applications. The greens are predominantly Poa annua with a small percentage of Rye, Yorshire Fog, Bent and Fescue - a programme is in place to increase the Bent grasses first before trying to increase the Fescues. Marcus tries to keep the speeds up at about 9 on the stimp meter during the summer, which is plenty quick enough for the playing membership. Any quicker, with the slopes that they have at L’Ancresse, and the wind would make them unplayable, However, on rare occasions for County championships, they may be pushed up to 10, but Marcus needs to watch the weather carefully.
Tees
Tees are verti-drained with 3/4” solid tines in November and February to a depth of between 6” and 9” with full heave, and again in April with ½” solids to a depth of 6”. Those that are used through the winter are hollow cored with 3/8” tines to a depth of 3” (no heave) with the cores recycled back in to keep the cost of topdressing down. They are scarified and overseeded at the same time, using Advanta MM12 mix. Fertiliser used on the tees is Sierrablen 28:5:5 applied in April at a rate of 40gm2
.
Without doubt, the weather is the driving factor on the island, with the
Fertiliser and topdressing Greens
Scotts Double K (7:0:14) Scotts Invigorator (4:0:8 + 4%Fe) Headland Trisert (15:0:12) Headland Turfclear Headland Pro turf Headland Tricure AD Scotts Primo Maxx Roffey 70/30 100 ton per year
combination of wind speeds and warm temperatures dictating the condition of the course. In the winter, when there are high tides, some parts of the course get flooded, with areas on the fairways dying back due to the salt contamination. Once the floodwater has abated, the contaminated areas are reseeded and fed to promote new growth.
The course is unique in many ways. Not only having to provide two sets of members with a challenging course, Marcus and his staff are constantly battling with the elements and limited resources to keep the course in tip top condition. The sheer cost and logistical implications of importing products, goods and services is challenging, and is often dependant on availability.
Also, every year, the course is closed for the island’s annual horseracing meeting!
Height of cut Winter Summer
Greens Tees
Collars 7mm
Semi rough 35mm Rough
25mm 90mm
4mm
17mm 10mm 17mm 10mm
Approaches 17mm 10mm Fairways
17mm 35mm 90mm
What’s in the shed?
Tees and approaches Scotts Sierrablen (28:5:5)
Roffey 60/40 5 ton per year mixed with Advanta mm12 and used for divots
Tees are hollow cored in the spring and the cores recycled back in, overseeded with Advanta MM12 mix
Fairways Humber Palmers 11 Divot mix Roffey 60/40 with Advanta MM12
John Deere 220 hand mowers x 3 Ransomes Certes hand mowers x 3 John Deere 2500A greens mowers x 2 John Deere 2500B greens mowers x 2 Jacobsen Greens King VI Jacobsen Tri King Jacobsen 4600 triple rotary John Deere 3235 fairway mower John Deere Pro Gator Cushman Turf Truckster Iseki 380 tractor John Deere eGator Ez-go buggy Redexim 7516 Verti-drain Cushman topdresser Propass spinner dresser Gambetti Barre 450lt sprayer SISIS MegaSlit Rotary rough topper Hunter Juno grinder 3 tonne trailer Farmura F25 sprayers x 2 Cooper Pegler knapsack sprayers x 2 Ransomes turf cutter Sisis Auto Rotarake Flymos x 3 Strimmers x 2 Hedgecutter Scotts Accu Pro spinners x 2
1 Set Greentek verti cut, scarify units, 1 set sorrel rollers and 1 set each of rotary and topdressing brushes
1 Set Greentek vibrating rollers
Island racing...
A RECORD entry of 28 horses, including a first from France, contributed to a fine day of racing at this year’s annual May Bank Holiday race meeting at L’Ancresse, culminating in the biggest field for one race since the sport was resurrected five years ago.
Trust, was very happy with this year’s event, especially as 3,500 plus racegoers turned up for the event. Jim has a long association with racing on the island, having been an active member of the trust for many years, and also trained a number of horses for the race.
Jim Jamumeanu, President of the Racing
localised flooding prevented the sward from maturing, so parts of the track had to be re- turfed. It takes two weeks to prepare the course,
The event is unique in that it runs across common land and the L’Ancresse golf course. The track is set over one mile 760 yards, providing an interesting circuit for the horse and rider.
improve the finishing straight, with an army of volunteers helping to remove tracts of gorse to reline the track. Also, some
Upgrades were carried out this year to
setting up the running rails and appropriate safety fences, and one weekend to set up the tented village that provides essential facilities - accommodation, stores, offices, toilets, entertainment and stables. Horses and trainers arrive two days before the meeting to acclimatise themselves with the course. This year was quite dry, with parts of the course having to be watered on a daily basis to maintain the going at good to firm. The race meeting starts at 2.30 pm and finishes at 5.00pm. It is a popular event with the islanders and, with an entrance fee of just £6.00, is very good value. The Trust is now considering whether it would be more cost effective and attractive to provide two days of racing. So far, there has been good feedback from trainers, riders and the general public for this to happen.
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