GOLF


triples and investing in a turf iron. It would help the cause no end because, even with a growth regulator down, I am still cutting every day in the summer so, if we could cut one day and iron the next, it would help keep a lot of stress off the grass.” “Servicing of machines and any small breakdowns are taken care of by one of our members who wanted part-time work after moving back from abroad. He’s a qualified mechanic and, as none of us are mechanically minded, it works well for us.” Mat likes to keep the members up to date with developments around the course. “I write a newsletter every month telling them what we are up to for the next few weeks and it keeps them in the loop if they are planning on playing any matches or competitions. Also, because I am in the clubhouse constantly, they see me anyway, and they are always asking me questions. I am always happy to give them an honest answer.”


With the help and advice from David Bevan, Mat and his team are currently working on a project to develop a wildflower


area. “We are working on a few areas at the top of the course which was just bits of scrubland that was not doing a lot. So, we have bought a little rotovator and turned it all over and prepped the surface. We are going to get some honeybee and cornfield annual wildflower seed mix down; it will help to brighten that whole area up. I’m keen to mention the owner also planted some three thousand trees over the last twenty years, which has greatly improved aesthetics of the course.”


The course has suffered a lot of damage from leatherjackets this spring. “They have affected quite a few of the weaker fairways that were almost killed off in the drought last year. These areas have not been able to withstand their chewing away as well as everywhere else, and obviously, there is nothing you can really spray now, so we will just have to ride it out.” I asked if he had ever considered using nematodes to control them? “We have thought about using them and spraying Acelepyrn. You have to be spot on with the treatment, and you are not guaranteed one hundred percent control.


Plus, the cost is fierce which makes it almost too hard to justify.”


Mat believes the job has become more of a challenge in the last few years, for many reasons. “We are all in a position now where we are getting the rug pulled out from underneath our feet because we are not allowed to use certain products, and other ones are coming off the market all the time. So, we have got to change the way we go about managing the course. Another issue I have is staff. I have a minimal workforce, and there doesn’t seem to be any new recruits coming through the system - as far as I can tell, and I am not the only one in this area who has concerns. It’s frustrating as this isn’t through choice, nor lack of funding, but the new recruits just aren’t there.”


I have always played golf up here and always had an ambition to work on the


course, but it never happened until quite recently


New wildflower area 36 PC June/July 2019


“


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