What's in the shed?
Guernsey used to be famous for its tomato exports and, for nearly one hundred years, the tomato was king.
The 8th green
light spring and summer granule, but mostly High K and Effect Iron liquids to increase stress tolerance and improve colour.” “The tees are hollow cored (very shallow)
in March and overseeded with Johnsons Teemaster, and topdressed with the same 90/10 mix as the greens. They are fed twice a year, first in early April with Scotts Sierrablen Turf 28:5:5, which keeps them looking good for the season, and then, in Autumn, Sierrablen Mini 0:0:37 sees them through the winter.” “The fairways don’t get fed at all during the winter months, as we get flooded right across the course from heavy rain, and when the sluice gate is closed by the high tides. And, because all the surrounding hills are mostly farmland, the nutrients that are in the floodwater, will look after the fairways - help from Mother Nature.”
Disease management
“Because of the low lying land, and the amount of water that passes through the course, plus the proximity to the coast with mist and fog, it is essential to get the greens dry as soon as possible in the morning. This is done with a 3 metre ‘Big Dewey’ brush or the tractor mounted Sisis Oscar brush.” “Fusarium and anthracnose will always raise its head when the right conditions prevail, and I’ve also seen some dollar spot in recent years. However, with the development of Heritage, Banner Maxx and Instrata, disease control is getting easier and disease scarring is kept to a minimum using these products.”
Aeration
“Aeration is a continuous programme. All the greens are solid cored with 12mm tines from 130mm depth down to 250mm depth each month with the Wiedenmann.” “The greens are hollow cored, seeded
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The 15th tee
and topdressed twice a year, in spring and autumn. They also get Earthquake ‘Tremored’ to a maximum depth of 250mm. This leaves a continual slit right across the green from high side to lower. During the wetter months we use a SISIS outfield slitter with seven inch knives every week, weather permitting, and supplement this with the Greentek sarrel rollers on our old Ransomes 160D.” “Tees are also solid cored with the
Wiedenmann, fitted with 16mm solid tines, and this is carried out every two months, if possible. We only hollow core them with jumbo tines (very shallow) when overseeding.” “The fairways also get to see both the
Wiedenmann with the large solids twice a year and also the ‘Tremor’ in the spring and autumn.”
Machinery
“Most of the gear in the shed has been purchased, with the exception of the cutting fleet and one of the Gators. These are secured on a three-year operator’s lease. With John Deere being awarded the latest five-year deal, which will include a new bunker rake and an extra buggy, we have found this a much better way to replace the fleet and easier to maintain.” “We have also invested in a Hunter Juno cylinder grinder, and myself and Geoff have been trained how to use it. Keeping the mowers sharp on a regular basis will certainly help with the presentation of the course.”
At various times of the year La Grande Mare must be a ‘mare’ to work with, both logistically and from what Mother Nature throws at it. It is good to see Martyn and his team committed to the highest standards possible in such difficult circumstances. They are to be applauded.
In the late 1960s nearly half a billion tomatoes were picked and exported to England. Each one of those had to be handpicked, packed and shipped out.
Now, the tomato industry is all but gone, but the greenhouses have not. La Grande Mare use one as their workshop, and here’s what’s in it:
1x JD 3235 fairway mower 1 x JD 1565 front deck mower 2 x JD 2500B greens mowers 1 x Greentech vibratory rollers 2 x JD gators, one 6 wheeler 1 x JD 500 triple tees and aprons 1 x Toro Workman 1 x Toro 2500 trailed topdresser 1 x Toro Sand Pro
1 x Ransomes 180D with sarrel roller and verticut units 1 x Massey Ferguson 360 tractor
1 x Kubota STA35 compact tractor with front loader and mid mount deck
1 x Case International 255 compact tractor
1 x SISIS Variseeder 1 x SISIS oscillating brush 1 x SISIS outfield slitter 1 x Wiedenmann Terraspike GXi 1 x Earthquake Tremor 1 x 3 tonne Warwick trailer 1 x Team Sprayer - 300 litres
HTC18 multi-function collector
www.wessexmachinery.co.uk
A Broadwood International product 73
PC060710
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