Greenkeepers' Update - February 2018 February has brought more rain to the course leaving many areas saturated and consequently course closures. It has been interesting to see that many other courses have been closed but also resorting to buggy and even trolley bans. The greens on the whole are doing well. We have applied an organic slow release fertiliser which is high in humic acid. Ideal in the winter months to enhance the plants natural defences against disease outbreaks. They are in need of aeration with some greens retaining moisture at the surface, 5th green in particular. The difficulty of that is travelling around the course with heavy equipment and then working on and around the greens. However, we are only five weeks away from spring maintenance, during which we will solid tine twice and apply around 60 tonnes of sand. For the outfield areas we will aerate all the heavily worn and well-trodden areas. These will be solid tined and fertilised to aid recovery particularly around greens and tees. This year will see another plant protection product (Iprodione) withdrawn from use. It is a curative contact fungicide which is used after an outbreak of fusarium. Now the only fungicides available are preventative which could be expensive in the years to come. Repairs have been made to the fence to the rear of the 6th green. Some posts have been replaced and it will be painted once the weather improves. Repairs have also been made to the sleepers at the front of the pond. Additional wood was used to raise the level of the sleepers and top soil used to backfill the low areas and the turf rolled back into place. Bunker work is ongoing, the greenside on 15th and the 2nd and 3rd bunkers are finished. I would have anticipated this work completed by now but the difficulty has been with the soft ground conditions.
Rainfall 31.5mm. Pictures From The Course I could have put lot’s of snowy pictures on but instead here is one I took of the heathers next to the 7th tee looking fantastic on Saturday as they are all in colour. They will be under snow now! I did also get this picture sent to me from Dave Bissett (Ex junior member) where it is really cold. He now works out in Canada and this is a picture of a frozen waterfall which is just 20 minuets from his house. And there’s us moaning about the cold! | 
