Rainfall for the Week: 6.0mm,  Rainfall for 2023: 707.5mm, Dam: 85%   Green Speed: 10 feet

Collar replacement work continued this week with the 4^th, 10^th, and 13^th collars all being cut out, picked up and replaced with new Santa Ana couch. This work was performed over Monday and Tuesday, with our volunteers once again being of great assistance over both mornings, helping the course staff with all stages of this work. The 5^th collar received its first cut last week, and this week we have given the 2^nd and 7^th collars their first cut. This initial cut does scalp the couch turf somewhat as the turf farms don’t mow the turf as low as we do. This scalping will grow out and the turf will adjust the 12mm height of cut in time. Now that these three collars are being mown, the compulsory GUR has been removed from them only, but remains on the 4^th, 10^th, 13^th, and 15^th collars.

The next set of collars (3^rd, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th, and 16^th) that we are going to replace have been sprayed out with glyphosate this week and we will apply a 2^nd application of glyphosate to these collars to ensure we have a clean slate to start the new turf on.  While we replace the 8^th, 11^th, and 16^th collars, we will also perform some slight reshaping of the approach areas at the front of these greens for a smoother /natural playing surface, and to also allow better movement of surface water during heavy rainfall events.  

The 1^st and 12^th collars and the 1^st approach has been sprayed out with glyphosate this week, and we will be replacing these two collars with Sir Grange Zoysia in the coming weeks as a trial to compare how well they handle traffic and herbicide applications compared to our Santa Ana couch collars. The issue with ours collars over the winter months has been around for a long time and there is no simple answer. We are trying different maintenance practices, diverting traffic away or around our tight pinch points, and trialling different grass species to resolve the problem.

The high winds and warm weather is starting to have an effect on the course especially in the rough lines and beneath our large trees which absorb any available moisture from the soil and away from the turf. Our irrigation applications aren’t sufficient to replace what is lost during the day, so the turf surfaces are the first thing to show signs of stress under these conditions. Fortunately, there is some rainfall predicted over the weekend and possibly into early next week which will be most welcome. The course is in great condition, and we should be able to produce some firm putting surfaces for the Matchplay finals this weekend. Good luck to all those involved!

We have had a heavy month of rolling greens during the Club Championships and as a result, the soil profiles in the greens have become very compacted. To relieve this compaction, we will be needle tining all greens over Monday and Tuesday with solid tines, so very little disruption to surfaces or play will result.

Our volunteers were on course Monday morning helping with the collar work, as well as checking and repairing the practice nets, and continuing to poison the Parramatta grass weeds. Several of these Monday volunteers backed up on the Tuesday to help with the laying of the turf on the collars. Thank you gentlemen for all your help this week, I very much appreciate everything you do for me and my team, and the added banter whilst I work with you is a bonus!

Greens will be cut and rolled on Saturday, and then only have the dew removed from them on Sunday.

Have a great weekend and happy golfing!

The Course Team.