We are in the middle of a dry spell which looks set through next week. Humidity and temperature remain high, and the grass keeps on growing. The full course has been cut at least once this week - greens alternate days. The new turf on the chipping green extension has already begun to root through and has grown about 2’” since it was laid. The new tees are 2-3 weeks behind.

Other than routine course maintenance, this week the team has finished tidying up the new turf edges on the chipping green and tees. The photo shows the chipping green over the new bunker. Next spring when the turf is fully established the bunker will be shaped out. Gavin has rounded off the front edge of the 15th tee to remove the sharp slope that resulted from the tee levelling. The greens have been sprayed with fungicide to deal with the fusarium that was becoming visible; they will also be sprayed with iron (ferrous sulphate) to harden the grasses and discourage moss which becomes more prominent when the grass stops growing in the winter. The team are also two thirds into rebanding the first, but work has been paused because the most recent load of stone has some oversize in it which blocked the chute. It has to be replaced.

This week Gavin plans to reshape the path after the bridge on 5, using some of the leftover turf. He will also have a go at draining the hollow in front of the 8th Black tee by mole ploughing, and also - if the ground is firm enough - try to complete the work on the left of 9. Taking advantage of the good weather he also plans to solid tine the greens again to get aeration down to the roots and keep the grass healthy. He is going to be short-handed for the rest of the year as staff use up the holidays they didn’t take during the summer.

Course committee