GREENKEEPERS UPDATE
Course Report February 2019

• Investigation work at 14th Green done by Coal Board, then front of green drained.
• New 17th fence and garden developed in conjunction with West Lothian Council.
• New 18th O.B line/garden developed to the left of green, this area has further developments to come with landscaping work to be carried out on the back approach.


• 4th Road edges have had their 1st infill of soil, ready for 2nd fill and over-seed to al-low mowing.
• New sand installed into bunkers prior to edging work being carried out.
• Water blockage repaired at old sheds and blockage at 12th burn exposed to allow water to reduce its levels.
• Problem tree stumps and bushes removed to top of putting green to improve area for mowing and tidiness.
• 16th Medal tee extended, and safety risk removed with ditch filled in.
Work still to be carried out leading up to the golfing season
• 8th, 9th and 10th Drain lines improvements.
• 7th Green drainage dig complete, turf going down as we speak. work
• 9th Ditch renovation complete, base upgraded for next season.
• 9th Main ditch cleared out at fence line.
• Tree stumps excavated out, to be soiled over etc.
• Worn areas over course to be turfed over bunker edges etc.
• 4th Road edged to be topped up and seeded.
• Bunkers to be edged and sand relocated where needed.
• General aeration work to surfaces.
• Red ash to be spread over paths.
• Continue to control moles over the course.
The golf club continues to support Continued Professional Development of the greens staff, this is great as our industry is evolving all the time and we can all learn along the way.
Bird Boxes
You will notice we know have bird boxes going up over the course, this is to help encourage friendlier Starling birds to the course, these birds will help reduce insects over the course and cause very little damage compared to Magpies and Crows.
As indicated in our last course report/newsletter, following the results we have received back from our most recent soil tests, we are now looking to adjust our renovations works to be carried out this coming season. We will now be carrying out more and less disruptive scarifying work to the greens and we can accommodate a smaller core to be removed from the greens in the spring/summer this year, this along with the continued seaweed and com-post tea applications will at this point control the buildup of dead material that we need to keep removing or recycling to produce good healthy playing surfaces.
Head Greenkeeper