COURSE UPDATE

Chris Sharp Head Greenkeeper

With the new season we have started to receive our new stock of clubs, clothing, shoes, and golf equipment. Don’t forget that as a member you receive 10% off full price clothing and full priced shoes (nothing further when on sale).

What better place to start this newsletter than my favourite subject, “the weather!” It has thrown quite a mixed bag at us throughout 2023 so far. A wet start in January, was quickly followed by the driest February for decades. Just 6mm of rainfall for the entire month. We have also endured high winds, temperatures dips to below average to temperature peaks to above average, snowfall and freezing fog! It seems the 2022 trend of unpredictability will be continuing throughout 2023.

We have our Ping fitting event on Thursday, April 20th from 2-6pm. This is by appointment only and bookable through the Professional Shop. Be sure to try the new G430 irons – the longest irons I have ever hit! I am a qualified fitter and I use the TrackMan 4 unit for fitting as well to offer the most accurate information to finetune the best equipment relevant to each customer. The fitting diary is always available in the Professional Shop and is free to members.

With the Easter Half-term, we have our junior golf camps running and these are bookable through the Professional Shop. These are limited to 10 juniors each day (Tuesday –Thursday each week) and encompass all aspects of the game.

Many golfers have taken full advantage (as they should) of playing golf during the drier/warmer periods, which has meant the courses have been busier than usual. We are still experiencing high wear in certain areas. Please continue to avoid the roped off areas and help spread the wear patterns. The ropes will be brought in as soon as the weather/ ground conditions allow.

Bunkers

I spoke at length about bunkers in the previous newsletter, referring to the process of GUR and reinstatement. I’m pleased to say that we’ve invested more time into the bunkers and they now have a clean edge. Please help the Greenkeeping team by always pushing sand away from you when in bunkers.

Continued On The Next Page

Sand levels have also been addressed, with new sand added where required.

Maintenance Week

13th – 17th March 2023

We managed to sneak in a mini maintenance week across all Main Course tees and Short Course greens in the middle of February. We were able to hollow core and collect cores (thanks to a contractor) in one day.

The Main Course saw scarification to 5mm below the surface, 12mm diameter solid tines to a depth of 100mm, 30 tonnes of top dressing, a sarel roll to 20mm below the surface and another roll with the Turf Iron.

The Short Course received 12mm hollow core to a depth of 100mm and 10 tonnes of top dressing (February). With a scarification to 5mm below the surface and 5 tonnes of top dressing (March).

Irrigation Improvements

I am excited to announce that our Main Course irrigation system will be getting a £60k upgrade in May. Currently we have irrigation coverage on the Main Course tees and greens. With the planned improvements this will be getting extended to the approaches and greens surrounds. This is a massive step in raising the turf quality leading up to the greens and surrounding the greens, including bunker coverage.

Why do we need irrigation for bunkers? The quick answer is during dry windy conditions wet sand prefers to stay in the bunkers, as opposed to dry sand. It also helps to keep the turf around bunkers alive, an issue we have experienced after all our bunker renovations.

See you on the course.

Chris Sharp