GOLF
The 18th green. Floodwater almost six feet high That is the nature of
Ilkley Golf Club; it does not bother me. I have been there many times and got the t-shirt. Over the years, we have got the clean-up operation down to a fine art. As I say, it is nature and we can now get the majority of the course back in play within a few days
”
Looking across the 18th from the clubhouse
twice within ten days, and we took around two hundred and fifty tonnes off one fairway. When it flooded on November 2nd last year, we took another one hundred and fifty tonnes off.” “We have devised an operation which includes using our three-tonne digger to scrape and remove it. We have a power brush to help us brush it clean, and we hire in a fourteen-tonne digger to pile it up into a big heap.” After seeing the pictures of the mess left behind, hearing about the amount of work he and his lads must do to clear the course and the floods becoming a more regular occurrence, this must have a demoralising effect on Duncan and his team. “That is the nature of Ilkley Golf Club; we have become accustomed to it over time. We have been there many times and got the t-shirt. Over the years, we have got the clean-up operation down to a fine art. As I say, it is nature and we can now get the majority of the course back in play within a few days. The members are happy with this and accept that it is a flood and the course is not going to be perfect.”
Duncan and his team certainly seem to
take any flooding in their stride. “I am fortunate to have a great team working alongside me, many of whom have been with me for over twenty years. Even the newer members of the staff are not afraid or phased by the amount of work involved in
cleaning up after a flood and just get on with it and get stuck in”.
This positive attitude is crucial in returning the course to play as soon as possible, but also to a high standard for the busier summer months when the Club often play host to regional and county matches and events. It is also a popular venue for corporate golf days and visiting parties. This was never more evident than last year when, following the floods in March and the challenges presented by the first national lockdown when only essential course maintenance was permitted, the Club were offered the opportunity to host a major Senior Professional tournament at only nine weeks’ notice. The inaugural Welcome to Yorkshire Senior Classic, hosted by Ian Woosnam, attracted some of the biggest names in Senior Professional golf to Ilkley for a two-day event with a double shotgun start Pro-Am on day one, followed by the Professional tournament on day two. With an intensive works programme in place and lots of hard work and overtime, Duncan and his team prepared a course that was widely acclaimed by the professionals, including former Ryder Cup Captains Ian Woosnam and Mark James, as well as current Solheim Cup Captain, Catriona Matthews. Many of the Club’s members also commented that they had never seen the course in better condition. All this in the most turbulent of years.
The clean up begins 28 PC February/March 2021
The 18th green looking as though nothing had happened - a testament to the experienced greenkeeping team
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