Golf
The clubhouse commands an elevated position
desirable grass species on greens that will always be dominant with annual meadow grass. “We simply don’t have the financial resources to rid our greens of poa annua and then maintain them to keep it out. We maintain, to the best standards possible, what we have,” he says. Two granualar feeds are given each year; 4:0:10 with 9% iron applied in February, and 14:0:9 in May. During the growing season, a liquid feed of 13:0:46, along with seaweed and iron is applied every twenty-one days. Phosphate is applied as, due to the limestone influence on the soil, it is locked and not readily available to the plant. Fungicide is applied every six to eight weeks all year round. The fairways cover an area of sixteen
hectares and, each year, two tonnes of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) is applied. The greens are the only part of the course with an irrigation system. In times of very dry weather, a slurry tank filled
with water is used to irrigate the sand based tee boxes. The source for the irrigation is from a 320 feet deep well and water is pumped to the lower lake in front of the 3rd green. No one needs
Aerial view of Gort Golf Club
reminding of how the recession has affected golf clubs around Ireland. The West of Ireland, in particular, has been badly hit with membership levels dropping at an alarming rate. Gort Golf Club has not escaped the ravages of the recession and the consequential financial cutbacks on the maintenance budget. Three years ago, Peadar had five full time greenkeeping staff working with him. This has since been reduced to three full time staff, with a fourth person coming on board during the summer. The three full time staff work on a
month on/month off basis from October to March with the working month shortened to three day weeks! Peadar has also been reduced to a
three day week from November to March. Managing a course on reduced resources is not easy but, despite the cutbacks, the staff continue to work hard and remain loyal to the club - they have over fifty years service between them. One of the few benefits to come out of the cost cutting measures are the wild flora growing on the out of play rough areas which are now not mown.
The Aughty mountains form a stunning backdrop
The historic monastic settlement at Kilmacduagh FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PC 23
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