Spring Golf Course update – A note from Ben Archer

I’d like to take this opportunity to give you all a quick update with the progress of the course as we head from Spring into Summer.

Course maintenance works were completed on time and we are pleased with the take of the Bent seed. Overseeding with Bent grasses will help us to strengthen the sward with harder, more disease resistant grasses.  Summer maintenance week is scheduled for Monday 8^th August.

We are now into the full swing of grass cutting and course presentation. After a dry April the grass has finally started to grow with some vigour. Greens are down to 4mm and stimping between 8-9 daily. Tees and aprons are now to the Summer height of 11mm. Rough and semi are being cut once a week to ensure that the grass is never too long to create a mess after cutting.

The 16th tee which was taken out of play last year is still awaiting a decision as to what direction we go with it. The main issue is the longevity of the new tee if it were to be built. With a further 3-5 years of growth on the trees in the line of play we would be in the same situation again. An alternative tee giving a clear line of sight to the green would be a more cost effective long term solution.

The greens will continue to be aerated monthly and a light top dress applied. It is a necessary evil as the plants need air to breathe just like us. In the ideal rootzone the top 8 inches of soil will fully cycle every 8 hours. As well as our in house aeration we are also utilising an Air2g2 in mid-June, which will penetrate down to 12 inches and uses compressed air to frack the soil horizontally. This machine will give huge benefits with very little disruption to the surface.

As is always the case in greenkeeping, all of the planned work is with the cooperation of mother nature, so certain projects may have to be missed or may take longer than expected.