Greens cut at 3.3mm

This week the grrens were cut to 3.3mm. Running fairly well now.

Scot's Day

The height of the greens has been lowered to 3.5mm just in time for Scotsman's Day. Over 220 are in the field and everyone is looking forward to a fanatstic day. Many thanks must go to Jim and  Jill Hoy for the work they put in every year to ensure that the day goes smoothly.

Greens Renovation

A second top dressing of sand was completed on the greens this week. Our own sand spreader broke down so a demo model was used to finish the job. The demo was was like a Rolls Royce in comparison and completed the job is less than half the time and with 3 less staff.

The greens were mowed this morning at about 11.00 am at 5mm. The are looking smooth and will be done a couple more times at 5 mm before lowering ( if all goes OK ) to 4mm next Saturday.

The turfing on the first near the new concrete pathway was completed today. The McLeod Son's did a great job putting it down and then secured  it down with over 600large wire pins.

Greens Renovation

The greens renovation is going well, everything is on track to be completed today. The green staff advise everything went on schedule.

The borrowed scrafiyer, blower and coring machine made the job go very smoothly and we thank all the people concerned.

We would also like to thank the McLeod volunteers who have done a great job pitching in where needed.

This reno has been a great team effort, well done to all.

We are looking forward to receiving some steady rain over the next week to speed up the recovery recovery time.  

Course Renovation

Great news... Toro have been able to lend the club a large Blower and coring machine for our renovation. So all on track for the Reno starting on Sunday  Afternoon the 6th of October.

No hand blowers required...

Week 36

Well week 36 sees the start of September and the continuing of the dry weather, We have been Fertilizing the fairways, to keep them healthy and to encourage some growth in the couch, which is up and moving very early this year, which is great as we want the couch (Cynodon dactylon) to be growing at its optimium when we spray the weeds in the fairways as listed in the fairway weed spray program.

you will notice the bridge on the 6th has had some work done to it, we hope this way it will be easier to controll wear over the bridge propper.

The poa in the greens was sprayed several weeks ago and we got an excellent result from that application, and possible next week we will start work on greens to remove thatch (verti-cut) if the night time temps lift a bit.

If we don't get rain soon we will start draining the dams into the creek

well to next week ...........keep swinging   pete

pic of Adrian putting out nitrogen on the 18th fairway

Week 35 2012

A new arrival this week the wide area mower or WAM just in to replace the old stealth that hasn't been going for quiet a while
Fairways 4,5,9,11,17, fertilized this week
Drainage fixed on the 18 th and irrigation repairs done on 4,5 as well
Sand man crew attacked the 14 th this week and bridges have received some attention.
Well it's starting to warm up and we are feeding up the greens ready for their October renovations so everything on track so far ... Till next time ... Keep swinging ... Pete

18th fairway leak

Putting in new drain line from the green

Midweek 34

Will with the warmer days these little fellows are getting more active and hungry as David and I found out whilst checking out the weir wall on the 15th

Week 34 2012

Well with the start of week 34 the days are getting longer as we can actually see when we arrive,

last week we got all the greens wetta soiled to help combat the dry patch in them, we also stepped up our microbe brewing to help out with thatch breakdown. and with the warmer nights we will soon be able to verti-cut the greens.

the poa in the greens has been sprayed and you will see it start to turn white and bleached out, this happens slowly so the turf underneath can come up through the area thus retaining the playing surface

the 5th green has had the algae sprayed and this will start to curl in the next few days, as always with this green during winter with the shade it has this problem 

the pennisetums in the garden beds (see photo) have all been trimmed back ready for the new growth

this week we are picking up the piles of sticks around the place and well do some more trimming on the tidy up holes 10,11,12 this week

next week we plan to dig and find the drainage leak on the left hand side of the 18th fairway

and the 7th weir continues to get some much needed attention... till next time,,keep swinging..pete

Week 33

Well some good news today with the arrival of our new greensmower and just in time as the old Jacobsen sprung a leak (on the 17th green) and thanks to Ben at Toro in geting the mower delivered on the eve of the club championships as it would have been impossible to get the greens mowed before the feild with only one mower

well its show week and as always come the winds, which dry things out, 

this week the tidy holes are 789 

the Sand men worked on the 7th fairway this week these guys are doing a great job, if you have an hour spare on mondays at 1.oopm come along and help as many hands make light work

The fairways will be started to be feed up in preparation for our weed control program so youll see me out towing the red spreader fairly regularly between now and October

We also are stepping up our microbe program on the greens as the thatch levels are alot higher than we would like.

the pathways on the 5th and 11th are holding up well and the nest area we will attack is the gully end of the5th path and the 7th tee path where it washes out regularly ... till next time keep swinging...pete 

Pro-am ready to go

Just finishing off last two greens for second cut this morning ... All ready to go for pro- am

Week 31 2012 update

Well a good frost this morning, I have not seen one this good for a few years

We finished of the turfing on the 11 th pathway and 5th pathway turf area also behind the 4th tee
We have had a crack at fixing the practice nets hope this lasts if not we will have to try something different in there
In the rough on the left hand side of the 14 th we are putting in some more mounds for rows of trees to protect the houses
The greens have been paced up ready for the pro am on Monday

