CAPEL GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

Prior to Xmas I was performing some sprinkler maintenance in the shed when a member visited and expressed surprise at the degree of maintenance and its purpose. It forms the basis of the first post for 2014. What the member walked in on was a complete sprinkler service to a Valve In Head sprinkler (V.I.H) , we service up to 10% of the overall sprinkler numbers per year for various reasons, the most common is for normal preventative maintenance, in this case the sprinkler had stopped operating. Depending on the service performed it may be carried out in the field, removing the internal mechanisms of the sprinkler only, other times as in this case we remove the complete sprinkler replacing with an already serviced sprinkler so a full service can be performed.   Below a brief of each step   The sprinkler is dug out, replaced with a serviced complete sprinkler and wired to the system      The sprinkler is brought back to the...

Each Winter the staff undertake a few major projects on the course, over the past few years that has included the installation of the front 9 auto retic, tree trimming works and last year the cleaning, re-piping of the back 9 manual system till the auto retic is fully installed. Sometimes the winter period is not conductive to the type of work such as turf establishment however with only 4 staff, manual water system and the extra mowing through the growing season time does not allow these extra works to be carried out, so tho not ideal for some projects, it is the only time we can commit to such works without affecting course quality. This winter period ( I should point out I am classing the winter period from when we turn off the irrigation pumps) some works planned are - Practice Chipping Green and Bunker To improve member practice facilities we will be constructing a 270m2 practice green, chipping area and practice bunker on the site of the existing practice bunker to the l...