22nd Hole
The work on the 22nd hole is taking shape, albeit after a few weather setbacks. There was a further delay this week with concrete trucks having to be cancelled, as the course was too wet to start the first pour of the cart path. The project will soon see the cart path extended down the left-hand side of the fairway, looping around the back of the green and joining the existing concrete path at the rear of the 23rd tee.
Works completed to date:
- Removal of foreign species of trees from left-hand side of the fairway, opening up the canopy to allow more light and improved air flow to this fairway.
- Tree lopping to both the left and right hand side of the fairway to allow a wider play avenue through what was an ever tightening gap at the narrow point of the fairway.
- Initial major earthworks. The fairway has been levelled, widened to the right, and the fairway bunker removed. The most significant change has been at the narrow point of the fairway, with a substantial amount of soil moved to level and widen the play area.
- Removal of the bitumen path between the 22nd green and 23rd tee.
Up-coming works:
- Cart Path installation / completion.
- Addition of double row irrigation to the fairway and green approach.
- Fairway capping: once the irrigation has been added, the fairway will have a layer of topsoil/sand spread to provide a growing medium for the turf.
- The fairway will be sprigged with ‘tiff tuff’ turf, the same process used for the 24th fairway. The grow-in period is expected to be 3-4 months.
Bunkers: existing bunkers will be renovated while the front right-side bunker will be reduced in size. Solid turfing around this area will also occur.
Green Conditions
Following the renovation in early February, where a less invasive renovation was adopted, the playability of the greens returned to an acceptable standard within two weeks. More traditional renovations, using hollow cores, will take typically 5-6 weeks which is frowned upon by the golfer (not unique to Keperra). There has however been some subsequent issues with thatch (organic matter) which has caused areas within some greens to become “puffed up” where organic matter build up is higher. In these areas the mowing has caused scalping (leaf removal) to occur in some of the greens on holes 1-18 (known as grass variety 328). The ‘Tiff Dwarf’ grass on holes 19-27 reacts differently to the same environmental conditions (rain, high humidity, and reduced light on overcast days), with the scalping being limited to some holes on 1-18.
On a positive note, the turf is showing signs of recovery now with several amendments to the program being implemented to accelerate recovery. Increased dusting is taking place when course access allows, to continue to manage the puffiness of the 328 and provide a firmer even surface. Plant health is good with strong white roots seen in test plug observations in late February.
A management plan is in place to reduce the thatch and has been formulated with the assistance of an industry consultant. Further inputs are being made in the coming week/s to deliver a firm even putting surface for Club Championships and thereafter.
The greens will be dusted on Monday and Tuesday of next week, weather permitting as part of the greens management program.
Filed under: Course Updates