THE EARLY YEARS


33


In 1958 a bulldozer was provided by the Pugsley Brothers (both members) to make some adjustments on the Course. Te third Medal teeing area was reshaped, and the seventh tee was pushed into place. Te gorse in front of the fourth tee was removed to speed up play and the first pond was reduced in size. Banks were constructed on the right of the fourth and seventh fairways to reduce the ball run-off problems. Te bank on the 18th hole made by the first World War soldiers has always


been a formidable hazard especially off the new Medal tee. It presented particular difficulties for the President J.H. (Joe) Bennett and in 1957 he agreed to buy a new carpet for the Clubhouse lounge if the Green Committee would make a hole in the bank. A deal was struck and as a result we have the Bennett’s Gap which benefits many golfers to this day. In the past, the Long Ashton greens were encouraged to hold water by


introducing clay and coal dust in the dressings. In the 1960’s this became a liability as the wear became greater and the surface of the greens sealed causing “thatch” to build up. Attempts were made to drain some greens by excavating herringbone trenches about two feet deep and these can be seen in dry periods on the first, third, fourth, seventh and eighth greens. Te use of hollow tyning, spiking, mole plough and vertidrain machines have


replaced the tedious hand-forking previously employed on our greens and as a result the grass quality has improved greatly in recent years. Te percentage of Annual Meadow Grass has been reduced and the finer Bent and Fescue grasses have increased. Although the need for an automatic “Pop-up” watering system was first


discussed in 1960, it was not until 1972 that the sprinkler system was installed. Prior to this the greens were watered by hand or by hose pipes in dry spells. In the severe drought of 1976, watering was stopped by law and the Committee banned trolleys, spiked shoes and smoking on the Course. Members were only allowed to play three rounds per week and had to use a tee on the fairway. Te teeing areas have nearly all been increased considerably in the last twenty


years and most new tees, particularly those on the short holes, have sprinklers installed, so that damaged areas can be reseeded quickly at any time of the year. In 1967 the 16th green was redesigned and extended into a two-tier green.


Plate 23 shows the green before the alteration and the extensive views towards Dundry and the Mendip Hills. Te re-design followed the visit of Frank Pennick of C.K. Cotton and Company, Golf Course Architects. In addition to dealing with the 16th fairway and green Frank Pennick was asked to “make a hole-to- hole report”. Some of his suggestions have been implemented but others have not been accepted. For example, he suggested that the ninth and tenth holes be joined as a par five. In respect of our recent purchase, it is interesting to


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