Yelverton Golf Club

Greens Autumn Maintenance 2011

This year, Autumn Maintenance will be taking place a little later than previous years due to the busy Golfing Calendar here at Yelverton Golf Club. The work on the greens is scheduled for week commencing Monday 19th September. The work should be completed within 3-4 days depending on the weather conditions.

Tasks to be completed:

Hollow-coring (Micro-tines):
This process is carried out to physically remove cores of turf from the surface layer of the greens. These cores will be made up of mostly “Thatch”, which is the layer just below the surface. “Thatch” is made up of living and dead fibrous, vegetative organic material. If left to accumulate, this layer will become dense and restrict water and air movement into the soil profile. It will also hold water at the surface making the surfaces soft and spongy. Accumulated Thatch will also create the perfect environment to harbour fungal disease pathogens and also create the right conditions for these to develop and attack the grass plant. Micro hollow-tines (6.5mm inner core and 50mm depth) will be used to ensure less overall disruption to the surfaces.

Over-seeding:
All greens will be over-seeded with Bent and Fescue seed to promote and improve the population of these fine grasses.

Top-dressing:
A Heavy dressing of sand will be applied to the greens and brushed or matted in, to pull the seed and sand into the hollow-core holes. This will provide soil exchange to promote an open surface for water infiltration and air movement of oxygen into the soil profile. It will also create seedbed pockets to promote germination of the desired grasses.

The greens will be given an application of an autumn / winter fertiliser prior to the completion of these works to promote recovery. The surfaces will also be watered and rolled post completion to promote recovery.

A Temporary Green will be used on each hole as the work is being carried out on each green.

Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation and patience during this period.

George Pitts
Course Manager.