GOLF


seaweed from Ocean Knowledge and a 70/30 topdressing.”


We make the best of what we have and we do a lot of hosing, as we struggle with pressure. We only really water the greens to preserve the current system


What’s in the shed


Toro Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 Toro Greensmaster 3250-D x2 Toro Reelmaster 3100-D Sidewinder Toro Reelmaster 5410-D Toro ProCore 648 Toro Workman x 2 Baroness LM56GC x4 EZGO golf buggy Aebi TT75 with front fl ail Team 500 sparayer Iseki TG5470 IQ tractor Iseki TG5390 IQ tractor Smithco greensroller Dakota Top Dresser Viking rotary mower x 2 Ryan Turf Cutter Flymo x 2 STIHL chainsaw x 2 STIHL brushcutter x 2


48 PC October/November 2020


Every June/July, STRI will visit to take soil samples from the greens. Rob feels this may become unneccessary though since adopting a nutrient programme of only applying seaweed alongside a monthly top-dressing regime since last August. “I apply ten tonnes a month of Ruff ord 1742 topdressing, giving me a total of 120 tonnes per year. For us, this is like a feed because the fescue loves it. The seaweed adds a nice balance of NPK and trace elements. Over the years, I have tried to determine the best seaweed, but you just can’t! Some people say heat treated is best, some say cold-pressed, but then you also have the freeze-thaw action. Add to this the diff erent types of seaweed and it’s a minefi eld. I apply 20 l/ha of seaweed every few weeks, but I will mix fi ve litres of a cold-pressed, fi ve litres of a heat-treated, fi ve litres of the freeze- thaw action and fi ve litres of Kelp pack. I do this because I do not know which is best and I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket; it seems a bit overkill, but it works for us.” Most of the machinery at the club is on hire purchase and all the maintenance is carried out in-house, with only the regrinding


being farmed out. “My deputy, Jacko, is pretty hands-on and a good mechanic, so he carries out all of the servicing, which greatly helps reduce our costs. We look after our machines and, if I buy a machine like the front-line mowers, I try and hold on to them for ten years. I am a confessed Toro fan, but my view is for individual jobs. I will pick whatever machine is best, irrespective of the colour. The Baroness hand mowers are absolutely brilliant and leave an excellent fi nish.”


Ecology is fundamental to a club like Perranporth with it being such a natural golf course and this is their main selling point. “I think this course is one, if not the most, natural and raw links in Cornwall and this is something we should market. It may not be the easiest of courses to play and you may not love it, but I urge everyone to visit because it is pretty old school and natural. Keeping scrub down is a big thing here, and we work with the wildlife trust.” Some of the dune system is part the Penhale Dunes; a complex of sand dunes and a protected area for its wildlife on the north Cornwall coast. It is the most extensive system of sand dunes in Cornwall and is believed to be the landing site of Saint


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