Eaton
It’s not exactly been summer weather. What was a “normal” week’s rain ended with almost an inch overnight Saturday that delayed the course opening on Sunday morning: the fairway banding clears surface water quite rapidly but it can’t stop short-term accumulations when there is a deluge.
The greens were both cut and rolled Thursday, Friday and Saturday ahead of the Talbot open competition, producing a speed of 10’ 4” on Friday morning. We’ve previously identified higher roll speeds as being a product of hot dry weather, but that’s hardly been the case recently. We now wonder if frequent rolling on soft greens has a similar effect - the downside being increasing compaction leading to flooding. Relieving compaction is simple, but causes short-term surface disruption.
The farmer came in at the beginning of the week to cut the long rough. It was then turned and rowed up on Thursday followed by baling, by contractor with a massive machine that cost around £250,000. There was a good yield this year, some 83 bales, which will be taken away early this week - assuming the ground recovers enough to take the weight of the loaded trailer. We call the cuttings ‘hay’ but more accurately it’s haylage, with an appreciable moisture content. Whatever, it’s very acceptable winter feed for cattle.
Course committee
27th August 2023