Golf
“We’re blessed with trees, but have had to manage them to let in more light, as the greens had a large thatch build-up that had made
On the 7th green - blessed with trees
weather which, on average, has been at record rainfall levels for June, July and August for the last the last four years - some twelve inches. It’s been tough, but we love it!” he declares cheerfully. Seldom will you find grounds
professionals so upbeat about wet weather, but a change of club fortunes has also helped foster an enthusiastic environment. A notable capital investment has meant vital ground works over the last two years have really paid off, following the committee decision to purchase new kit to allow Kevin and his men to start a major thatch removal programme, due for completion in 2015. Over twenty-four months, 60% of thatch build-up was successfully removed, whilst also upping the volume of sand on the greens from 60 to 180 tonnes. The results of all this endeavour? “Amazing,” according to Darryl. The team’s cutting programme reduces
somewhat from September onwards, but is quickly replaced with work focused on leaf removal, as Kevin explains. “The woodland aspect of our course offers a great deal of character for the golfer, but the leaf fall presents a major stumbling block, so removal remains a priority right through to the end of November. The job has been made much easier by our investment in a Whisper Blower, meaning we can not only care for the priority areas such as greens and tees, but can also tackle fairways and semi- rough.” “A major challenge for the team
remains budgetary constraints,” he adds. “Golf clubs have had a rough ride over the last few years, and we are no different. We’ve had to work hard to strike a balance between producing a product that competes with all the local golf courses, but also achieving that within tighter budgets.”
drainage poor”
“Reducing expenditure on golf courses can often be counter-productive with regard to income generation, I believe, so sometimes cutting certain costs won’t leave us any better off and needs very careful consideration.” Despite his word of caution - sound advice for any course managers who may be reading this - Kevin feels he is fortunate to have built strong relations with the club’s owners. “We have a good bond with the current officers. Our main support officer is the Greens Chairman, Steve Edwards, and he backs us on most requests. That support and trust is invaluable. Our current Captain and Lady Captain, Roger and Moira Whitefoot, have a strong background in landscaping and management of parks, which includes bowling greens. They both commit many hours of their time to helping us on the course - and we’d also have to include Club Chairman, Phil Bowen, in this matter too. What’s perhaps most valuable, though, is that they have an understanding of what we need to produce a product to be proud of.” Something that cannot be remedied
through committee support is the rain. Location, on the one hand, presents Glynneath with a stunning backdrop and an obvious draw for members, but that, and the impact of the notoriously drizzly National Park, needs to be carefully balanced to ensure the two can live in harmony.
Mowing on a drizzly day
“Our location within the Brecon Beacons can present complications, mainly with regard to any planning or construction work,” explains Kevin. “We’ve developed a good working relationship over the years and try to use the National Park for advice and support wherever necessary. In particular, we’ve consulted with them over tree removal programmes and SSSIs [Sites of Special Scientific Interest].” “Working with the approval of the National Park, we are trying to highlight
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PC 19
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