MORECAMBE GOLF CLUB
ANNUAL GOLF
COURSE REPORT
2014
COMPILED BY THE COURSE
MANAGER
COLIN PARISH
GOLF COURSE ANNUAL REPORT
2014
INTRODUCTION
The following report outlines the work carried out on the golf course
during 2014. The rainfall figures always have an effect on the timings of
maintenance operations and sometimes the presentation of the golf course. The
overall rainfall figure is higher than 2013. After a fairly wet start to the
year the Spring was dry again with only 37mm in April. Other noticeable dry
months were June and September. The irrigation was mainly put to use in April
and the Summer months of June and July.
RAINFALL mm
Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Ju Jly
Aug Sept Oct
Nov Dec Total
2012 116 55
29 64 91
145 133 152
194 145 153
176 1,453
2013 59 40
31 28 39
51 81
111 103 118
77 119 857
2014 175 123
76 37 57
19 69 96
18 150 113
83 1,016
IRRIGATION BORE HOLE READINGS (cubic metres)
Apr May
June July Aug
Sept Total
2012 317 525 0 0 25 0 867
2013 272 206 490 842 87
268 2,165
2014 398 0
707 502
0 358 1,965
GREENS MANAGEMENT
In my 2013 annual report I wrote a paragraph on the “Future management
of the Greens”
“Greenkeeping maintenance and management techniques are evolving all
the time. I have decided, following discussions with the STRI and respected
peers to amend and adjust certain cultural maintenance practices carried out on
the Greens. The main objective is still to develop and sustain a fescue/Bent
sward but with emphasis aimed at producing Summer putting surfaces that are
more in line with tournament golf.”
Several changes were made which brought the following results.
1.. The nitrogen content in the fertiliser programme was increased by
16% with slightly higher inputs during the Spring period. This helped to
overcome differential growth patterns between the grass species in the Greens.
2.. More intensive grooming work was carried out in the Spring with the
verti-cut units. This process helped to refine the texture of the sward and
improve ball roll.
3.. The vibrating rollers purchased in the Spring were put to good use
being used on average three times per week during the playing season,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays. The rolling has a cumulative effect, and if
not abused will help to increase Green speed without the need for extreme low
heights of cut.
4.. During the optimum growing conditions of the Summer months the
height of cut was lowered from 4mm down to 3.5mm.
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GOLF COURSE ANNUAL REPORT
2014
The four maintenance practices mentioned above helped to produce
smoother, truer and to some extent faster putting surfaces. Overall this change
in management did not seem to have any adverse effect on the Greens. The STRI
did originally have some reservations, especially with the drop in height of cut,
on the long term health of the Fescue/Bent grasses. If the regimes ever became
too severe then annual meadow grass would become dominant again over the
desirable grasses that have been established over the last twelve years.
Please remember we have to produce a surface playable for all
abilities. Eleven of the eighteen Greens at Morecambe have aggressive slopes
running through them. Anything over ten feet on the stimp meter will produce
unplayable putting surfaces for the majority.
OVERSEEDING
The Greens were successfully over seeded twice during 2014. A straight
Brown top bent was used in May, and both Bent and two species of Red Fescue
were used in September. The numbers of desirable grass species is still on the
up helping to produce improved putting for the whole of the year.
FERTILISER
As already stated the nitrogen levels were increased by some 16% up to
79 kilograms for the hectare. Potassium nitrate was used in the Spring to good
effect. This nitrogen source is more readily available during cooler soil
temperatures found at this time of the year. Liquid fertiliser was used again
through the Summer months in the form of seaweed, an organic formulation and
methylene urea which supplied the necessary nitrogen. The organic and seaweed
have many benefits, it is a balanced soil conditioner, it stimulates growth and
feeds the soil bacteria present.
IRRIGATION
For the fourth year in a row April was a dry month leading to the use
of the irrigation. The other noticeable month being June where temperatures
were quite high with very little
rainfall.
SAND TOP DRESSING
Straight sand was once again applied to the Greens this year.
Approximately 120 tonnes was applied through the growing season with half
between March and mid-May and the remainder around the maintenance week in
September. This regime helps to build up the surface levels in Spring and cuts
down on the amount of surface disruption during the main Summer months.
WETTING AGENTS
Regular monthly applications from March onwards allows for the even
distribution of moisture through the Green profile as well as helping to move
excess moisture away from the surface.
AERATION
The vert-drain was used twice during the year in February and
September. The action of the verti-drain produces heave within the Green and
fractures the soil profile, relieving compaction and allowing air, water and
root movement. The John Deere aercore
was used seven times again this year with solid tine attachments. This
process keeps the surface open and is vital in supplying air to the organic
matter layer and root system.
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GOLF COURSE ANNUAL REPORT
2014
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
The golf course has a rolling programme set up with machinery
replacement based on the age of the equipment and the addition of any new
developments on the market. The club makes every effort to carry out this
replacement programme as maintaining old equipment can be false economy and
cost more in the long run.
