Golf Course Maintenance Monthly Report April/May 2017 Prepared By, Superintendent, Dylan Knight
Works undertaken during April/May GREENS All greens cut or rolled daily Greens renovations undertaken Greens verti-cut two directions Two applications of penetrant to maintain firm consistent playing surfaces Soil health blend applied Greens dusted twice to aid in smoothness and firmness Application for poa annua seed head control SURROUNDS Cut with fairway mower at 12mm TEES Height of cut is 8mm Divoting of tees was carried out Once weekly Cut once weekly Herbicide for poa annua control applied FAIRWAYS Height of cut is 12mm Cut once fortnightly BUNKERS Bunkers broomed and raked twice weekly or left smooth after levelling Levelling and addition of sand (ongoing) Bunker works undertaken on holes 4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 ROUGH Greens/Tees rough cut X 3 Fairway first cut X 2 Second cut rough X 2 2 P a g e
Issues Relating to Course Staff INCIDENTS Staff Changes Mr. Kurtis Tautuhi has re-placed Mr. Jarryd King as Assistant Superintendent Cameron Daltera has accepted the role of irrigation technician and will commence on 6/6/17 Daniel Greene will be finishing up his summer casual position on the 8/6/17 An advertisement for apprentice greens keeper will be advertised by week ending 9/6/17 Annual Leave Dylan Knight commences leave on the 8/6/17 Staff summary Golf Course Superintendent: Mr. Dylan Knight Assistant Golf Course Superintendent: Mr. Kurtis Tautuhi Irrigation Technician: Cameron Daltera Green keepers: Daniel Greene Apprentices: 4 th year Luke Roach, 1 st year Jarryd Cheesley Mechanic: Vince Grimaldi Total TP: 6 Total Staff Inc. shared Mechanic: 7 3 P a g e
Issues Relating To Course Pump Station A quotation has been received for the replacement/upgrade of our current pump station. Irrigation Issues The team attended to 5 irrigation pipe breaks A decoder audit is in place and will be completed by July Parts for the solenoid valves on the 6 th tee have been ordered and will be re-placed by end of June The Weather station has been re-installed and is now %100 operational Water Usage 6 mega liters of water was transferred from the 4 th dam this month 0 mega liters was used on course over the two months 4 P a g e
Planned works for June Greens Continue soil health program Surrounds Low N Fertilizer application Tees Low N Fertilizer application Herbicide application for Poa control Fairways Low N Fertilizer application Post and Pre-emergent herbicide application for Poa Control Roughs All rough to be mowed X 2 Areas of greens rough to be over seeded Greens/Tees rough to be sprayed with broadleaf herbicide Bunkers Raked twice weekly minimum Add sand where needed to cover matting and re level problematic bunkers Other Continue to maintain all waterway edges and aesthetics via vegetation removal and spraying of problematic areas Decoder and irrigation audit CWW re-instatement works are on-track for July completion 5 P a g e
Executive summary A 113mm of rainfall fell over the past two months with May being 47 percent below average. This isn t of any concern as our water bodies are all at capacity already and will remain at this level until September. Greens renovations ran as smooth as possible with a staff of 5. Our soil profile has improved again and we have maintained great even root depth and development through the late summer period. A total of 90 tons of fresh sand was amended into our current profile aiding in nutrient retention, oxygen and gas exchange capabilities, root depth and development. I feel our greens consistency has improved tenfold in the last two seasons, we still have a tremendous amount of work ahead though. The main goal is and always is to produce the smoothest and firmest surface possible with the current blend of poa annua and bent grass strains in our green complexes. The recovery period from renovations was 4-7 days longer than I had liked. The rainfall straight after the completion of renovations was perfect, the bitterly cold weather that followed was not ideal but that is the way the cookie crumbled. CWW works are well underway with solid turfing being completed on all areas, garden beds are nearing completion. The last and longest step is the re-instate of the roughs down 14,15 th fairways. This process will continue to be drawn out. The aim is to now spray all areas with a broadleaf herbicide followed by another herbicide application that will not harm any native vegetation before we over seed with two native varieties Dichelachne crinite more commonly known as long haired plume grass and Rytidosperma spp more commonly known as wallaby grass, both of these species have been sourced from the western district from Flora Victoria. These same areas and others on the course appear to have quite a high level infestation of Chilean needle grass and serrated tussock, both of which appear on the states noxious weed list it is within our best interest as a club to control any noxious weeds in the best of our ability, a plan is being drawn up for these control measures. The same measure of re-instatement will be undertaken for the 12,13 th mounds and rough and we will also add a blend of fescues and rye grass to this area. Some seeding in greens rough areas has been completed with a very successful strike rate this will go unnoticed to the untrained eye but within seasons to come as these plants mature it will pay dividends in course playability and presentation. Hosting of the Division 4 pennant final went off with great success from all accords with some very positive comments regarding the course and club so I would like to thank all involved in this process. A big shout out to the colts boys on their victory this season it is great to the see club brand being mentioned in articles around the country as VGA pennant is the by far the largest and best in the country. Week in week out our guys go out against some of the best amateurs in the country and the world to compete, this is a great honor and privilege to represent the club. Pennant is a very important part of any club to encourage mate ship and comradery between members after all we are club 6 P a g e
Kind Regards, Dylan Knight Superintendent Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club 7 P a g e