2026 AGM Course Update
As referenced at the AGM by Lord Cobham, Director of Lyttelton Enterprises Ltd, and your new GC Captain, David Wilkes here is an overview of progress made on the golf course the past few years. The course is the most important asset at Hagley GC. It is only possible to maintain the level of investment that in turn leads to work and outcomes such as those described below with your continued support as GC members. Thank you.
The information below is described in 3 areas, these are:
- Maintenance – all the tasks carried out to keep the course functioning through the year
- Development – those projects that add to, and or, improve areas of the course
- Drainage – the planned application of both primary and secondary drainage processes to ensure long term improvement
These 3 areas also form the basis for the regular Greens Committee meetings that shape the work program for the green keeping team. It is via the Greens Committee that your views as GC members are incorporated into the work program and plans for future development. The green keeping team has itself developed over the last few years. We are very fortunate to have a team of professional green keepers all of whom have a combination of experience and formal qualifications. It is very encouraging for the green keeping team when GC members share their positive feedback through the Greens Committee.
Maintenance
Investments have been made to ensure the resources for proper course maintenance have been available to the green keeping team. The two Ventrac mowers that many of you will have seen on the course by now have proven to be excellent. The design features of these machines mean they are able to operate in ground conditions that previous machines could not. They also have an interchangeable front end allowing them to be used for a variety of maintenance tasks, from mowing, to leaf blowing and power brushing. As the gallery shows there has also been investment in hand machinery for mowing tees and greens, a new digger for construction/renovation, the terraspiker for aeration work, as well as refurbishment of already owned greens mowers and fairway mowers.
Tree clearance has also been an important feature of course maintenance plans. There are many benefits to this work. Improving visibility and playability for golfers are some. Other benefits include improved air circulation, sun light and even making it easier for machinery to get round the course.
Development
Trusting that course maintenance is properly resourced and planned means development of the course can be considered too. Good examples of this work is the landscaping around the tees on 1st, 3rd/9th and 14th holes.
As well as the aesthetic improvements development work has also included important functional projects. The objectives of these over the last couple of years has been to make the course as playable as possible in the winter months, By installing 18 winter mats and continuing the work on pathways across the back 9 this work has certainly helped us progress toward that goal.
At every golf course the bunkers are a challenge for green keepers. Over the past few years a variety of methods for refurbishment have been trialled by our own green keepers. Fortunately the work recently completed seems to have proven successful and the bunker renovations will continue as part of this years development program.
After many years debating the merits and potential location for a short game area a golf course construction specialist was contracted to construct the area 2 summers ago. It already feel like it has been there forever which is testament to the quality of the construction. It is great to see it being used so often be GC members.
Drainage
There are two aspect to the drainage program here at Hagley GC. The ‘secondary’ processes such as mole ploughing, earth quaking and terra spiking are all designed to de-compact, aerate and make our clay soil more permeable. We have all seen the positive effects of these processes last year and the mole ploughing in particular will be applied on the back at the start of this season.
The second aspect of ‘primary’ drainage is something that requires qualified guidance and expertise. This was used 3 summers ago when we sub-contracted our first large scale primary drainage work to Sheltons. They carried out visual and laser measurement survey to guide trenching operations We also employed a golf construction specialist for the improvements to the 2nd and 9th hole’s hazards last spring. Although this was a positive experience and the results were good it was decided to have a more thorough and detailed drainage survey carried out last summer to guide future work.
This has proven to be very useful and is now being used to create a scheme of work that will be carried out over the next 3-5 years that will lead to both better drainage and water management as a whole for the course. Water management is a necessary condition for the course’s long term sustainability as environmental regulations require all golf courses to prove they are being as efficient as possible. The very broad outline of the scheme is illustrated below.
Following the blue arrows is to follow the route water runs over and under through the water courses across from the Clent Hills. This leads it from the 8th, into the 4th, under the 4th fairway, into the 18th hazard, through into the 10th and out to the ravine on the left of the 10th hole. These areas were identified as our priority for drainage and water management in last summers survey. The Greens Committee will be sharing more details with you on related works, beginning with the clearance of trees between the 4/8th holes and the left side of the 4th in the coming weeks.
Thank you for taking the time to review this update and most importantly for your continued support as a member of Hagley GC.