Course Update
Hopefully many of you have been able to take advantage of the recent good weather and enjoy the course these past few weeks. The pre-season work around the course and especially on the greens is really starting to pay dividends. The greens team have been busy maintaining the playing areas of the course and this will be their focus through the playing season. There will be some light dressing and aeration of the greens to help maintenance and some dressing of tees also but all major works have now been completed until the post season.
As we continue to look for maintenance solutions we have recently successfully trialled the ‘Trilo’ leaf vacuum to help clear leaves from ditches around the course. With the help of GC member volunteers the greens team have been really impressed by the performance of the ‘Trilo’. This means we will be looking to hire the machine on a regular basis from now on. The greens team have also just taken delivery of new buckets for the digger. One of which is specifically designed for ditch clearance. We are confident that the combination of the ‘Trilo’ and digger with the new bucket will be very effective in ditch clearance from now on.
As mentioned in the renewals note sent a few weeks ago we are in the early stages of developing a comprehensive drainage plan for the front 9 holes. This will include a very detailed survey of this area of the course by specialist water management contractors who will be here at the the GC for a few days from 30th June. Whilst here they will be mapping the course using GPS equipment and conducting other surveys to inform the plans. The Greens Committee have been updated on the early discussions with the contractors and there will be more detail shared with the wider membership later in the summer as the first drafts of the plans are presented. These plans will also include options for the second phase of work around the recently renovated 9th hazard.
Finally, here are a couple of links to really interesting information reflecting just how much the shift in the weather has affected golf courses again. The National Club Golfer article describes how those course with golfers that used fairway mats have seen benefits in fairway conditions in the early part of the season. We were really pleased with the positive response of so many to the mats last winter and believe we here at Hagley are seeing the benefits too. The second article describes the challenges the very dry start to the season has presented greenkeepers. What a difference a year makes…