The BLOG is back

Well after a twelve month hiatus the BLOG IS BACK!!  Thank you to those members who have asked about the whereabouts of the blog and for your interest in it and I am glad to be able to once again provide you with an insight in to what we do on the course maintenance team.  
Well nothing much has really changed over the twelve months on the courses with the following selection for your viewing.........

               Bunkers still unraked....

Lucky he didn't stand on the rake!!

               Divots out of greens....

5 West green this time

           
               Fairways used for practice.....

At least they attempted to use sand!!

               
                      Pitchmarks on 2 West green from the above practice.....

2 West pitch marks

 
                Bunker machine breaks down IN the bunker.....

Bunker rake breakdown in the bunker

               Wild weather for a change.....

A bunker wash

               A dry summer.....

8 West dam as low as I've seen it this week

               Invasive tree roots.....

Sample of roots 4 inches under 17 River green surface

         

               Coots about to graze on 7 West green.....

Here they come!!

              Morons driving cars on greens.....

10 West green - damage could have been a lot worse though

               Irrigation problems - this time an electrical fault.....

This caused $20,000 damage to the irrigation controllers

               But some good things did happen.....

Great to see a green frog but when he appeared from behind the
spray controller on the tractor i was a little startled!

               
                   And on a personal note I finally got to see St Andrews.....

Unfortunately way too cold for me to play

As I perused my photos of the past twelve months I realised that I don't take many photos of the good things that happen or the good results that are achieved on the courses but my crew have been heartened by the many complimentary comments about the playing conditions over the past year.

But moving forward the next few months will see a flurry of work on the courses to get them ready for winter.  All tees on both courses will be renovated which will include a heavy scarify followed by a hollow tyne and fertilise.  The tees haven't been renovated for 2 years and desperately need it.  Selected fairways will be fertilised to ensure a good cover of grass entering winter as will many of the shaded weaker turf areas.

Unless something extraordinary happens I aim to post weekly which will generally be on a Friday afternoon / evening.  If there is anything you would like me to explain for you or you have a burning question that needs answering then please add a comment to the blog or email me at the address that is on the club website under "about us / corporate".