AGRONOMY UPDATE

DAVID TAGGART, Golf Course Superintendent AGRONOMY UPDATE

As others have touched on it has been great to see the club as busy as it has been over the winter. Despite all the extra traffic the golf course has held up remarkably well. We were especially happy to see the course provide a good test for the Men’s Open and Club Championship, congratulations to all our champions!

Last year our focus was to eradicate the weed infestation, improve the health and firmness of the greens and to improve the condition of the tees. We still have work to do but we are happy with the progress we have made. This year we will look to cement that progress whilst also driving progress in other areas. Firstly, improving the quality of the playing conditions for larger parts of the year and secondly making the golf course stronger and more resilient to all the golf that is now being played across the country.

Left: 17th Green Surround April ‘21

Right: 17th Green Surround Feb ‘22

TRANSITION AND OVERSEED

This year there will be no ‘Transition’. Previously, bare areas in rough that occurred when the winter grass died had persisted throughout the summer, occasionally stretching to overseed in late Autumn. I would like to thank my team for the incredible effort they put forward to repair these same bare areas last summer. When coupled with the Tee Reconstruction project, it was one of the longest summers I have worked. We can now spray chemicals to keep the weeds at bay as well as improve the playability of the bunkers and greens. At times when typically the golf course has been at its weakest we will now be going from strength to strength.

TREE PLANTING WITH GOUMBOOK

Late last year we partnered with Goumbook a local charity that promotes the establishment of Ghaf trees in the UAE. They engaged DP World who sent a delegation to plant 50 trees in November last year. The majority of which were planted left of the 10th fairway. This March Siemens will be planting a further 100 trees, the majority of which will be to the left of the 7th fairway. We also hope to install a pilot beehive project on property to encourage bee populations and pollination.

CART PATH EXPANSION

A busy tee sheet means more carts on the course. To free up traffic flow and to reduce wear on the grass we have begun expanding some cart paths. We will continue throughout this year and into next year, expanding larger sections where feasible and installing laybys in other areas to give more room to pass.

STAFF PROFILE HARRY WELLS

ASSISTANT GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

How long have you been at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club?

I joined here in March 2021 following an Internship at Jumeriah Golf Estates.

Where were you before you got to the UAE and what got you into Greenkeeping?

My dad has been a Superintendent his whole career and is currently head man at South Herts Golf Club. I got started working for him before travelling to Oz and working at Royal Sydney. After that I went to the US. Firstly at Liberty National home of the Northern Trust FedEx Cup Playoff and then most recently at LA Country Club which will host the US Open in 2023.

What was your biggest takeaway from your time in the US?

The day to day expectations and the resources put into private golf courses in the US is just on a level that is unmatched anywhere else, LA Country Club could host the US Open any week of the year. Being exposed to the highest possible standards means you know what you have to aspire to.

Hobbies/Interests?

All sport, especially England Cricket and Arsenal FC but unfortunately neither are in fine form at the moment. My golf is a work in progress but I am playing a lot more since moving to Dubai.