Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
Yes... rain... rain... and more rain!
The season has had one of the wettest starts on record across the country!
We are not the only course with a season “dampened” by the weather.
Our recent social media post on Facebook and Instagram showing the extent of the flooded areas reached over 2000 people.
Many golf clubs and other greenskeepers sharing the post to show their own members they are not alone!
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
HOWEVER ... The grounds team (Contrary to rumours) have been working on the course in any way possible given the circumstances.
Course but work continues!
As some members may have seen, heavier equipment trying to cut wet areas of the course can easily damage them. (Tyre marks)
So the team have been using lighter equipment and machinery recently to ensure the course is protected where possible.
Sticking close to paths or going on foot, they have been busy doing what they can:
- Clearing and marking course boundaries
- Bunkers, weeded, edging and maintenance
- Drainage repair
- Drainage extensions
- New cup/hole inserts
- General course upkeep without heavy machinery
- and finally... cutting the overgrown grass!
- And much more that goes unseen.
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
Defining the course boundaries:
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
New updated smarter yardage markers measured and put in place 100,150,200 yards ...
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
Some very waterlogged areas have been given special attention.
See below:
The hexapath leading off the second fairway has been collecting substantial water over winter, the team have identified the best drainage point, dug a trench and laid a drain connected to the main drain installed by contractors last year.
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
As the winter weather takes it’s toll on the bunkers across the course , the teams have started bringing them back to life.
Baring any flooded bunkers, the team have been de-weeding, cutting sharp edges, maintaining the body of the bunkers and their faces.
As the weather improves you will see all bunkers given the care and attention.
LADY CAPTAINS BUNKER
Grounds Newsletter
TALKING OF BUNKERS... THIS YEAR THE LADY CAPTAIN HAS CREATED A CHARITY BUNKER ON THE 8TH
If you land in this bunker please leave a donation behind the bar for the lady captains charity,
Playing partners ...DON’T let them forget!
Bring On The Summer!
Grounds Newsletter
The Good News : Better weather has started to break through!
The past week as seen a slight break in the weather and the team have been all hands to the pumps, getting the course in shape for members.
During the very wet period, heavy rough and fairway cutters were getting stuck and even needing towing. As mentioned above the call was made to not damage the course and if needed leave the grass to grow until the ground dried up.
Thankfully it has started to!
(Fingers crossed)
TAMING THE COURSE!
As anyone who has been up to the club recently can tell you, some parts of the course has grown wild without the ability to regularly cut.
So.. the team had to try and TAME parts of the course, this meant taking out lighter machines with higher cutters to do a first cut.
This then allowed the rough cutters to address the rough AND some parts of fairways.
Then finally the more accurate cutting equipment where the course is dry enough to handle it.
Greens, Surrounds and Tees have had a first cut and are looking much better already.
Some ROUGH / FAIRWAY definition coming back...
TAMING THE COURSE!
You can see the length of the grass in areas, and how the team have had to go over it multiple times:
TAMING THE COURSE!
Stripes in the rough!
TAMING THE COURSE!
Finally getting the closer fairway cut done.
HERES TO A TURN IN THE WEATHER!
The work the team are putting in should start to be clearly visible (See below). Just a few days/weeks of half decent weather and the course could start to get back to it’s best.
Thank you to all the members for your patience during a frustrating start to the season.
