As summer has finally made way for autumn, both day and night time temperatures have dropped quite quickly. Medium temperatures have dropped from 30’s to mid 20’s. Also, last month we finally got some rain, with 6mm falling on Friday the 8th of March. This was the first rainfall recorded at the club since August 16th 2023, when we got a massive 1.6mm.
GREENS
With the weather changing, we have been able to provide better putting surfaces, with green speeds increasing each day. The greens are generally very healthy, considering the summer we had, and the transition period we are currently going through. As I am sure everyone has seen, we had issues with the fourth green, which has now been repaired, and should be back to full playability within weeks.
The issues we had were multi faceted. New greens are a great deal more high maintenance. A long period of extreme heat and irrigation issues were at the core of the problems. We have resolved the main issues to hopefully safeguard from this happening again.
TEES
All of the tees are in very good shape, as they should be at this time of the year. Maintenance has been increased on all of the tees over the growing season with added wetting agents, fertiliser, topdressing, divoting and daily marker movement. This year the plan is to oversew the 6th, 14th and 17th tees. These are generally the worst performing tees on the course during winter due to being par threes, their size, and the amount of trees around and above them. The rye grass we are planting won’t necessarily provide full coverage, but will make them look a lot better.
FAIRWAYS
Considering the summer we have had, and the irrigation issues we suffered during this time, the fairways are in very good condition. We will again ask all players to assist by chopping in divots with a club or shoe to allow the best chance of providing the ideal playing surface.
BUNKERS
We have been trying to spend more time on maintenance in this area as they are sometimes way down our priority list. Most people are probably not aware, that to maintain bunkers in a very good condition takes more man hours than greens, tees and fairways combined weekly. When we have low staff numbers or other issues that take priority, bunkers sometimes have to take a backseat.
IRRIGATION/WATER SUPPLY
We have had a very long six months with our irrigation system with numerous issues arising at different times. Currently the system is only running at about 65%, but that is much better than we have been. Some of the issues we have had are as follows:
- Electric motor on one pump failed
- Variable speed drive controlling the entire pump station failed
- Two check valves on the pump station failed, rendering both of these pumps unusable
- The self cleaning filter failed reducing flow for a very extended period of time
- The wet end, (suction part of the pump) failed, making it run at 50% capacity
- The waste water treatment plant had issues so it was unable to provide water for about ten days
- About a dozen wiring issues across the course, shutting the system down for a period each time.
- Several valve and sprinkler failures and leaks
Half of these issues during a normal season would be manageable, but all of these problems during one of the hottest and driest seasons on record has been difficult. These issues have required us to spend a great deal more hours repairing and manually irrigating than we would have preferred. Our system should be back up to capacity over the next 4-6 weeks. Unfortunately getting parts for anything is taking a very long time at the moment.
GENERAL WORKS
Now that the weather and irrigation are more on our side, we have started our herbicide program across the course. The removal of the couch from the greens and kikuya from the rest of the course is a long term process, not just during the season, but year in year out. Invasive grasses unfortunately are never fully controlled, but when under control, as it is at the moment, it is easier to remove for the season. The kikuya needs to be sprayed twice two weeks apart to be fully eradicated, which is quite a process.
The couch removal from the greens this year is the first time we will be using a newly registered product designed specifically for this task. Being a new product, we have trialled it with mixed results since late last year, but we believe we have it where it will work at its best efficacy. There are many parameters we need for this product to work safely, and now with the temperature where it needs to be, we have started. Like most other herbicides, this is a multi application product. This is to ensure a good kill on the target grass with little to no damage to the bentgrass. People we have spoken to about this product have had mixed results ranging from excellent to not working at all. Our last trial yielded at least 75% reduction in the couch, which will be a very good result, especially if used year on year with limited damage to the putting surface.
We have now completed the extensions to the 2nd and 15th blue/black marker tees with turf being laid during the week prior to Easter. Both of these works have been selected from the course master plan for this year, as they will help provide a more challenging course for our members and for the up coming W.A. Open. They were also the least disruptive and time manageable works so, we could continue to concentrate on preparations for the upcoming golf season for the members and open events alike.
John Benbow
Director of Facilities
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