Greenside Repairs

Areas just off the greens which have taken a beating during the winter have received some TLC.

2nd

 Large areas have been turfed to remedy the winter damage and improve playing conditions. 

11th

One area that has been a concern for some time is the exit from the 18th green. A recognised high traffic area that has gradually deteriorated over many years, slowly eroding lower and lower. 

A natural low point that holds standing water. 

This year the low area has been raised to try and reduce the ongoing  erosion and improve presentation.

A drain that services the low area has remained and was adjusted.

The area was then finished with turf.

Machinery Paths

During the winter period the continuous traffic along recognised machinery paths created some heavily rutted areas. One of the worst areas affected was the machinery path that runs parallel to the 9th fairway.

A tractor mounted cultivator was used to loosen the dried soil and smooth it out, leaving a workable surface to seed and rake out level.

These areas are now marked GUR and will soon recover.

Greens Maintenance Week

The greens maintenance week has been very successful, with all work scheduled completed. It did rain during the work but fortunately this did not affect our schedule by to much.

A Toro Pro-Core 648 Micro-Tines the Greens

All greens were scarified, overseeded, micro-tinned and top-dressed.

The fairways, tees, approaches and areas around the greens were all verti-drained.

Tees were overseeded and winter divots and wear were also soil and seeded.

Tee Step Maintenance Complete

Maintenance to all steps on the course to improve the overall presentation and safety from slippery surfaces has finally been completed.

8th Tee

Our steps were covered using an astro-turf type product for the last 4-5 years. This was originally applied to remove the risks of golfers walking over potential slippery surfaces.

Initially this looked and worked very well; however over a period of time the astro-turf had become worn, torn and untidy in appearance. Any deterioration to the steps/timber also went unnoticed as it cannot be seen under the astro-turf.

10th Green

After evaluating the presentation of the steps and the on-going problems faced, including costs, it was decided to consider a change in the maintenance practice.

A product was sourced called Gripclad. For a number of years now the Golf market has recognised the long term benefit of using this product on slippery sleepers and timber steps. Many Golf Clubs around the country are now using this product.

Gripclad Cleats can be applied to Railway Sleepers, Club Entrance Steps, Trolley Ramps, Bunker Steps, Viewing Platforms, Footbridges, walkways and even on Grass Cutting Machinery footplates. The product has a diamond hard anti-slip composite surface and offers a tough, durable surface ensuring safety on the course. The expected lifespan of this product is 40 years + dependent on conditions and traffic.

The sheets are fixed to the timber using an adhesive sealant and screws

This product was applied periodically to all the steps replacing the existing astro-turf.

The 18th Tees Steps

New 8th Tee Steps

Following the construction of a single larger tee on the 18th and a period of monitoring traffic; the new steps are being installed.

 A new technique is being tested using full width beams on the sides rather than slim boarding, to prolong the life of the steps, to improve strength and stability and reduce deterioration.

10th Tee TLC

The 10th Tee is by far the worst tee affected by winter play. During the winter period, recovery, growth and germination is non existent, however now we are moving into the spring work can begin to correct the damage created.

First the tee was pencil tined and then soil and seed was mixed and levelled across the divots with a true-lute. 

During Greens Maintenance Week, all tees including the 10th (again), will be Verti-Drained and Overseeded by machine.

TLC Around the Greens

Now conditions are finally improving and ground stability is returning; the opportunity to undertake some repairs and assist recovery of certain areas is being taken. Worn and damaged areas created from traffic and unstable ground conditions during the winter are being addressed.

 The main focus of attention is those areas around the greens and places of close proximity to the finer turf areas. These are being cleared of any loose material, spiked/aerated and then soil and seeded to a level using a tool called a true-lute.

The mild temperatures we have recently experienced have dropped off and the clear Sky's, although sunny are allowing a little freshness to creep into the air. We are due a combination of night frosts with warm days, however don't be fooled; the cold nights will keep soil temperature and growth down. These areas will therefore not germinate and recover overnight and some of the worse areas are ear-marked for turfing later in the month. Some of these areas may also need further attention at a later date, but for now, we are as usual at the mercy of the lovely British weather.

PLEASE NOTE: To help the recovery process; please keep clear and avoid any hooped-off or GUR marked areas.

Suprise Suprise.... but not from rain!!!

On Monday 10th of March we were presented with a new water feature on the 3rd fairway.

The 3rd ditch that crosses the 3rd and 4th fairways burst its banks and the water found its way to the lowest point, down by the bottom of the 3rd fairway.

This was caused by a form of blockage in the culvert which takes the water from the 3rd ditch under Hawksbrook Lane, under the School field and beyond.
It took our trusted drainage contractors and their pressure hose to alleviate the problem. This culvert has been marked as a concern for some time now and efforts to establish who is responsible in the eventuality of a collapse are being investigated. Unfortunately at this time no one is willing to take any responsibility.

The Environment Agency / Local Authority (Bromley Council) / Thames Water / Highways Agency, have all distanced themselves from having any responsibility. A camera investigation has already identified dislodged pipework which is very old. How long this will remain intact is anyones guess.