Course Update from the Greens Chairman

Mid October through to early December two members of the green staff were fully occupied removing leaves from the playing area of the course. Those remaining were busy felling ten trees, which were chipped as per STRI Ecology report and the “Shading” report. Other trees had low slung branches pruned to aid safe mowing.

Most of the paths have been weeded and sprayed; bridges have been cleared of mud. Obviously this will be done again around the end of March. Astro turf was laid over old slippery timbers.

Chris and Roy carried out a survey of the drainage on the 12th Fairway. It is obvious to all that a major drainage reconstruction programme requires putting into operation. We are trying to make a “silk purse out of a sow’s ear”.

We have engaged a specialist contractor to verti-drain all the fairways using much heavier and larger tines than we can handle with our machinery. The cost is extremely reasonable, well under £1000. It was a decision of committee to take up this attractive offer as any treatment is better than none, taking into account the financial climate at present. It is the intention of the Green Committee to bring in a professional drainage surveyor to advise us of the best and most economical course of action we can take on the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 12th, 15th, 16th and 18th fairways, these being the worst affected. They will also advise on improving the area between the path and front of the 3rd green although we expect that this would be costly and would have to sit on the back burner for the time being.

We have sprayed the greens as regularly as the weather would allow, to keep fusarium patches under control. Spraying will continue throughout the coming weeks, again weather permitting.

The two buggy crossing points at the 4th to the 5th and 16th to 17th have been modified, making them more user friendly.

It has been policy to “slit tine” all of the greens every two weeks and to continue to do so in the coming weeks, ground conditions allowing.

Ditches at the 7th, 10th 12th 13th 15th 17th and 18th have been cleaned, but may need to be done again towards the end of March.

Virtually all the machinery has been serviced and all blades reground. The remaining machines will be serviced before end of February in readiness for the growing season.

During the forthcoming weeks in conjunction with Ecology 425 trees and shrubs will be planted in strategic positions; STRI advice.

We have already made a start on repairing the breaks in the river bank fence along the 4th5th and 6th holes and reinforcing with additional heavy duty posts where necessary.

The safety fence around the stop log at the 6th will be extended past the stop log pit on the green side.

As and when the temperature rises, we will be returfing bare areas on the fairways where leaves have gathered in poor draining areas. The bare area on the 8th fairway and the worn area on the 1st tee will also be returfed.

Work will be carried out to all bunker edges and the green side bunkers at the 1st 2nd 4th 5th 11th 17th and 18th will also be refurbished at their front edges.

We have purchased sufficient “patio paving slabs” in three different colours to replace all the fairway yardage markers. These will be in place before the start of the season proper.

The ditch from the front of the 14th tee through to the 18th fairway will be hand dug out along with the ditches to the left of the 8th and 12th fairways; all other ditches will be inspected and cleared if necessary.

It would be nice say that we will also start cutting grass shortly, but winter is lingering.

Finally, I was asked if it would be possible to put a drop of antifreeze in the ball washers during this cold snap. I think and hope it was said in jest.

J. Barry Weston
Green Chairman