usually in late March. However, if I think it is required I will apply a further application of lawn sand around June. The tees are fed with a 8:0:0 npk granular feed in May and occasionally receive another dose later in the year.” “The greens are topdressed
Andy (centre) with Bill Ashurst (left) and James Radcliffe
depth of 150mm. That is about the deepest we can go due to the granite below. This work, being carried out during the last week in September. Then, using the SISIS 8” deep slitter, aiming for between 6-8 passes before Christmas. This piece of equipment is, in my mind, a very underrated, yet essential, asset to the maintenance upkeep of any fine turf area. In early March we pencil tine the
greens (8mm) prior to an application of Vitax Ultraflow granular (the windy nature of the course makes this easier to apply and we have personally found we get better results from the granular) followed by a monthly programme of Breaker triple. Feeding is kept to a minimum with only one 20kg bag of lawn sand being applied per green,
three times a year, in April, May and September, applying about one tonne of 70/30 per green.” It is clear that Andy has succeeded with his sustainable practices. He and his two assistants are at one with the ecology and geology of the course. “It’s not rocket science, is it?” says Andy. “As my old college tutor used to say, ‘keep it simple’, and that’s what we do here. It’s all about understanding the needs of the grass plant and managing the surfaces accordingly. I firmly believe that golf should be played on natural surfaces - poa annua is not a natural grass! A golf course should ‘fit’ its environment.” With just two staff, the course is a
credit to Andy and his ‘team’. Even in February the greens were firm and true, the course looked magnificent and was immaculately presented. The results of the past sixteen years have seen the greens playable 365 days of the year. There have been no temporaries since 1998. “It makes me smile when some golf courses mow out winter greens - they choose a nice patch of fescue to rest the poa!”
All these Open Championship Clubs choose to relief grind with a Hunter precision grinder
St Andrews • Carnoustie
Turnberry • Troon • Muirfield Royal Liverpool • Royal St Georges Royal Lytham St Annes
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• Drill, extract and backfill all in one action! • Improve infiltration, percolation and gas exchange up to 18" deep.
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ALL THIS WITH NO DISRUPTION TO PLAY!
For contract work, sales or a no obligation chat, call the UK & Europe’s sole importers today.
What’s in the ‘new’ shed?
The club is currently building a brand new garage and wash down facility that will not only store machinery but also provide mess room facilities for the staff.
Toro 3250D greens mower (purchased 2006) Toro 2000 tees mower (2006) Toro 6500 fairway mower (2006)
Ford 2120 43hp tractor (1994)
Ford 1920 35hp tractor (1999)
Lastec Articulator (1999)
Richard Long Topdresser (1998)
3 wheel Cushman (1995)
Hardy 300L sprayer (1995)
Wiedennmann 1.2m (1998) Lewis 38Q loader (2005) Sisis Vari-seeder (2002) Ransomes 160D MK I thatchaway (2000) Sisis 8’ brush (1981) Sisis 8” deep slit (1981)
The Ecosol Aero-fil System
PROVIDING STATE-OF-THE-ART AERATION AND DRAINAGE
31 Castle Road Hythe Kent CT21 5HB Tel: 01303 267636 or 01666 861250
www.ecosolve.co.uk email:
info@ecosolve.co.uk
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