Robin Hood Golf Course Maintenance: 2014

Monday 20 October 2014

Surfaces Mid October

Looking great for October and after 3 inches of rain in 7 days. (Please no more rain this week)!

Greens 3mm Hand Mown with JD 220SL

Fairways 15mm with JD 8000A

Congratulations to my team for last weeks efforts. Working there Butts off as always in some terrible weather.

The Midlands Golf Union V South West Counties was a huge success and the Midlands team won.

We managed to get the greens smooth and running at 12.3 by the afternoon singles.( Not bad for Mid October!!!)

The Officials from both sides were full of praise about the condition of the course and the Midlands Captain tweeted

David Gibson‏@DavidGibson36

@RobinHoodGC and a BIG shout out to the best green keeper and green staff this side of the moon #thebest

Wednesday 23 April 2014

The 2nd Hole

The biggest change to the 3 holes reconstructed this winter. The 2nd has had a new pond built in place of an old cross bunker at the front of the green. The bunker to the right of the hole has been lifted and reshaped so it is visable from the fairway and we have extended the green out to the right and rear of the original green to add interest and give us further pin positions. The sleeper wall has been installed to add interest around the pond and a fountain to aerate the water.

New 4th Hole

The 4th has had 2 new bunkers installed with a rubber crumb base as well as a further 100 metres of additional drainage around the green surround. The Bunkers have been raised and completely reshaped to be able to see them from further down the fairway. The green surrounds have had many 100's of tonnes tipped and shaped to add definition to the hole.

New 5th Hole

New 5th Hole

5th Hole Prior to opening on Good Friday. 3 new bunkers with a rubber crumb base, over 400metres of drainage added and a green extension

New Banking to ease maintenance and health and safety concerns as well as creating added interest and a fairer result for the golfer who misses the green slightly.

New tee Installed combining a path and the winter tee mat.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Better Bunkers

We are constantly trying to find ways of improving the way our bunkers play. The biggest issues for us over the past few years has been stones in bunkers and washouts which makes getting consistant bunkers difficult. We have trialed a method last summer and this year we have enhanced the method and rolled it out to the 6 Bunkers we have reconstructed this winter.

Step 1
Take one hideous bunker that does not drain and start all over again

Step 2

Reshape the bunker improving aesthetics making it add to the make up of the hole

Step 3

Install Drainage to a positive outlet and then stone the base follow this with a compactor

Step 4

Install a Mix of permeable Resin and rubber mix that will prevent stones from coming through the surface but will also prevent washdown and sand contamination helping to keep sand levels consistent.

Rubber troweled to a uniform depth then it is tampered down to give a smooth finish

Finished product all ready for final shaping & Turfing. Sand installation will be in early April.

4th & 5th Progressing Jan/Feb2

5th Green Surround shaping completed by using material from behind the practice green. Initial turfing has also started

Bunker Base being prepared on the 5th using type 1 granite hardcore. This is in preparation for the rubber layer being installed in house in March

4th Green Bunker having the same treatment ready for the rubber picture also shows the turfing completed apart from the actual face which will done once we have completed the rubber installation. We will also be using different turf on the faces as an experiment that should remain greener during the summer months.