Erosion
Erosion of our Links continues to be a major problem. Angus council together with their contractors have recently been moving the rocks protecting the 3rd tee and transporting them back to the 1st green/2nd tee. Although far from ideal, it was essential that the erosion around the 1st green did not continue to get worse. As a consequence of doing this, we will in due course lose the existing 3rd tees.
Contractors placing rocks to the front of the 2nd tee.
So although this will not solve the erosion problem, this work will give us a bit more time and hopefully a long term solution can be agreed and put in place.
Clearing the vegetation from the new 3rd tee complex.
The area for new tees cleared and roughly levelled.
Bunkers
A number of bunkers around the courses which would not have lasted another season have been rebuilt using the traditional revetted face method.
Work in progress to right hand greenside bunker on the Broomfield.
A newly completed bunker to the left of the 1st Medal fairway.
Practice area
Work has started on improving the bunkers at the practice area. When teaching clients the professionals' found that the current bunkers were too difficult to play out and can often dishearten those that struggle with this kind of shot. They are going to be reshaped and lowered, hopefully allowing for all standards of golfers to learn how to successfully play out of bunkers. In addition a new tee will be built where the professionals 'TrackMan' teaching equipment can be positioned which will help in delivering their coaching work.
Turf cut.
Turf lifted and the old bunker in the process of being dug out.
Work progressing well.
Paths
We have removed the old tennis court astro turf from the path at the 2nd Broomfield tee and replaced it with the better quality astro turf that we acquired from Montrose FC. We still have a number of rolls left and hope to continue to carry out similar work around the courses as time permits.
Newly installed astro-turf.
Gorse Management
Due to the mild weather we haven't carried out a great deal of gorse management to date. So far we have improved the sight lines from the tees on the 11th and 12th Medal holes. The view from both these holes had become badly obscured by encroaching gorse. A hedge trimmer was used to reduce the height and where this did not achieve the desired result a chainsaw was used to remove bushes in their entirety.
The badly obstructed view of the 12th green from the tee prior to work.
The much improved view of the green.
Aeration
Aeration plays an important part in our Autumn and Winter maintenance programme. All greens, tees and approaches together with all walk offs have been verti-drained to a depth of 8 inches using our own tractor mounted Wiedenmann machine. In addition a contractor was hired to verti-drain the Medal fairways, this has been carried out for a number of years alternating with the Broomfield fairways.
Aeration taking place on the 14th Medal tee walk off.
Rabbits
Rabbits continue to be a problem on the two courses, digging holes and continually making small scrapes everywhere. Turfing the worst affected areas is a time consuming process but is on-going throughout the winter. Shooting is also carried out to try and keep numbers down.
Machinery
The mechanic is in the process of servicing and sharpening our large fleet of machinery. All grass cutting units have to be stripped down before sharpening takes place.
A few of the units undergoing servicing.
I hope that this gives you an insight and keeps you up to date with some of the work that has been carried out over the first part of the winter.
I also plan to do a separate article regarding the recent erosion works and the new 3rd tee project once all the work has been completed.
Les Rae,
First Assistant,
Montrose Golf Links Limited.
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