GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
NEWS LETTER
AUGUST 2019
Dear Member / Property Owner,
Following on from the Golf Course Superintendent’s News Letter sent to you in July, 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, 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 August 2019.
JULY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE
New Putting Green
The new putting green continues to be grown in and is being cut almost daily which helps promote grass density. The green has been sand topdressed and the rye grass green surround has been sprayed with fungicide to help protect the ryegrass against turf grass diseases during the hot summer months.
Fairways Spiking and Sand Topdressing
The process of spiking and sand topdressing the fairways as part of the summer aeration program has almost been completed. This particular aspect of golf 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 will be kept to an absolute minimum.
1st Tee Landscaping Work
Landscaping around the first tee complexes had become very overgrown, with many of the key landscaping features being lost. The tee complexes have now been extensively cleared of both old and dead plant material so that the area can be assessed before the introduction of new plants scheduled for the Autumn.
Hydro Jet Greens
Due to machinery failure it was not possible to hydrojet the greens as per the schedule. As an alternative aeration process, the greens were solid tined at the beginning of the month.
AUGUST COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
Bermuda Grass Encroachment
During the summer months warm season grasses flourish and encroach into the playing surfaces of the rye golf course. Applications of a non-selective herbicide will be used to control these grasses. These areas will be marked with stakes and deemed as ‘GUR’. New turf will be introduced in September.
Solid Tining Greens
The greens will be solid tined with 5mm pencil tines, increasing oxygen uptake to the root system, which will reduce the negative impact of accumulated salts within the soil profile. These holes are only open and noticeable for 2 days. There is no noticeable effect to the playing quality of the green’s surface during this period.
Fairways Spiking and Sand Topdressing
The remaining holes will be spiked and sand topdressed to help improve the playing surfaces of the fairways.
1st Tee Landscaping Works
Landscaping work around the first tee complexes will continue. In particular, the introduction and shaping of soil amongst the incorporation of natural rock features will be completed in areas around both the Championship and Men’s Tee.
2019 Greens Hollow Coring Dates
In the knowledge that all Property Owners and Members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily affect the playing conditions of the green’s surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the remaining hollow coring date in 2019.
- Monday 9th September
In addition, the Putting Green, Chipping Green and Driving Range Facility will be closed for hollow coring on Wednesday 11th September 2019.
Be advised that due to course maintenance requirements, that these dates are a change to the original dates scheduled for slightly later in September.
You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social calendar, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much more, by visiting either our official website www.desertspringsresort.es or by contacting the golf reception at Desert Springs.
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,
Malcolm Lacey Anthony Brooks
Golf Operations Manager Golf Course Superintendent
