the sward and to stand the bents and fescues up for mowing. The greens speed is very fast especially during dry weather, the average stimpmeter reading is 9-10ft. The readings used to be taken by the greenkeeping staff, but now they are recorded by a member of the greens committee. Keeping the greens mean and lean has also prevented any significant disease outbreaks, only suffering the occasional odd spot of fusarium, which is spot treated. Blanket spraying is not carried out anywhere on the course, the sprayer is only ever used for applying wetting agents.
THE relationship between the members and the greens staff could not be better. Most of the members have been with the club a long time and they all know how good the course plays compared to many others. Andy also provides the greens committee with a diary of maintenance so they know what is going on, “They are happy with the way we manage things and the good results we achieve with the
SWARD HEIGHT OF CUT Summer Winter
Greens
Greens surrounds 11mm Tees
Fairways
4mm (cut daily) 5mm (Cut as and when ) 11mm
Semi rough 50 mm Rough
regimes we employ. Therefore, they tend to support what we do.” The rough is
predominantly natural fescue grasses, gorse and heather which provide a tough penalty to the golfers with many balls being lost. This year, Andy is looking to carry out some scarification works to thin out the grass and to reduce the problem of lost balls. Tees and greens are aerated using the Toro Workman fitted with SISIS knife blades (150-200mm) every two weeks from September to March, weather permitting. The greens are also solid tined on a monthly
11mm (cut weekly) 11mm (cut every 6 weeks) 14mm (cut weekly) 14mm (As and when) 50 mm
Left to grow (300-450mm) Left to grow (300-450mm)
basis during the same period, and solid tined monthly in the growing season. Top dressing of the greens
is carried out in the spring and autumn, with further light dressings applied on 3-4 weekly basis during the summer. Andy used to make his own top dressings, using the sand from the club's own sand quarry and compost they had collected, however this was becoming too time consuming so now they buy in.
Winter works
THE staff have plenty to do in the winter months with bunker, tree and plantation
refurbishments. With 78 bunkers there is always plenty of work required. One of the biggest problems is rabbits, the course is full of them. Andy operates a gassing and shooting programme to keep numbers down and reduce the damage.
This year the staff have
refurbished a number of bunkers refacing, returfing and topping up with sand. A task made easier by the fact that they have a convenient supply from their own sand quarry situated on the course.
Maintaining the balance for gorse and heather is paramount on a heathland course, Andy explained “We do not want the gorse to get too high and leggy, we carry out cutting and burning programmes to keep it under control. Managing the heather is a bit more difficult, we are trying hard to establish new plantations but it is not easy. We collect seed and sow in new areas, and then wait to see what comes of it.” There is a lot of woodland work, keeping plantations
www.hmseeds.co.uk
PRICE - QUALITY - SERVICE THIS IS HURRELLS SEED POLICY
•The Hurrells team are perhaps the most friendly and expert group in the North of England.
•We are a family business that has been established for over 45 years with a wealth of experience
•Hurrell’s are possibly the largest stockist of grass and wild flower mixtures in the North Of England
•We can, if necessary and providing your order comes to us by midday, despatch your order 24 hours anywhere in the country.
go for growth
Hurrells Beverley Road Cranswick, Driffield
East Yorkshire YO25 9PF
Tel: (01377) 271400 Fax: (01377) 271500
28
•Provide Expert free advice on mixtures as individual as your club, your pitch and your requirements.
•Only choose seeds that pass Hurrell’s unique rigorous Quality control checks.
•Hurrell’s are a real, progressive company with an ear to the ground looking and developing new products and ideas all the time.
We are actively seeking agents and distributors in all areas
12
www.pitchcare.com/re
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80