Golf - Brits Abroad
The 4th green with mountains in the distance
What’s in the shed? John Deere 220 hand mowers x 7 John Deere 260 hand mowers x 4
John Deere 2500A (10 sets of units; 4 fairway height, 2 tee height, 2 Thatch- away, 1 sarrel roller and 1 at greens height) x 6
Toro 4700 - semi-rough mowers x 2 Toro 3500 - surrounds mowers x 2
Toro Pro Gators (Transport Box, Vicon, Hardi and Topdresser) x 2 Toro Sand Pros x 2 MDX transporters x 5 Multi-Pro Sprayer John Deere 5415 tractor John Deere 5095 tractor John Deere 3520 tractor Koro FTM 1200 Mark 3 Toro Pro-Cores x 2 Toro Hydrojects x 2 Accord Fertiliser Spreader Turfco CR-10 Redexim Verti-Drain 7521 Redexim Verti-Quake 3821 Trilo 1170 Komatsu WA65 Front Loader Komatsu PC35 Mini Excavator Smithco Tournament Ultra Toro GreensPro 1200 Caterpillar D6 XL Bulldozer
22 I PC APRIL/MAY 2015
become possible due to our latest acquisitions - trailers to tow the hydrojects and hoses from green to green!
Mowing heights vary through the season:
- Winter heights are: greens 3.5mm, fairways 15mm and semi-rough 50mm
- Spring: greens 2.8mm, fairways 11mm and semi-rough 45mm
- Summer: greens 3mm, fairways 15mm and semi-rough 55mm
- Autumn:- greens 3mm, fairways 13mm and semi-rough 50mm
We close the course to the general public for the whole month of August to help us protect the Lolium perenne fairways because there are no cartpaths from tee to green. Most of the crew are hand watering in this month. However, we also solid tine the bentgrass areas to vent them and mow down all of our heavy rough areas, collecting and baling the material with local farm machinery that we hire for the month.
Do you have specific tasks for specific staff or is it an ‘all hands to the pump’ approach?
I prefer to have a minimum of five people available to carry out each task on the course, an example being that seven members of my crew are presently updating their spraying licences to the ‘Qualified Professional’ level.
We carry out annual appraisals though and aim to help each worker develop in the areas that interest them most, whenever possible.
Where does presentation rank?
A very close second to course playability, especially due to our predominantly German and Swiss clientele.
What end of season and ongoing renovations do you undertake?
We carry out hollow-coring and scarifying on all of our bentgrass areas, as well as renovation of all the bunkers.
Verti-Drain, Verti-Quake, scarifying fairways and semi-rough, overseeding and topdressing. Plus drainage works, irrigation modifications and major repairs. We also have to prune the trees and vineyards back.
Are renovations affected by budgets?
Certainly to some extent, but we understand that we have to keep our product at its highest standards for our returning and new clients.
Have changing weather patterns affected what you do?
Actually, not much. We have more immediate issues regarding the changes in the EU spraying laws and constantly varying irrigation water quality.
Do you take regular soil samples to ascertain what work is required?
Certainly, as well as irrigation water and soil humidity records daily throughout the main season.
How do you interact with your club members?
I just try to be very open with our members to discuss the course conditioning and get their feedback on the course, in the clubhouse or on practice facilities.
Are you working on any special projects at the moment?
We are renovating both of our greens turf nurseries following our most recent 8mm
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