April 2023 Greens Report
Dry weather has caused a few unwanted issues for the course this month, and it started with dry patches throughout the fairways, tees and some surrounds. As we don’t have irrigation to some tees and no water at all to our fairways, this became the start of a big issue.
These conditions were favourable for insects to strike, and mealy bug was diagnosed and had rapidly begun to spread everywhere over the past 14 days, but with day and night time spraying of a selective insecticide, the problem is under control.
All fairways, tees, green surrounds and greens have had two applications done.
It’s a pretty scary time waiting on some rain to give some type of moisture to the soil throughout the course, and an application was also done to help hold moisture in the profile of the course also. Moving forward, a third application will be done if needed and hopefully some rain.
We have had our main water dam on 13th cleaned out, with weeds and silt from the floor being removed. Unfortunately, the company that was used left more than expected damage around the dam, and these areas will remain under g.u.r. until the areas recover for play.
We also had vandalism to our course last month. The vandals entered and ripped up two greens, the 15th and 17th with some type of bike/scooter, however the staff did an amazing job repairing these areas and which have completely recovered.
With some positive news, a new path on the13th tee has been completed and looks great and was much needed for our carts.
With the last month being chaotic with added work for the staff, some jobs have been pushed back but not disregarded.
A couple of more bare patches on the 3rd and 6th greens will be fixed with new turf this month.
Dam walls, hazard lines and all snipping areas of drains etc will be attacked this month getting the course back into top shape.
We are still waiting on our new tractor, and as this will arrive shortly we will be able to add fresh sand to all bunkers, continue path maintenance, and start the project of installing drainage and fixing the 3rd bunker also .
ANDY BOSWELL – COURSE SUPERINTENDENT