Greens Update - Apr 2026
Now the new golf season is upon us once again, here is a course update highlighting where we are on the course, and what jobs are being carried out over the next few weeks. We have been a bit short staffed over the last few weeks, due to various reasons, including using up end of year annual leave and training courses. But from next week we will be back to full strength, and we will carry out as many jobs as possible to bring the course up to speed. There are some outstanding winter jobs to finish off, including the removal of the stone and bags from the car park, as well as maintaining the surfaces to have them in top order as we enter competition season.
Greens
The greens have started to show signs of life, however they are not out of their winter slumber just yet. Soil temperatures are still relatively low and so we are not disturbing the greens surfaces too much. We are using a brush to lift the grass up before cutting, and this helps stand up some of the mature bent grass. There is always a difference in growing rates between the bent grass species and the more dominant and weaker poa grass. So brushing and light dressing helps to smooth out the differences.
So we have brushed and dressed the greens this week, applying about 4 tons of dressing over all the greens. They have also been liquid fed to encourage a response of some more growth. Hopefully nighttime temperatures after next week will start to rise, which will help growth to respond.
Figure 1: Greens, brushed and dressed, approaches brushed and cut.
The flagsticks, flags and hole cups out on the course are very tired, and new ones are on order, however there has been a delay at the manufacturer’s end, hence why we are waiting. All being well we will have our new set out in a week or so.
New Tees
Both the new tees on the 12th and 18th are coming on but still need a bit of work before they start being used on a daily basis. The 18th tee is further ahead of the 12th and is currently being cut by the robot that cuts around 18. It has also been given a couple of heavy topdressings and next week will receive its next feed.
Figure 2: 18th tee robot cutting.
The 12th tee is a bit softer than 18 and will require some extra work. It has had two topdressings and will receive another feed next week. The turf around the sides of the 12th tee is bedding in well and will soon be ok to take traffic.
New Bunkers
The new bunkers are bedding in well and will soon be reopened for play, once we are sure the turf around them is fully ready for play. The bunkers on the 18th have received their first cut and look good for it. The sand has arrived and so over the next couple of weeks we will try and start putting the sand into the bunkers. During this time some hole closures may be needed so that we can work efficiently.
Figure 3: 18th bunker after first cut of new turf.
The bunkers on the 8th and 9th will receive a cut and feed next week, as that turf was slightly behind the 18th. The turf is exactly the same, however it came from a different field at the turf growers and so needed slightly longer to bed in. We are hoping to bring the bunkers back into play by the end of the month.
Robot Mowing
Now it has firmed up after a very wet spell, the robots are out mowing again. We have encountered a couple of small issues with the two fairway robots, Andy and James, and they are being dealt with by Balmers under the warranties. It’s just a bearing on one and a motor on the other. They all will receive a blade change to set them up for spring mowing, now that the fairways have all been blown free from debris after the storm.
The good news is that the club has agreed to buy two more large robots which will be here in a couple of weeks or so. Once they are all out mowing, we will see all the fairways, most of the rough and even some tees cut automatically. This will free up much needed valuable time for the greenstaff to carry out lots of other jobs to keep the course tidy, as well as improving the surfaces.
Fallen Trees
Storm Dave certainly lived up to his name and caused damage around the course.
Several limbs of trees have come down and there was tree litter scattered all over the course. Most of the litter has been blown away, however the trees remain. We intend to start cutting and disposing of the fallen limbs from next week, when we return to full staff numbers.
Machinery
We have had some comments in regarding the width of the fairways, as in that they have been narrowed for this year. This is definitely not the case, as the robots work off GPS and they have not been altered since last year. I think the reason they may look smaller is that the semi rough mower unfortunately had a breakdown a couple of weeks ago. That has meant the rough mower had to cut the semi around the fairways for a couple of weeks while we waited for a part to arrive. This mower has now been fixed and so the semi rough will be recut next week.
The large rough mower, which is 12 years old and showing its age, unfortunately also suffered a breakdown a couple of days ago, and that is currently being repaired. It was something that both me and the mechanic have never seen happen before. All being well the mower will be back in service out on the course next week. The positive note about buying more robots will take the pressure off the older machines, which will only be used in smaller areas, such as the tree lines.
Fertiliser Trial
A few weeks ago we were approached by a technical manager of one of the leading fertiliser manufacturers to see if they could carry out a trial of their latest slow-release fertilisers on our practice ground on the bottom land. The manager actually used to work for Myerscough and was responsible for guiding Oli through his apprenticeship, and we agreed it would be a good idea for the greens team to be involved in the set up and monitoring of the trial.
Figure 6: Trial set up on practice ground. Please stay off the area.
There is a small 4x5m plot, roped off and clearly marked on the practice ground, at the opposite end to the building. Please can you make sure that you do not play from this area, during this trial period, only retrieving balls if needed. We do not have to do anything for the trial, other than cutting the area, which we would anyway.
Wildflower areas
The areas at the 2nd tee, 12th tee, and 18th tees will shortly be prepared for overseeding wildflowers into. They will be cut right down first, then rotovated before seed is applied to the areas. Warmer weather will be needed for decent establishment to take place.
So as you can see, we really have our work cut out to complete all these tasks as soon as possible, as well as maintain the course as we currently are, as well as carrying out tasks to improve the surfaces, such as aeration, topdressing and scarification. Busy times ahead!!
