Spring Maintenance
Green staff will be carrying out the regular spring aeration maintenance of pencil tining and top dressing all greens along with spraying the green surrounds. These operations will commence during week beginning 31st March which is slightly later due to the excessive wetness of the course but should result in minimal disruption to players.
12th Green
Members who have played the course throughout the winter will have observed the 12th green being upgrade to USGA specifications in line with all those that have recieved the same treatment. once again it is apparent that during and after extreme bad weather that all the upgraded greens are playable and remarkably dry compared to those waiting to recieve the same treatment. The course has just come through the wettest January since records started in 1914 yet it is already noticeable how dry this new green is.
(12th green at March 2008)
The Head Greenkeeper forecasts that this green will be in play early May and although looking slightly rough at the start will improve over the season and next year. There have been 10 greens upgraded so far with probably the 4th green next in line to be done and then the 14th green which would leave only the ‘top six’ remaining. It has been 4 years since a green was upgraded and it is essential that this policy of improvement be continued until all greens are brought up to the same USGA standards. We are fortunate that over a number of years several main drains have been installed throughout the course and this gives us the opportunity to feed drainage from any green into this system.
Thanks to Ella Fraser
Former Ladies’ Captain, Ms Ella Fraser, kindly donated some money to be used specifically on the course. It was decided by the Head Greenkeeper to plant rhododendrons along the wall at the 11th tee, which had a barren appearance and this work was carried out during the winter programme.
(11th tee rhododendrons)
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DETAILED HOLE BY HOLE GREENS REPORT 2008
Hole 1. The tee area requires considerable improvement to provide a much better presentation to the player. The idea of building a small wall at the foot of the banking facing the 18th green and continuing around the back of the tee with a border of heathers and shrubs (as around the clubhouse) and possibly a beech hedge at the rear which would join with the existing shrubbery near the Pro shop combined with better chain and posts at the LH side of the tee was thought best. The edging of the artificial pathway must be maintained to a higher standard.
The area immediately in front of the patio was very poor and may possibly have to be re-turfed although a treatment of fertilization would be carried out in the first instance and its progress monitored.
The plateau at the rear of the green cut at surround height has stood up particularly well and this should remain to be cut in this manner with no teeing area.
Hole 2. Reposition the ball washer near the seat and maintain this area. A permanent winter tee close to the hedge will have to be considered and this could be done during upgrades of either the 1st or 17th greens. The area at the corner of the tee nearest the 17th green gets considerable wear and a small artificial path may have to be considered when constructing the winter tee.
Hole 3. The ladies tee to have L-shape chains and posts. Install new bunker approximately 35 yards further (must be seen from tee) round the corner at the cottage to be to catch the bigger hit tee shot and also to discourage players from hitting at the cottage. Continuation of the artificial pathway from the 3rd green to marry with the artificial pathway at the 4th tee either by extra path or by renewing the existing and extending.
Hole 4. Extend the tee back by 12 -15 yards. This would bring the fairway bunker more into play and also the trees on the RH side just off the tee into the player’s eye.
Install new bunker approximately 25 yards further on in natural dip just past the present fairway bunker at drive length but remove the two RH bunkers of the 3 in front of the green. When this green is being altered to USGA specification keep the present LH bunker of the 3 but install a new greenside bunker on the front LH side.
Hole 5. The main tee should be extended forward to approximately the tree line to provide more teeing area and also include a permanent winter tee. The bunkers were altered last winter and the sand used should be changed to quartz sand. No reinstatement of old bunker as this hole is difficult enough.
Hole 6. The areas around all tees to be cut at fairway length and chains and posts at all 3 tees to enhance what is presently a dull area. The fairway bunkers to be joined to create a bigger feature. Thoughts for some form of planting in the rough area LH side past the mound to the green is required bearing in mind there are drainage pipes in this area. The area between the green and the next tee is a particularly bad area for wear due to playing traffic and an artificial pathway may be required although the installation of the new winter tee in front of the 7th ladies tee should help alleviate some of the problem. The recent changes to bunkers at the 6th green appear to have met with approval as an indication what should be the standard for all greenside bunkers. The softening of the left hand greenside banking has seen to be a big improvement and the new type of turf in this area has provided an excellent test as to wear from playing traffic over the playing season whereby this should be continued at other banked areas.
Hole 7. Before installing an artificial pathway it is recommended to re-turf this area during the winter and monitor it over the next 2 years particularly after the new 7th winter tee is in use. The fairway bunkers to be joined to create a bigger feature. The LH greenside bunker requires be reshaping and re-aligning when changing from grass facings so that it cuts slightly more into the front of the green which will make it more prominent on viewing the approach shot. Remove the 2nd RH greenside bunker and soften the whole RH side banking.
Hole 8. Install a new bunker in the RH side of furthest mound. Fill the spaces in hawthorn hedge line near the green and also plant additional trees on the LH side to continue the tree line from the small copse towards the green.
Hole 9. Plans for a new toilet and also a new shelter at the tee area in conjunction with the practice area sale. Construct a permanent winter tee in front of the medal tee along with an artificial pathway in front of existing daily tee and between this and 8th green.
Hole 10. Nothing for this hole apart from finalising whether the present daily tee could be extended back slightly when the building line of any housing at the practice area is known.
Hole 11. The large plantation to be brought into play in 2 years after the perimeter of it is cleared (the area inside is quite clear for finding and playing a ball). The banking at the rear of the green requires some form of planting (Silver Lelandii) to provide a backdrop for the approach to the green.
Hole 12. Clear out the elderberry bushes at the medal tee. Extend the RH bunker forward and possibly slightly wider with both fairway bunkers slightly sloping front to back (as the 14th fairway bunker) and eliminate the grass facings. Major green reconstruction is being carried out during winter 2007/08.
Hole 13. The new tee reconstruction including an artificial pathway and permanent winter tee is being carried out during winter 2007/08. The rear tee area could do with some form of fencing (wooden slats) to enhance this area.
Hole 14. The tee area requires to be modified to create a forward large daily tee with a permanent winter tee included. Much discussion took place on the idea of creating a greenside bunker but it was decided that the present green would have to be raised considerably to ensure it would be seen whilst playing the approach shot. It was decided against this idea as it was felt that a ball missing on the LH side of the green presently provided a difficult shot to a downhill sloping green as the reconstruction of the green to USGA specification would remain the same.
Hole 15. Cut a pathway at fairway height from the medal tee to the fairway. The idea of a whin chip roadway around the rear of the green is included in the practice area sale. This would ensure that all green machinery has better access from the shed to the bottom part of the course without damaging the course with ample area for a player obtaining relief for a ball lying on the roadway.
Hole 16. The area adjacent to the small tee between the medal tee and the daily tee would also be part of the roadway and the present small tee should be upgraded to provide a permanent winter tee. Wide steps up a softer sloping banking to a tee with no grass but a picture-framed tee surrounded by block as at 1st tee. The mound where the old green keeping shed was to have some form of plantation including small evergreen trees and shrubs (GUR for some time to ensure it gets established) and also fill in the line of trees to the green at this area.
Hole 17. Chains and posts at medal tee. Create a new bunker approximately 30 yards ahead of the present RH fairway bunker to give the hole a more balanced aspect from the tee at an area where a lot of balls presently end up. Replace the dead trees at the rear of the green.
Hole 18. Thoughts required on the area between the green and the 1st tee that is presently very bland and would also create some form of screening of the fencing at the houses. Creation of small mounds with some form of bushes to be considered.
Conclusion: Some of these ideas could be brought into action quickly without a great deal of expense but overall the presentation of the course should be an improvement.