Fortwilliam Golf Club

Greens Committee Meeting

Course Manager’s Report

April 28, 2015

 

The tree management program focused mostly on holes 2-8.  The number of trees removed this winter was less than years past to help fall in line with the reduced budgets.  The two main areas where money was saved was the reduced hire of the stump grinder (2 days instead of 4 days) and reducing the number of areas that required a tree surgeon.  The tree surgeon performed work on the 4^th  tee and carpark/14^th tee areas. Last year the lyandi trees to the left of the tee box were over hanging thus limiting the full use of the teeing ground.  These trees have been pruned back as far as possible without leaving them bare.  If the left side of that tee still can’t be fully utilized then consideration should be give to removing them and planting further from the tee.  Tees on holes 6 & 7 had similar issues and the greens department removed trees to the front of the tee boxes.  There are still holes (5, 11, 12, 14, and 18) where the full teeing areas can not be fully utilized due to over grown trees and shrubs.  This causes more wear and tear on the rest of the teeing area and delays the divot recovery.  The above mentioned areas will be on the work list for next winter.

 

Drainage- The area crossing in front of the 9^th tee over to the 11^th stream was a problem area during the wet winters.  The plan was to install pipe across the two holes when ground conditions permitted.  Last week the ground conditions were right and we had the man hours available to install the drain but finances prohibited the project.  This is an perennial issue that needs to be fixed when the weather is dry.

There had been water running across the rough on the 7^th from the start of the fairway down towards the tee.  Last week we installed a drain to divert the water to the new drain on the 6^th hole.

 

Winter project clean up- Last week the winter projects were finished.  The old winter tee mats on the 1^st, 9^th, and 17^th were leveled and turfed.  The 3^rd and 8^th winter tee area was demolished and renovated.  Most of the material to complete the work in these areas was found on the site.  

 

Peirce Purcell Qualifier- Preparations have begun for the May 10^th event. Fairways and roughs have been fertilized, the winter projects have finished with turf being laid and seed being spread.  The plan for the morning will be to change cups, set up tee markers, rake bunkers, mow and roll greens and mow approaches.  The week before the course will be marked and hazard stake positioning will be checked.

 

3^rd & 8^th tee before.

 

 
3^rd & 8^th tee after.

 

17^th tee before.

 

17^th tee after.

 

 

PROPOSAL FOR SPRING & SUMMER PROGRAMS

 

The programs for this year on the golf course are focused on continually improving the presentation and playing conditions.

 

Fertilizing- The greens have been fertilized in April with a foliar fertilizer. This is different than in years past when a granular product was applied.  Two advantages of using a foliar fertilizer are: the nutrients are immediately absorbed by the plant and the cost is lower.  

The tees were fertilized with a granular fertilizer that has a longevity of 5 months.  In the past the tees would have been fed every 8 weeks but we have tried this product as it will save man hours with only one application this season and the cost of the product works out less over the same period.  

As mentioned above, in preparation for the Pierce Purcell Qualifier, the fairways, roughs and green surrounds have been fertilized with a granular fertilizer that has a 5 month longevity.  This product will give the turf an even and slow growth through the season. 

 

Weed control and growth regulators- Beginning in May, fairways and roughs will be sprayed with a selective herbicide to target the broadleaf weeds (dandelions, clover, daisies, etc).  The greens and fairways will be on a growth regulator program.  This product helps improve the fairway playing conditions and reduces the frequency of fairway mowings to 2 times per week. The advantage to using this product on the greens is that it aids in consistent green speed throughout the day.

 

Aerification- 

Greens & Tees: The solid micro tining in March went well with a fast recovery.  Following the aerification seed and sand was spread on all greens and tees.  The second aerification will take place following the President’s Prize in August.  We will liaise with mens’s and ladies’ M&H and team(s) to make sure there is minimal interference with competitions.  

Approaches: Following a very busy golfing winter the approaches were in need of an aerification.  This spring the approaches were vertidrained and sanded.  

Fairways: Depending on how busy the course is with golfers fairways will be vertidrained.

 

Irrigation- Last summer we had planned on replacing the damaged irrigation pipes but did not have time nor the finances to purchase the pipe.  Through negotiations with NI Water we have acquired the pipe that is on the 2^nd and 5^th holes.  We will try to source a chain trencher to install the pipe from another club with a worse case scenario of hiring one for £110 per day.

 

 

Presentation of the golf course- 

The course setup will include moving of tee markers and divots repaired, pins moved regularly to ensure that there are quality playing conditions on the golf course.

 

The greens will be maintained at high standards which will give the golfer a superior putting surface for both playability and appearance. Greens will be cut daily and ideally rolled twice during the week and once on the weekend.

 

The playing conditions of the tee surfaces will be maintained with a healthy and dense turf sward.  Tees will be cut 2 times weekly.

 

The fairways should consist of an even and dense turf, weed and disease free, providing the golfer with a very well-maintained surface which rewards the properly placed shot.  Fairways will be cut 2-3 times weekly.

 

Collars and approaches should be maintained in a clean and consistent manner. Frequency of cut is 2 times weekly.

 

Semi rough cut around fairways should be maintained in a clean and consistent manner that emphasizes definition.  The semi rough cut around greens should be present to allow for various shot making opportunities.  Frequency of cut for semi rough areas will be 2-3 times weekly.

 

Height of cut in roughs will be maintained in a clean and consistent manner. Mowers will be staying off tee surrounds to avoid scalping.  All rough areas will be cut once per week, with an additional mowing on Fridays around fairways and tee to fairway areas. 

 

Bunkers are fully raked 3 times per week.  On the other days the department rakes out foot prints to give a smooth and consistent surface. Edging bunkers will be done monthly to enhance the golf course and allow for more pleasing golf.  Any debris (weeds, grass, clippings, leaves, stones, etc.) should be removed from the bunker before raking commences. After a rain shower a shovel should be used, prior to raking, to remove silt from bottom of bunker. This will help to avoid contaminating sand.  When rain is forecasted bunker faces will not be raked to help avoid washouts.  By leaving the faces smooth the water will travel down the surfaces with less sand mixing in.

 

Heavily sloped areas such as tee and bunker surrounds will be mown with a flymo and strimmer.  Any clippings in the areas will be cleaned with a back pack blower to give a clean and consistent finish.  

 

Topdressing is required to maintain and improve the trueness of the playing surface.   Throughout the season a light sanding monthly should be done followed by a quick brush and roll.

 

Paths and flowerbeds should be edged, weeded and deadheaded on a regular basis to enhance the presentation of the golf course and clubhouse area.  The greens staff will be deployed weekly (Wednesdays) to carry out these tasks.  

 

Further details on the procedures on the course can be found in the Standard Operating Procedure manual.