The busy winter period has continued in the past fortnight, with further course improvement works being undertaken in amongst a little bit of welcome rainfall that has come our way in the last week of June and into the beginning of July.
Exposed aggregate concrete paths have been poured on the 1st and 8th West, replacing the old and poor quarry sand paths in both areas. The new paths are a significant improvement, as evidenced in the picture of the new path from the first green to the second tee.
Areas along both paths have been regraded to suit followed by sodding, with vegetation and traffic control measures installed as required at both locations. Small plots of undesired vegetation at both tees have also been removed in the process. There is additional course furniture yet to be placed at both sites, which is currently being refinished at the maintenance facility.
Bentgrass collar replacement is underway on the 14th West, as seen in the picture below. We are following a similar method as employed on the 8th West, removing the bent turf from the collar and the sand underneath to a depth that removes all vegetative material prior to refilling with sand and sodding.
The vast majority of the front of the 14th is being replaced to remove turf that had a percentage of poa growing through it, which is a more effective method of removal than chemical treatments.
The preliminaries of the satellite installation on the 9th West have also begun, with the pouring of the concrete pad and installation of the satellite and network of conduits underneath for the wiring to be connected. We have prepared the pad for the installation of a second satellite in the future, which will control the 6th West. Once works are complete on the 14th collar, we will be looking to close the 9th hole for a week to allow trenching and installation of the control wiring to each valve box.
As per usual, the ground staff continue to do a great job in carrying out all of these winter projects.
Richard James
Course Superintendent