CAPEL GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

I would like to bring to everyone's attention a very special fundraising effort for a very special cause which kicked off today at the WACA in Perth by 3 great blokes. Three fellow "Turfies" from Sydney, Greame Logan (ANZ Stadium), Mark Crawford (Kurri TAFE) and Peter Brown (Koppman Golf) kicked off what will be a 4000km once in a lifetime bike ride from the WACA in Perth today hoping to arrive at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on 22nd September to raise funds for the Miracle Babies Foundation. Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.  Every year in Australia around 44,000 newborn babies require the help of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN). 25,000 of these babies are born premature and up to 1000 babies lose their fight for life. Working with health professionals on the joint agenda of better outcomes for famili

Finally the bobcat was here on Wednesday for a few hours to excavate the green and bunker, With some deft use of the tractor and bunker rake we managed to shape the green area and surrounds. The bunker will be shaped next week along with a final tidy of the area before we allow the area to settle and spray out remaining grasses. Once satisfied we will then begin the process of loading the root zone sand from our pit, another shape, some consolidation and the green will be ready for seed. The surrounds will be seeded with Rye grass initially and then stolonised with couch after our fairway renovations, reason being we were given a very tight budget to work with, our brief, to construct a decent size chipping green and bunker to similar quality as in play greens  for under $1000, many would have said (actually I can't write what they would have said), but we will get it done within the budget allocated. It isn't going to be without problems, the first being

The past week, with the Ladies Championships on Monday and Wednesday along with members comps Tuesday and Thursday our work was primarily off the course, the work we attend that you don't see but still is important to the operation of the golf course. Anthony was at TAFE for the week, so the mornings were very hectic setting up the course for play, after which, we started pre season servicing of the equipment used to maintain the course, Sharpening cylinders, changing blades, oil changes, lubrication etc to ensure or at least minimise problems when we head into the growing season.   Dean also found himself in the Pit !!!! No nothing troubling this time round, he was simply stockpiling our sand for renovations from our pit, another task you don't think about or see, with close to 30 tonne of sand needed for our renovations for various areas it takes a bit of time to stockpile.  A trip to drum master for collection and recycling of empty chemical drums, stock con

Just thought I would update you after yesterday, Thankfully the predicted severe weather wasn't as bad as predicted, not going to complain about that, overall 30mm rain fell on the course, the most we have had for 2months in 24hrs. The winds were mostly around the 45km/hr range the stronger gust up to 65km/hr didn't arrive till late afternoon, tho still making life uncomfortable for those playing in the Championships and judging by the scores some did it very tough, yet others seemed to love the wind. Congratulations to the winners of the day. A few bunker washouts needed repair this morning, and only leaves around the course, nothing major, so I give a sigh of relief.

Just finished the course set up for today's 36 hole final of the Men's Championships, The course was in good nick, bunkers done, holes and markers set, and most greens cut, whether it stays that way is up to mother nature, I can tell you it wasn't nice out there, in fact it sounds like it is going to get down right nasty, a severe weather warning has been issued, for the warning click here for warning . In anticipation of a wet day we have moved holes to high spots as best we could keeping with the pin card, the greens were pretty wet this morning and tho surface water is removed relatively quickly if heavy rain is experienced it will be very soppy, we have done what we can it is up to the gods now, so good luck to all playing I hope the weather holds and most importantly stay safe. Fingers crossed the question I posed last post is not answered today!!!!

July ended with 7mm of rainfall making July 2012 the 2nd driest on record since 1918, no wonder we were hand watering. June 2012 will be remembered for the once in a decade storm event causing unprecedented damage and being our 2nd wettest in 12 years, so now the question is what will August bring ? We can't predict what mother nature will do but for the course August means GOLF and WEEDS! This week kicks off a period of major events for the club extending through the end of September, we have 4 rounds of the Ladies Championships, the Men's Championships, Men's 4's Championships, Mixed Championships, Presidents Cup, the Holden Scramble mark 2, ( we all know what happened to the first event), all culminating with the Capel 3000 held over 2 days at the end of September, and in between later this month, we have of course, the Greenstaff Sponsor Day, ( more on that another time). Staff will be prioritising course set up and conditioning for these events. Augu