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Garry Curran and Mariusz Prus


complete opposite of what many believe about golf courses raping the land.” “We’ve planted over fifteen thousand whips around the course, and these are establishing well. We’ve also planted over 800 semi-mature trees, between four and five metres tall, that have given the course some maturity whilst also helping to define the fairways.”


Not content with resting on their laurels, James and his team have now started on the final phase of, what was, the original concept; building a nine hole, par three academy course. More waste soil spoil has been delivered to site, and shaped to form the basic course layout. Green positions have been agreed and sculpted out ready for USGA construction.


It will be a couple of years before the academy opens but, when it does, Fiddlers Ferry will become a unique pay and play facility for the people of Cheshire. The course is already doing pretty well, with over 15,000 rounds of golf played this year to date on its new 18 hole golf facility, whilst the driving range is fast becoming a popular teaching facility with its brand new video studio facilities. Director of Golf, Darren Chapman says;


“We have been determined to create an accessible course that will be both challenging and enjoyable for players of all abilities.” “There is great emphasis in today’s climate on making sure the environmental impact of any new course is a positive one, and I am confident that we will be successful on that front, too. With any water on the course


Creating a wildlife haven amidst the urbanisation


draining into the system of ponds, we would hope to be self sufficient in the face of a drought,” he explains. “We also have our own bore hole.” At under 7,000 yards, Darren admits that the overall length will not be competing to stage championship events, but says putting on big events is not the focus of the development. “We want this to be a course that will challenge the low handicappers, but will also be a fair test to the higher handicapper players.” The club are also looking at renewable


energies to help save money and reduce their carbon footprint. They are currently working on a project to reduce the amount of diesel and electricity they use by developing a system to recycle waste food oil, changing it into biodiesel for use in their vehicles, along with fuelling a generator to produce their own electricity. So, it goes without saying, working at


Fiddlers Ferry has been an interesting challenge for all the staff, in more ways than one. James’s main concern now is to ensure the course continues to mature into a challenge that offers something for golfers of all ages and abilities.


I can vouch for how well the course has come on since my last visit back in 2007, when the first nine holes opened; the greens, fairways and tees are much more dense, and it now looks and feels like a proper golf course.


It would appear that Mark and Elaine’s vision is nearing completion; a remarkable feat, especially given the difficult economic climate.


What’s in the shed?


John Deere 220B Greens Mowers x 2 John Deere 260B Tees Mowers x 2 John Deere Pro Gator John Deere 4520 Tractor John Deere 5410 Tractor John Deere 3235B Fairway Mower John Deere 6x4 Gator John Deere 1200A Bunker Rake John Deere 2653A Toro Groundsmaster 4700d Kawasaki Mule Cat 247 Loading shovel/fork lift Cat 311c 360 Excavators Takeuchi TB016 Mini Digger Ausa 3 Tonne Dumper Kirby Stone Crusher BPS 250 Kilworth Stone Burier Reco Maschio Tiller Rotovator Tycrop trailer with conveyor Turfmech Pro Pass 180 Topdresser Turfmech Seed-Air 3000 Wiedenmann Terra Spike XF Shelton Supertrencher Blec F720 Ride on Seeder


Step into the future


Scotts Professional is now Everris. Same people, same products, new opportunities.


Tel: 01473 201100 | Fax: 01473 830386 | Email: prof.sales@everris.com | www.everris.com 31


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