GREENKEEPERS

Course News - updated 02/08/11

August 2011

Greens
A further program of hollow tining, overseeding and top dressing planned.

18th Hole
New competition tee has been built and the right hand side of the 18th new plantings and landscaping.

8th Green
New trees have been planted around the back of the 8th green and the area around where the services for the club house were installed also being landscaped.

PITCH MARKS!!!
It's disapointing to see the number of un-repaired pitch marks on the greens increasing. It only take 6 seconds for you to repair your pitch mark but it takes 6 weeks for the green to repair it's self. If you are unsure how to repair a pitch mark properly then please watch the short video clip on this page. If you repair your own pitch mark plus one more then there should never be any marks on the green.

July 2011 - Updates
New sewer system
Tees have been moved to ladies teeing area on the 18th to allow the construction of the sewer for the new club house. This will be followed by a temporary green on the 8th fairway as the work progresses - work now complete

July 2011
150 Yard Markers
All the 150 yard markers have been surveyed using laser technology and have been reset to the correct distance

Sand Slitting
The program of sand slitting continues - semi rough drainage improvements and sand slitting and over seeding on several of the back 9 fairways.

Spraying
A general program of spraying for weeds is ongoing so as a general rule - don't lick your balls!

June 2011 - Updates
The 2nd Hole
Improvements to the drainage and landscaping along the right hand side of the fairway/rough area. Trees have been moved and the area banked up so that the mowers can access this area. Previously they were unable to cut between the trees and also in winter machinery could get stuck.
June - 2011
Sand Slitting
Anyone who has been out in the last couple of days will have seen two new sand slitters in operation. The different design means that the Slitter can keep moving and be supplied with sand without stopping operations. This "stopping" operation was the main problem with the previous machine, this caused numerous mechanical failures. If you come across the green staff out slitting please be patient and courteous as it will pay dividends in the future for the course.

Top Dressing
Now in full swing on the greens with slitting and over seeding being carried out on the fairways.

May 2011 - Updates

Greens
Started top dressing greens

Sand Slitter
New sand slitting machine on order from Holland - expected delivery 4 -6 weeks

Greens
The recent glorious weather combined with sub zero temperatures at night has delayed the grass starting to grow. This in turn has delayed the top dressing. Once the heavy machinery, micro-tiner, scarrifier work etc is completed then the greens can be over seeded and top dressed.

1st Tee Drop Zone & New 2nd Comp Tee
The grass has now taken and is starting to grow but will take a while before it can be cut close.

April - 2011 - planned work
Sand Slitter - being refurbished followed by a program of sand slitting, starting on the back 9

Tees & Greens - Top Dressing and general sand spreading. Fertilise the areas surround the Greens

Bunkers- complete the work on the 16th (weather permitting), more sand in some bunkers

March 2011 - continued
Jimmy "The Divot " is back on the course

Tees - scarified, fertilised and sprayed for weeds. New tee markers

Greens - verticut, scarified and sprayed for Fusarium
(Fungus), and worms

1st Hole Dropping Zone - completed turfing

Fairways - fertilised, sprayed for weeds

Cleared Drains

Bunkers edged

2nd Hole - Competition tee - seeded the sides of the tee

4th Fairway - the exposed section of the drain has been turfed

Driving Range - out field improvements, new and refurbished power-tees fitted

March 2011
1st Green - edge of green raised at front

Greens - Scarifying
- a program of scarifying the greens to remove any moss has started

2nd Hole - New Competition Tee
- work has started on the new tee (see photos). Turf being laid. Trees to be cut back.

9th Fairway - Cart Path
- New cart path water main and drainage going in down the left hand side of the fairway.

1st Hole - Dropping Zone
- new dropping zone being installed at the edge of the pond, nearest to the tee.

February 2011

Flower Beds & Ponds
- the flower beds around the 18th green have been revitalised with the clearing of weeds, pruning of shrubs and the addition of chipped bark to suppress the growth of weeds. Work has also started on clearing out some of the rushes and pond weed from the ponds surrounding the 1st & 18th greens. The other ponds will follow

Greens - BACK IN PLAY
- the greens have been solid tined this week. Greens have also been cut. If the weather holds up they'll be back in play shortly. The use of mats and temporary greens over this winter will give the course a flying start once the warmer weather comes.

Woods
- a program of clearing fallen & storm damaged trees from the woods has started.

Machine Maintenance
- although the bad weather made work on the course all but impossible it has given the team and myself a chance to carry out important maintenance work for the machinery. This includes servicing and replacement of parts, including hydraulic hoses.

Wildlife
- most regular club members will have seen the abundance on wildlife on the course. Deer can be seen most days, with 8 deer in one group being spotted last week. Other wildlife includes Hares, Rabbits, Buzzards, Kestrals, Pheasants, Ducks, Moorhen with Dragonflies zooming around the ponds in summer to name but a few. One note of caution - there are reports that the crows are making a return and stealing balls again! Be on guard.

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