Greens micro managing and we finally are go on the Irrigation system

 Hi All, 

 

The new irrigation system is fully operational

I was going to do a blog this week on what’s been happening around the course. 

 

One of the first things you will notice is that work has been taken place on the putting green and Short game area.

This work was carried out following a visit from Philip Armitage our course Agronomist. 

 

Phillip Armitage Agronomist with Levi and Jack 

 

Following Phillip’s inspection and data collection carried out last week, it showed the putting green had really gone backwards regarding root depth and compaction levels compare to last August visit. This would’ve been caused by the high level of golf during the winter months being played on that green. 

Now I know what you’re thinking all the greens are played on that much but actually the putting green has at least twice the level of play especially with those who stand in the same place for practice drill causing bruising and eventually loss of turf coverage. 

 

 

To help combat these issues we carried out some additional work to the putting green. An extra tine with the 8mm to help relieve some of the compaction, followed by a double scarifying, topdress, over-seed and feed with organic fertiliser. 

 

 

Scarifying Putting Green

We also spoke to Phillip regarding the short game area and agreed to add zeolite to the short game area. This was built with rootzone which is superb and performs better than all of our other make ups but with sandier soils means that nutrients flush through the profile quicker. There is less for the nutrients to hold on too compared to our clay green so adding soil amendments helps retain nutrient and water so the green performs better. 

This is why we have carried out a hollow core and then added the zeolite and Topdressing to that green also. 

 

Hollow Coring Short Game Area

 

These measures are being used to help us improve the playability for the season ahead. Our aeration works must be sustained throughout the year with the small 8mm tines that don’t effect the ball roll but will help us manage the compaction from footfall and machinery of a normal golfing season, especially as the course has never been busier. For me this is just part and parcel of running the course. Sometimes we will need to micro manage an area to get them back up to performance. 

 

Greens organic fertiliser going down

 

The rest of the greens have been fertilised again as we try and push recovery from the winter anne to give us a smoother ball roll. I am expecting the pace of the greens to slow down, when the fertiliser kicks in. We can manage this when it happens but it will happen and we need it to happen for the season coming. 

Height wise we are now down to our summer heights and this will also help Improve the ball roll along with more grooming and cutting. 

 

The weather forecast is showing that this weekend will be warm so we are expecting the Poa grass species to wake up. Next on the list for the Poa will be the natural self

seeding. It’s worth remembering it’s an annual plant and it naturally ‘flowers’ at this time of year and can make them grainy. Again we will use the groomers on this stage of the spring growth too. 

Soil Scout Sensors

Sensor installed at 200mm depth on green

The white hole stabliser will grow over and be hidden from play soon

 

 

 

App telling us detail every 15 mins

 

You may also note that on some greens you will see a small white ring. These are the same as the hole stabilisers on the putting green and short game area but are left with the grass plug in the middle.

These are to mark Soil Scout sensors. These give us feedback from the greens on Moisture, Temperature and Salinity. 

From this we can get updates every 15 mins on the greens performance and will help us know the requirements for the new irrigation system and we will know if we need to water or not, this could make a water saving or help us to know what fertiliser applications would be best for the greens when looking at the temperature. For example certain nitrogen sources work better at lower temperatures and others at higher temperatures.

 

 

 

Other news

 

THE MAIN NEWS... THE NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING AND FULLY WORKING. The problem we had with the electric meter possibly not being installed for up to 12 weeks is now resolved thanks to Lawrence Cherry's persistent pursuit of Scottish Powers install team. We were using the new system on the old pump house but this meant we only could water greens and tees but on the 5th of April the meter was installed and the final connections were made and the system is now fully working. We as a team are trying to learn how to use the system to its full capacity. This may take some time as its a huge system. I will do another blog about of this soon.

 

 

Large Oak tree down- Some of you may have noticed that another large Oak fell on the 2nd hole. This was tidied up and a 7 ton digger was brought in to move out of play. This was damaged from the winds end of last week. I think the damage was done to the roots in the storm and the high winds ended its time with us. This along with the tree from the 1st and any other damaged or dangerous tree will be removed from the course next week when we get in Arb trailer and crane on site. None of these are in play, unless roped off.  

 

Half the team attended a first aid course in the clubhouse. This keeps us up to date should we have any issues at the club. The remaining team members, both clubhouse and course will be trained at the end of April meaning we are all here to help if needed. 

 

 

 

The white markers are back on the course this weekend. Let’s see how strong those of you playing from the whites are all feeling after the Easter period. Good luck to all playing. The weather looks good.

 

Happy Easter everyone! 

 

Matt 

The spring you didn't get last year!