SELECT-A-VIBE attachment ROLLERS
The photograph below shows the attachment Greens rollers purchased in
2014. The units are fitted onto one of the Greens triple mowers in place of the
cutting units. The Greens were rolled on average three times a week during the
main growing/playing season.
JOHN DEERE 2500E HYBRID TRIPLE MOWER
The second purchase in 2014 was a John Deere 2500E Hybrid triple mower
used for the mowing of Greens. An older version of this mower was used as part
exchange.
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GOLF COURSE ANNUAL REPORT
2014
TEE RENOVATIONS
Two Tees were redeveloped during 2014 as part of a long term plan of
Tee renovations. The idea behind the renovation work is to produce Tees which
are level, have a good coverage of irrigation and are built from quality
materials which will allow play from them for the majority, if not all of the year.
5th TEE
The 5th Tee was renovated at the beginning of 2014. The
completed Tee is now on one platform and at forty meters across has a wide shot variance in Tee shot angle
from one side to the other. The overall size has been enlarged from 430 sq m to
490 sq m which is the recommended size for a par three Tee taking into
consideration divot damage through the year.
The work involved was as follows:
Level the surface into one platform, extend to the right hand side by
four meters.
Install a main drain along the rear of the Tee.
Upgrade of the irrigation.
Rotovate and de-compact the Tee, add necessary infill material and
level off.
Re-turf using a Fescue/Bent mix
turf.
1st TEE
First impressions of the golf course are important, the newly developed
1st Tee and shrub bed areas now have a good impact on the course.
The work involved was as follows:
The Cherry tree and shrubs were removed from the left hand side of the
Tee.
A block retaining wall faced with natural stone was built down the left
hand side of the Tee extension.
New irrigation fitted into the Tee supplying eight irrigation heads.
Infill material and rootzone imported into the Tee extension.
The old Tee was rotovated and de-compacted.
The whole of the Tee was levelled to a finish.
The Tee was re-turfed using a Fesue/Bent turf mix.
The shrub beds have been developed around the MGC box hedge and will be
planted with low growing shrubs.
The Tee has been developed from 300 sq m up to 460 sq m allowing play
from it for the whole of the year.
Below are photographs showing the development of the Tee.
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GOLF COURSE ANNUAL REPORT
2014
The
photos below show the building of the block retaining wall dressed with natural
stone and the completed Tee and new shrub bed.
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ANNUAL GOLF COURSE REPORT
2014
FAIRWAY AERATION
For a second year running a contract hire company were employed by the
club to carry out verti-draining aeration to the Fairways. The contractors
supply and use two 2m wide verti-drain aerators fitted with 25mm diameter solid
tines working to a depth of 200mm. The action of the tines produce heave and
fracture the soil profile relieving built up compaction. Surface drainage is
also improved with air and water movement down through the soil.
The contract is carried out during the September maintenance week. This
year the ground was particularly dry allowing excellent fracturing of the
soils. The improvement to surface drainage was very noticeable during October
when the weather broke. Carrying out this process yearly will improve
conditions greatly.
FAIRWAY WINTER DROP ZONES
Fairway divot protection has been carried out again this year with
artificial mats being placed in designated areas. The two main Fairways
protected are the 6th and 8th with other areas protected
periodically. The beneficial results are there for everybody to see.
DAMAGE TO TURF THROUGH CROW PECKING
The last quarter of the year has seen fairly damaging pecking to areas
of turf from crows. The crows have been digging for chafer grubs, the larvae of
the Chafer beetle.
The climate conditions during 2014 have been ideal for chafer grub
larvae to thrive. Most of the pecking damage has occurred throughout the
sandier sections of the course eg, bunker surrounds and some of the sandier
soiled Tees. The chafer beetle prefer sandy loams to lay their eggs which in
turn allows easier movement of the larvae. The turf is further weakened by the
larvae feeding on the grass roots.
Replacement of the sandy loams with a richer growing medium has been
carried out with the areas re-turfed.
The development of the chafer beetle laid egg into the larvae stage can
be controlled using an insecticide containing the active ingredient Imidacloprid.
This insecticide is supplied as a granular systemic and is applied
preventatively as the eggs are laid in late Spring/early Summer. Working within
our budget an application of the insecticide will be applied at the appropriate
time.
CONCLUSION
From a Greenkeeping perspective the weather patterns of 2014 have been
favourable with lower than average rainfall and decent sunlight hours during
the Summer. The last few Springs have been quite dry with fairly low Spring
soil and air temperatures.
The Board of directors have supported the golf course most favourably
this year. The operating budget has been kept the same, the development of the
golf course has continued with the improvement works to the 1st and
5th Tees and the capital expenditure on maintenance machinery has
continued.
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