairways. Consisting of a main outlet drain and lateral drains installed every 7 metres should ensure this area will remain playable during wet periods.
The fairway drainage is the first phase of significant investment the golf club is making aimed at making the course playable for greater parts of the year.

Course maintenance review

The work is done now rest. If only that was the case...!!!!
Last week we carried out our course maintenance works and hopefully this post will give an insight into how we carried out the work.
The first task we carried out was to verti-cut the greens, this involves using verti-cut units attatched to a ride on greens mower that helps remove excess lateral growth from the grass plant. Verti-cutting helps to promote density & sward coverage.

Once the greens had been verti-cut the next work carried out was to hollow core. This maintenance week we carried out a micro hollow tine using 13mm diameter tines working to a depth of 75mm.

Hollow coring allows us to remove poor soils and exchange with more desirable rootzone mix.

After hollow coring the greens were topdressed with sand and this was then brushed in using our Sweep N Fill brush that ensured all the sand was brushed into the holes.

After the initial dressings were brushed in the next phase of works was to deep tine with the verti-drain. Using 19mm tines working to a depth of 200mm this helps increase air and water infiltration into the rootzone. These tine holes were then filled with more sand to help improve the rootzone composition.

After the aeration works all the greens were over seeded and a granular feed applied to help aid recovery. As the week progressed we encountered one or two problems, mainly with tyre punctures & some machinery breakdowns, but the greenstaff battled on and all the surfaces had most works carried out.

In addition to the greens, aeration work & topdressing was carried out to the tee's, aprons & greens surrounds.

So a week after course maintenance week the heatwave has continued that has meant plenty of water applied to the surfaces we can irrigate but the recovery of the surfaces is on track. 

All the work carried out is aimed at preserving the quality of the playing surfaces into the winter, thanks again for your understanding and enjoy the sunshine.

Course Maintenance works

As we enter the period of course maintenance works this forthcoming week I'll explain our proposed works schedule and explanation behind the works.
Course maintenance weeks allow us to carry out a number of tasks on the golf course to help improve the playing surfaces & characteristic's and to be more efficient in the timings of the works and also in the quicker recovery period.
This course maintenance week the work we will be carrying out on the greens will involve hollow coring with a micro tine followed by deep aeration with the verti drain machine. This will be supplemented by the addition of over 60 tonnes of sand dressing to the putting surfaces. The greens will then be over seeded and a granular feed applied to aid recovery.
Works to be carried out on the Tees & Aprons will be similar with less sand applied and we are aiming to hollow core areas around green surrounds.
Why carry out the work?
Aerating Turfgrass helps relieve some of the stresses we put the surfaces under during the playing season, creating air space in the soil profile and creating spaces for roots to grow and develop will lead to healthier grass plants that are better able to tolerate stress and also allow the surfaces, combined with the drainage works being carried out will help us have better playing surfaces for longer periods of the year. The addition of sand top dressing across all surfaces improves ball roll, smoothness & drainage performances of the playing surfaces.

Follow the blog this week and I'll post more pictures from the work we are carrying out.

I'd like to finish by thanking the membership for there understanding whilst we carry out these works and as ever we will endeavour to keep the disruption to a minimum and aim to have the surfaces back in play as soon as possible.

Many thanks.

Your Greens need you.....

As greenkeepers our job is to prepare and present the golf course in it's best possible condition whilst striving to make improvements that will enhance and preserve the golfing experience at Muswell Hill. Sometimes though we need the assistance of the members & visitors who play the course.
In this instance I'm referring to pitchmarks on the greens.
The picture below is taken from the front of the 11th green last Monday, 11th July.
Each ball represents an unrepaired pitchmark.

In total there were more than 25 pitchmarks, I actually ran out of balls to put in all the marks.

Why is this so important?

We are constantly trying to achieve smooth & true putting surfaces at Muswell Hill. 

Most of the maintenance works we carry out are aimed at producing good putting surfaces, aeration, top dressing, monitoring heights of cut, balanced nutrient input all help us produce true putting surfaces.

An unrepaired or badly repaired pitchmark leads to bumpy, untrue surfaces and is also more likely to encourage weed or disease invasion of the putting surface.

If everyone could repair their own pitchmark, the problem would be solved and the putting surfaces will benefit. The condition of the course will therefore benefit. Its a win-win.