 Hi All, 

I thought I would do a blog to look at what's been going on, I have so much to catch up as its only now I feel like I have the time to look back and recap but also look what's on the horizon for you our members. With the new irrigation system now complete and the last of our major projects completed we can spend time reflecting on them, learning from them and get back to the day job with renewed passion to keep moving the course forward but without major disruption. I will blog more on these projects and updates on what has been happening with them as the year goes on.   

Frosty April 

Where are we now?

We are truly at our transition phase between Winter and Spring. The course is slowly coming back to life but the days of frosts, the cold winds and days of rain reminding us its still only April and growth and recovery form the maintenance week is still slow. 

Its worth remembering that in March 2020 we were locked down through April into May. In 2021 we were locked down and golf came back in April. Both of these times our maintenance weeks works and drainage works were completed and recovering before you returned. 

This year we have gone through the winter, carried out the maintenance week and started our recovery and you have all witnessed it for the first time since 2019. April's are always a slow growth month, always a bumpy greens month as the different grass species on the greens grow at different rates. The bent grows at the lower temps and the Poa doesn't get going until its a bit higher. I have blogged about this many times but this year is more obvious for you the golfer because you have been away for the last two years and the Maintenance works were done deliberately in the Lockdown's so we maximised the time available for you the members. 

Please find the link to the previous blog about the different grass species here :- 

   http://stonehamgolfclub.blogspot.com/2016/05/grass-species-on-greens.html?m=0

Masters Weekend 

Also add into the mix that this weekend is the Masters weekend and the pressure this brings to golf courses in the UK that are still competing with frost's and a multi million pound budgets and huge crews. Please see the link to another previous blog here to reminded yourself of the big differences between us and the Masters. GDD wise (growth rates) they are in mid July compared to our April figures. Our course looks more inline with theirs in mid July too.  

Masters blog :- http://stonehamgolfclub.blogspot.com/2016/04/augusta-syndrome.html?m=1

Like many of you I felt for Blandy as he missed making this years Masters by one week making it to number 48 in the world a week to late but wow what an achievement. When you look at the list of players below him and think of how many golfers in world that is mind blowing. Watching his swing over the last two years has been inspiring and a delight. I am happy to see Tiger back though and giving it a good go. He maybe the best ever! 

Two club legends- Ian marked 35 years as Blandy makes top 48 in the world

Lots of work has been going on out on the course and off it over the last two weeks. Fertilisers have been applied to all the key playing surfaces. Another dressing on greens applied as we try to smooth these out as much as possible. 

8mm solid tine on greens 

Mini aeration's to aid recovery from the winter compaction, bunkers have been topped up, over seeding and topdressing weak areas along with seeding via the disc seeder in the weak areas. The course has started to be cut more often this is improving presentation. Winter mats and ropes are now in apart from areas we want to protect for seed establishment. 

Bunkers looking better after topping up and strim

A full flymo and strimmer run has also been completed and the winter cobwebs on these areas blown away all this plus removal of fallen trees still on going and new ones coming down from damaged sustained in the storm.

We also had our Agronomist visit and MC strategic meetings taking place along with so much more regarding the new irrigation system it has been a busy period. 

We also had members of the team visit BTME and attend the awards for the Project of the Year. unfortunately it wasn't to be as we were beaten by Loch Lomond's £7 million course revamp but I am so proud of the 'Academy Project' making the last three from projects all over the world.   

We welcomed back Levi Pethick as our new Deputy Course Manager following Graham Hastie's departure to Knighton Heath as Course Manager. I am so happy for Graham getting that job and i am sure he will be amazing there and has my full support. He was superb for Stoneham and we wish him all the luck going forward. 

At the same time I am delighted to welcome back Levi following a very thorough interviewing process. Levi was previously who our First Assistant, coming runner up in the greenkeeper of the year awards out of hundreds on students in the UK, he left to run his own landscape gardening business and realised his heart was still into greenkeeping shortly afterwards and his qualifications were not being used. He has gained new skills and comes back with a new enthusiasm to help drive the club onwards. 

I feel we have a very strong team of greenkeepers now at the club with a big desire to be the best. The best for you the members and the best for ourselves within the industry.   

BIGGA Awards Project of Year

The course in April, frosts and sunshine

Hope to see you all on the course in the coming days and lets hope the weather gets warmer. 

Regards 

Matt    

  

Chafers, Leatherjackets and Bird damage

 

Hi All,

 

Some of you may have noticed it’s that time of year again when we are seeing bird damage on various spots. This is being caused by grubs within the soil and the birds are feeding on these grubs.

This hasn’t been a big issue until recent years. The withdrawal of the chemicals used to control these grubs in 2016 with a use up date of 2017 has meant we are now seeing damage increase year on year. The damage sustained last year wasn’t seen by most due to the lockdowns.

Interestingly we are seeing a lot more chafer grubs now. We hadn’t seen any on the course until 2019, when Graham Hastie and I found two on the 5^th hole. Fast forward to 2022 and this has been the dominate species we have found in the fairways over last two months.

