OVERSEEDING PROGRAMME

                                          Overseeding being carried out on the 1st green on Broomfield.

                                                               Disc seeder lines on green.

                                                 Overseeding being carried out on 7th Medal fairway.

NEW SIGNAGE

New signs for both the Office / Pro shop and the golf courses were recently purchased and erected.  The old signs that were previously in place required upgrading, while there was also a need for more information to help direct visitors to the various key locations.

The new information pole situated close to the car park.

Removing the old sign from the side of the pro-shop.

The newly erected sign on the pro-shop wall.

Les Rae,

First Assistant,

Montrose Golf Links Limited.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - RAGWORT

At this time of year the bright yellow flowers of Ragwort stand out amongst the rough grassland of the golf courses. Although a poisonous plant and sometimes given a bad name it is a very important plant ecologically.

 At least 30 insect species are totally reliant on Ragwort with many more using it as a food source. It is also an important nectar source for a large number of other insects. These insects in turn provide food for birds and other mammals.

 Although there is a code of practice act for Ragwort control it does not place any legal responsibilities on the landowner to control the plant, we do however try and keep the population down so that it doesn't become out of control. The removal of the plant is carried out by pulling by hand but we will always leave enough to grow around the courses for the benefit of all the insect life.

Ragwort.

Hand pulling Ragwort to the right of the 6th Medal fairway.

         

Some of the insect life that rely on Ragwort can be seen below

Cinnabar caterpillar.

2 Ringlet Butterflies and a Meadow Brown on the right.

Six Spot Burnett.

Antler Moth.

Small Tortoiseshell.

One of a number of species of bumble bee that can often be seen on Ragwort.

Les Rae,
First Assistant,
Montrose Golf Links Limited.

NEW GREENKEEPING KIT

New Toro Tees mower

We have recently bought a new Toro Reelmaster 3100 D mower. For the last 2 years we have been cutting all the Tees on both courses using a single Toro reelmaster 2000 machine so this new machine is a welcome addition to our machinery fleet.

Gary cutting the 1st Medal tee with the new Toro Reelmaster 3100 D.

New Greens Iron

The Tru-Turf takes the place of the Graden roller which was years old, was unreliable, and had a number of major faults.

Steve rolling the 14th and 18th greens using the Tru Turf Iron.

New Irrigation Controller

The Aquarille automatic irrigation controller has replaced our 25 year old Watermation TW2 controller which was unreliable and is now no longer manufactured making spare parts impossible to get hold of.

Aquarille Touch.

The old Watermation TW2 controller.

Les Rae,

First Assistant,

Montose Golf Links Limited. 

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - BIRD LIFE

Throughout the summer the links is full of the sights and sounds of bird life. Skylarks are common both on the ground and in the sky. Warblers together with Swallows and Sand Martins that all spent the winter in Africa have returned for the summer. Oystercatchers are a common sight on the links where they can be seen probing the turf for insects with their long orange beaks. Yellow Hammers can also be seen in good numbers around the two courses.
 The Carrion Crows that nested in the willow trees to the right of the 15th Medal fairway are now rearing young, which have fledged the nest but are still being fed in the area by their parents.

Juvenile Carrion Crow

The markings on this young Carrion Crow are quite unusual. As the bird grows its adult feathers these markings will disappear.

 A few birds that I have photographed over the last month and that I haven't featured or photographed before can be seen below.

 Chiffchaff

This little warbler was spotted on the Broomfield course where its song was heard long before I caught sight of it. Chiffchaffs arrives from southern Europe and northern Africa in late March and April. They build dome shaped nests on or close to the ground.

 Linnet

A member of the Finch family, they can normally be seen in pairs during the breeding season. The males have a red / pink forehead and breast. Quite a few pairs have been seen around the links over the last few weeks. They nest in bushes and small trees, with the nest made out of twigs, moss and feathers.

Bullfinch

This male bird was seen on the Broomfield course. Bullfinch are more of a garden and open woodland bird and aren't seen on our golf courses very often so it was good to get a photo of one on the links.

 Red Legged Partridge

These game birds were introduced from France in the late 17th century. Another bird that isn't seen on the links very often, this one was pecking about in the rough next to the 2nd Medal fairway.

 Song Thrush

 A bird that has declined nationally in numbers over the years. I hadn't seen any for awhile but over the last few month I have seen quite a few on the links. The Song Thrush is well known for using a stone on the ground to smash open the shells of snails in order to get at the body inside.  They build their nests in bushes and small trees and line the nest with a mixture of mud and decayed wood.

Broken snail shells beside the 2nd Medal tee stone - A tale tell sign that a Song Thrush is in the area.

Dunlin

This small wading bird was seen in and beside the burn on the Broomfield course. It looks like a juvenile bird as it doesn't have a dark patch on its belly.

Hopefully I will be able to photograph a few more species of birds over the coming months and add them to what has already been included within the wildlife blogs so far.

Les Rae,
First Assistant,
Montrose Golf Links Limited.


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