We got up to 30 degrees in the shed compound on Wednesday this week which was most welcome but the nights remained a bit cooler which doesn't help turf growth.  The westerly winds that are common at this time of year have kicked in with near gale force experienced on Wednesday afternoon.  As a result this is a messy time of year with tree debris constantly being blown down.  

We did remove the covers from the River course tees in readiness for this weekends Foursomes Championships and it was interesting to see the result.  5R tee is not as shaded as 4 and 18 and it showed with the amount of growth it had put on which required mowing with an old school walk behind spin cut mower.  Considering 4 and 18 are both in total shade they did quite well although it was mainly just leaf growth and there is no real body to the turf cover.  If you have a look at 18 on the extreme RHS there was some more growth there where the tee does get some sunlight.

5R tee lush growth.

 

18R much greener but still sparse.

 

We were able to get the River greens de-thatched and sanded on Tuesday after the ladies with the course closed to play to allow some unhindered maintenance.  Both jobs get a superior result when they are done in dry conditions.  The sand applied contained some gypsum and humate which will not only benefit the greens nutritionally but also helps level the surface. 

And we will start preparing a temporary green on 1R next week just short of the creek.  This is to allow some remedial work done on the creeks rockwall and we will also be removing the foreign grass invasion into the greens surface.  This has been tried before but only one application of herbicide has been applied and the areas cut out and re-turfed only to see the foreign grass recover.  This time we will be applying herbicide on three weekly applications to ensure a kill.  The areas will then be cored and then the green will be renovated and the renovated material will be placed in the cored areas of the dead zones to re-generate and cover in.  The temporary green will be in play when the green is sprayed for at least a day at a time and then for four weeks while the turf establishes.  If all goes to plan the green will receive its first herbicide application on September 21 and then be planted during the River greens renovation week in October.