Many hands make LIGHT WORK
Dave Saltman talks to Head Greenkeeper Gary Robertson about the ongoing work at Penwortham Golf Club just outside Preston
PENWORTHAM Golf Course sits a mile or so outside Preston City Centre in delightful rolling Lancashire countryside. The 18-hole, par 69, mature parkland course has a membership of approximately 800 and, during the season, play is on from first light through until dark. There are six full time staff including Gary Robertson, the Head Greenkeeper.
In the autumn of 2002, the club
embarked on what was to be a mid to long-term project with the objective being to improve the drainage and general playability of the course. Golf course Architect Ken Moody had been given the task of re- designing the initial six worst affected greens to USGA specification as part of Phase one. With this in place Contour Golf were called in to carry out the reconstructions. Following the success of bringing the greens into play for the 2003 season, and with the majority of the membership being happy with the type of surface provided, it was decided that the remaining greens
should also be reconstructed. Neil Annandale, the Golf Club Manager, worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that a business plan was in place to provide funding for what was to be Phase two. Unfortunately, due to contractor commitments and golfing calendars, further work was put on hold until September 2005. Alex Veitch from Midland Contractors came highly recommended and was therefore selected to undertake the re- construction of holes 9, 17 and 18. All works were started and finished within a time frame of September, ready for the greenkeeping team to turf and put to bed before the end of October 2005. By September 2006, holes 10, 14, 15 and 16 had all been reconstructed. Contractor continuity was again interrupted due to prior commitments. An alternative contractor had to be sourced at relatively short notice. On a visit to the BTME show in Harrogate Gary had had a chance meeting with Derek Crane. He contacted Derek and, as luck would have it, he had a free month in September, due to a client cancelling, and was available to undertake a site visit and price for the job. After several
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76