Tuesday 29 March 2016

Storm Katie

The end of last week have us the chance to get all the cutting finished and we started on the 9th drainage. This area was similar to the 13th. A couple of low areas to the front right of the green always remained wet after rain. We have put an open drain into an existing drain previously however this was not directly connected to an outlet so overtime filled with silt and grass which slowed water movement. The new drain and outlets are now directly connected to the ditch to the left of the first hole. 
The route the drain took also took out a low area to the rear of the winter 1st tee. This square will be returfing with fresh turf as the turf was poor after a long time stood in water. 
The levels were checked to ensure we could get fall to the ditch. Unfortunately the existing main drains were 20 cm lower than the ditch which is at the highest point on there run. This could explain why the 9th fairway is a wet and slow to drain area. 
The drains we have installed are shallower to ensure they run to the ditch. 
Today the drains were finished with them just to pipe and fill. 
We have taken a drain across the front of the green and installed an extra open drain on the front of the green where water stands often. 
Over the bank holiday weekend storm Katie took us back to wet and wild conditions. 26mm of rain fell on Monday. 
The course was very wet and had to be closed on Monday. However with a dry afternoon and night we managed to get 18 holes open on Tuesday. There were wet areas but I was happy with how some areas had drained down. 
Today we put some lawn sand on greens 19-27 to control moss on those greens that are wetter lawn sand is basically sand used as a carrier mixed with sulphate of iron and sulphate of ammonia   The iron turns the moss and grass black. The grass will recover however the moss remains scorched. The ammonia is basically a fertiliser which helps the grass recover. 
All hedge cutting is now finished. A great job done by Will and Rich. 

About Me

Im the Head Greenkeeper at Malton and Norton Golf Club. I began my greenkeeping career at Malton and Norton Golf Club straight from school as an Assistant Greenkeeper. Wanting to climb the greenkeeping ladder I gained my NVQ level 2 and 3 at Askham Bryan College. I continued with my education gaining a HNC in golf course management and took the position of Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Malton and Norton Golf Club in 2005.In 2008 I was promoted to the position of Head Greenkeeper, leading a team of 6 hard working and dedicated Greenkeepers. Our aim is to continue to improve the condition of the course year on year maintaining our high reputation within the area.