Sorry for the long delay between posts. When I last posted in November I reported on the good recovery of the greens after our spring renovations. We are now nearly 2 weeks after our autumn greens renovations and I can also report on the great recovery of the greens this time round. We are now back to normal mowing height albeit with the old cutting units as there is still a little sand on the greens. Since my November post we have consistently dusted our greens on a weekly basis giving us a smoother, firmer surface with noticeably less puffiness in the turf at this time of year. Combined with regular applications of Trinexapac-ethyl(growth regulator) using GDD(growing degree days) as a timing mechanism, minimal nutrition, regular rolling and regular wetting agent(Revolution) applications I have had much greater growth control, no disease, no hand watering and less water use. The Browntop bent is thriving and has never looked better at this time of the year.
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| 6th green 2 days after renovations |
I have changed up my tee and fairway maintenance this summer with regular monthly applications of Dispatch(penetrant). This has made a huge difference to turf quality on the fairways. Last April we over sowed the fairways with a Browntop/fescue mix. The dispatch treatment has allowed for even penetration of irrigation all season with no runoff and surface water into hollows and minimal drying out of mounded areas. We have used less water this year and the positive comments about the fairways has been numerous this year with the new seed flourishing and the turf density increasing.
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| fairways never looked better |
Another development this year around the club is the rebuilding of a new clubhouse after being damaged in the 2011 earthquakes. Last week began site clearing for the new clubhouse adjacent to the car park. We had to remove valves and sprinklers from around the practise green and block off some pipework prior to site works beginning. First to go was the old pro shop and shipping container(for cart storage) that were relocated to a new site further south. The old clubhouse is still in use while the new building goes up and when that is completed will be demolished and the site will be transformed into a practise putting/chipping green with bunkering and a practise net area for warm ups.
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| the proshop about to be shifted |
