Course Manager Update 06/05/2024
Greens Report as of 6.5.2024
Golf course update May 6th,
Well, it’s finally stopped raining, and ground conditions have improved significantly. Starting April we had to use pedestrian mowers to cut some fairways and now comfortably we can mow them all using the ride on fairway machinery. It has Definitely been a transition month and with the improvement of ground conditions it’s allowed us to get out on course with more machines help carry out important tasks and maintenance.
So, over the last 4 weeks;
The greens have been
• Top dressed twice apply around 14 tonnes taking this year’s total to around 30 tonnes this will help with loosening the upper thatch in the greens profile and improve trueness.
• Mowing intensity has increased with cuts daily and only resting to carry out maintenance and manage stress levels
• Two verti cut mows which cut vertical in the green surface helping to manage lateral growth and promote fresh new grass shoots
• A balanced granular feed was applied containing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and microrizal bacteria. This will encourage steady growth, recovery and promote healthy rooting
• Sarrel rolling, which is small 25mm deep tines which lightly aerate the surface allowing better infiltration and boosting biological processes in the profile.
• Mowing height has been reduced down to 4mm and selective brushing to help groom the surface.
• Several spray applications to continue with building biology in the profile and managing plant stress
• Seeding of bare areas to improve grass cover and playability
Tees and approaches;
• Increase mowing frequency at 15mm this will be reduced as growth strengthens
• Topdressing with sports sand around 15 tonnes over the month
• Divoting and over seeding of wear and weak areas
• Spray applications of selective weed killer, growth regulator and feed to help refine turf, encourage stronger growth without been excessive.
Fairways
• Started the month been cut at 25 mm with the tri max and tractor. Now been cut at 19mm with fairway machines this will be reduced to 17mm soon.
• Frequency of mowing will increase
• Maintenance on fairway machinery ongoing to ensure they produce the best cut
Rough
• 95%of areas are being cut with the trimax snake at a height of cut of 55mm this gives us the balance between playability and definition with the fairways.
• Remaining rough and restricted movement areas are being cut with the other rough mowers.
Other
• Irrigation system primed a few small repairs noted and will be carried out soon. A more in-depth audit of the system will be carried out in the next few weeks and a plan put in place to continue improvements.
• Bunkers sand levels in bunkers on holes 2,6,7,14,18 have been topped up.
• Regular strimmer and Flymo work on and around bunker/tee banks to help with playability and presentation.
• Pine tree by 10th tee split and scheduled to have limb removed on May 6th
Summary
On the whole April and the start of May have been productive and have allowed myself and my team to improve presentation as well as improving the agronomics across all areas of the course. We’re looking forward to some warmer weather and soils which will allow us to continue improvements and refinement of the golf course.
Our focus for next month
• Continue improvements on mowing across all areas
• Seeding of bare, weaker arears
• Bunkers sand levels on holes 1,5,9,12,13
• Weeding and stone picking of bunkers
• Demos of fairway machinery, turf iron
• Spraying of fairways and selective rough to manage weed infestation.
I Hope everyone is enjoying the course and improving weather and I’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience over the last few months and look forward to seeing more people out on the course.
Many thanks
Rob Lawley
Course manager
Oxley Park Golf club
Well, it’s finally stopped raining, and ground conditions have improved significantly. Starting April we had to use pedestrian mowers to cut some fairways and now comfortably we can mow them all using the ride on fairway machinery. It has Definitely been a transition month and with the improvement of ground conditions it’s allowed us to get out on course with more machines help carry out important tasks and maintenance.
So, over the last 4 weeks;
The greens have been
• Top dressed twice apply around 14 tonnes taking this year’s total to around 30 tonnes this will help with loosening the upper thatch in the greens profile and improve trueness.
• Mowing intensity has increased with cuts daily and only resting to carry out maintenance and manage stress levels
• Two verti cut mows which cut vertical in the green surface helping to manage lateral growth and promote fresh new grass shoots
• A balanced granular feed was applied containing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and microrizal bacteria. This will encourage steady growth, recovery and promote healthy rooting
• Sarrel rolling, which is small 25mm deep tines which lightly aerate the surface allowing better infiltration and boosting biological processes in the profile.
• Mowing height has been reduced down to 4mm and selective brushing to help groom the surface.
• Several spray applications to continue with building biology in the profile and managing plant stress
• Seeding of bare areas to improve grass cover and playability
Tees and approaches;
• Increase mowing frequency at 15mm this will be reduced as growth strengthens
• Topdressing with sports sand around 15 tonnes over the month
• Divoting and over seeding of wear and weak areas
• Spray applications of selective weed killer, growth regulator and feed to help refine turf, encourage stronger growth without been excessive.
Fairways
• Started the month been cut at 25 mm with the tri max and tractor. Now been cut at 19mm with fairway machines this will be reduced to 17mm soon.
• Frequency of mowing will increase
• Maintenance on fairway machinery ongoing to ensure they produce the best cut
Rough
• 95%of areas are being cut with the trimax snake at a height of cut of 55mm this gives us the balance between playability and definition with the fairways.
• Remaining rough and restricted movement areas are being cut with the other rough mowers.
Other
• Irrigation system primed a few small repairs noted and will be carried out soon. A more in-depth audit of the system will be carried out in the next few weeks and a plan put in place to continue improvements.
• Bunkers sand levels in bunkers on holes 2,6,7,14,18 have been topped up.
• Regular strimmer and Flymo work on and around bunker/tee banks to help with playability and presentation.
• Pine tree by 10th tee split and scheduled to have limb removed on May 6th
Summary
On the whole April and the start of May have been productive and have allowed myself and my team to improve presentation as well as improving the agronomics across all areas of the course. We’re looking forward to some warmer weather and soils which will allow us to continue improvements and refinement of the golf course.
Our focus for next month
• Continue improvements on mowing across all areas
• Seeding of bare, weaker arears
• Bunkers sand levels on holes 1,5,9,12,13
• Weeding and stone picking of bunkers
• Demos of fairway machinery, turf iron
• Spraying of fairways and selective rough to manage weed infestation.
I Hope everyone is enjoying the course and improving weather and I’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience over the last few months and look forward to seeing more people out on the course.
Many thanks
Rob Lawley
Course manager
Oxley Park Golf club