GOLF


Ever since I was knee-high, I would go into work with my father and help out wherever I could. Once I got to year ten at school, I needed to decide what career path I wanted to take and greenkeeping was a natural choice


Offi cially founded in 1891, Chester City Golf Club is situated on the banks of the River Dee and set on two levels overlooking Chester Racecourse with views of the Welsh hills. Course Manager Andy Whyman spoke to Lee Williams about his busy and challenging fi rst year at the club


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ince joining a year ago Andy, along with his team, have not wasted any time getting stuck into projects and have taken full advantage of lockdown


restrictions to help improve drainage and the course’s aesthetics. With very little fall on the lower tier to the Dee, drainage is something that requires serious attention, but Andy addressed the problems early on. “Through winter, we have dredged the ditches and cleared all the vegetation out of the pond, as the water was stagnant and it was an overgrown mess. We have refaced the edge to make it look more aesthetically pleasing, we are looking at installing a water feature to oxygenate the water and also built a log habitat into the bank to help encourage crested newts and


other insects. Now that it’s clear, we will be able to drain into it when we look to start our drainage programme next year on the fairways and rough.”


“On the second tee, we have cleared all the overgrown vegetation which obscured views of the Welsh mountains and built a large bug hotel to the left-hand side. We will be introducing wildfl owers and beehives with the aim to sell the honey to our members. We are also currently working on regenerating the bunkers; so far we have edged them up and will be adding eighty tonnes of Chelford 45 sand which matches our dressings on the greens and means sand splash is not an issue.” Interestingly this year, the club has been working with Chester Zoo (situated three miles away) to undertake their tree


PC April/May 2021


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