Roadside verges, fields, gravel paths. Everything is dusty and has become dry as a rock. Unbelievable when you think back to the last half of 2019 and the first winter months of 2020. March was dry and April was completely dry, cold and windy. There have certainly been warm days, but we miss water again. We can see that on our fairways, which are still sandy and open. We need a week of bad weather – read rain – and normal heat, then they will start to grow in earnest. The grass was green throughout the winter, denser than other winters, lots of grass seed has been sown and fertilizer has been brought out. We have expectations of progress on our fairways with denser and greener grass, so it must get started.
The areas we can irrigate have started well and we are working on them continuously. The mowing frequencies have gradually been set up with the increased growth and this development will continue. When the match and activity program is suspended for the time being due to corona, it gives the greenkeepers space to work on the more difficult areas:
We have a number of turf repairs around the course that need to be maintained with hand watering, and the 1st and 18th greens and the putting green at the range are still receiving special treatment with extra reseeding with grass seed.
We aerate the areas on the course around the greens and tees that still have a certain amount of moisture to ensure the work has the desired effect.
The range is now open again (for those of you who receive training from Klas and Oskar). Here you will notice that the target flags have been repositioned. The plan is to cut out the target greens around the flags, so that it will be a sharper experience to stand and practice. The target greens are cut, but they are very difficult to see, but it will get better with time.
New turf for the par 3 course's tees is also in the pipeline, but we just need to get spare parts for our turf cutter.
The slope to the 2nd tee is being renovated by a contractor and if the repair holds, we can also beautify the area with turf, as has been done at the 1st tee.
We have a couple of irrigation system projects ready. All sprinklers around the 8th green system will be replaced and upgraded, but this project will be done in collaboration with the supplier. On the 18th hole, however, the plan is that we will establish foregreen sprinklers ourselves that can cover the foregreen and a good part of the fairway, so that this area will also get a boost.
Specific tasks for the last weeks of April:
In the middle of week 17, the greens surroundings will be dressed and re-dotted. The last greens bunkers will be renovated.
Week 18: Greens topdresses Monday.
Enjoy.