Birchwood Park Newsletter - May & June 23

AN UPDATE FROM...

Stephen Norton General Manager

I hope everyone is looking forward to the summer. The opening major of this year was one of the wettest Masters Tournaments I can recall, and that weather pattern is definitely not escaping us over here. The grass has only really started growing recently, and we have even still seen morning frosts in the latter stages of April. Neil and his team are working hard to get the course ready for the summer’s play with the grass growing at a rapid rate at the moment.

As you will know, we are a GEO accredited club and we continually work to improve our sustainability and our impact on the environment. Neil has recently been working on a submission to the Forestry Commission to increase planting around areas of the golf course - this will not only impove habitats for wildlife but also help tackle carbon levels in the area. This grant has now been approved and we will be planting in the Autumn/Winter.

During April, we took the opportunity to install bi-fold doors and lay the new patio. As I’m sure you’ll agree, this has made a huge difference to the area as well as providing more light in the bar.

Whilst the new Biossun Pergola has now been installed, there are still a few finishing touches to be made to finish this area off.

I know this will be a popular area over the coming months.

Over recent months, I have been asked numerous times about the impact our bunker work will have on the course rating. For peace of mind for everyone I have reached out to the Lead Course Assessor via Kent Golf. Mark Ward has confirmed that the course does not need re-assessing based on the work we have completed. Bunkers play a part in the overall rating however this is not significant enough for it to affect the rating at this time. We are due to be reassessed in 2025 and work planned before this date will also not affect this.

In conjunction with England Golf’s directive, I am currently working on an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy which the club will adopt. There will also be a new Disciplinary Procedures Document that will be shared to help provide clarity for members.

See you around the club soon!

Stephen

COURSE UPDATE

Neil Crittenden Course Manager

It’s been a busy time on the course over the last few months, with project work coming to an end. The contractors came in early March to install the bunker liner, which meant we could crack on and finish the ongoing bunker works. Additionally, in May we will be putting sand into bunkers around the course that need topping up.

This year we have purchased a tractor, a rough mower, a dyna-corer and a tractor mounted hedge cutter. We have also installed a maintenance lift in the workshop. Investment on and off the course is ongoing and important to maintain our high standards.

The weather has been erratic in 2023, with the driest February on record immediately followed by one of the wettest months we’ve seen in March. This meant that we had no choice but to put some post and rope back out to protect the course.

The upside of this is that all the turfing we have done has taken well and we have opened the bunkers and tees earlier than expected. With rainfall being high we have managed to go into the early season with a full reservoir which takes the pressure off our water supplies for the time being.

In May, we have contracted in a company to complete weed spraying. Contracting from outside means that we can complete these works in the space of a day, and minimise disruption to the course and to our golfers.

In certain areas of the course, we do allow the weeds to grow for the wildlife as we should always encourage this as much of possible. Every year we have the British Trust for Ornithology Breeding Bird Survey carried out at the Golf Course. In the 22 years of visits so far, it’s been recorded by sight or sound, 63 species of bird on or around the course!

As the season gets under way and the weather becomes more favourable the course will take shape as we revert to our regular maintenance.

We hope this year will be kind to us, and our fingers are crossed that we can avoid the droughts of previous seasons.

Neil

CLUB UPDATE

Stephen Lee Head Pro

GOLF BOOKING & COURSE RULES:

We’ve had some queries raised by a few members regarding what is permitted and what isn’t regarding bookings and the use of the course, please find some clarification below:

GIRLS ONLY COACHING:

• Open to all girls aged 5-18 years

• No experience necessary

• No equipment required

OPTION 1

Every Sunday 12pm-1pm from 28th May to 2nd July

OPTION 2

Every Thursday 5pm-6pm from 1st June to 6th July

For more information or to book your place go to: www.girlsgolfrocks.org/ BirchwoodParkGC

LADIES GROUP LESSONSTHURSDAYS

Every Thursday at 7pm our PGA Qualified Golf Professional, Paul, runs Ladies Only Golf Sessions. These run for 5 consecutive weeks at a time, and cost just £50. Visit the Pro Shop for more details and to sign up.

• 1-Balls are not permitted to make online golf bookings, you’ll need to call the club so we can pair you up with an existing 2 or 3 ball booking. Alternatively, the pro shop will advise you of a good time to come up when it’s quiet. Please do not make bookings for 2 players and turn up on your own, this is being monitored and repeat offenders may risk their online booking rights being removed.

• Short game practice must be kept to the putting green or driving range. We do not have a short game practice area for pitching, so please refrain from using the Main or Orchard courses to put down multiple balls to practice your pitching. We do allow chipping onto the putting green.

• Please ensure that you check in at the Pro Shop prior to any round of golf on the Main and Orchard Courses.

UPCOMING DEMO DAYS

Friday 2nd June – YONEX

1pm-5pm

Bookings are being taken on a first come, first served basis by calling the Pro Shop.

Thank you for reading the latest Members News.

Please feel free to contact us on 01322 662038

BIRCHWOOD PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Birchwood Rd, Dartford

DA2 7HJ