Coolangatta Tweed GC Course Maintenance

Friday, November 1, 2024

What a week, with a bit of everything thrown in. I arrived at 4.30am on Monday after hearing the wind blow all night thinking conditions will be dry for the renovation starting that day, only to see what was on the radar, shown below. I think the boys thought I was mad when I said I don't think we will get much and we went out and made a start. There was still some dew around and a couple of light showers made it across the ranges which made it very wet to work in. But we persisted and a few more showers during the day didn't help.

4.30 Monday morning!!

Tuesday provided a very heavy dew and we were able to get some sand on the greens but didn't get time or the conditions to fertilise or renovate the greens collars. Come Thursday and we were able to get the slow release granular fertiliser out with a weather forecast of ''chance of a storm and 30% chance of <1mm''. That proved to be incorrect as we all know and most of the fertiliser got washed away in the hail and 27mm that fell in even time. Friday morning's plan was to get some upfront soluble fertiliser on the greens to get them kick started, but we had all hands on deck putting the place back together again. There were forty five players milling around the practice greens by 5.55am this morning so we didn't have much time!! The greens will take a little longer to recover with the lack of fertiliser and I am expecting a blotchy result from the granular fertiliser put out on Thursday thanks to the washouts caused by the rain. The greens collars will be renovated next Tuesday weather permitting. Mother Nature??!!

It's that time of year again when the Eucalypts start shedding their bark. It would be nice if it all just came down in one hit rather than taking six weeks. It is a windy time of year so the courses will be a bit messy at times.