Rainfall for the week 63.0 mm
Rainfall for 2025 1036.5 mm
The warm day on Monday was great for the
course with our couch tees, collars and surrounds looking that little bit
brighter in appearance. While we are still a month away from seeing any
substantial growth on these couch surfaces, we are performing maintenance tasks to ensure that when the soil temperatures are favorable, the couch
will have nothing holding it back. This week all collars and aprons have been
scarified to remove thatch material, which is basically grass clippings and
dead material which builds up over the winter months. The removal of the thatch
will improve moisture movement and infiltration rates and allow any sunlight
and warmth to heat sub-soils faster.
All greens were treated with a seaweed
based product this week to aid the recovery process, especially those greens
which were covered by the topdressing sand during the week of the wet
renovations. The greens have responded to this application and are looking
happier and healthier heading into the weekend. We are planning the first sand
dusting application to all greens since renovations, but this application will
see far less sand applied to putting surfaces.
The 18th hole closed on Monday
with the new 7th hole coming into play. Course staff removed a large
section of the 18th fairway and used the turf to repair the track
marks across the 14th fairway. This turf should establish quickly
and be a real improvement to this area.
Members
will have noticed, we now have two autonomous mowers operating on the course,
currently maintaining fairways 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12. One mower is
responsible for fairways 3, 4, and 6, while the other handles fairways 8, 9,
11, and 12. The quality and presentation of these fairways are equal to those
mown by our traditional equipment, so members should not notice any difference
in the playing surface.
It’s
important to note that these autonomous mowers are not replacing staff. In
fact, they allow us to make better use of our team by freeing up one staff member
who would otherwise spend two days each week mowing. This means more time and
attention can now be directed to other important tasks around the course.
Our
volunteers were on course Monday morning performing a bunker run in front of
the competition players, practice nets were checked / repaired / cleaned,
bronze tee marker rejuvenation work continued, and assistance with the turfing
across the 14th flyover area. Thank you, gentlemen, for your
assistance this week, your help and support is always appreciated.
Greens will be cut and rolled on Saturday
morning and then cut again on Sunday morning. I will be setting pins on
Saturday with Joel setting them on Sunday, following painted dots on the greens
as he learns and gains experience.
Happy Golfing
The Course Team.
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