I don't know if we should ever let Golf NSW near us ever again!!  That or the Tweed Coast Open is permanently jinxed.  We have tried to run the Tweed Coast Open about six times and rain has intervened each time.  In February this year we just got it done the day before the big flood and this week we were looking ok and got the Pro am in then whammo.  You can't really blame the weather bureau though as they forecasted Thursday's rain seven days earlier so we were well and truly prepared.

Part of that preparation was to solid tine the West greens on Tuesday to assist with moving water off the putting surface in the event of rain which worked a treat when the rain wasn't torrential.  The video below shows the greens being solid tined and the minimal effect on ball roll as a result. 

 

 

 

We only went about  75mm deep which was just enough to create a channel (see photo below) for the water to move through.  It also had the added bonus of getting some much needed oxygen to the rootzone as well.  All that benefit with no surface disruption. 

 

Aeration hole on the side of the hole.

But when you get the torrential downpour we got on Friday morning no green will sustain that amount.  This is 18W green at around 8.15am Friday morning.  Within five minutes of the rain easing it was bone dry which is a combination of the construction which allows the water to sheet off the green and aeration holes allowing the water to move through the surface.

 

18W green Friday morning in the rain.

 

 And as noted previously - it's never a good sign when the seagulls come onto the course!

 

Thursday morning this week.

We ''only'' received 140mm but by the look of the courses you would think there was 440 which is what fell in some parts of the hinterland and I trust any readers who live in the worst hit areas are safe and sound.  That 140mm takes us to a YTD rainfall total of 2336mm which is well on the way to beat the record of 3193mm for this location.  Let's hope we don't break the record or even come close to it.