A fresh start for 2024

 

Hi All,

 

Happy New Year to you! 

 

I wanted to do a quick blog on the various works that are being undertaken since the beginning of the year but before we do let’s talk about one of my favorite subjects… the weather! 

 

The Weather

The New Year started with a bang with one of the biggest flash floods we have experienced in Southampton with 34mm of rain coming down in a “violent” level rain rate (which if over 50+mm per hour) recorded on the 5th courtesy of the back end of Storm Henk. This combined with the already saturated ground and high tide caused areas to flash flood with cars left floating including Stoneham Lane. 

 

This created some challenges with 55mm of rain in the first five days of the year, on top of the wet year before. It’s worth remembering one good week isn’t enough to reduce the water table back to far and all eyes on the long distance forecasts to give us a glimmer of hope but it’s only going to take a small amount of rain to set us back again. 

 

For now this winter charm is embracing Stoneham with a mix of crisp mornings and mild afternoons thanks to an Omega Blocking Event. We are experiencing an El Nino (The boy) year. This can have a major effect on the worlds weather and is caused by rising temperatures in the central and pacific oceans. All the weather bloggers I follow are saying we are in for a very hot summer! For more information on El Nino’s see the link here:- What are El Niño and La Niña?

 

Looking ahead, the forecast predicts a week of intermittent sunshine, some clouds, and a chance of rain at the weekend but still very cold so make sure you wrap up warm. 

It’s made all the difference seeing the sunshine again though! 

I think we can all agree this weather is so much better than last few months of 2023’s rain. Our record breaking wettest year since records began with 2023 finishing at 1115mm of rain. 

Enough of the weather let’s have a look at the ongoing enhancements on the course.

 

Greens

We have managed to get the greens cut while holding back when too wet and delaying the cuts when the course is frozen but they are still in good condition for the time of year.

Our disease management strategies will continue as a priority until the good growth kicks in. For now the growth will be very limited and will come in waves between now and May. Having the right feeding program to take advantage of those waves will be as important as it is every year.

This week we started to slit tine greens. The knife type action will help move water and air down the profile without opening the surface to more rain. This will aid natures own aeration with the frosts! As the moisture in the soil expands and retracts between the frost and thaw this will help get air into the soil and this should link nicely with the slit tine.

You may have noticed we have added our second (frost holes as we call them) on the greens. This will allow us to move the flags between the different holes and to spread the wear during these frozen periods. This is all part of that disease management strategy. Weak and worn plants are more at risk of disease and giving areas a rest can make all the difference especially as we play on main greens all year round.

 

Wooden Nets Construction

Following the damaged sustained to our old nets making them unsafe we have been working with Steve White from Driveways a local landscape gardener on the construction of new nets made of wood. This is a popular golf club trend, using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. We have used the same mats used on the driving range bays to give a consistent surface for you the members to practice on. We hope to open these as soon as possible.

Brush Cutting and Clearing Areas:

The team have been busy doing some extensive brush cutting and clearing activities during the frost. These efforts aim to enhance the visual appeal of the course, tidying up some of those out of reach areas but also saving others for ecology purposes. 

After

 

Debris Removal from High Winds

The aftermath of high winds has been addressed, with the club's team working tirelessly to collect and remove the debris. It always amazes me how many man hours we spend on this type of work following high winds.

 

Bunker Renovations at 2^nd, 5th and 9^th Holes

Bunker renovations continue at the 2nd and 5th holes. New revet turfs are being meticulously installed by the team as we look towards the 2024 season in good condition. The plan is to finish the 9^th fairway bunker in the coming days when our next turf deliveries arrive. Please don’t play from or against the newly laid turfs. All of these are GUR.

 

Bunkers

The team have been very busy working on the bunkers. Firstly, to repair the damage sustained following the flooding, pushing up the washdowns and then turning the sand over to help bulk this back up. Secondly, we have started edging these with edging irons to improve the aesthetics going into the new year.

We are aware that the sand levels in a few bunkers need to be addressed. We spent a lot of time last year looking at compatible sands as our current quarry had run out. Something we will be seeing more of as industry and something that will need to be addressed in the future by all golf clubs. Its more complicated than “just sand” and a whole different blog when we can look at particle size distribution, gradation testing, drainage and stability but we have found a new source and we will be topping up the bunkers when the course is dry enough for high volumes of weight to be driven around the course… watch this space.

