Golf
With regard to pests and disease, we
don’t suffer too much. We do get leatherjackets in spring and do have the odd mole tunnelling around but, other than that, nothing much to report. Disease is very minimal with only two fungicide sprays within the last sixteen months - these were preventative prior to aggressive aeration.
As we sit within the National Park, we
do take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. I have a full time Countryside Ranger who helps us to ensure we are sympathetic to our surroundings, and we continue to manage our environmental responsibilities properly. We are surrounded by and play host to a diverse
and varied species of flora and fauna - a highlight of which are freshwater otters. We have a full environmental policy in place which is incorporated within a golf course policy document. We have an excellent working relationship with The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and we are currently in the process of finalising our application for GEO status. I believe greenkeeping is in reasonable health. There are obviously going to be anomalies as there are such a wide range of golf clubs, courses and facilities. Some, like ours, are part of a large organisation, whilst some are nine hole golf courses with small memberships and tight budgets. I am absolutely sure that if all golf courses were enjoying strong
memberships, with thriving clubhouses, all greenkeeping staff would be highly respected and rewarded well. The fact is, it isn’t like that. There are bodies out there who are
representing both greenkeepers and grounds people very well, but I truly believe that we are masters of our own destinies. We need to be part of, or at the very least influential in, determining policy. We need to understand the varying levels of success at our respective golf venues and be ready to help determine a solution - if we can volunteer a way to help, it may even stop worse decisions being enforced.”
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