We have always had issues with Leatherjackets and have tried our best to mitigate the issues these can cause but that is changing and we as an industry are learning more about both Leatherjacket and Chafer grubs.

Chafer grubs under the 12^th fairway above at stage 2 of the life cycle

Why is this happening now?

The effective chemical options we had are now long gone. We have one new chemical which at the moment is only being issued on an emergency licence one year at a time. This means we never know if it is going to be approved for the following year.

Once an emergency licence is approved we can only spray Greens, Tees and 10% of fairways. The amount we can purchase is limited by the government, we have to fill out stewardship forms and record the application. We are also only allowed to spray for one the species in one year. Unfortunately we now have both species meaning we will need to address which one we think is going to be the prominent one for the following year as the timings of the grub’s life cycles are completely different. You can see this isn’t easy and if I am honest the effectiveness of the new chemical is about 60% compared to the old chemistry and is ten times the cost. It’s also worth noting the rates of application in the UK for the chemical is 50% of the rate in the USA.  

Leatherjackets off one green

 

Year on year the populations are growing at such a rate that damage will increase, For example one Leatherjacket can lay up to 400 eggs before they die. The drive from Government is to be so green now and the EU restriction’s which the government and the House of Lords has agreed to wont be overturned. We have already seen the Sugar beet market in the UK collapse over this issue. The irony is, we are now importing all of our sugar from countries that don’t have these restrictions! 

Leatherjacket Husks after Cranefly have left eggs inserted into green

What are we doing and what’s our options?

 

Apart from applying Acelepryn insecticide described above only on limited surfaces we will also be applying Nematodes as part of our strategy.

This is biological option but again data is limited about how effective these can be and the timing has to be perfect.

·         Soil temperatures must be 14 degrees at one point during the day and it cannot drop below 6 degrees or the Nematodes will die.

·         We need to aerate the greens prior to application

·         Water the greens before we apply, this helps the nematodes move over the surface and down the aeration holes.

·         It cannot be sprayed in direct sunlight as UV kills the nematodes

·         All the filters on the sprayer must be removed

·         It must be sprayed below 8 bar pressure on the sprayer

·         The Nematode packs must be mixed prior to adding to the sprayer. This takes five minutes per pack and 32 packs are needed

·         The greens must then be watered after application

·         Greens must be kept moist for three weeks after application

 

Both of these are our only proactive options available.

The other methods will be more reactive. You may have seen silage sheets being used at other clubs in the last year. This method requires us to cover an entire green from the afternoon, overnight and then this is taken off in the morning. This brings the LeatherJackets to the surface and as they believe they are still under ground. Once the sheet is removed it’s a race against time to either blow or cut them up before they start to head back down into the soil and this is only a few minutes.

This maybe a strategy we need to put in place and you the golfers will need to be aware that this is happening. This isn’t something we can plan too much in advance. When we start to see the damage to the surfaces we will need to react quickly. Remember the grubs survive by eating the roots of the grass plant. They can eat up to 60% of the root on each plant causing huge stress or even death of the grass species.  We will inform members by email on the day if this is needed.

A temporary hole will placed short of the green to play too but I must stress this is a last resort and we hope that this won’t be an issue we need to face but I wanted you to know this is an option we may require to reduce the populations down quickly and save the surfaces. 

Silage sheets being used for Leatherjackets control

Bird damage

Regarding the bird damage. We have been trying to encourage the birds to leave the area and are now looking at bird scarer’s, birds of prey and long term we will be looking at increasing our Starling bird boxes. The starlings eat the grubs in the same way but their beaks are so small that there is little damage.

The damaged caused looks awful but it can be repaired and luckily enough we now have the new irrigation system which will help aid recovery. We can soil and seed into these areas knowing we can now water the area. Which will help germination and speed up recovery.

Bird Damage on the 15^th

Going forward

I think our mentality for this issue will need to change from ‘zero damage’, which is now almost impossible to ‘how quick can we recover’.

This is the mentality that the Scandinavian countries have every year when they come out from the snow cover on the course.

We must continue our strategies laid out above, we need to carryout trials and stay up to date with the industry findings because I can assure you we are not the only ones in this situation and the entire industry are looking at this. Time and patience will be needed but I am sure as an industry we will get a better understanding of these species and we will overcome this. 

It is worrying and it is frustrating but it is grass and we can get recovery. Things might not always be perfect but let’s face it, we have 140 golfers a day playing on the course taking divots out of the surfaces and we get them back. This is just another thing we need to learn to recover from! 

The new irrigation system will help aid recovery of the affected areas

I hope this information gives you a little understanding of the challenges we face as an industry. Any questions please feel free to ask me when you see me.

 Regards

Matt