Greenkeeper Newsletter

Dear members,

Week 9 has been a cold but progressive week on the course. The weather has been quite varied with frost, fog, snow flurries and also fantastic, yet cold sunshine.

This week we have:

• Turned on the irrigation system due the lack of rain in the forecast (the water is removed from the system in November to prevent damage from severe frost).
• We have also reinstated the ball dispensing machine for use.
• Mowed greens, tees, approaches and fairways (at winter height).
• All greens, tees and approaches have been sprayed with cold start fertiliser.
• Delicate tree pruning has continued.
• All piles of debris have been collected.
• All greens have been rolled twice.
• All pin positions have been changed.
• All leaves have been blown out of the bunkers.
• All bunkers have been raked.
• C-Loop greens and the small putting green have had sand applied, been aerated using a bayonet tine, seeded and rolled. We are planning to carry this out next week on the remaining greens.

Next week we are planning to spray fairways and greens complexes with cold start fertilizer, this is weather dependent as rain is forecast mid-week.

We are also actively hazing/scaring the geese, this is a humane way to encourage them not to lay eggs and raise their young on the course. Which would in turn lead to goose dung on the greens and scratching/pecking damage to the greens. If a goose is born here it will return the following season to mate and raise it’s young, hence the problem grows.

I would like to ask that members please use the bins provided on the course, there is one available on EVERY hole.

The course is particularly busy at weekends but DO NOT park along the main drive, as this is the access road for quick response emergency services. A second overflow carpark will be put in place on the grassed area to the right before you enter the main entrance.

Kind regards

Reamonn O’Neill
Golf Course Superintendent