8th backdrop project

The 8th and the 9th tee area which is also home to the halfway house it a lovely area that was a little let down by the 8th green backdrop, with the blessing of the greens chairman and secretary we have been given the go ahead to improve the area. Whilst working on the project many members have spoken to us and are pleased with the work being done, some have given us historic information that has proved useful. We are planning a rear screen of laurel shrubs and possibly other colourful shrubs. If any member would like to have input into this project or if you have and plants ect please contact me or any of the grounds staff.

looking better all the time

Area seeded awaiting further developments 

After clearing

Before 

Summertime??

Growth

It will come honest, summer I mean. As you the golfer get eager to play on smooth and true greens, we the groundsmen of Phoenix are keen to provide such surfaces however mother nature is showing who's the boss.

At phoenix our turfgrass species are a mixed bag namely Poa Annua (annual meadow grass) Lolium Perenne   

(rye grass) over time I would like to gradually change these species to a more sustainable mix with a high Agrostis (bent grass) percentage, but this will take time and resources so for the immediate future we need to continue the improvement program on our greens and the quality and playing characteristics will improve.

Cool season grasses (uk) optimum growth temperature is around 20c as this falls so does growth until the soil temps reach 5c and growth virtually stops. Applied nutrient i.e fertilizer has to be converted into a form that plants can assimilate and its the soil bacteria that does this process called the "nitrogen cycle" below 5c this bacteria is virtually dormant as the temperature rises and the soil fauna kicks into action so does our grasses, meadow grass is very slow on the uptake at cold temperatures to add insult to injury the season is approximately two weeks behind however this situation can change rapidly.

Just look at the winter wheat in the fields, it is said that during march the wheat should be able to hide a hare, as it is now a mouse would have trouble hiding! 

Without soil bacteria plants could not exist, an acre good soil has the same weight as an adult cow in bacteria!!

11th Drainage Poject

11^th area project

The area around the 10^th 11^th and 12^th tee area has severe drainage problems which are becoming worse as the season progresses, the source of this water is from precipitation and possible underground springs that are being hydraulically pressurised by the extremely wet summer of 2012 and the wet winter of 2012/13

On examination of the existing backfilled trenches it was found that the infill materials were of inferior quality which resulted in clay/silt ingress into the slotted pipe, also several old schemes were on top of each other implying continual failed attempts.

The quality of the backfill material is crucial to the success of the new scheme and I recommend a gravel of 2-5mm clean washed material which is none calcareous.

The diagram above is schematic only i.e. there will be eighteen laterals to the left of the open drain.

Key; Green open dyke, Red laterals   

Greens renovations completed

We have completed the spring renovations and it all went very well, all we need now is some consistently warm temperatures to sustain growth. Next week I will be applying fertilizer to the greens, aprons and tee's this will also help with growth and recovery. Mick and Oz are working their way through the semi rough which is smartening things up and Adi is cross hatching the fairways adding that finishing touch. Mark has been cutting and collecting the tees and working the height of cut down bit by bit and Steve is putting the cherry on the cake by tidying up around the tee's and banking's, well done lads its coming together.

Greens Renovations update

A nice even application of sand after coring and V cutting

Hopefully tomorrow Monday 8^th April 13, we are starting the greens renovations. Mick, Julie or Kimberly

in the pro shop will be updated on a regular basis as to our progression; I will endeavour to have as many Greens fully open as possible some may be closed and some may be on temps which have been cut in preparation. I cannot be more specific because I am not familiar with the outputs of Phoenix equipment and some machines are being used as never before such as the verti-drain which has been adapted to micro-core. If you are playing during renovations and need a chat about what is going on please don’t hesitate to ask I will be happy to explain further.

Photos to be posted as we progress

Sequence of events

1. Core greens
2. Clean up cores
3. V mow if possible
4. Apply top dressing (sand)
5. Vibro roll/brush sand into the holes and turf surface
6. Open green

Aeration/top dressing

Q what is aeration

A aeration is the mechanical means of increasing soil/air ratio

Q why aerate?

A roots grow in the air spaces between soil particles, the ideal ratio of air to soil is 4:1 or 25% air.

Q why do you need to do it again?

A compaction is the Greenkeepers enemy, in order the fight compaction we need to aerate and top dress on a regular basis. The result is a better turf surface that is resilient to drought and water logging, disease/pest attack it will be quicker to drain after rainfall and the turf surface will be thicker and stronger which will produce a firm truer surface and a joy to putt on.

Types of mechanical aeration

Aeration can be categorised into;

• Deep (verti-draining, slitting, mole ploughing)
• Shallow (micro-coring, micro-tinning, sarrel rolling)
• Temporary (slitting, micro-tinning, sarrel rolling)
• Semi-permanent (verti-draining ,micro-coring, mole ploughing)

Aeration timing

• Verti-draining; Autumn through Spring
• Slitting; Autumn through Spring
• Mole ploughing; Autumn
• Micro-coring; Spring through Autumn

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