Course update 01/02/2018

Course Update 01/02/2018

The sun has finally come out today but for how long!!

January is over now with 98 mm (4 inches) of rain falling. It is exactly the same amount as January 2017.

The course is wet and I appreciate all of you who are carrying your bags.

I hope you are all enjoying the look of the tees and greens at present, I am trying to continue with the hand mowing through the spring and as far into the summer as man power will allow.

Disease

We are currently in high disease pressure and you may see disease scars on the greens. We are up together with chemical application and all disease is under control. The warm temperatures and damp days are the perfect concoction for disease and after speaking to other Course Managers around the area, we are all in the same boat.

The soil temperatures are up at present which is helping early grass growth. This will help with the Fusarium scar growth and help greens strengthen up going in to the spring/summer.

This type of weather and occasional Fusarium outbreak does highlight to us how much all golf courses will be affected by the removal of key fungicides this year. Along with the removal over recent years of key pesticides used to control chafer grubs, leatherjackets and worms, the golf course is much more susceptible to these issues. We are doing all we can to protect ourselves, having the right grasses on greens, staying up to date with any available products that may help and adopting a more sustainable approach will all help but wont make us immune.  

Winter Works

The two tees that we have built are bedding in very nicely and are beginning to grow. If at anytime the tee looks a little brown, it will only be top dressing which is helping level any little depressions.

The tree work between 1 & 18 just needs a clean through and a few branches lifting which should be happening over the next week.

11th green works have gone very well, I feel this is a massive improvement to a great hole. The flail that was used to finish the work has done a great job and like between 1 & 18 we will have to have a run through next week to tidy up.

We are 9 bridges down and 2 to go. As you may or may not be aware we have replaced all the sleepers on each bridge on the 1st & 2nd hole and we still have 3rd & 4th to do. We have added artificial grass to each and will be painting the RSJ's when we have a few dry days forecast.

Bunker Maintenance  

We are currently working through the bunkers edging, weeding and moving sand around. We will add sand where needed once this rain eases off.

The main hole you will see a difference is 15th as we have raised the faces and changed the shapes a little. I feel this will not affect your golf but change the slightly bland look of these bunkers. There are many to work on out on the course but some need a lot more work than a spade.

12th Bunker Rebuild Project

We are starting the project on Tuesday and hope to have it completely finished by the end of play on Friday 16th, weather permitting!

We will be completely re-doing the bunker from shape to position and surrounding area. The drainage will also be completed as this has been one of the big problems from the existing bunker.

I will be working with our consultant Gordon Irvine and one of the top golf course shapers in Europe, Conor Walsh. Conor has worked at many courses including St Andrews and Gleneagles and we are very fortunate to have his services for this work.

I feel that we will produce a great bunker that will put Broadstone back on the correct path again with our bunker update.

Finally

Due to the recent wet weather I am constantly getting told from the greens staff who are on golf course set up duty in the morning, about the shocking state of the pitchmarks. Please help us by remembering to repair your pitch marks, replace your divots and not walk too close to the greens and tees with your trolleys. If you could do this it will help us and help your course.

Many thanks for reading.

Paul