We are hopefully coming out of a very bad winter in terms of golf. I started the winter with every intention of improving the bunkers starting with the 11th and 16th. This all went out the window in December with the constant rain which prevented us from commencing these improvements. This also stopped us taking machinery on the golf course and unfortunately with good growing temperatures (14 degrees on Christmas Day), worms and wet conditions, we couldn't define the course. This of course caused problems with losing balls and many people were disgruntled with the appearance of the course.
The frost greens have not been anyway near good enough this winter and for that I can only apologise as there is no excuse. This is something we have hopefully started to improve on by using the cores from the main greens and then top dressing and overseeding. This should give us a better base, should we need to rest or work on the main greens in the future.
The greens have been worked on throughout the winter with us being able to use the pedestrian aerator and they have remained playable with the exception of the 6th, 8th, 13th and 14th which have all been very wet, with the 8th still suffering now. We have tined at various depths to avoid panning and have just completed our maintenance week using 10mm cores at 2 inch spacings and backfilling with 35 tonnes of kiln dried sand. We will fertilise later on this week to aid recovery but will be hoping for some warm weather to trigger some growth.
We are now turning our attention to completing the various jobs we have started on the golf course such as the 1st mound and the drainage channels on 2, 3 and 11. We are also waiting on some equipment to be able to help us complete the 3rd path.
The 3rd path is something I felt essential for the golf course as it will enable us to play the hole at all times and with the extension of other paths, will make the course be more pleasurable to play during the winter months. I also feel it is necessary to address the drainage issues on 7 and 11 which have been poor and feel a combination of sand banding and pea gravel drainage channels leading into existing drains or soak aways, will be an ideal solution. The 8th green is also something that needs addressing to prevent a repeat of this winter.
I hope that members will appreciate the jobs that we have managed to complete such as the new benches on 3, 8 and 9, the winter tees on 4, 8, 9, 12 and 15 plus the 3 mats for the juniors on the practice ground. There are other jobs which we have done to try and improve the clubhouse areas with more plans for improvement on the way.
I must express my disappointment in the fact that of the 18 fairway mats which were purchased to improve the playability of certain areas, 7 have "gone missing". This is not an isolated incident with divots being taken on and next to the greens and the engraving on lockers in the members area. As a golf club, we can only move forward and improve with the help and cooperation of the members. Everything we do on the course is to try and improve conditions for your enjoyment and benefit and having to spend time and money repairing damage or replacing course equipment, hinders us doing so. Please work with us and we will all benefit and hopefully, enjoy a great golfing season.
Many thanks for your patience and understanding throughout this difficult period of poor weather and golfing restrictions.
James
