Fairway Conversion program update

We have finally found time from mowing to continue with the next stage of our weed eradication program on the fairways.
You will notice in the 4th 5th and 6th fairways 95% of weeds gone and we have a good couch fairway.
we have done the other halves of green end of 7th and all of 8th fairway this week. with this weather and growth they should come back very quickly
as you can see from this photo of the green end of the 7th where the whole of the fairway from the bridge crossing the creek to the green has been sprayed, you notice a clear definition of the area sprayed last season and it gives a good indication of how successful the program has been with the removal of around 90-95% of all weeds on the left hand side of this area.
We hope to eventually do all the fairways, as in the long run it will be of great benefit, as maintaining a pure couch fairway (Cynodon dactylon) is much easier and more economical to us in the long term
compared to our current fairways which are 90% weeds
couch doesn't need as much water and has a deep root system
couch growth rate is less than our current mix of weeds so less mowing
couch provides a better smoother surface for a golf shot
couch will have quicker divot recovery
couch mow's up better thus better presentation
couch has much better heat and drought tolerance
couch in winter will provide a mat layer to hit off and wont go back to dirt
So as you can see the overall benefits are many also in there you could say that it also looks better. so for some inconvenience short term the long term benefits are definitely worth it. till next till (ill be mowing,mowing,mowing) keep swinging pete

Week 49 update

Well its all system go at the moment with the irrigation system mainline being put in on the 17th 14th and 15th, we have been very lucky with the weather and so far haven't had to get the hoses out.
Thanks to everyone for tolerating the inconvenience and shorter holes on occasion over the next few weeks we will start to put in the actual fairway sprinklers and tees and greens as we go they will be put onto the computer system.
We got the greens verti-cut on Monday and it will take a few days for them to recover, but the roll has definitely smoothed out and the greens are coping well with all the wet weather and disease around at the moment.
we hope to get on the the weeds (in green) that are just starting to germinate, we need a few dry days to put this spray out, so possibly the end of next week, and we are on top of the mole cricket this year so all good there.
The fairways weed program we started again for this growing season and the fairway areas that were sprayed last season were sprayed again to get rid of the last few stubborn weeds (mostly paspalem) and they are starting to turn yellow now.
Congratulations to Phil Boag and his wife Tak on the birth of their daughter in the early hours of Tuesday morning (12.20am and 8pounds) so if you see Phil around and he looks sleep deprived you'll  know why.
You may have also notice the bridge on the 9th has been replaced with new timber and the turf along the side of this path is taking nicely with all the rain.
well thats about it for this time so till next time keep swinging...pete

Irrigation System update

Today we start to trench lines for the new irrigation mains which is the beginning of the irrigation installation  and so its all systems go for the completion of our irrigation system, With that in mind please help it to go smoothly, buy having patience and or giving  way to the irrigation crew whilst also keeping an eye out for them as you play your game of golf. We will try to keep disruptions to a minimum. If work is being carried out on a hole it is most probable that we will shorten the hole so that players can walk around the irrigation crew and continue on with their game with minimal interference.
When approaching a tee if there are no markers on the tee surface, where they normally would be, look for some writing on the tee for instructions and look down the fairway for the markers that will be grouped together.
We apologize in advance for any hassles we cause, but we have been waiting 6 years for this completion and i think the way the weather is shaping up it will be an ideal time for this to be done now, with the ground not so hard and the constant showers which will help in the recovery of the trench areas and also keeping the course green and not having to get the hoses out....heres hoping. we will update regularly till next time ...keep swinging pete

Week 46

Well its been busy,busy, busy this last two weeks,
The grass is growing at full speed , we have carted sand and turfed the edges of the path on the 9th, the greens height is down to 3.4mm and remaining healthy and if all is well we will get a verti-cut in on Monday.
The new irrigation system installation started today with ground work and setting out where we are going to take the main lines.Machinery will start arriving tomorrow and early next week, so when you see some trenches and pipe around the place that is what is happening, hopefully we keep getting showers regularly to keep the fairways going so we don't have to get the hoses out.
The fairway areas that we sprayed the weeds out of last growing season have been fertilized up to encourage the couch to send out runners which will help quicken recovery so that we can get the last bit of weed out of them, this will be done over the next few weeks.

well along with mowing and keeping the blades sharp thats about it ...till next time keep swinging pete

Week 44 update

http://www.mcleodgolf.com.au/

Well its been full time mowing, these last two weeks, with rain coming at the right times and the weather warming up the turf is growing quicker than we can mow it.

We have lowered the greens gradually over the last 3 weeks and we are now down to the height before
reno (3.5mm) so now we switch from lowering and concentrate on hardening the leaf up to get our pace of greens up.

The bindi sprayed in the fairways is starting to melt out , and we are in the process of feeding up the fairways in our weed eradication plan.

The greens have also been sprayed for black beetle. the way the weather is going I think we are in for some grub and disease problems this summer, all the more important to keep out thatch removal programs going with our verti-cutting and microbe (thatch eating) programs all running in top gear.

We still haven't had any luck on the 9th pathway as each Monday it has rained and is to wet for a bobcat to work without making more mess than what is already there ...we will try again this Monday...

Well just a quick up date today whilst in the middle of spraying greens, until next time  ....keep swinging  pete

week 42 update

Well week 42 here and gone thats only 10 weeks to week 52 where has the time gone ?
with all the rain we are behind with allot of our jobs, just getting out to mow has been.... well..... lets say interesting.......

The greens are coming along well they have had 4 mows now and the height is down to 5.5mm we will mow today then let them rest over the weekend as we are still bringing up allot of sand. Also with it being so wet we have to bring our heights down slower than normal as the turf is taking longer to recover from the stress of lowering the heights and the leaching of allot of nutrients from the soil from the excessive rain, but overall, things moving along nicely.

The path on the 9th didn't get a look in as it is way too wet, we will try again in a fortnight when we can hopefully organize a bobcat and if it is dry enough, get equipment in and around the site.

We are  concentrating on mowing as much as possible while we can, there is another storm front heading this way as I type, this possibly here by late this afternoon, hopefully not to much wind as the base of the trees is wet and that is primed for some falling over if the wind gets up at this stage.

We haven't bothered doing anything with the bunker bases this week, as we feel it more important to mow surrounds and fairways as there is nothing worse than getting a bunker right then down comes some rain and puts you back at square one again...all wasted man-hours that could have been better spent , so we will get stuck into them (bunkers) next week, although we have trimed some edges and sprayed weeds in the faces this week.

The other main problem green keeping wise when we get weather like this at renovation time is disease. So far we have managed to stop the pythium spp. from spreading, we really need a good dry week to get everything back on track.

Well to next time hopefully back to sunshine .... keep swinging pete.

Week 41 update

Always a big week, Reno week with so many man hours going into the greens nearly all other jobs we are behind on so for the next week we are in catch up mode.

The greens are coming along very well, and with the rain last night (22mm) that will only help in the recovery. We plan to mow (high at 6mm to nip the leaf) early next week, hopefully Monday.

There are a couple of reasons we leave the greens for a few days after renovation but the main one is that it gives the turf time to extend its root system. As with all grasses there is a ratio that goes, that the length of the leaf directly affects the length of the roots. Thus it is important to take advantage of this time after renovation and get the most out of the root growth as possible as this will put us in good stead during the summer where the plant is under great stress. So our efforts we put in now will be seen in the summer period.

The Bindi in most fairways has been sprayed, and we have mowed as much as possible with the remaining time available.

Next week we will concentrate on the greens, 9th path, and weeds in bunker faces.
well till next time keep swinging....Pete