Happy Holidays

Since the last post we have replaced the old irrigation control computer with a new one. We had to buy a 32bit operating system and install that onto the computer to make it compatible with the irrigation control system software. After a few little issues with missing files we managed to get the entire system running perfectly and have reinstalled all the backed up data from the old computer. In all it took about 2 weeks to get everything back to a normally functioning irrigation system and hopefully we will have minimal operation of sprinklers during daylight hours. I would like to thank the golfers for their patience during this down time as we had to irrigate during the daytime when we manually turned sprinklers on while golfers were playing.

Now that the system is fully functioning we have noticed a couple of niggling electrical issues that is causing some sprinklers not to turn on, or in some instances they will turn on, then immediately turn off. We have had this happen other years and as yet we have been unable to identify the cause (it appears to be a random occurrence and will correct itself).  It is during this time of year that we historically get issues with electrical problems and pipe leaks in the watering system. I will be on course most days during the holidays checking on the condition of the irrigation system.

I wish all the members all the best for the Christmas break and good golfing in the New Year. See you all out there and hopefully we all have a great 2015.

Course Update

A couple of weeks ago we had a run of very windy weather which caused quite a bit of debris to be blown about the course. One Saturday morning when mowing greens I came across a large branch on the 13th fairway that had fallen from a big pine tree to the left of the fairway. The wind had been so strong that the debris covered the entire width of the fairway. With help from member & neighbour, Robbie Franklin, we got the branch removed before the first group of golfers came through.

 Large branch across the 13th fairway

A few posts back I mentioned that we are regularly dusting the greens with sand and using an old Vicon fertiliser spreader to do the job. While not ideal, it is adequate to apply a light covering of sand to the surface.

Vicon spreader applying sand to the greens 

Another maintenance procedure we have just completed on the greens is pencil tyning. This involves 8mm solid tynes closely spaced, at a depth of 125mm and the process took just over a day to complete with minimal surface damage. The aim of this procedure is to create thousands of small fissures from the greens surface to 100-150mm into the soil profile so that water will penetrate into areas of known hydrophobic(non-wetting) soil. We are due to put out the next application of wetting agent soon and I am hoping this will improve our chances of getting the product to the problem areas. With regular pencil tyning over the summer period we should also provide a better soil, air, water ratio which in turn will create a better environment for the browntop during stress periods.

We have been lucky to have received some good rainfall recently and that has taken some of the pressure off our watering system. For those of you that thought the course was drying out you would be right. This week the irrigation control system computer failed and we are trying to source a computer that will run our control program. This is not a simple as first thought because the program is relatively old, written in 32bit and not compatible with today's 64 bit machines. Hopefully this week we will be sorted and the irrigation system will be back up and running. In the meantime  I would like to ask the golfers for your patience and understanding as manual watering of greens could be needed during the day until we get the system fully operational.