11th Hole Bunker Revetting

Six of the seven new bunkers on hole 11 have now been revetted. MJ Abbott shapers did the preparation work prior to the course team building the bunker faces.

Left side greenside

 Right side approach

Right hand approach

Right side fairway

Transplanting Dune Sod

A key process involved in the project work on holes 11 and 12 is the stripping and relaying of dune or rough grass sod from the out of play areas. To make best use of resources and to help give an instant "mature look" to the finished result we have been using the excavators to gently strip off sections of dune sod from areas which require re-contouring and then placing them back down with the greatest care and precision onto already completed areas. As the grass in this sod is often very fragile the contractor has developed a useful strategy to handle each piece. An excavator is used to strip a section of turf, the bucket from the excavator is then detached with the turf still inside and the whole thing is placed into one of the 9 tonne dumpers. The dumper then takes the turf section (still safely sat inside the detached excavator bucket) to the area where it is to be re-laid. At this point a second excavator attaches the bucket and then carefully lays the turf section onto the newly created dune area. This process ensures that despite the fragile nature of the grass each and every dune sod section is used and no wastage occurs. It takes considerable skill to make sure all the sods are stripped to the same thickness and they are all placed back down in exactly the correct position. The turf could not withstand being picked up a second time and repositioned as it would most likely disintegrate. The finished result looks fantastic. 

A short video showing one end of the process is shown below.

Creating New Mounding

Additional mounding has been built to try to hide the path next to the 13th tee when viewed from the 12th tee. The area was stripped of existing sod before around 200 tonnes of sand was brought in and shaped to give a natural appearance.

Before Work Started

Taking shape

The Shaped Mounding

 Dune Sod Added

11th Hole Bunker Shaping

Our earthworks contractor MJ Abbott have almost completed the rough shaping work around the bunkers on the 11th hole.

The course team are currently busy building the revetted face in each of the bunkers before top soiling around is carried out.

Turfing 12th Green

Returfing work on the 12th green has been completed. Many hours have been spent laying and adjusting the the individual turf pieces to ensure the surface is as level as possible. In a few days ironing and top dressing of the surface will commence to firm it up and correct any slight imperfections. The green cannot be walked on for the time being.

12th Green Bunker Revetting

The course team have spent the past few days building the faces of the five new bunkers around the new 12th green. All five have now been completed allowing the contractor to get on with laying down the top soil on the green collar.

12th Green Rootzone & Bunker Revetting

The new rootzone is now in place on hole 12. The material has been spread to the required depth and the architect has approved the contouring. The course team are busy revetting the faces of the new bunkers as this must be completed before the new rootzone can be added to the green collar. Once that is done we will be ready to lay turf onto the green.

Autumn Maintenance Update

Following the maintenance work carried out on the week beginning 26th September, I would like to consider the work done and the results so far. The solid tine work on greens was completed in a timely manner without creating too much disruption to the surfaces.

Seeding work was carried out next using our dedicated seeding unit.

The seeder was used twice, the first time with a fescue seed, then at a slightly shallower depth bent seed was used. The greens were ironed to improve firmness before top dressing was applied to improve smoothness.

Since the work was done the seedlings have germinated well. The new grass is infilling the patches of ryegrass that are dying off following the previous selective graminicide treatment.

Lines of new grass plants

11th Green Update

With all the clay gone from the 11th, work has started on filling the void with sand.

 The extent of the clay

The mounded area on the front left of the green has been stripped of turf as this will become a hollow and a bunker eventually.

The material from the old mound is being used to form part of the base of the new green.

The stripped dune turf

The blue line marks the front of the new green

Creating The New 12th Green 2

The images below show the latest work completed on the 12th green complex. The putting green surface has been completed subject to approval from our course architect on Monday. The two left hand bunkers have been shaped so far.

 The three posts show the centre line of the new green