A very important milestone was reached today on the irrigation project with twelve holes now being completed, so we are a third of the way through on the course proper then we have the practice areas to be done as well.  Again this week we ran several cycles which all operated flawlessly, and the performance of the sprinklers is outstanding.  We were originally only going to do 3R green this week but moved on to the fairway as well as there was a 100mm existing mainline that we could tap into without too much trouble to bolster supply to the new system. That has been the process so far that anytime we can access an existing mainline in good condition we do a temporary connection which will ultimately be discarded as we get closer to the pump shed and the new bigger mainlines are installed.

 

Connection to old system circled above.

I have been asked a few times about some of the trenchlines on the courses as part of the installation and what the plan is for them long term.  Most are being left to grow through on their own as if we do too much to them now it would be a waste as there is such low growth happening at the moment.  Some of the sprinkler locations just need a heavy topdress but if we do that now we would just smother the turf.  When you look at the ''plough'' lines where pipe is pulled through there will generally just be some sanding required and around the greens once the next renovation is done I doubt you will see a thing.  The mainlines down the sides of the fairways vary with most being allowed to cover back in naturally and once fully grassed they too will be topdressed to level them up. 

The top photo below is of the first trench dug on LHS 4R showing almost full recovery already.  A nice heavy topdressing next spring and you won't know we had been there.  The bottom photo is a more recent trench at rear 4W that is perfectly level and lots of little bits of Couchgrass ready to sprout in spring and once again a heavy topdress in summer and it will be back to normal. 

LHS 4R nearly covered.

 

Rear 4W nice and level (apart from the footmarks!)

The end of cart paths is another area that will be attended to in the spring.  We returfed the end of 9W path but the cooler weather hasn't allowed the turf to fully develop and it is pretty stressed so a better result will be achieved with summer weather.

New turf struggling at 9W.

And finally June 28 is a special day as it was on this day way back in 1999 that I stepped foot onto the property that is Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club as Superintendent.  There's certainly been some ups and downs and it definitely doesn't feel like yesterday, but it's been a very enjoyable journey for the most part.  Looking back to what the course was like when I arrived to what it is now is most satisfying.  I arrived just after the "worm farmers" left the course in a complete shambles and  I do remember having 24 staff available for work in the lunchroom on my first day which given the Club's financial situation at the time, was pretty amazing.  Today we have 17.  I do still enjoy coming to work which is the main thing personally and I rarely hear the alarm clock but still set it each night.  I do know that I couldn't have done it without the support of wife Michelle who was formally the Golf & Functions Manager at the Club.  (Yes we met at the staff Christmas party!!)  Being the wife of a Superintendent isn't easy I can assure you but she has been a rock of support. I also couldn't have done it without some of the great staff I have had over the years which number somewhere near 150 all up.  Gee there's been some characters in that lot I can guarantee you, with a few not making it past morning tea on their first day and a few still here that were here on my first day.

After the craziness of the Mick Fanning day which this year leaked well into Saturday it was nice to get a break away, albeit in Brisbane, for the annual sportsturf conference.  This year we again joined with Golf Management Australia (golf club managers) for a combined effort and at last count there were over 700 registered delegates for the event with another 150 day delegates who mainly come to visit the extensive trade show.

Plenary sessions with the GMA included a lot of personal development and mental health awareness sessions although even when we broke away for the Supers to concentrate on all matters turf, there were many GM's attending these.  As one of the more senior attendees I get the chance to chair some sessions and two of those were really good and it gives you one on one time with the presenters.  One of which was Dr Jay McCurdy from Mississippi University where his specialty is warm season grasses (couchgrass) and in particular weed control.  I am sure I have said it before but to get one on one personal time with someone with that type of experience is priceless.  I discussed our Poa annua resistance problems and he gave me a couple of different options with some chemicals I haven't used before.

One of the other sessions I chaired was Automation in Turf Management which was presented by Erwan Le Cocq from Winston Golf in Germany which is one of the highest ranked courses in Germany where all range of automation is utilised.  The use of automated (robotic) mowers was the primary topic and there is no doubt it is the way of the future.  The initial cost is the prohibitive part but savings in staff and fuel eventually offset this.  His robots predominantly mow fairways and intermediate roughs and despite some issues they do an amazing job.  One of the biggest issues is vandalism while they are working overnight but theft is not a problem (although it has happened) as the robots are all GPS equipped so it's just a matter of knocking on someones door to get him back!!  One of the other issues is irrigation scheduling as they will sense that as rain and stop working and also their ability to mow warm season thatchy couch fairways like CTHGC is up for discussion.  The mowers are available in Australia so some investigation will commence.

The irrigation installation continued and 6R is now complete.  A start was made on 7R on Friday and when 7R is finished we will go back to 3R green as advised last week. 

A short week mixed with Ladies Championships meant just a routine maintenance week until the Mick Fanning golf day came to town and come to town they certainly did.  I took 95 phone calls on Thursday from 11.45am till 6.00pm but it all worked out in the end.  A great effort by the crew to get the course to where it is and also set up what is apparently the largest charity golf day in Australia.  A few shots below of what went on during the day if you didn't make it down and by 7.00am Saturday morning, hopefully you won't know anything happened.  On the courses anyway as it takes a while to get the carpark area cleaned up.

Hit Mick on 1W to win a prize.

Quintessential Australian setting 18W tee.

Anyone for some rodeo on 9W?

Mad Hueys on 2R.

Win a Mercedes with a HIO on 17R.

With all that going on the irrigation only moved a little way up 6R fairway and a lot of much needed clean up and fine tuning was able to take place.  We were also able to run a couple of actual irrigation programs late in the week with some dryness appearing which was pretty exciting to be honest. When completed it is going to make life so much simpler. 

Not much to report on the courses this week apart from some most welcome sunshine and hopefully it stays this way.  The heavy dews in the mornings are like getting a couple of mm of rain so although we haven't recorded rainfall there are still many wet areas out there.  With the Fanning golf day on next Friday we certainly don't want any more significant rain so that all the fun of the day can go ahead unhindered.

The irrigation installation moved along to 6R this week and despite the horrendous weather the contractors have encountered so far they are not too far behind.  One of the jobs they performed this week was to give us a temporary connection from our old system to supply the new areas.  Rather than digging a 100 metre trench the pipe was laid above ground around the dam to the LHS of 10W and when it is no longer required it can be removed and used elsewhere in the new system.  

It was certainly a bit weird this week to have to think about applying some irrigation water to the courses.  We have been itching to try some of the new system and this week gave us just a little window and to say it's first class is an understatement.  We are now at the nine hole stage and it has been nice to hear a lot of comments about the lack of interference to golf.  One of the peculiarities of Cool Tweed is the way the ground can move / settle after excavation.  This has been happening to a lot of our turfed areas and they will be attended to in due course.  Some of the sprinklers have also settled a little unevenly and once again will be attended to.  The turfed areas will really not show good signs of recovery until the weather warms later in the year.