Over the last 5 years we have implemented a root pruning programme around the golf course. Being on a tight (88acres) parkland setting trees play a major part in the set up of our golf course. They add strategy and give the golf course its identity. However on the flip side they block out sunlight and restrict air flow. All needed to create a healthy plant. One other thing that they have which are not very welcome are their roots. The root of a tree extends at least double the size of its canopy. So next time you walk past a tree think about that. If it stands 30metres high, its roots will be around 60metres wide. Probably going on to a green and tee:(
Our root pruning programme has been predominately based around greens and tees. Last year we did the Oaks behind the 5th green. We were starting to notice in the summer months that this green was drying out a lot quicker than the others and was susceptible to disease far quicker. Since we cut the roots back last May this has been reversed. This week we carried on with the programme and the Ash tree by the 13th green had its roots cut back. This tree is only 5metres away from the green which is way too close. Ideally the Ash wouldn't be here but it plays an important part in the defence of the 13th hole. Trimming the roots back is a happy compromise:)
It was a wet end to 2013 and the new year brings further wet conditions. Golf courses across the country are under extreme pressure and at EGC we are no different. The good news is the drainage that we have installed over the past two years is working well and these areas are handling the conditions. The bad news is getting to these areas in the first place becomes a bit of an issue!
Above left is a picture of a rather wet 15th fairway taken this morning. On the right is the outlet for this fairway which goes under the footpath, through the 11th tee and in to the river by the 10th bridge. As you can see, plenty of water is coming out of the outlet. So why you may think is the 15th fairway saturated? The answer is pipework or rather a lack of it. The outlet takes the water from the ditch to the left of the 15th fairway. However to move the water in to that ditch, pipework is needed. As we head in to the new year this will be one of our priority jobs. The plans have been laid, materials are in, so all we need now is some dry weather and we will be down there in a flash.
Christmas unfortunately may be a bit wet here at EGC this year. With the storms yesterday the river decided to burst it's banks last night. We suggest santa brings a boat with him this year whilst delivering presents!
As it's Christmas we don't want to end on a negative note so we've posted this picture of the course last summer. The shortest day has passed and we are now on our way to spring. We wish all our members and guests a merry Christmas. Let's hope it dries up soon so that we can get all our new presents out on the golf course!
Today we have taken the unusual step of banning some golf shoes. Within the greenkeeping world there has been much talk about the damage done by certain golf shoes to our greens. A new design seems to be coming out frequently and some of these can seriously damage the putting surfaces. As you can see from the picture to the left, Adidas Zero's golf shoes have left a bumpy surface on our greens. It looks like a pair of football boots have been walked across the greens. Until their soles become friendlier they wont be welcome at Ealing for the foreseeable future!
This week winter has definately felt like it has arrived. We've had a couple of mornings of frost and the air temperature has dropped suddenly. As the golf course has dried out a lot over the past few weeks we decided to give all playing areas a trim before christmas. As usual greens,approaches and fairways were cut but on top of this surrounds,tee banks, semi-rough and full rough were tidied up. These areas can only be cut when ground conditions are suitable at this time of year. Not so much of making hay while the sun shines, but rather cutting when the rain stops!
On top of this we are right in the middle of leaf clearance. During November and December a big operation goes in to place to collect all the leaves that fall from the trees. Around 200 labour hours has been spent so far to blow and pick up the leaves. If we don't then they will mulch in to the ground smothering the grass plant. Also finding golf balls in amongst heavy piles can be problematic. They may look beautiful up on the trees at this time of year, but on the floor they can be a pain for the golfers!
After 6 (long) weeks
we finally finished the fairway draining to holes 1 and 8 last week. It
has been an intense period, but secondary drainage went on top of the
primary drainage. The big challenge for this area was irrigation
pipework and natural falls. Or rather a lack of it! In total we had to
cross the irrigation system 30 times, which was a huge challenge in
itself and very time consuming. The other issue was the lack of a
natural gradient on the 8th fairway. We managed to overcome both and
from the video to the left, it's always nice to see water gushing out at
the end!
The
secondary drainage system consisted of gravel banding at 90degree
angles to the land drainage. We included the 4th fairway in with this
work which had land drainage installed last year. A small trench was cut
about 30mm wide and 200mm deep, with gravel backfilled in to it. We
invested in this machine last year and even during the poor weather last
week, it left a nice job. We then top-dressed on top of this to finish
it off. As we sit on good old London clay, secondary drainage will be as
important as primary drainage long term.
Gravel Bander at work
The Finished 8th Fairway
All
this work has been completed in house. As well as the gravel bander we
invested in a chain trencher, which enable us to do so. We have now
completed our major drainage works for this year and in two years, 4
holes have had drainage installed in them. We will do some other minor
works around the place over the winter but the next big phase will
commence next autumn. Watch out the 2nd fairway. You are next on the
list!!!
Last week we had the pleasure of a storm ripping through Ealing Golf Course. It was not a pretty site and in total we had 25 trees that were either up rooted or had major limbs fall off them. The most dangerous one was at 6.45am when a poplar tree decided to fall on the A40, which is a major road out of London. Two lanes were shut whilst the greenstaff and police cleared the area. To cap matters off, the river decided to burst it's banks. We don't have these storms very often, but when they do come, destruction is left behind!
As you can guess it was a busy week with the greenstaff clearing up the debris. We would have to say that we have had better weeks but by the end of the week, all the major trees were chopped up and debris mostly cleared. It will take some weeks to clear fully but for the time being the golf course is playable again. From the pictures below you can see some of the issues that we faced!
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