Head Greenkeepers Blog - 7, June 2016

After hinting in my last blog a fortnight ago about the decent spell of weather continuing and temperatures increasing, I'm sure we were all delighted with the stunning conditions we have had for the last 3 weeks! It is great to be out working with short sleeves and shades, rather than thermals and tammies!!

The warm dry conditions have transformed our course into the firm, fast running heathland that we don't see very often in Scotland, and creates a varying test for the golfer. 

Rainfall figures for the month of May were a measly 15mm, which incidentally is the lowest figure I have recorded in any month within the last 5 years. This brings me onto a topic I'd like to explain more in depth, as a golfer recently asked me "Do you never use the irrigation system as I've never seen it working?"

The most efficient time of day to irrigate is late evening through early morning (between 10pm and 7am). During the night is generally less windy and cooler, resulting in less evapouration and a more efficient and uniform application of water.

The current programme we have running, which changes based on requirements, starts at 22.30pm and runs through Greens, Tees and Approaches which can take around 3 hours. The pump then rests to allow the tank to refill, then a secondary programme can run and comes to an end as we are starting work. We tend to shut down and drain the system around October to protect it from frost damage, then it is primed and ready to go again mid to late March.

In previous blog's I have explained how modern technology is very important and a perfect example of that is the Pogo moisture meter that we purchased a couple of years ago. You will see myself or Colin out using this tool more often during these periods of drought as we aim for a consistent moisture level across the whole green.

It's fine for anyone to walk onto a green to make a visual judgement that it requires irrigting, however, how do you estimate the quantity it requires and whether all of the green requires the same?

That's were the Pogo is essential, as we can take readings across the whole green and determine which parts require more and which require less. We then use hoses and hand watering lances to target those individual areas. Not only does ths guarantee consistency but it also limits water waste and maintains our highly sustainable approach to greenkeeping.

The weather outlook sees an unfortunate change with the jet stream dropping, forcing in some cooler, wetter air towards the end of this week and maybe some thundry downpours. Long range is always unpredictable but there's potentially some more nice high pressure lurking a couple of weeks away, so here's hoping.

David Gray
Head Greenkeeper


 

Titleist Demo Day

Thank you to everyone who attended our Titleist demo day last Friday. We had a fully booked day with lots of people choosing to invest, especially in the new AP1 iron. This is a great iron and has been part of my bag as my 4, 5 and 6 irons this year. I can thoroughly recommend them to anyone who is interested in them, and there are many shaft options with no up harges along with it.

If you would like some guidance on new equipment please feel free to ask and even book an appointment to chat through in private. Click here to book an appointment.


 

The latest Junior newsletter has been published. There has been plenty going on with our Ladybank Juniors so please give it a read.

Click here to view the latest update from the Junior section.


 

Nicol Wilson scored a hole in one on the 8th last Friday, 3 June!

Well done Nicol!

Sunday saw the start of our Open competitions and the Gents Scratch 36 holes. The scoring was good on an excellent day with the following results below.

Congratulations to our Ladybank competitors and in particular Paul Stewart and Greg Mackie who finished in the top 4.

Thanks must also go to our volunteers on the day, Andrew Buchan and Nicol Wilson, who helped out with the scoring.

1st - J Paterson - 72, 69 = 141
2nd - P Stewart - 74, 71 = 145
3rd - A Campbell - 70, 75 = 145
4th - G Mackie - 72, 75 = 147
5th - F Campbell - 77, 72 = 149


Well done to Evanna Hynd who was presented with the handicap runner up trophy yesterday at The Paul Lawrie event at Murrayshall. Evanna had a net 70 and has now been cut to a 7.6 handicap. She was tied in 7th place with her gross score. 

Well done also to our other girls Charlene and Hannah pictured who also competed.




Ladies

Club Championships Qualifier 3/SIMF Eclectic - CSS 75

D Watson (5) 69, G McColm (9) 73, C Wilson (13) 75bih

9 Hole

J Malcom (11) 17pts, E Steel (20) 15pts, J Hayward (19) 12pts

June Medal - CSS 75

A Anderson (25) 74bih, E Hynd (8) 74, H Braidwood (17) 75

Ladies 9 Hole

E Stone (19) 15pts, E Paerson (20) 15pts, E Steel (20) 14pts


June Medal & Belhaven Qualifier - Saturday, 4 June

Cat 1& 2
1st - K Bruce - 81 (11) 70
2nd - D Girdwood - 81 (11) 70
3rd - J Duncan - 74 (4) 70

Cat 3 & 4
1st - BG Kay - 83 (13) 70
2nd - RC Brickley - 89 (17) 72
3rd - FR Maxwell - 90 (18) 72


SS Medal 3 - Tuesday, 7 June

GA Mitchell (13) 66, IR Wilson (16) 68, J Smith (14) 70

CSS 71