With a small window of opportunity between member, visitor and competition golf we decided to overseed all greens and approaches between 28th- 30th September 2020.
Now that we have our Organic Matter levels between 4-5% there is no real significant amendments needed to undertaken to the soil profile within our greens. It means that we can now focus on a sustained overseeding programme aimed at re-establishing the fine textured turf that once dominated this links before excessive fertiliser and irrigation applications caused an unfortunate botanical change.
We took the decision to apply 320kg/ha of Gro Green Fescue seed which is a 50/50 blend of Chewings and slender creeping fescues which offers the best solution for year-round performance. The mix Contains some of the top-rated Chewings and slender creeping cultivars for greens use.
Due to the amount of golf still being played daily on the links we postponed our full autumn maintenance week in favor of a non disruptive overseed which will not effect playability with another 3 weeks of competition play left of the 2020 season.
The Redexim Speed Seed 1100 was used to “dimple” seed the greens and approaches. The machine utilities a spiked sarel roller to create 990 holes per m2 and a rear brush roller which sweeps the seed into the mass of holes down to a depth of 20mm. By running the machine over the surfaces three times it allowed us to create over half a million small dimple holes per green. Any excess seed was the worked into the holes using an switches and brushes, before 18 Tonnes of our own indigenous dune sand topdressing was applied to provide the correct growing medium, some protection from the elements and to a smooth finish. The seed should germinate within the next 3 weeks, slightly longer than the 10 days experienced mid august, due to the slightly cooler conditions.
To achieve maximum seed establishment and rapid surface recovery without creating a flush of growth that would negatively affect playing characteristics we will be applying tri smart wetting agent and Goemar seaweed. We chose these products as it has proven to be effective in aiding recovery while maintaining turf health and vigor without any negative effect on playability.
Fescue is the most appropriate species to links sites across the UK and with adequate management will provide characteristics that are typical of links golf here at Nairn Dunbar. The practice of overseeding is a vital aspect of what we are trying to achieve at and will now remain part of our annual maintenance at least twice a year.
The Maintenance procedures were carried out at this time of year when the air and soil temperatures are still high enough to help recovery times to be kept to a minimum. This short term disruption will give us long term benefits giving us firm and true surfaces all year round.
I would like to thank Head Greenkeeper Michael Mann and Boat of Garten Golf Club kindly loaning us the machinery and my team for their effort, professionalism and dedication to complete the work and restore the surfaces within 3 days.
