Golf
Sunshine duration Source: Met Office
Winter 2014/15
Aerial view of Nairn Dunbar
Rainfall amount Source: Met Office
Scotland has its own microclimate, but it’s such a small area that the weather forecasts never highlight the difference, often tarring Scotland with a broad ‘wind, rain and snow’ brush. Whilst there can be ten inches of snow ten miles away, Nairn has none, or at least very little. “That said, the weather has generally become wetter in recent years,” observes Richard, “which means it’s harder to get enough topdressing down sometimes.” That said, Storm Abigail swept through in the middle of November, causing some damage, and the course had to be closed later in the month and into December when a sprinkling of snow lay on the ground and temperatures dropped to minus 2O
the greenkeeping team have attended. It all helps to raise our profile and educate the golfers.” Recent blogs have included; waterlogged
turf repair, tree and gorse management, furniture maintenance, establishing a fine fescue turf nursery and ecology and habitat management. The club has an environmental policy in place and also work closely with the Golf Environment Organisation and Carolyn Hedley at Scottish Golf. Richard’s blog on the topic explains; “A
C; still not
cold by Scottish standards. “We rarely need to use temporary greens, although I have put a ‘reasons why’ blog on the club’s website which graphically shows the damage that can be caused by walking on frost covered greens.” “We find these blogs really useful to
inform the membership about the work we are doing at any given time. For example, the bunker renovations we carried out through the winter, our reasons for aeration and even about the training courses and events that
golf course is a great place to encourage wildlife, during inclement spells of weather, the greenstaff have been recycling old and broken pallets to create bat and bird boxes specifically designed for different species.” “A log pile has also been created using timber from extensive woodland management works. Log piles can become an excellent home to saproxylic insects and various fungi and lichen species, as well as providing a home to small mammals.” “There are prime habitats such as
linksland, woodland, heathland, grassland, small burns and a pond. These habitats form a substantial part of the course and it is these which will help the club offer
Winter 2014/15
something different for golfers to enjoy. A a Frosted Greens blog
“The picture above illustrates the actual footprint patterns of one foursome playing a hole like normal and shows its potential to cause a lot of damage to a frost covered green.
Whilst it may not appear to be much of an issue, consider that the number of footprints that may occur on any given hole by one foursome can exceed 300.
The proof generally comes 48-72 hours later as the plant leaves turn brown and die. The result is a thinning of the putting surface and a weakening of the plant. The greens, in turn, become more susceptible to disease and weeds.”
Classic links-style pot bunkers - refurbishment info is posted on the blog
Richard even provided a link to a Pitchcare article called “Winter Greens - Frosty the ‘No’ Man” to further inform the members.
PC APRIL/MAY 2016 I 35
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