 

Reservoir Project Commencement

A significant milestone for Stoneham Golf Club is the commencement of the Reservoir Project on January 22^nd with the ecologists and greenstaff starting to work in this area. The clearing company will mobilise on the following week, marking the beginning of a six-week period during which the top-end car park behind the clubhouse will be temporarily closed from the January 29^{th .}

Area of car park to be closed above

This project has taken years to pull together from an idea to having the amphibian digger clearing the rhododendrons for surveys to take place in 2019 and the bon fire crews help in removing them to all the planning and ecology work, the hydrology teams, Natural England and the Council.

I would like to thank TJ Transport for all their support and Mr Trant for aiding the club in making a water resource for the club’s future a viable objective.

Further updates will be made as further works progress.

 

Conclusion:

As we start the New Year the club continues its improvement works on and off the course. The mix of nature, sport, and sustainability makes it an exciting time for members. I am proud of what we are achieving and I am looking forward to a great 2024.

 

See you all soon.

 

Matt

 

 

Heading into the Holidays: Balancing Rest and Responsibility

 

Hi All,

 

As the Course Manager here at Stoneham I've seen first-hand the trials and triumphs nature throws our way. This year has been an exceptional year and now officially a record breaking year. We are currently at 1090mm of rain this year with some big numbers still forecast to come but more on that in a minute.

That level of rainfall makes 2023 our wettest year on record. I don’t think this will be a big shock to people but the data backs this up.

In 2020 we received 1067mm our first time we had gone into the thousands and in 2012 we had one of the wettest winters but only ended up 922mm.Looking back at the records since 1973 our wettest ever years looked like this:

 

·         1982 – 999mm

·         1993 – 957mm

·         1994 – 972mm

·         2012 -  922mm

·         2014 – 924mm

·         2020 - 1066mm

·         2023- 1090mm so far…

 

So another wet year but the regularity of the rainfall since October has been the thing I’ve not witnessed before. The lack of drying time and persistent rain has left an impact of a really high water table. Even the slightest rainfall triggers course flooding, compounded by a lack of evaporation. It's a delicate balance trying to keep play going, reducing damage and the most important, keeping people safe.

Working in the dark and cutting when we can 

The team and the members have all been doing all they can to help aid this situation.

The team as discussed in the last blog have used all the cultural practices and chemistries available to aid water flow through the profiles. The investment in drainage, blinder in the bunkers and the pathways have meant we have been playable quicker than in previous years meaning more golf getting played, even though it doesn’t feel like that at the moment. In 2016 (not even on the chart above for rainfall) we ended up only playing to the 10^th and up the 18^th for weeks due to flooding on the greens on 11, 13 and 14 along with unplayable fairways on 15 and 17.  

You the members have had to carry your bags with smaller sets of clubs, using mats on tees that get damaged every winter and just by following the roping off of areas are all helping to protect your course ready for the new season and for this I thank you!

 

 

 

Bunker Renovations and Leaf Clearing

 

Hopefully you would have seen the bunker renovations still taking place with the 9^th greenside, 4^th Right hand side and now all the bunkers on the 8^th complete and looking sharp.

 

The fairway bunker on the 9^th is still under construction. More work is being planned on this so please don’t think it’s finished like the turfs have been laid in attempt to stop the soil and revet turf from eroding over the Christmas period.

In January we will be continuing with works taking place on the 2^nd, 7^th and 5^th to complete this winter’s renovations.

 

Our team have also been diligently clearing leaves, ensuring our course maintains its playability. This is no mean feat and we will be attacking more areas within the woodlands in the New Year but the good news the leaves are down and the team are on top of the main areas. The huge piles of leaves in our composting areas are the proof of the work load.  

Leaf Clearing on the 11th 

A huge thank you to the team for that, over 1200 man hours already into leaf blowing and collection just shows the size of the task.

15th 

 

Leaf clearing the wet isn't always fun!

Heading into the Holidays

 

As we approach the Christmas period, our hardworking team prepares for a well-deserved break. However, our focus remains on combating the prime disease pressure—particularly combating threats like fusarium disease. Managing dew becomes paramount during this point of the year, the crucial element in safeguarding the health of our greens.

