Greenkeepers Newsletter December 2024
The resent significant weather system is an obvious topic of this newsletter. ‘Storm Darragh’ arrived in the early hours of Saturday prompting a red warning for wind for that day and yellow warning extending into Sunday, the storm caused the deposition of sand across the course, particularly affecting the 6th hole and 10th green. Fortunately, the course emerged from this event with minimal issues mainly requiring repairs to signage, re-establishing newly laid turf, and rebuilding the driving nets. The surfaces mentioned will benefit from the sand (top-dress), having opened the profile recently with solid tines on all surfaces the sand will move through the profile diluting the thatch levels helping deeper rooting which will strengthening against summer droughts.
At time of writing three weeks before the end of year I’m certain this year will eclipse all others recorded in respect to yearly rainfall accumulation, sitting at 50mm shy of last year’s 1429mm this will be back to back years of events that historically were 10 year occurrences. These storm and rainfall events are predicted to increase in regularity and intensity pushed ultimately by rising sea temperatures.
Last month we completed the instillation of irrigation on 2nd and 17th green complexes, our next step will be to extend coverage on the 4th fairway by adding two more sprinklers which will ensure the last 40m of the fairway will be irrigated, This improvement will enhance the density and resilience of a fairway that often suffers in the summer months.
additionally, this week we began redesigning the right-hand greenside bunker on the 17th hole to address flooding issues by raising the bunker base, we will achieve this by relocating the bunker closer to the green further up the slope allowing us to maintain its depth.
Although It seems early to extend Christmas greetings its soon approaching enjoy the period and I will reconnect with you in the new year.
Steven Harvey
Course Manager
