Short term pain for long term gain

 This week was our major aeration work to the Craighead course greens which we carry out every 2nd year

 Deep solid tining to 9" to break up any compaction to allow more air movement and drain better

 Then we double scarified them with a 2mm blade to a depth of 20mm, this is to take out as much thatch as possible to help us maintain firm greens

 then the greens were double verti-cut then cut to help clean the surfaces up

 over seeded to get as much seed down the scarifying lines as possible

 then 3 passes with sand to give them a heavy top-dress to help fill in the lines and cover the new seed, we will top-dress again next week as we are trying to apply at least 3/4 tons per green to further reduce the thatch levels

 A light rub in then turf iron

We will be lightly soaking the greens daily to wash in the sand and keep the new seed damp

 This week our focus was on setting up the Craighead course for the 72 hole Battle Trophy this weekend

 With the warmer weather it was ideal to catch on painting the starters hut, course toilets and water fountain

 Protecting the tees from the practice rounds

results after day 1 from rounds 1 & 2

 At last some great weather to allow us to get on, That's us started our wetting agent/seaweed program to the greens

 We have applied our spring fertiliser to the Craighead course greens to kick start them for the Battle Trophy and the season

 We have now managed to screen sand and finish topping up bunkers with fresh sand and all the newly built bunkers are now back into play

 The newly built 3rd & 7th tees on the Balcomie course have had their first cut and are also back into play

 7th Medal tee

We have started to seed and top up the new drainage lines at the start of the 2nd fairway on the Craighead course

When will the weather improve

 One of our Greenkeepers, Tony is leaving us to take up a position at the Fairmont, Tony started as an apprentice then an assistant and was with us for 15years, The CGS Staff wish him well in his new position

 We have been replacing our old/tired fairway yardage posts on the Craighead course with new wooden ones, plus we are setting them in a sleeve then cementing them into the ground

 Setting up our mowers for the start of the season

 Catching up with divoting fairways

 We have applied our Spring fertiliser to the tees over both courses

 Getting both courses set up for the weekend after being behind due to the heavy rain this week