No sand man working bee this Monday because of the two shotgun starts .. Till next time keep swinging .. Pete

Buggy shed

Today we got the buggy shed enterance low patches filled we will let this settle for a week or so then retop it with a harder surface
Also dead trees on the 11 th were removed and some pruning on the 14th done as well
Tomorrow we hope to get in and fix up the practice nets where they are hanging down
Bunker faces have also been sprayed
Enjoying this great weather hope your golf is going well till next time ... Keep swinging ... Pete

11th pathway

Today we continued work on the pathway by laying turf, altering some irrigation fittings and planting the right hand side out .. Thanks again to the volunteers and the sand crew it is making a huge difference about the place.
Tomorrow Tuesday we will have some dead trees removed so the 11 th tee will be on the social tee block
We have more turf coming in on Thursday to finish off the 11 th tee area and also 5 path area
Monday is the pro-am so we will be getting ready for that event during this week till next time .. Keep swinging pete

11 th tee pathway

Well winter is well into its term and things have been busy on the course we have been fertilizing and adding gypsum and slicing the fairways,also helping with pathways on the 5th and 11th, Boystown have been and gone, we continue to work on the fairways surface, and the bunkers have been holding up well, with all the wet weather.
The volunteers have been doing a great job with two crews going at the moment, the sandmen on Mondays at 1.00pm helping out with turfing and sanding and the Mcleods sons involved with some great projects about the place.. if you want to join in see David Boyd all help appreciated.

We have Qpex today and the final of championships for the ladies tomorrow and the pro am the following week so some busy times ahead, ill try to keep updating this weekly or more now that i have caught up on allot of other jobs... till next time ...keep swinging...pete

week 8 happenings

On Course At McLeod for

Week 8 – 20^th to 24^th Febuary

Monday 1pm to 2 pm working bee to sand bare patches on the 14^th,15^th all are welcome

Tidy-up  Tuesday holes 7.8.9.

Thursday – greens fertilize

Continue bunker crews on remaining  bunkers to re- face after rain

Trim sprinklers on front 9

Well it has been a wet start to week 3 and we have taken advantage and got allot of fairways sliced, our fairway unit is out of action for a few days and is being fixed today so we hope to get the fairways cut Wednesday and Thursday.

Last week was busy and below is just some of the extra done on top of normal maintenance - 

Week 2 – Jan 9 - 13

• Turfed area on 17,2,3
• Tidy up Tuesday – 11,12,13
• Start bunkers on the 1^st and 15^th
• Boystown meeting Monday
• Bunker crew 11^th and 12^th bunkers
• Sprayed greens growth hormones
• Sprayed greens with weedicide – spot spray
• Sharpened greens mowers and lowered
• Sliced lhs 4^th and 7^th fairways and fert
• Trees trimmed Rhs 11^th and Rhs 12^th
• Flood kit for pump shed bought and put together
• Staff – Terry got bug in eye taken to doctors , Peter skin cancers cut out

The 1st bunkers are looking very good we still have to place turf on the walk ins, we hope to do that this week as long as we can get some turf... as the growers dont like to cut it when it is wet.

Well to next time .. keep swinging and if the weather stays like this.. keep your gumboots handy   pete

Week 52  and week 1

well into the new year already, and a few warm days to start with,

I hope everyone had a good christmass and new year, and on the course we have had allot of social players and visitors over the last 3 weeks or so. 

next week we will be starting on the bunkers on the 1st and the green side bunker on the 15th we will be doing these at the same time as we will need the material that we take from the first bunkers to use in the bunker on the 15th. so these hole will have temporary greens for some days over the next fortnight.

The following is a list of whats been happening on the course on top of our regular mowing and maintenance

Week 52 short week

• Tidy up Tuesday – 18^th and pros areas
• Ripped bunkers
• Sprayed greens growth hormons
• Started to formulate weedicide for greens spot application
• Sprayed greens 18,12,1,9,8 with weedicide
• Sharpened greens mowers
• OOB on 4^th
• Maintenance hole sign and sand out
• Pump out bunkers water 1^st and 13^th

Week 1 1012 – short week

Tidy up holes – 9 and 10

Trimmed up trees LHS 8^th

Spot spray weeds in greens (all except 14,15,16)

Fertilised greens

Insecticide follow up on greens

Sprayed waterways 9^th and other areas for Singapore daisy

Fertilized 8^th fairway

Bunker crew  3 bunkers on 6^th

Bunker faces sprayed

Week 2 Goals

Start bunkers on the 1^st and 15^th

Verticut tees

Weed in greens followup and spray growth regulator on putting surface

 Fert 7^th fwy

Slice lhs 4^th and 7^th fairways and fert

 Tidy up holes 11,12,13

Monday 1.00 pm trenches working bee, if you can spare 1 hour come and give us a hand ...

Well to next time...... keep swinging..pete

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