The fifty-three bunkers, a multitude of burns, and several streams running through the course present varied maintenance challenges that are no different to most other parkland courses
but their attendant problems, such as droppings, adds to the day-to-day workloads of the greensstaff. However, the club encourages the wildlife presence, except of course when the rabbit population gets out of hand, when the contracted gamekeeper has to ‘balance things out’. Regularly seen on the course are deer (Roe and the occasional Fallow), foxes, stoats and weasels, ducks, geese, moorhens, pheasants, woodpeckers, owls, red kites, buzzards, sparrowhawks, grouse and heron. Further ‘colour’ has recently been added to the course in the shape of rhododendrons and azaleas planted around the rear of the 5th and 16th greens.
Lake Project
In the winter of 2007 the greens team began a project to create a lake in front of the 14th green. A generous member, who had wished to see a lake on the course for some years, had donated the
money. The work started in November 2006, with the then present stream being diverted underground to make way for the lake. Large stones were purchased from a nearby quarry for the frontage and lake surround. An estimated 4000 tonnes of earth and spoils were removed to another part of the course and the lake bottom levelled and sealed with the already present clay. The surrounding turf was relaid, an estimated 2500 square metres, and bedded in before growth commenced in the spring. The lake was filled with water from the course’s borehole and from rainwater. A pumping and top-up system was installed with water flowing through and over the stonework to form a waterfall feature. Apart from a single contractor/digger, the staff carried out all the work. It was completed in February 2007, on time and to budget. It is now maturing into a very pleasing visual element, not to mention golfing challenge, of the
course, which has attracted lots of wildlife.
Greens Project - consistency and speed
The club has always been keen to promote and instigate environmentally beneficial maintenance and, as far as is practicable, to move away from chemical controls for disease. Upon his appointment, Matt immediately implemented a mechanical greens improvement plan with the intention of achieving the same (if not better) consistency and speed results on the greens. He estimates that the full programme will take three years to complete to bring the greens up to his expectations. This programme commenced with deep verti-draining in September 2008, followed by the usual hollow coring in March 2009 along with topdressing, but with an additional topdressing and overseeding programme throughout the summer months.
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 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132