June Update

This past month has been one very testing time with weather more suited to polar bears than maintaining a golf course in Scotland. Temperatures have struggled to just about reach double figures, winds have been constant and we've had very little direct sunlight. Wet cuts are the norm just now, but having said that, our new Jacobsen Eclipse 322 is performing brilliantly with a quality of finish I've not seen from ANY machine on greens, a real top class bit of kit and is so versatile.

The greens are performing very nicely, firm and true. They've had a good amount of BarFescue drilled in to them and it's all up and thriving. I am also very happy with the condition of the bent and fescue that were in them prior, while we are also keeping Poa on the check by hitting it with Primo. The Symbio program is still in its infancy on our greens, but as I alluded to already, the condition of the finer grasses are a real encouragement, as is the soil profile which is looking cleaner and more friable already. All in all, I'm extremely content with where we are just now with regards to putting surfaces.

In other work, machines are being put through the mill just now. We seem to be cutting constantly and the course is showing no signs as yet to 'browning off'. Rough is a major headache, with being cut every week at least once to minimise debris being left. Fairways have a good coverage, with the 5th and 17th still showing signs of salt damage from the submersions they've had in the last 3 years by the North Sea. These will be fertilised shortly to strengthen the sward and to aid recovery.

There is no major works planned in the coming month, although aeration a possibility with the way the weather has been, that will most likely be in the form of a liquid aeration rather than mechanical. Dressings will continue to go on light, and verti-cutting will be light and on a green to green basis.

That's about it for another month, I will post a few photos in the coming few days that may interest those in the know and hopefully give an insight of what is being achieved to those who might not be up to speed.

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