It's the start of our winter work plans which are on the Craighead course as it's on it's fortnightly closure through the winter months. the 17th greenside bunker is getting rebuilt

 Also we have outside contractors in to carry out drainage works to the 3rd fairway on the Craighead course, which consists of trenching to a depth of 300mm, back filling trench to a depth of 200mm with gravel then the last 100mm with sand at 1metre spacing

 We are taking advantage of the course being closed so we are mini hollow coring/double verti-cutting & cutting the greens again which is helping to keep the thatch under control

The Balcomie course- we carried out course set up ie cutting greens, raking bunkers & divot/bins etc on tees then all staff over to the Craighead course

With the dry windy weather we managed to top-dress and brush and drag mat the Craighead surrounds plus finish cutting the deep rough on the Balcomie course, with the mild weather we have still been out cutting all of the playing areas to keep both courses neat and tidy

The Balcomie greens are recovering well after the aeration work, with the wet weather we have had to put a hold on cutting and collecting the deep rough and top-dressing the surrounds and tees on the Craighead course but we have been able to catch up with other tasks ie cleaning/blowing the car parks, mini coring the Craighead greens again, spraying iron and a preventative fungicide on the Craighead greens. Another job that will need done is a repair to the wall rear of the 10th green as it was damaged by a golfer on a buggy

This week we are starting to cut and collect our deep rough on the Balcomie course, we try to carry this task out once a year on certain areas to help reduce the thickness of the rough plus reduce weeds, the only negative is trying to dispose of all of the tons of clippings

More sand on the Balcomie greens, we just managed to complete the aeration work on the greens before the rain that we received late Wednesday which really helped wash in the top-dressing and seed
other tasks on the Balcomie course was to verti-drain all the tees and fairways 1, 9 & 10, catch up with any cutting and make a start to painting the doors on the old boathouse next to green 1. On the Craighead course we sprayed the greens and surrounds with worm irritant and trimming/cleaning sprinkler heads

 The Balcomie course closed to carry out essential aeration work to the greens & surrounds

 We are deep verti-draining, mini hollow coring, double verti-cutting, cutting, over seeding, top-dressing and rubbing in on all greens & surrounds

 In addition to the above, greens 3, 6, 17 & 18 are being 16mm hollow cored to help improve drainage and grass quality

We are taking advantage of the course being closed so we are deep verti-draining our tees as well, all this aeration work is to help reduce thatch levels and reduce compaction which has occurred over the playing season.