Morecambe GC Greens Blog.

The 4th fairway has suffered all year with the continual rainfall. A combination of damaged drains, tree roots and issues with the outlet onto the shore have made the hole unplayable at times. The club have provided the funds to carry out improvements and the greenstaff have been busy installing new drain lines with perforated pipe and washed gravel. The 1st area to be trenched was close to the fairway bunkers. A large floating "cows belly" had appeared which indicated broken pipework below. A new 100mm pipe drain has been installed and connected into a servicable clay tile land drain (which was rodded). This area has dried out already and will improve even more when we dig a small extension drain to the area. The next area to be drained was closer to the tee, near the rear of the 16th green. Large quantities of water have been running across the surface from the R/H side of the fairway and rough. 2 problems were discovered, a spring and old land drains damaged by tree

The work to improve drainage in the valley is moving forward depite the weather. The banks have been dug out apart from the section across the 2nd hole, which will be completed early next week. The rest of the bankings have been prepared for turfing and sections across the 11th & 15th have been turfed. Turfing will continue over the next week. The drainage outlets have been leveled and cleaned out. Additional drains will be added later in the winter. The crossing points have been raised and the astroturf removed. This will be replaced by a hard wearing rye grass and a plastic ground stabilisation material. The crossing points will be roped off and temporary crossing points created while the turf recovers. Please pick any balls out of the ditch using the rakes supplied as walking down the turf will destroy the bankings. Again, some hole closures will occur during this work. Thank you for your patience at this time.

This afternoon, myself and the greens committee walked the course to determine which trees would be removed as part of our winter work programme. It was a very productive time, with  agreement on all areas under discussion. The main aims of the tree removal are to provide light, improve areas for drainage, reduce leaf litter, remove undesirable species and to re-instate views across the course and across the bay that have been lost. The areas of removal this winter will be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th & 16th holes. As always, the work will be weather dependant and will also include the removal of any stumps which would be seen as in play. The work should start early next month (November) and will continue thru the winter.  I will update the blog with more information and pictures as work progresses.