Gravel Banding
As part of long-term surface management and drainage improvement, Bowood have invested in contractor grade equipment to install gravel bands across areas on the course with a heavy, clay-based soils, primarily in the valley. The process is proven with extensive installations across all areas of the country and at facilities of all statures.
The work cuts a slot and fills it with a clean pea shingle material that ties the surface to existing drainage infrastructure. The slot is narrow, circa 350mm, and cut to a depth that intercepts main gravel filled drains deeper in the soil. We are waiting for the soil to dry a little more before commencing this work and it may open wider as the clay dries and shrinks, which would be counterproductive to our aims. Patience will give us a better result with this work.
Bunkers
Sand exchange has now been completed in 28 bunkers with a further 8 scheduled to be exchanged in the upcoming period. Outstanding work from the team, which saw roughly 250 tonnes of sand installed into the bunkers on just the fourth, ninth and thirteenth holes. This figure does not include the sand removed from these bunkers.
We will be installing a new style of bunker rake into the bunkers with new sand. The tooth design of the bunker will be more effective, with the dragging motion that most golfers use when raking their footprints. They will pull less sand towards the edges and contribute to more stable sand distribution.
Heights of cut
Following broad feedback from the latter half of last season, the fairway height of cut will be increased slightly. This will provide more turf density. Greens height of cut is currently 4mm and will remain here for the duration of the season, except for brief periods when it may be reduced by fractions of a millimetre for events. This is consistent with long term, previous mowing heights.
