Checking moisture levels before deciding how much irrigation to apply, this helps us reduce the amount we use and concentrate on the drier and high spots 

We have purchased a new rake for raking our 3.5" roughs & deep rough areas to help thin these areas out by ripping into the base of the plant 

We have applied a low rate of slow release fertiliser to the Craighead fairways to aid recovery from the Summer, this fertiliser will work away through the Autumn/winter months depending on temperatures

Fairways greening up with the application of fertiliser 

With it being so dry, we took the chance to re-cement damaged areas on our burn floor on the Balcomie course 

Staff setting up for the SGU event last week 

This week seen us start our aeration work to the Balcomie course greens & PG's, firstly we mini-hollow cored to take out thatch and allow the greens to breathe 

Then the greens were cleared of the cores, double verti-cut to clean the surfaces up and take out more thatch 

then double cut 

Then spiked and seeded 

The spiker creates lots of holes for the seed to go in, plus the coring holes is ideal for the seed, then at the rear of the seeder is a brush that helps brush the seed into the holes too

Then we applied 2 tons of top-dressing sand to each green to fill all the holes/cover the seed, smooth off the surfaces and help dilute the thatch levels  

The sand was slowly drag matted into the surface in different directions 

Then the staff very slowly rolled the surface to smooth them off 

Very little disturbance to the ball roll considering the work carried out, hopefully the greens will be back to normal playing conditions in 2/3 weeks time 

Then we watered in the sand & seed, we need to keep the seed damp for it to germinate, in the next few days we will apply a low rate granular fertiliser to aid recovery and help with the seed germination 
 

The Balcomie course greens have been sprayed with liquid fertiliser & wetting agent 

Greens being cut in front of play 

The weaker fairways on the Balcomie course being watered to help the seed germinate 

We have been out with the drone taking pictures of the staff setting up the courses 

The Craighead greens have been mini-cored to help reduce thatch levels & firm up the surfaces, this also allows better water & air movement through the profile 

Once the greens were mini-cored & cleaned up they were then lightly verti-cut to take more thatch out the surface 

The amount of debris from each green 

There is very little disturbance to the surfaces once they have been cut & turf ironed 

The Craighead surrounds have been fertilised to aid recovery from a very busy season 

Our wildflower area next to the putting green has worked really well and looking great with all the colours, this is such a benefit to insects/bees & butterflies etc 

In the same area as the wildflowers, the banking has been great attracting sand martins to nest this Summer 

We are starting to get digging from badgers on our 11th tees on the Craighead course and other areas over the site 

We are spiking,seeding and sanding areas where we have been hit by a disease called Take all patch on our greens, this is ongoing to aid recovery