ROUGH MOWING - 2

                                                         
                                                         ROUGH MOWING


Now we are into the summer season the growth rates in the rough areas on the courses has increased significantly due to the warm and damper conditions.
Currently the new articulator rough mower has been out sometimes on a weekly basis to maintain the these areas so the rough does not become too long and thick as this causes problems locating golf balls.
The Amazone flail mower has been out on two occasions cutting the right hand side of the 9th and both sides of the 13th and in between the 1st and 18th on the medal course these are the areas where the the growth is more prominent also two or three bouts have been done round each fairway on the Broomfield course to keep this course user friendly.
For environmental reasons vast areas of rough on the links are left unmanaged. This helps to ensure   that the marram grass, sea lyme and other wild flowers which are natural to the links environment continue to flourish, while at the same time leaving the ground nesting birds undisturbed.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - JUNE

At Montrose Golf Links our aim is to maintain the golf courses to the highest standards and in keeping with the traditions of links golf. We try to manage the links in an environmentally and wildlife friendly manner while staying true to the origins of links golf at Montrose.  

 The history and ecology of the links are two important elements we felt could be highlighted better. In 2007 it was decided that two large display boards, one depicting the history and the other the ecology, would be designed.The Greens Convenor at the time, Morag Boyd, together with the then Course Manager Richard Cutler and myself  worked together at producing the final designs. These were  erected and sited next to the pro shop, overlooking the main road, this enables both golfers and the general public a chance to view them.

                                                                           

History board

Ecology board

 At this time an additionional 13 smaller plaques were produced and sited around the two courses. These were fixed to old  yardage stones that had been previously removed from the tees. Four of these can be seen below.

                                                                                 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Wheatear

Among the first of the summer migrants these birds arrive from Africa around early April and stay with us until September. This striking bird can occasionally be seen on the golf courses but is more often seen out at the turf nursery beside the old airfield. The male bird has grey upper parts, black mask and wings. The black tail with white sides show a bold 'T' pattern. It nests in holes in the ground, in walls and often old rabbit burrows. The breeding season is between early May and late June. The nest usually comprises of 6 pale blue eggs

photo showing the wheatears distinctive black tail

 and white sides
------------------------------------------------------------- 

                          The Crow family                         

There are three members of the crow family that can often be seen on the links:- the Carrion Crow, the Jackdaw and the Rook. All three spend a lot of time foraging for grubs and other insects in the rough and on the fairways of both courses. Of the three, only the Carrion Crow nests on the links. This year there are at least four nesting pairs on the two courses one of which can be seen in the willow trees between the 15th Medal and 4th Broomfield fairways. All three pictures below were taken next the 15th Medal Fairway where the birds have been spending a lot of time pecking about looking for Leatherjackets ( the grub stage of the Cranefly, better known as the Daddy long-legs ).

Carrion Crow
Often quite solitary birds though they can be seen feeding in
 groups. They nest in trees between March and July laying 4-6
eggs.



Carrion Crow nest close to the 8th Medal tee.



Rook
These birds often look a bit scruffy with a bare area at the base
of the beak. They are normally seen in larger groups and will
often nest together in trees in large numbers called rookeries.
They lay  3-6 eggs between March and June.  

Jackdaw
The smallest of the three, the body is greyer than the others
and it has a jet black cap. They nest in holes in trees, buildings
and old chimneys. They lay 4-6 eggs between April and July.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------




A few of the other birds photographed on the courses this
 month are pictured below.

Yellowhammer
These colourful birds can be seen all over the Links. This one was
sitting at the top of a gorse bush next to the 5th Medal tee.

Wood Pigeon
A common bird regularly seen on the links

 Chaffinch

 pictured early one morning, singing from the top a bush on the

Broomfield course.

Swallows

Sitting on top of the greenkeepers sheds. Every morning, as soon

the main doors are opened, they fly in and continue to do so all 

day. Unfortunately due the motion sensor security system we 

have to make sure they are kept out overnight otherwise I am

sure they would have nested on one of the overhead beams. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roe Deer

Roe deer can often be seen on the courses. These two can be seen
crossing the 17th Broomfield fairway. There have been recent sightings
of very young fawns close to the 13th Medal fairway.

The 3 Pictures above were taken beside the 14th Medal winter tee

where the deer didn't seem too bothered by my presence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                        Wild flowers





A selection of wild flowers that have been seen on the links this month are pictured below.

Thrift

  A typical sea-side plant.

Pictured to the left of the 5th Medal fairway.

Buttercup

A patch to the right of the gully at the 3rd on the

 Medal course.

Common Star Of Bethlehem.

A few clumps of this plant can be seen behind the 12th

Medal green and also to the left of the 16th Broomfield fairway. 





Red Campion 

 Grows to about 3 feet tall and is fairly

common around the links.

Foxgloves 

 Not seen in as good numbers as in previous years although a few

 clumps can still be seen around the courses like these close to the

 13th Medal tee.

Wild Blue Geranium

A few clumps of this geranium can be seen near the back

maintenance track behind the 4th medal hole.

Wild Poppy 

 The seeds of the poppy can remain

dormant in the soil for many years and often germinate

when the soil is disturbed.  These were seen close

to the greenkeepers sheds.

Wild Rose 

 A few of these bushes can be seen around

the courses. The one above is growing to

 the right of the 4th Medal fairway.

