CAPEL GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

 It is hard to believe we are only 18 days out from completing renovations, the greens have continued their phenomenal recovery and we are now just 1/2mm off our normal heights, to highlight the strong recovery, normally after a deep large aeration as we did this time, we expect a 30 day period before we are even close to where we are now. The only downside is having to wait for the chemical control of the crab grass, couch and saltene due to the shortage explained previously we couldn't spray when we normally do prior to Reno's, this means these weeds are hanging around longer than usual and when we do spray will certainly make the appearance unsightly. There is no doubt the hydraulic oil leak non detection has held us back a bit more and we could have been even further along if it hadn't happened, tho it does appear we have escaped the worst case scenario of 10cm wide strips of dead grass. Whether through decisive quick action or luck, most likely luck the af

Over the weekend we had a Hydraulic Oil leak under the mower when mowing greens, unfortunately as it was pre-dawn mowing with a heavy dew, the operator only detected it when the sun came up after he was halfway through.   Of 13 greens mowed, 8 are effected of which 4 are cause for the most concern. Wishful thinking, I am wondering, and will find out soon enough, with the greens renovations only just completed whether the vigorous growth we have encourage to recover from Reno's and the higher cut we were mowing at will lessen the impact and we may be able to cut out most of it....Experience tells me IT IS wishful thinking. With this type of oil leak, it isn't so much the oil but the temperature of the oil that causes most of the damage, instantly killing the grass it contacts. We have applied Activated Charcoal, and a dilute detergent to deactivate and dilute the oil, there isn't much more we can do I am afraid.  We have sanded the 15th to see if that helps, unfo

Day 12 since we completed renovations and the greens continue the strong recovery, we gave them their first cut on Monday (5mm) and have cut every day this week, lowering them again yesterday (4.5mm) which we will stay at till Monday coming before lowering them again twice next week. By next weekend the greens should be pretty close but not quite back to normal conditions. Russel Lines boys from Jetline were back in during the week with donated materials and labour to complete the first stage of the 1st Path and formed a verge along some of the car park.    They will also be constructing a small wall along side the 16th tee at tee height to formalise the area in expectation of path along the tee. Since the use of carts has increased it is areas like these that are showing the downside of high cart use, carts are constantly cutting the corner at the front of the tee eroding the bank and if left would have eventually started eroding the tee top, by constructing the wall, similar to the

During the week, we modified the 17th green bank to solve a problem some felt was unfair when a ball would trickle to the edge of the green only to gain pace down the steep slope into the non irrigated sandy area, this problem was also effecting putts when the pin was in the vicinity as well.   Pics of missing peak , side view of bank and view from back before work commenced We cut the turf, added sand / soil, shaped the area and re-laid the turf. we took the opportunity to construct the missing "peak" the high humps around the green that for some reason was not constructed on that portion. We allowed for drainage creating a few swails.  Rolling Turf and filling area with soil Same views as first 3 after work  Seeding the green side of the new work will be done next week after the sand has had time to settle and we consolidate the area a little more. The area is G.U.R  and nearest point of relief no closer to the hole is in place. It is expected the turfed area will be in

5 Days since renovations and the greens are making a strong recovery, during this week we topped up some greens with a little more sand to cover some holes left over.  I expect to give them their first cut next Monday afternoon at 5.5mm, once we are happy with minimal sand pick up we will commence the process of gradually lowering them to our normal height of cut. We rest the greens after renovations for two reasons, importantly for the health of the bent grass to grow new roots and shoots, plus we don't want to take heavy triplex mowers on them to soon while they are soft and moist, generally tho to recover from the intense practices they go through during the year, Secondly with so much sand about, cutting them would make sure the cylinders go blunt on the first green, tearing and ripping every subsequent green cut and adding to the maintenance bill trying to sharpen the blades and cylinders again. Normally a 4 to 5 week recovery time before they are back to normal conditions wi

You can always tell a Golf Tragic, there the ones that when we close the course, they still find an excuse to walk around it... Greens Renovations were complete over the weekend. Due to a healthy volunteer turn out and Mick Lines Bobcat skills we were able to have 10 greens cored and cleaned up on Saturday afternoon and the rest by 9am Sunday. Many thanks to all our member volunteers for their assistance, much appreciated by staff as we would still be going without the help.  Once all the cores were picked up, a planned BBQ lunch was changed to a breakfast, a bite to eat and to quench the first as a thank you for all our hard working volunteers. It must be the earliest that part has ever been completed, so much so our volunteers were discussing what the hell they were going to do for the rest of the day!  The staff then resumed with sanding and rubbing in greens Generally we give an approx time for the greens to come back to normal time, as the greens were very healthy going into r

Today brings to an end another busy but rewarding week presenting the course for the Capel Classic.  View from front 10th greens View behind 2nd green                                                                                                                                                                 With an early start - double cutting greens with the greens and adjusted tees mower                                                                                                                                                This week will be busy in a different way, all our pre greens renovation work will be undertaken, Couch encroachment spraying, green surrounds spraying for crab grass, Verti cutting greens and we will be renovating the small back putter with our own small Ryan Corer, this is because the green is to small and enclosed to renovate with the larger Verti Drain machine. In addition we will still be setting the course up for play and all our reg