Club Update
Course
AERATION
February has been a relatively dry, cold month and good for construction and ground works.
We have trialled a demo of an implement made by Imants called the Mini Rotoknife, which we used on the greens and fairways. This machine fits directly on the back of a tractor and is dragged behind, where it slices into the ground leaving continual lines allowing better surface drainage, but also helps root development.
Continuing with demo machines we also had the Verti Quake. This machine also fits on the back of a tractor. It relieves deep compaction and helps with drainage. All greens and aprons were slit and fairways 4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,17 and 18 were done.
Greens were hollow tined to a depth of 3 inches (75mm) with 3/8 (10mm) diameter tines. Approximately 30 tonne of medium grade sand was applied and brushed in. Aeration and topdressing are vital tools in producing healthy turf - short term disruption for long-term benefits.
Tees have been solid tined to a depth of 4 inches (100mm)
PROTECTING OUR COURSE
We continue to rope off areas around the greens to allow damaged areas to repair over the winter. Please do avoid these restricted areas.
After heavy frosts and the ground starts to thaw, it is very important to protect the greens by bringing the flags onto temporary holes. This will stop root shearing, where the top surface moves but the sub-surface remains stationary, causing the roots to be torn.
Greens have been sprayed with a preventative fungicide and all greens, fairways and practice areas have been sprayed with iron. This gives the grass more strength, colour and resistance to drought and disease, but also weakens any moss.
TREE MAINTENANCE
7 large confers have been removed from the 11th rough, left hand side of the 11th green, allowing more light and air onto the green. Although the Club doesn’t like removing trees, this was considered carefully. Since the procedure, the sun is now shining on the green removing the heavy frosts more effectively.
MAINTENANCE
17th fairway
Now that the drainage has been installed we need to work on the surface to relieve compaction and discourage the worms casting. To discourage the worms we will be regularly spraying iron, and also applying sand which in time will reduce the Ph, improve surface drainage and make the soil acidic which will reduce worm casts.
Also over the past month we have slit the whole area and used a machine called an earthquake which relieves compaction deep down. When conditions allow we will be hollow tining and top dressing the whole area followed by over seeding with dwarf perennial ryegrass.
Whilst this work is completed we have marked the area as Play Prohibited, please use the drop zones provided.
Run off and walk off areas.
To improve these areas left 5th green and left 9th green, we will hollow tine, top dress with sand and then overseed. We will then monitor to see if this improves the surfaces and if successful will continue to do other areas on the course.
The area just left of the 8th green is badly worn due to heavy traffic and a scorching summer last year, we will be scraping off the turf, rotovating and turfing to improve the area.
We hope you all continue to enjoy your golf at Maxstoke Park Golf Club.
February has been a relatively dry, cold month and good for construction and ground works.
We have trialled a demo of an implement made by Imants called the Mini Rotoknife, which we used on the greens and fairways. This machine fits directly on the back of a tractor and is dragged behind, where it slices into the ground leaving continual lines allowing better surface drainage, but also helps root development.
Continuing with demo machines we also had the Verti Quake. This machine also fits on the back of a tractor. It relieves deep compaction and helps with drainage. All greens and aprons were slit and fairways 4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,17 and 18 were done.
Greens were hollow tined to a depth of 3 inches (75mm) with 3/8 (10mm) diameter tines. Approximately 30 tonne of medium grade sand was applied and brushed in. Aeration and topdressing are vital tools in producing healthy turf - short term disruption for long-term benefits.
Tees have been solid tined to a depth of 4 inches (100mm)
PROTECTING OUR COURSE
We continue to rope off areas around the greens to allow damaged areas to repair over the winter. Please do avoid these restricted areas.
After heavy frosts and the ground starts to thaw, it is very important to protect the greens by bringing the flags onto temporary holes. This will stop root shearing, where the top surface moves but the sub-surface remains stationary, causing the roots to be torn.
Greens have been sprayed with a preventative fungicide and all greens, fairways and practice areas have been sprayed with iron. This gives the grass more strength, colour and resistance to drought and disease, but also weakens any moss.
TREE MAINTENANCE
7 large confers have been removed from the 11th rough, left hand side of the 11th green, allowing more light and air onto the green. Although the Club doesn’t like removing trees, this was considered carefully. Since the procedure, the sun is now shining on the green removing the heavy frosts more effectively.
MAINTENANCE
17th fairway
Now that the drainage has been installed we need to work on the surface to relieve compaction and discourage the worms casting. To discourage the worms we will be regularly spraying iron, and also applying sand which in time will reduce the Ph, improve surface drainage and make the soil acidic which will reduce worm casts.
Also over the past month we have slit the whole area and used a machine called an earthquake which relieves compaction deep down. When conditions allow we will be hollow tining and top dressing the whole area followed by over seeding with dwarf perennial ryegrass.
Whilst this work is completed we have marked the area as Play Prohibited, please use the drop zones provided.
Run off and walk off areas.
To improve these areas left 5th green and left 9th green, we will hollow tine, top dress with sand and then overseed. We will then monitor to see if this improves the surfaces and if successful will continue to do other areas on the course.
The area just left of the 8th green is badly worn due to heavy traffic and a scorching summer last year, we will be scraping off the turf, rotovating and turfing to improve the area.
We hope you all continue to enjoy your golf at Maxstoke Park Golf Club.