If I had written this a little over month ago we would of been saying how dry and hot it was, that didn't last for long!The temperatures still haven't reached the levels we would normally expect for this time of year but now the trees have turned colour and the roughs are certainly starting to grow and the definition is really looking good now.
The hot days earlier last month still did not equate to much growth as the low and sometimes frosty night temperatures put a handbrake on any growth.
It is very important for us to keep adequate moisture in the turf to keep the grasses healthy and to keep the fairy ring activity at bay.We use a moisture meter to guide us when irrigation is needed to maintain turf health.
We recently had the Air2G2 aeration machine in recently to help with essential aeration on the greens and approaches, the machine injects compressed air at a 12" depth to shatter any compacted rootzone with no surface disruption, the lowering of compaction will increase porosity, improve root growth through good micro biotic activity,better drainage and aeration provides a more efficient take up of nutrients that will have long term beneficial effects to the soil structure and health of the grass.
During the same couple of days as the Air2G2 was on hire we also hired a Vredo disc seeder in which the seed is placed in a V shaped slit,directly in contact with soil for maximum for maximum germination rate, this is also a very non disruptive operation and has proved to be a great success.
We used bar fescue seed for this operation which is a mix of Chewings and Slender fescues as they have excellent drought tolerance, the fescue grasses with it's erect shoot growth ,narrow leaves,low levels on Nitrogen inputs required is truly a sustainable grass and provide fast, true and smooth golf greens hence our continual quest to improve the compositition to get as much fescue grass in the sward as possible.
Following the double pass overseed
If you look closely you can just about see the lines, ground level is very impressive germination!
There is a big difference in the condition of the walkways , the overseeding programme is certainly playing dividends and these walkways and walk off areas are certainly seeing improved grass coverage,we still have a few roped off at the moment to protect the seed and germination, we will monitor this and the roped will be removed when the cover is adequate and we are happy we can maintain the condition of theses areas.
Owain Aeron Deputy Links Manager and myself had a visit to Wentworth recently as part of the Golf Environment Award Winners delegates which promotes the award and with increased publicity for Royal St David's Golf Club is a great opportunity for all involved, we had a guided tour alongside Kenny Mckay Course Manager along with the other award winners, judges and sponsors.
During our visit we also visited Sunningdale Golf Club the best inland Golf Course in GB&I which is quite linksy in a way as it lies on the Surrey sandbelt and is a simply stunning golf course, it's always great to visit sites like this for ideas and to see 'best practice' on other top golf courses as well.
Some of Sunningdale's stunning bunkers!
Superb definition on Sunningdale's fairways and semi roughs
It was very interseting to see Sunningdale also developing sandy waste areas,visually stunning and a great habitat for the mining bees.
Having just returned from a few days away with the family in Pembrokeshire over the half term there is another busy period in front of the Links Team with the Club Championship this weekend and then Open week coming up soon after that which will be soon followed by the St David's Gold Cross along with all the other golf which we always aim to present the golf course to the best standards possible.
I'm delighted with the condition of the golf course at the moment , all the hard work that was done by the Links Team over the winter is paying dividends, the improved presentation with many new walkways and turfing carried out through the winter has really made a difference, the greens are currently looking very healthy with very good coverage and performing well with very good speed, trueness and smoothness. The tees, fairways and approaches are also in fine shape after plenty of aeration through the winter.
We are now into more of the routine summer maintenance with regular aeration,brushing and refining of playing surfaces,wetting agent,soil conditioners and fertilisers when required etc and cutting and rolling to provide great playing surfaces.
Im going to spoil you now with some of my holiday snaps!
Taught the boy well!
Cameron and I played the other St David's in Pembrokeshire,a lovely 9 hole golf course with magnificent views!
There possibly seems to be some nice hot sunny weather coming from mid week onwards, fingers crossed!
Hope to see you on the Links,
Rhys Butler, Links Manager, Royal St David's Golf Club.