Honeysuckle 

 Can be seen in good numbers on the Broomfield course,

 especially  around the 6th and7th holes where the use gorse

 bushes for support.

Flag Iris

Photograph taken at the wash bay reed

bed, where they are now in full flower.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Next month I will highlight some of the insect life that can be found on the links together with more photos of birds, plants etc.

Les Rae

First Assistant

Montrose Golf Links Limited



ROUGH MOWING

                                         Second cut of rough being mown at the 10th on the
                                         medal with our new seven deck articulator rotary mower.
                                       
                                                                                                                       

                                          The Amazone flail mower cutting the deeper rough
                                           between the 1st and 18th on the medal.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - MAY

Montrose Golf Links Limited is committed to keeping the environmental footprint that is produced in relation to the maintenance of the golf courses to a minimum. One area that caused concern was the machinery wash down area. In the past all waste water together with oil, fuel and other residues were simply allowed to drain away into the surrounding ground.
  After looking into the different options it was decided to install a reed bed filtration system. Construction started in 2009. The principal behind this is that there are a series of small lined reed beds, the contaminated water is fed into the top bed and through gravity drains into successive beds. Almost all plants that live with its roots in water has the capability to transport oxygen down to its roots. This oxygen helps feed the bacteria which digest many of the pollutants which might otherwise contaminate the eco system.
  The only downside to this system with regards to our site was that because the area around our sheds is so flat we had to build the reed beds into a man made mound  in order to allow the water to drain into each bed in succession. This meant we required a small pump to get the water from the wash bay to the highest reed bed.

The wash bay.

The reed bed under construction.

                                                       

Another photo of the reed bed under construction.

A recent photo taken from the top reed bed.

A recent photo of the reed bed system taken from below.

-------------------------------------------------------------

One of the best sights, and a sign that spring has arrived, is that of the skylark. At this time of year their song can be heard all over the links. They can be heard high in the sky while they are hovering and performing their display flight. They can also often be seen on the ground either in the rough or on the courses fairways.   It is a small streaky brown bird with a crest often visible on its head, especially during courtship season. The wings also have a white rear edge that is visible in flight. They nest on the ground in the thick uncut rough normally under a large tuft of grass with the nest being lined with fine grass and hair.  They start to lay in late April / early May and there are normally between 2 and 6 eggs in a clutch.

Skylark in the rough on the Broomfield course.

                                        

Skylarks nest - on the Broomfield course.

Skylarks nest with chicks - on the Medal course.

  The skylark is on the RSPB Red list which means,  it is globally threatened, there has been historical population decline during 1800 and 1985,  there has been a severe (at least a 50%) decline in the UK breeding population over the last 25 years, and there has been a severe (at least a 50%) reduction in the UK breeding range over the last 25 years.

 So the fact that good numbers, together with the many breeding pairs which we have on the links is a good indication that the diverse types and length of grassland that we manage , and leave unmanaged for that matter, are having a positive impact on these threatened birds.
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------

 The month of May sees a number of different wild plants on the links in full flower, a few of which can be seen below.

Violets growing next to the practice area.

Lady's smock growing on the banking of the

burn that crosses the Broomfield course.

A close up of Field mouse-ear taken to the left of

10th Medal green.

Bluebells growing close to the greenkeepers sheds.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Next month I will show an example of the work that has been undertaken to help showcase the life that can be seen on the golf courses. I will also feature another bird that can be seen on the links.

-------------------

Les Rae

First Assistant

Montrose Golf Links Limited





COURSE MAINTENANCE

                                         Fertiliser being applied to 14th Medal Fairway.

                                     .    1st Green on Medal Course being rolled with the Greens

                                          iron to maintain pace and smoothness.

                                          Aeration work taking place on 1st Medal Green.

                                          This is done to relieve surface compaction and to allow air

                                          penetrate through the soil profile.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - APRIL

                                     


For anyone  not familiar with Montrose Golf Links there are 2 golf courses, the Medal and the Broomfield. They cover an area of 100 hectares. The courses lie between Montrose and the sea and are traditional links courses sitting on sand with minimal top soil. They are free draining and low in fertility.  Approximately 60  hectares are left relatively unmanaged, the majority of these out of  play areas consist of either natural dune land grasses or stands of gorse.

Unmanaged dune grasses at the 3rd Medal hole.

  The mix between the short maintained grass of the fairways etc and areas of long un-cut rough, together with the gorse cover, provide a varied habitat for a large number of animals, birds, insects and plants.

Gorse surrounding the 3rd Broomfield Green.

April is normally the month that the irrigation system is checked and turned back on after the winter shut down. While checking the irrigation boxes that are located around the courses  frogs and occasionally toads are found thriving in the dark damp conditions that these boxes provide.




2 of the many frogs living in the irrigation boxes.

Frog on an irrigation box.

An area of ground to the right of the 14th Medal green has been developed into a small wetland area. It was always low lying but over the last 3 years we have we have excavated it down closer to the water table. Since this time reeds and rushes have flourished and spread naturally, last year was the first time that frog spawn was spotted in this area. Again this year there is frog spawn evident.



Wetland area to the right of the 14th Medal green.

This years frog spawn .


Next month, I will give an insight into one of the environmental measures that we have implemented in regards to  washing down course machinery and the waste water produced.

Les Rae
First Assistant
Montrose Golf Links Limited