May Grounds Report
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Rainfall for April – 99.5mm (4 days) |
YTD rainfall – 527mm |
Greens
- We started April with the greens receiving a 6mm solid tine to the depth of 60mm. This process helps the greens with water infiltration and oxygen movement in the soil profile. We are planning to give the greens a mini renovation in the coming weeks, this would involve the use of a 4mm hollow tine to just the depth of the thatch (around 40mm). This process will have minimal to no impact on the playability of the greens.
- As we come into the cooler months and the need to hold some moisture in the soil profile, we have changed a couple of agronomic procedures. In the warmer months we would use a soil wetting agent, this product is used to hold some moisture in the soil profile which helps us to maintain good moisture and not damage the plant in high temperatures. Now we are in the cooler months and there is not a high importance on plant moisture requirements, we have moved to applying a soil penetrant to the greens, this will help pull moisture through the soil profile rather than holding it in the soil.
Fairways
- We are starting to see some winter turf diseases form on the fairways, these will be treated as part of our fungicide program.
Zoysia areas
- Earthworms are starting to become an evident problem in the Zoysia green surrounds and tees. The worm castings that you see can cause several problems for us, the mud is visually undesirable and also affects the playability. These castings are also damaging the turf surface and the sharpness of the mowers. There is no real treatment for this, but we are working with other golf clubs that are having the same problem on solutions the earth worms.
- The new tee at 18th is coming along well and we will be opening the tee for play on Wednesday 20th May for the 85th Stonnington Shield.
Native garden areas
- Bush care group has been working in the gardens around the clubhouse, putting green and tennis courts.
- Jeff Ghanem has taken the role of horticulturist and has been doing some fantastic work in the gardens on Bradfield paddock.
Machinery
- The team has been trialling a new rough mower that has been positive. While trialling mower we have dropped the rough height of cut to 45mm.
- Our tree clipper is now back working, this will help us get on top of some saplings growing in gardens and some debris scattered around the property.
- All machinery is up to date.
- We are having some positive meetings with both Toro and John Deere in regard to new machinery, we are going to trial some new equipment over the coming months.
Bridge works
- Bridge work has commenced by the grounds staff. The team will replace the kick guards and also fixing the fence posts to the new kick guards.
GS3 month reading.
Firmness range valve
- KGC average – 0.439
- USGA rating – likely suitable for most facilities
Smoothness range valve
- KGC average – 4.17
- USGA rating – high quality ball roll with minimal vertical deviation
Trueness
- KGC average – 1.02
- USGA rating – high quality ball roll with minimal horizontal deviation
Green speed
- KGC average – 10.7
Mark Ward (Superintendent)
