Hello fellow members
Course conditions – good with plenty of new growth. All greens were sprayed on Monday with water penetrative/wetting agent to improve water penetration.
Staff - At present we have one full-time qualified greenkeeper and two full-time apprentices plus a part-time casual greenkeeper who is on leave. Plus, a few volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Annette.
Upcoming work – With the course now in full spring growth, the greenkeepers will be mowing for the rest of the week. All fairways, first cut, rough will be mowed. Greens mowed 3-4 times in the week at 3.5mm (all weather dependent). The piles of slash on the 18th will be removed. The greens will be sanded again next week.
Carts - Could members please keep carts a good distance away from greens. Members have been driving to within a couple of feet of the greens; they need to be parked, if possible, at least 10 meters away.
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Q & A - questions from members.
· Should the greens be cored this year - Hollow tine coring is useful if a green has thatch build-up. Our greens don’t have significant thatch so the use of the Air2g2 a non-disruptive turf aeration tool (important as our course is heavily used) has been deemed to be the better tool to use. Studies have proven that over time its use will reduce green compaction and promote water infiltration in greens. The Air 2g2 will be used at least 6 times a year to a depth of up to 300mm.
· The greens are too firm - Sand greens will be firmer than soil greens. The benefit of a regularly top-dressed Sand Green is the dilution of organic matter, improvement in drainage and reduction in water retention. So playable greens are available the vast majority of the year.
· Firewood on the 14th Removal – The firewood on the 14th will start to be removed when our part time greenkeeper returns.
· Completion of the 2nd, 3rd and 18th areas - The front of the 18th still requires irrigation to be installed before it can be completed. The 2nd green and 3rd tee area will require several topdressings over time.
· The 9th tee north facing steep slope bare turf - Unfortunately, the 9th tee does not have irrigation so relies on natural rainfall. The present financial year's plan is to install irrigation on the 2nd & 9th greens and complete the remaining tee irrigation. This includes the 9th. It’s also intended to fix drainage issues in troubled bunkers as well as fix drainage on some paths. Much of this is dependent on finances.
· The burnt rough mower area on the 8th needs to be repaired - this area was rotary hoed and re-seeded during the week.
· Tree roots on 1st and 2nd holes - Tree roots are a problem. Remove them and you can compromise the stability and health of the tree that they are attached to. If you look at our old man pines the outer tip of the branches are the trees drip zone and that where the ends of the roots will be. Apart from removing the tree there is not much that can be done that is not very disruptive.
Members can contact me with feedback on my dedicated club email address at convener@stclairgolf.co.nz.
Play well,
Neil Turner
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