A busy week for the course team this week, with the focus on repair work to bunkers and mowing rough after last week’s deluge. We received 100mm of rain on Thursday alone, contributing to a total of 178mm for the working week. At this time of year, such significant rainfall has compounding impacts which require considerable maintenance effort to manage. Bunkers had sand washed down off the faces and silt wash into them which took our team members all of Monday to complete the repairs. The silt is removed so that this material doesn’t clog up the sand which would stop the bunkers from free draining. The only bunkers that didn’t free drain over the weekend were the bunkers on 12, 17 and 18 which were not relined during the recent bunker rejuvenation program.
All surfaces have been mown this week with just some small areas marking up during these mowing practices. No real surface damage has occurred, just mud has been brought to the surface and now covers the turf. This mud will wash away with the next rainfall or mow off the next time that surface is mown.
With no heat during the day at this time of year, we rely on the wind to assist with the drying out of playing surfaces. Tuesday’s strong winds were ideal, but we still require a few more days of these strong winds to dry out the remaining wet areas around the course. Carts were brought back on Thursday morning with additional rope and posts installed on holes 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 to direct the carts away from the wet areas. We ask that members follow the rope and posts and stay out of these areas when playing with a golf cart, and please remember if a rope or post must be pulled down for a shot that it is replaced after the shot to continue to warn fellow members of the wet area ahead.
New sand has been added to the bunkers on the practice hole in preparation for its introduction to play. Wheel rolling and plate compacting will soon be performed by the course team to ensure the sand is firm enough for practice and regular play. The practice green is now being mown with our regular (ride-on) mower that cuts all the other greens, so everything will be ready for its opening. The 19th has been mown twice this week at 8mm, and we have installed some of the Camphor moth balls to keep the ducks off this green.
The volunteers were on course Monday morning raking bunkers that didn’t need any repair work, cleaning and repairing the practice nets, poisoning Crabgrass in tee complexes, trimming and tidying up the memorial garden and the roses were given their weekly trim. Thank you to everyone that lent a helping hand this week, your services are always very much appreciated.
Greens will be cut and rolled on Saturday morning and then cut again on Sunday morning. I will be setting pins on both mornings.
Happy Golfing
The Course Team.
