Public Places
Converting this old pond from an insignificant water hazard...
Roehampton Club won the Water Management category of the Golf Environment Awards for the provision of a sustainable
“In 2012,
... into an attractive feature required considerable excavation work, but resulted
a rainwater harvesting system and acid injection system to reduce ph. John has changed the presentation of the course by simplifying mowing patterns, which has reduced the time taken to cut fairways and approaches. Previously, two units were sent out to ‘stripe’ in a chequered diamond. But that generally took from 6.00am until midday to complete whereas, now, one unit can ‘half and half ’ them by about 10.15am.
drainage system”
Since 2009, a good deal of work has been dedicated to enhancing the ecological value of the course. Several projects have seen an increase in the diversity of flora and fauna. This has been achieved by changing the management regimes of the rough, long grass and woodland areas on the golf course. The projects have been enhanced with an ongoing tree planting programme and some pond refurbishment work which, in turn, has provided a valuable habitat for newts, frogs, dragonflies, mammals and birds. Ecological Delevelopment Area signs
Superbly maintained gardens
are placed around the course which explain the work being undertaken at each site, the benefits they will bring to the local flaura and fauna and, where applicable, what wildflower species have been planted. In 2012, Roehampton Club won the
Toro equipment awaiting the completion of the new workshop
Water Management category of the Golf Environment Awards for the provision of a sustainable drainage system. Reconstruction of the pond on the golf course’s 11th hole formed the final outlet, with all drainage from the golf course now feeding into the pond acting as a filtration mechanism. One project that is going to make a considerable difference to John and his team, is the new £1.6 million investment in the building of garage, workshop, office and mess room facilities for the groundstaff. The ability to store all the machinery, materials and sundries under one roof, as well as providing a safe working and training environment, will be a major asset.
£20,000 was spent on renovating the grass tennis courts
80 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
John designed the layout of the new facilities, ensuring they would cater for the needs of the staff. Not only are there the essentials such as toilets, showers and mess facilities, there are also rooms set aside for training purposes. It is all part of the Club’s visions to be London’s premier multi-sports venue. As we moved on to look at the croquet lawns and tennis courts, John explained
... in winning the Water Management category in the Golf Environment Awards
that £20,000 had just been spent on end of season renovation on a block of courts. The work involved fraise mowing off the vegetation, planing off 18mm of old loam material, laser levelling, putting back the old loam and topdressing with 120 tonnes of GOSTD loam from Surrey Loams Ltd, and seeding with a dwarf rye grass mixture from British Seed Houses. The remainder of the grass courts
were fraise mown to remove surface vegetation, scarified, aerated, localised levelling of base lines and then topdressed with 10-12 tonnes of GOSTD loam and seeded. The croquet lawns remain in play all
year round, so any renovations have to be done within a nominated four week window, this usually sees them scarified, hollow cored, topdressed and overseeded. A new primary drainage system has recently been installed along with some work to improve the boundaries. Croquet is becoming very popular, with the Club hoping to host the British Championships at some point in the future.
Other work being done at the club is
the relaying of eight of the artificial tennis courts and installing a second airhall to provide winter protection. The groundstaff have also recently
taken on the maintenance of Rosslyn Park Rugby Club’s home pitch adjacent to the site.
The sports facilities are complemented by the superbly maintained gardens and lawns that provide an attractive backdrop to all the sports facilities, and provide plenty of colour and interest all year round. Roehampton Club is certainly in good hands in terms of its maintenance and presentation of its sports facilities. John Lockyer has brought a wealth of experience and passion to the club and would appear to be the perfect man for the challenges that lie ahead.
Rough management is enhancing the ecological value of the golf course
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 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156