Firstly we’d like to thank you for your patience & understanding when it comes to playing the winter greens, I know this isn’t ideal but it proves it’s worth leading into the season.

We feel moving some of the yellow flags onto the temporary greens whilst still
keeping some of the summer greens open has worked really well, keeping golfer morale up over the winter period. In
general we’ve had a good winter both weather wise and the completion of tasks undertaken. The7^th although the hole was shortened to a par 3 that was the longest period of time it has been in action over the winter period

So what tasks have we done during the winter period?

·        Installed a drain and swale at the back of the 8^th green. This will prevent all the water shed from surrounding areas that previously led to a stream across the green during heavy rainfall.

·     Installed a drain and swale to the left of the 4^th green.  Again the same as the 8^th it will stop water shedding from the 2/11^th flooding the green and bunker.

·      
Installed
a new drain at the hump on the 9^th fairway. This has been a problem area for us over a number of years due to it being a natural water
collection point.

·        
Repaired collapsed sleeper retaining wall in the stream at 4^th bridge.

·        
Installed new inspection chamber on the right hand side of 6/15^th in the dip. This will give us rod access to the pot pipe that runs under the fairway.

·        
Installed/rebuilt inspection chamber on the left hand side of 6/15^th in the dip. Again this will give us rod access to the pot pipe running under the fairway and across the rough at the old 8^th . These are problematic areas for us
because of the original drainage material and design, so access is vital.

·        
Removed blockage at path/bridge at the open ditch near 6^th green.

As I’m sure you’re aware Adam Rigby left the greens team early this year which has had an impact on the capacity of the team. We now have Sam Mole who is slotting into the team nicely but due to being new he is lacking experience and knowledge meaning time & training must be invested into his progression. I thank you for welcoming Sam to greens team as this has certainly helped towards
his settling in period.

Although Sam is eager to learn we are aware of certain training needs and therefore I am supporting Sam to improve & progress whilst complete every task he undertakes to a high standard, I’m happy to report he is improving each week. I thank you for your patience as we
build on his skill set and his quality of finishing.

Everyone will be happy to know the irrigation has been tested and is in working order.

We are looking to hollow core in the very near future but we are waiting for the conditions to suit us. We know this is a very disruptive procedure but is a ‘needs must’ task, history has show us the lack of undertaking this process has led to poor green health and performance. Our new verti-draining programme has lead us to better root growth and soil health; our greens continue to improve with these practices.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers for the great work they are doing  and have done on the course, keep up the good work.