If the marker cannot be seen then the course will be closed until the fog has lifted
restore the condition of the greens.
Course closure is rare at South Staffordshire. Usually, the only reasons to do so, or use temporary greens, were flooding, frost, fog or snow. However, a few years ago, strong winds blew down some large mature trees during a medal competition, which could have resulted in golfers being injured. The club now has a policy that, if wind speeds exceeds 35 mph, the course is closed.
In the past the closure of the course was down to Rhys or his deputy, Andrew Richards, who would make a decision on the condition of the course during their early morning inspections (6.00- 7.30am) and then review it later at 11.30am. However, the club are
currently trialing a new self- closure idea, whereby members decide if the course is playable. This policy is being run for three months and be reviewed.
In the winter months a fog
marker is placed on the 1st fairway, 265 yards from the tee. If the marker cannot be seen then the course is closed until the fog has lifted. Closures are financially damaging and, with some areas of the course liable to flooding, steps have been taken to limit this problem. In 2008 the 17th green was lytag banded with great
results. In addition, an intense aeration programme on the greens over the last four years has improved drainage. Vertidraining was carried out in the spring and autumn with 1/2” tines along with multi-tining in the summer. The saucer type greens, where water holds, were hollow tined with 5/8” tines and EarthLite, a zeolite product, was introduced to improved drainage. If the greens do flood they can normally be back in play within four hours. This happened last October when the club hosted an England Boys International. Over 35mm of rain fell overnight and it continued raining until 10.30am. Things were looking pretty grim but, when the rain eventually stopped, greens staff and EGU referees, armed with squeegees, descended on to the course to clear the water. With the assistance of neighbouring Enville Golf Club, who lent Rhys some extra squeegees, play started at 1.25pm, thirty-five minutes ahead of schedule. This winter, seventeen days have already been lost and, at the time of writing, more snow is forecast. When the snow eventually clears, the wet and warming ground will, more than likely, cause fog. The greenkeeper’s lot is not always a happy one!
The C-Range
Each ‘easy-change’ cartridge becomes an integral part of the machine without loss of quality results.
Provides a wide range of professional turf maintenance needs from one machine.
Hangar 5, New Road, Hixon, Stafford, ST18 0PJ. Telephone 01889 272095, Fax 01889 271528, Email
sales@allett.co.uk, web
www.allett.co.uk
Eighteen greens in under four hours...
...no surface disturbance
Richards (Assistant Course Manager 18yrs), Rhys Thomas (Course Manager 11yrs), Alan Fletcher (Mechanic 35yrs), Carl Morgan (Greenkeeper 17yrs) and Stephen Gleve (Greenkeeper 20yrs).
55
Snow clearing duties, L-R
R: Paul Whilton (Greenkeeper 17yrs), Andrew
R&K Kensett Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1883 342632 Email:
info@kensettsports.com www.kensettsports.com
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