Course Report January

Greens

The greens have been in relatively good condition over the past 2 months with good rain fall through out December and early January assisting this. The presence of disease has been noticed from time to time but regular fungicide applications have kept any disease outbreaks in check. The greens were needle tined with 5mm solid tines before Christmas with an application of wetting agent and insecticide applied straight after this. We will continue this every 6-8 weeks. Monthly applications of fertilizer and growth regulator have been made to keep plant health and growth rates at an optimal level. Dusting greens will continue on a monthly basis as weather and the golfing schedule allows.

 

Fairways

The fairways have remained very green and healthy for this time of year considering the amount of recent rain we have had compared to other years. The fairway coring went well and is certainly beneficial in terms of improving aeration, reliving compaction and assisting infiltration of rain and irrigation. I am concerned though that the areas of high growth where thatch accumulation occurs at a much faster rate, the coring will not be enough to keep onto of this. Other options for thatch reduction will need to be considered going forward whilst not leaving ourselves open to contracting BF1 disease from contractor’s machinery. Following the coring the fairways were all sprayed with wetting agent and insecticide and a separate application of growth regulator was made to the fairways before all the short weeks during the Christmas New year period. Usually at this time of year the need for growth regulators isn’t necessary due to dry conditions but recent summers rain has meant we will need to continue these applications monthly.

We will spray all the fairways with a pre emergent herbicide as well as wetting agent and insecticide early in Feb to minimise the germination of Poa annua through late summer Autumn.

 

Bunkers

All bunkers were renovated over the past two weeks which entailed whipper snipping edges and tongues as well as levelling floors. Spot spraying of weeds is ongoing as required which is every couple of weeks at this time of year. 

 

Irrigation

Digging up and lifting low sprinklers is an ongoing task which we are working through as time allows. Following the upgrade to the satellite system and central computer a through audit had been undertaken of all 926 sprinklers on the golf course. Repairs or replacement of sprinklers not operating properly has been done in the past spring & summer.

 

Machinery

We have recently taken possession of the Speedseed 1600 that was ordered last year. After a 4-month long delivery from the Netherlands, the machine will be put to good use this Autumn seeding the rough areas that were sprayed for Parramatta grass on holes 7,8,18 as well as the 4^th carry and rough between 12 & 17. We will also be oversowing quite a few tees and surrounds with fine fescue.  

 

Clubhouse Gardens

Landscaping of the Graeme Rd gate and Northern carpark has commenced and should be completed by the end of March.

 

Water

Our water storage levels are currently sitting at 40ML at the moment which will get us through this season The amount of rainfall and temperature from now till late March will determine if we have to ration our water output or if we can continue to water as needed.

 

 

Rainfall                                   Total                                        Average

November                               22.2mm                                  63.8mm         

December                               111mm                                   59.7mm         

January                                  17.5mm (as at 21^st)                43.3mm                                                                                 

 

 

David Phillips

Course Superintendent

31 January 2018

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