Himalayan Balsam

This link is a report carried out by Deputy Head Tony Wainwright with regard to the Himalayan Balsam issue at the club.

 https://www.dropbox.com/s/vi0pfvw5d4l1g8g/Himalayan%20Balsam%202013.docx

Work on fairways

We have started some renovation work on the fairways by scarifying and collecting the debris. Half of the fairways have been completed so far. Over the autumn period the fairways will also be vertidrained to the maximum possible depth and the slitter will also be used to help aerate and make improvements to their drainage capability.

Scarifying reels used on fairways

 

The scarifying machine is a three unit tractor mounted one which is fully adjustable to reach the required depth. As our fairways are very thatchy it was necessary to not go too deep as there is hardly any root depth. Further aeration will help to increase this.

 

Contractor collecting debris

 



Ten tons of thatch debris taken off fairways 3 and 6

Much more work is required to bring the fairways back to a satisfactory condition but with increased aeration through spiking and slitting they will continue to improve.



Work on tees

There has been quite a lot of work carried out on the tees in the last month to improve their playability. After the arrival of the Procore aerator the tees were all spiked using 1/2 in tines.

Procore spiking on the 12th tee

 

After the tees were spiked the worst bare areas were then heavily topdressed and overseeded with fescue.

 



Seed and Topdressing Levelled out



 

 

 

7th tee

Fertiliser was added to encourage growth and colour and with some favourable weather the tees now are looking a lot healthier. Aeration is the key to the tees' success and with the imminent purchase of a Vertidrain deep aerator they will improve further still.