GOLF


irrigation and squeegeeing the silt off and, if we are lucky, we may only need to switch a green off.”


“There are different clean-up levels depending on how long the river stays up, how fast the silt settles and various other things. Once the greens and tees are clear, we will assess the situation and work out the best route for the tractors to reduce any damage when clearing up the fairways and bunkers, which are done last. The main thing is to get as much done as you can to get golf back on the course as quickly as possible.” I asked Duncan how high the floodwaters


can get and how much of the course ends up underwater when they get a significant flood. “A golf flag is six foot, and you can barely see the top of it on some greens. Out of eighteen holes, there are two holes - fourteen and fifteen - that are unaffected. We have sixteen greens that will end up under the water.”


Whilst on our walk of the course, I asked Duncan to show me where they dump the silt they have cleaned up. I was shocked at the mound’s size and how many tonnes of silt they must have to move. What was more shocking is that it was only what they had moved last year. “In February, it flooded


There are different clean-up levels depending on how long the river stays up, how fast the silt settles and various other things


”


The River Wharfe running through, and often over, the course


PC February/March 2021 27


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