Public Places
Assistant Head Groundsman Chris Hughes
eighteen greens, two are USGA full specification, three are sand ameliorated and the rest are still the original soil push up construction”
“Out of the
Head Greenkeeper John Entwistle
any course in the locality, culminating at the 18th with a tight dog-leg requiring a narrow drive between two stands of trees. Even Gary Player, the legendary South African golfer, commented that it was the most difficult course that he knew on which to score well!
Toro are the preferred supplier
John Entwistle came to the club in May 2006 and was promoted to head greenkeeper in January 2008. He trained at Myerscough College, attaining a diploma and BSc Honours degree whilst working in both Ireland and America. He certainly likes a challenge, especially knowing that John Lockyer’s expectations and standards are very high; a lot of effort and emphasis is based on good cultural practices, attention to detail and ‘making a difference’. Plant health is key, followed by presentation. The feeding programme is tailored to suit the needs of the grass plant, which is often influenced by a number of other factors, time of the year, weather, soil and air temperatures, topography and construction type of the green. Out of the eighteen greens, two are USGA full specification, three are sand ameliorated and the rest are still the original soil push up construction.
This is based around a granular/liquid regime, starting and ending the growing season with a granular complete NPK feed, supported by liquid feeds, seaweeds and biostimulants. John also uses Primo Maxx to control growth and promote rooting, with the aim of keeping the total amount of nitrogen being applied to around 125 kg/N per year. Tees, fairways and some parts of the rough are also fed with liquid fertilisers. Aeration is a key maintenance task, with the club investing in three Toro models, two ProCore 648s and a HydraJect 3000, for carrying out work on the tees, greens and approaches. The ProCore is fitted with 10mm tines and used on a fortnightly basis, whilst the HydraJect is used weekly. Hollow coring is undertaken four times within the growing season and scarification twice. An overseeding programme is carried out annually using browntop bent (Agrostis capillaris) drilled in four different directions, ensuring there is good seed to soil contact. The greens are in play all year round
and are mown daily with pedestrian Toro (14 blade) cylinder mowers, with height of cut set at 3mm in the summer, 2.75mm for tournaments and
Flowers on the 1st and 10th tees have been appreciated by lady members
78 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
Presentation has been simplified to speed up mowing times
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 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156