An update from our Golf Course and Estates Manager, Derrick Johnstone.

After another industry-wide slow growing start to the season, I have been very happy with the development of the courses this month. We quickly move from one extreme of trying to get grass to grow, to now using plant growth regulators products which limits top growth and drives roots down. We are also applying wetting agents to break surface tension, so water (irrigation and rainwater) can penetrate the surface. The high temperatures of last week have slightly stressed out the plant in areas, but this will bounce back very quickly with the weather that we have encountered this week.

Tees, fairways, approaches and greens are healthy and full of colour - refining and speeding up the green surfaces will be my team's focus in June ahead of some key club events. We carried out a small treatment on Monday and Wednesday this week, which involved a mini tine, 4” deep into the greens surface, to further help any future irrigation or rainwater penetrate and to let the greens breathe. We then top-dressed with approximately 1 tonne of sand per green which helps smoothen out the surface and essential for thatch prevention. We finish with a roll to bring the surface back to normal.

All courses are currently getting a lot of play, so I plan to keep the growth on the tees strong and well-watered to help seed germination and speed up recovery. 

I hope you are all out enjoying your golf, whether it be medal, friendly/social play or team matches.

Best wishes,

Derrick