Golf Course Maintenance

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
‘NEWS LETTER’
MARCH 2008

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in January which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in February, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in March 2008.

 

FEBRUARY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Verti Draining Fairways

The programme of verti draining the fairways has continued as per the schedule. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion. Disruption to play, as always is kept to an absolute minimum.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens have continued to be solid tined as per the schedule with hardly any noticeable detrimental effect to the playing quality of the greens. By aiding the flushing of the salts with freshwater hand watering and increasing oxygen uptake to the root system, the negative impact of accumulated salts within the soil profile is reduced and thus provides the Indiana with its acclaimed putting surfaces.

Hole 2 Cart Track Modification & Landscaping

The cart track modification work behind the 2nd green has been completed. The introduction of the remaining plant material will take place in the Spring / Summer of 2008, along with the relocation of the cart track and the widening of the green approach to the right.

18th Hole –Santa Rosa Springs Landscaping

With the purpose to limit the visual impact of the protective netting positioned behind Santa Rosa Springs, six washingtonia palms trees have been planted.

Golf ball activity either side of the fairway is being monitored with a view to taking further measures to improve the visual appearance of the hole in the future.

MARCH COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Verti Draining Fairways

We shall continue to verti-drain (aerify) the fairways. This programme helps to improve both soil compaction and air and water movement throughout the soil profile.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens will continue to be solid tined on a ten-day schedule with 5mm pencil tines. These holes are only open (noticeable) for the first 2 days thereafter. During this time, by aiding the flushing of the salts with freshwater hand watering and increasing oxygen uptake to the root system, the negative impact of accumulated salts within the soil profile is reduced. This maintenance programme will continue during the growing season. There is hardly any noticeable detrimental effect to the playing quality of the greens surface.

18th Hole-Santa Rosa Springs Landscaping

Planting of additional washingtonia palm trees to limit the visual impact of the protective netting positioned behind Santa Rosa Springs and to improve the visual appearance of the hole will be introduced.

Irrigation Modifications

Modification work to the irrigation system on green surrounds 1 and 18 and on tee complexes 5 and 15 is required to improve the efficiency of the irrigation coverage and thus the quality of the grass. Trenching machinery and other equipment will be used in these areas, which shall be identified for the golfer, however please be aware of open trenches whilst work is carried out.

Important Maintenance Schedule For 2008

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible with respect to particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled dates for ‘Greens Hollow Coring’ during 2008:

April 22nd & 23rd
May 20th & 21st
October 28th & 29th – Please note that these dates have been rescheduled to November 24th & 25th.

This particular programme is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

Kind regards,   Kind regards,
     

Simon Coaker
Director of Golf

  Anthony Brooks
Golf Course Superintendent

For further information contact: Golf reception
E-mail: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 637 861 591