During the Christmas period the team are aware this is the priority. Damage from disease at this time of year can take months to recover. The team will be doing all they can daily to keep the course in good condition but areas like bunkers cannot get the same amount of attention as they would normally. Please help us to help you by repairing pitchmarks and raking bunkers after your shots.

If the forecast is correct we could be in for a tough Christmas period with heavy rain and high winds. The course will be inspected daily as normal but its import we prioritise the course and member safety at all times.

If the course is unplayable, it’s simply is unplayable. We cannot risk huge damage or an accident just because of the time of year. We have the two coldest months of the year to come, meaning we won’t get any recovery and with the already high water table, it won’t take much to push us over. Please bare that in mind, we have started the winter on our back foot. 

Hopefully the forecast will change yet but I thought it was worth reminding everyone where we are.

Considering all the rain we have had, I must say I think the course is holding up really well and the condition is the best I’ve seen it at the end of December. This is proving our strategy is right. 

I would like to thank you all for your kind comments and gifts for the greenstaff. I would also like to thank you for bearing with us during this awful period of weather. The days start to get lighter from now and spring will be here before we know it. Roll on 2024, I am ready for the spring/summer now!

 

The dream team 

 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you soon

 

Matt

Matt Plested

 

The long nights of winter

 

Hi All,

 

As I sit here writing this blog in the darkness, you can really tell we are heading into the winter equinox. The good news is, within two weeks the darkest day would have passed and we will slowly move back towards spring, although this is still a long way off and feels it at the moment.

Last week saw a little rest bite from the relentless rain with days of frosts and sunshine in the afternoon. It was bitterly cold, especially compared with the predicted highs of the coming days. From -2 to 13c is a significant swing in temperatures that are playing havoc with Mother Nature. That short interlude was over to quickly and we’ve gone back to the relentless rain this week with another 54mm of rain in the last 6 days, that’s after 153mm in November and 169mm in October (all falling in the last two weeks of that month).

It’s safe to say, it’s wet in places but I am really pleased with how the greens are coping with all this rainfall following the installation of the drainage combined with the aeration and topdressing program.

 

Could be a record breaking year!

 

This year we look likely to break our wettest year record. Not a record we want to break with 1048mm so far YTD and 1069mm being our wettest year. Let’s see what the next three weeks brings!   

Hand mowing all main surfaces due to the wet conditions

Why are you closing the putting green?   

Here is a question I’ve been asked recently and thought I should remind everyone why we are doing this as mentioned in previous blogs.

 

At the start of 2021 we saw significant damage to the putting green that didn’t recover until the following June. The damage sustained over that winter from too much play (not only the normal pre warm up play, which would be the same as the course) but significant amounts of practicing from the same spot. 

This lead to thinning on the green and eventually grass coverage was lost in areas. The putting green is just too small to cope with that level of play and following a visit from the clubs Agronomist, his suggestion in his report was to spread the wear throughout the winter between the two practice greens we now have. This will allow one to recover for a week while other takes the damage. 

We trailed this in 2022 and the damage was significantly less and we went into the new season in a much better state. Long term we will need to look at increasing the size of the putting green to cope with the modern demands of a golf green along with the climate we are experiencing now. It’s worth remembering this green was built in 1908, designed for the golf being played at that time, on a clay base as they had no irrigation systems with lower levels of play. It would always struggle throughout winter.

The answer now is, we simply need to switch between the greens weekly to spread the wear. This will only happen through the low growth months and then we will be back to normal with both greens always open.

What can you do to help us keep these greens open more?

 

1.      Move- Simply when practicing drills on the putting green move after two or three putts.

2.      Don’t use strings in the winter- this encourages play from the same spot. This has a huge impact on the green.

3.      Don’t put towels down - towels don’t protect the surfaces. If I rubbed a towel on your skin for hours it would leave a mark. Same on greens…

4.      Divots – Try to refrain from taking divots around edges of the greens, especially at this time of year. They simply won’t recover and it’s ruining the facility for others.

5.      Repair any pitchmarks made from chipping on to the greens

6.      Enjoy your game!

 

 

Leaf Clearing:

 

With the Trilo now fixed (we had another hydraulic issue) and our dedicated team wielding backpack blowers, we've taken on the challenge of clearing leaves. In the last week the amount of drop from the trees has been persistent, with the team arriving daily to find these scattered across all surfaces, normally we have strong winds that mean we have bad areas but this last week the wind has been down meaning the drop has been wide spread.

