March 2014

What a difference a few weeks make. It has stopped raining every day! Hurray. 

I have been busy on the green, but also have taken the time to look up the weather statistics. The recorded rainfall for 2013 was 730mm, which is nearly 29 ins. Our expected annual rainfall is around the 32inch mark. Interestingly the rain fall for October and December was 129mm  (5ins) and 146 (nearly 6ins). So generally last year was a dry one, until the end, and we will not forget the Christmas Eve storm which resulted in the Clubhouse being flooded and the green being a metre or so under water. If my maths is correct, then that fact equates to some 1500 tonnes of water just on top of the green. I hear you all say, then it should be flat! We will see?

More seriously I have had a good month generally and managed to aerate / spike twice; verticut in both directions; apply two lots of fertiliser; overseed; sarell roll; spray a couple applications of iron; trim the edges and spray for laetherjackets.

The green is still suffering from the moss, but hopefully we are now, or soon will be, warm enough for the grass to push on and out perform the moss. I am largely continuing with the eco friendly approach and will be applying the last of the granular fertiliser applications next week if the weather is suitable. 

I will then start with the biological warfare! Sounds very scifi and scary, but in reality it is turning the clock backwards, but with the use of modern science. I will be following a programme which is similar to that of Gleneagles, who will be staging the next Ryder Cup I believe. This programme will look to use nature to break down the thatch layer; enhance the rootzone and hopefully result in a faster; truer green, which will have improved disease resistance as well. 

It will be very interesting to see how this approach works on your green, as it is rather unique locally in it's position. My personal opinion is that it will work better than before and be an outstanding success! Well I would say that wouldn't I?

With the new season just a month away, fingers crossed that the early spring continues and we have good growth when you start bowling.