Tuesday 28 November 2017

Re development of the 11th green complex on the lower has now begun.  All 4 bunkers are being destroyed and re-built with new faces, shape changes and re-positioning.  The front bunker is being rolled down to create a softer more forgiving shot out.  Both bunkers on the right however are being transformed into pot bunkers, at the base of steep banking running down from the green.  The path on the left is being removed with drainage channels installed to keep apron free from mud and water.  The left bunker is being moved closer to the green to create a difficult 'splash out' if the ball is pulled to the left and finally the approach to the green will now be cut short to allow balls to run back from the green towards the bunkers.
Front bunker

Back right no more

Right bunker gone ready to be rebuilt

The object of these changes is not to make the hole more difficult but to make it more memorable.  This will address what was a weak par 3 coming before an excellent 12th hole and will make this corner of holes much more exciting.
As the week moves forward the bunkers will take shape and by the weekend rough finishes should be evident on all 4 bunkers.





Friday 24 November 2017


Major improvements on 1 hole are planned in the coming week.


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Please come back early next week for words and pictures.

Friday 17 November 2017

Moving quickly on, the 10th T lower has now been destroyed and rebuilt.
We have removed almost 30 tons from the area to create a simple flat tee around 30% larger than before.  This Tee is now ready for a final level with turf to be ordered in the week depending on finding a weather window.
Shaping subsoil

New mat position
Slitting of fairways again is currently ongoing with the lower finished last week.  This week aeration will begin on poor areas around tees and greens, although ground conditions are still dry.  Greens are clean of disease, healthy and have good general fertility, so I would expect this to continue right through early December.

Standing still is not in our agenda so 2 poor tees have been addressed this week.  Both the 12 and 16th on the Upper are in a poor state.  Weak, lacking grass cover and very firm we have taken steps to improve these. Tined 2 ways with large hollow tines, matted, seeded, matted, fed and finally rolled.  It is obviously moving into winter now, so a sudden improvement will not happen but as we move into spring and tees come of mats I expect a massive jump in quality in both these tees.

poor tee

better



Ready for seed

This is the finish we hope for at the end of the week and make all the hard work worth it.






Saturday 4 November 2017

Lots going on whilst the weather is good, greens on the Upper have been solid-tined down to 8 inches with the Lower scheduled for Monday afternoon and Tuesday next week.
Lots and lots of holes

The 7th bunker Upper at the front of the green has now been removed.

Before

After


Small areas on the course have been re turfed in this instance the back of 18 on the Upper.  There are lots of areas around the course that require patching.  Most are on collars and near greens, we are planning to address them in order of importance although this won't be completed this winter.

Looking better for next season


A golf course consists of my areas, one you don't often see is the greenkeeping facilities.  Looking tired and in need of love, ours is getting a much needed face lift.  Wooden sheeting going up in order to hang tools in a more organised fashion.  The workshop is being gutted this winter with new shelving, racking and key pieces of equipment.  

During

After