In dry areas the use of the Pro force blower and tractor blower have aided this operation but for the most part this has been done by hand with back pack blowers.  

 

I think we are now 90% down, meaning that we are nearly there. The end is in sight and the team will be fully occupied on collecting until the majority is gone by Christmas.  

 

Bunker Renovations:

Our focus hasn't been solely on weather and the leaves. We're proud that our bunker renovations are in full swing with Jack Wills leading the team on this.

You may have noticed work taking place on the 4th, 8th, and 9th holes. These bunkers are undergoing re-revetting and turfing, ensuring not just aesthetics but also maintaining the integrity of the course's challenges. It's a labour-intensive process, but one that enhances our golfing experience as it gives the bunkers that crisp fresh look going into the season ahead.

 

Please don’t play from or against the new revetting. We need this to root and these areas are GUR.

 

Bunkers – You will notice this weekend that three bunkers on the 8^th and one on the 9^th fairway have been dug out and are GUR. We were due a delivery on Tuesday of more revet turf but due to flooding the turf company were unable to lift any turf. This has been moved to next Wednesday. We are taking advantage and getting bunkers prepared ready for the delivery to keep us on track to complete these within our time table. Please bear with us, these bunkers will be completed once the delivery arrives.

8th after renovations

Practice Nets:

During one of the recent storms the practice nets took some sustained damage with Adam Hickling having to close the nets on the day. Following further inspections these have been deemed unsafe and un-savable at this stage and age. Play from these is prohibited. 

These will need to be taken down in the coming weeks as quotes for replacements are being sorted and  given the timing with Christmas these will need to be built in the new year. 

We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Pot Holes:

We have all noticed the pot holes getting worse on the bridge and on the corner of the clubs driveway. 

It was hoped these would be repaired as part of the reservoir project when the lorries start but due to the delay of this we will be getting quotes to repair these in the coming weeks ourselves. Updates will be made once timescales and costs have been agreed. 

   

Thank You:

None of this would be possible without our fantastic team. The collective effort poured into leaf clearing, bunker renovations, and overall maintenance is awe-inspiring despite the challenges Mother Nature keeps throwing our way.

I'm incredibly proud of the strides we've made, the challenges we've faced, and the passion that drives this team forward. If you see them on the course please do pass on your thanks if you see them, in these dark, leafy, wet days that simple act goes along way!

Let’s hope for better weather and shorter nights soon. 

Enjoy your Christmas shopping!

 

See you soon

Matt 

 

Murphy's Law - The leaf collector breakdown

 

Hi All,

 

Just a very quick note to let you know that we are having issues with our Trilo.

Our Trilo (the huge leaf collector) that goes on the back of the tractors and would have seen this going around the course or parked at the high points with the staff blowing towards it of late due to the wet conditions. 

This broke down on Friday, it was hoped the parts would be here within 24 hours but there has been a delay and we are still waiting. You will noticed the leaves have started to come down in there droves but this means for the time being we can only blow these out of the way, the trouble being these can then get blown back again in the wind.

So please be aware we may have more leaves than normal lying around the course but we will be doing our best to get on top of them with blowers and will get the Trilo back out as soon as its been repaired.

 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

See you soon.

 

Matt  

Treading water!

 

Hi All,

 

What a couple of weeks this has been! The recent weather has presented an unprecedented challenge. The deluge of rain over the past couple of months has left the course battling a relentless assault of water.

With a staggering 297mm of rain in just 36 days, including 32 days of rain, meaning no drying time and it now only taking a couple of millimetres to push the water table up and over the top making the course unplayable. The club faces one of the wettest periods on record, not the start to the winter any of us wanted but I must thank you all for your patience and understanding during this period as the team have been working to combat this but sometimes we just can’t beat Mother Nature.

 

Storms

That’s already three storms with two very high winded (Ciaran at night and Babet slowly moving over) and one that came through very quickly (Debi).

The sad news on the horizon is that Decembers have always been a month when the course doesn’t actually get any drier. The last five years have shown the ET rate for these months doesn’t get above 20mm lost and rainfall in all those years including after last year’s big freeze are dramatically higher than 20mm. Shorter days and less light are to blame.

