Green Committee Update
September 2020
The report by Alistair Beggs, the R&A Agronomist, has been made available to members. Alistair previously was Head of Agronomy at STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) and used to advise Hillside up to 2018, his last visit here was for the Ladies Amateur.
Subsequently the R&A have created their own in house Agronomy team who focus on all the R&A venues, including the Open, Seniors Open and all R&A Amateur events (we are scheduled to host the Senior British Amateur in 2022). Alistair is now Head of Agronomy for the R&A and part of our agreement to stage an R&A event is that we benefit from complimentary inspections.
Whilst Alistair’s report was complimentary re the condition of the course and its playability, given the difficult weather conditions experienced during lock-down, he did make a number of recommendations. Chris Ball (Links Manager) and his team have already actioned many of these, and those outstanding will be tackled when seasonal and weather conditions allow. During the visit, soil samples were taken to determine the organic content of certain greens (1, 7, 11, 18). The same greens have been subject to sampling annually since 2015.
The analysis report has now been received and shows that the organic matter below 20mm is largely in target, but the values 0 – 20mm have all risen in the last year, possibly because of preparations for the British Masters together with the very wet late winter. The target range for organic matter 0-40mm is 4-6%. Aeration and sand dressing will be increased on all greens to reduce the organic content to bring it within target levels over the autumn/winter period.
Bob Taylor (STRI) is due to visit the course during September to undertake an ecology review and report, which will assist us further in both course and environment management.
The following are a number of tasks that will be undertaken before Phase 2 commences.
1. Feed greens/complexes with organic feed (R&A recommendation)
2. Application of lawn sand to combat pin cushion moss which is trying to establish itself on some greens
3. Micro hollow tine greens (R&A recommendation).
4. Cut and collect ‘eyebrows’ on bunker tops and top dress
5. Start plant pot seeding greens (2-3 each week), over seed with fescue, granular seaweed, top dress with sand
6. Slit seed greens at the end of playing season
7. Spray tees and fairways for weeds
8. Cut and collect all rough around the course. Rough management on the course (particularly the new dunes) will take 3-4 years to establish
9. Top dress fairways and new dunes when Phase 2 starts
10. Spray selective herbicide on any areas containing coarse grasses
11. Several bunkers will be reveted as in previous years
12. Small bunker on the left-hand side of 5 (140 yds short of green) will possibly be moved higher up the dune to make it more visible
13. Left hand fairway bunkers on 13 to be removed
Garry Williams
Chairman of Green Committee
8th September 2020
Subsequently the R&A have created their own in house Agronomy team who focus on all the R&A venues, including the Open, Seniors Open and all R&A Amateur events (we are scheduled to host the Senior British Amateur in 2022). Alistair is now Head of Agronomy for the R&A and part of our agreement to stage an R&A event is that we benefit from complimentary inspections.
Whilst Alistair’s report was complimentary re the condition of the course and its playability, given the difficult weather conditions experienced during lock-down, he did make a number of recommendations. Chris Ball (Links Manager) and his team have already actioned many of these, and those outstanding will be tackled when seasonal and weather conditions allow. During the visit, soil samples were taken to determine the organic content of certain greens (1, 7, 11, 18). The same greens have been subject to sampling annually since 2015.
The analysis report has now been received and shows that the organic matter below 20mm is largely in target, but the values 0 – 20mm have all risen in the last year, possibly because of preparations for the British Masters together with the very wet late winter. The target range for organic matter 0-40mm is 4-6%. Aeration and sand dressing will be increased on all greens to reduce the organic content to bring it within target levels over the autumn/winter period.
Bob Taylor (STRI) is due to visit the course during September to undertake an ecology review and report, which will assist us further in both course and environment management.
The following are a number of tasks that will be undertaken before Phase 2 commences.
1. Feed greens/complexes with organic feed (R&A recommendation)
2. Application of lawn sand to combat pin cushion moss which is trying to establish itself on some greens
3. Micro hollow tine greens (R&A recommendation).
4. Cut and collect ‘eyebrows’ on bunker tops and top dress
5. Start plant pot seeding greens (2-3 each week), over seed with fescue, granular seaweed, top dress with sand
6. Slit seed greens at the end of playing season
7. Spray tees and fairways for weeds
8. Cut and collect all rough around the course. Rough management on the course (particularly the new dunes) will take 3-4 years to establish
9. Top dress fairways and new dunes when Phase 2 starts
10. Spray selective herbicide on any areas containing coarse grasses
11. Several bunkers will be reveted as in previous years
12. Small bunker on the left-hand side of 5 (140 yds short of green) will possibly be moved higher up the dune to make it more visible
13. Left hand fairway bunkers on 13 to be removed
Garry Williams
Chairman of Green Committee
8th September 2020