Interestingly the data is showing us that Decembers are getting consistently warmer with 1990’s having only three days a month above 10 degrees, the 2000’s 6 days above 10 degrees and now the 2020’s are averaging 19 days above ten degrees. So the odds of the white Christmas are getting lower year on year (watch now I’ve said that it will happen).

Anyway back to the course, this new weather is having an effect on the course and the industry. With warmer, wet days comes disease pressure and the team need to be doing lots of work to reduce this pressure, especially with the withdrawal of some of the chemistries. We are also seeing bigger rainfall figures and rainfall rates (the speed that rain falls from the sky and hits the ground) we collect that data too.

 

The Greens

The greens have taken the rainfall extremely well to date considering the difference from just three years ago. Nearly 300mm of rain would have seen these being unplayable for days after the high levels of rain but the investment made in the rope and pipe drainage has meant in just a few dry hours the greens are becoming playable and even cut-able (I think I’ve made that word up) after eight hours of dry conditions.

The greens are also being treated with a bio stimulant blend of liquid oxygen and with penetrant wetting agent technology. This treatment not only oxygenates the greens but also facilitates the movement of water through the profile along with the team running the Air2g2 machine which blow compressed air into the soil profile to break up the compaction in the soil to aid the water movement to the drain within the green and also gives the soils some much needed air when its being pushing out of it with the relentless rainfall.  

 

Verti draining fairways 

Safety and damage

The team have implemented different strategies to aid the turf and to help maintain the course through these periods.

You will hopefully have noticed we have placed black mats in areas. These mats act as shields, safeguarding the turf from the players, reducing the chances of slipping and preventing potential damage.

You will have also noticed we have been leaving drainage repairs open (bottom of 3^rd and 15^th for example), allowing for continuous inspections. There is a long-term plan in place to install new drain lines into these areas, using the open areas as inspection chambers. This can only be done when the area around the opening has dried out enough for us to get machinery into it, as we look to improve our water management for the future.

We have also started to verti drain the surfaces to move water off the surface, aid drainage and allow air to the roots of the fairways in attempt to make these areas more playable too.

 

 

To ensure the safety of golfers and further protect the course the team increased the roped-off areas around the course. This placement not only prevents potential accidents but also reduces damage caused by continued foot traffic during these challenging weather conditions.

 

I’ve been asked why are team still out on machines but with the level of leaves falling and for us to be able to present the course and just do the basics to keep it open we do need machinery, however this is always the last resort and if we can walk around doing tasks we will. When machinery is out most of this is kept to the greenkeeping track around the course and not following the same walkways that golfers take. Greenkeeping machinery around the tracks isn’t the same as 140 golfer walking the same pinch points over and over again, day after day and we stay away from the play areas as best we can.

 

We have also placed out the winter mats on all the Par’3 and some of the tees that are struggling in the dark wet environments 4^th, 5^th and 17^th.

The winter rules state- “Where present tee mats comprise the teeing area, when starting a hole from a tee mat the player must stand and play a ball from the mat. Penalty breach for the local rule: Match play- loss of hole, Stroke play -two strokes”   

 

We have left the white tee markers out like we have done for the last few years as we try to make it to December. This is mainly due to ‘Yellow’ teeing areas being so small that they cannot cope with the level of play in the winter months, so by spreading the wear around now until December means these are likely to be in a fit state when we get into the depths of winter but it also gives the white tees the opportunity to recover for the new season ahead. Just make sure you check what tees the competitions are being played from before you go out!   

.

Rainfall Records:

The statistics speak volumes about the severity of this year's rainfall. October saw 169mm of rain, followed by another 128mm in November up until the 14th. Year-to-date, Stoneham Golf Club has endured a staggering 970mm of rainfall, significantly surpassing the previous year's 846mm. What's alarming is the consistent rise in the yearly average, now standing at 889mm, showcasing a clear trend of increasing precipitation over the years with the data prior to 2017 averaging at 709mm.

 

I hope this blog has given you an insight to what’s been going on around the course to try and get us through this current wave of weather. We have so much work we would like to get done but for now our attention is on getting the course open, battling leaves and re building the bunkers daily after another deluge. It just feels like we are treading water…literally!

 

See you soon

 

Matt