Course Update
Here is the latest update following last week’s Greens Committee meeting:
14th Hole Fairway Bunkers
Refurbishment work on the fairway bunkers on the 14th hole will begin on Monday, 5th October. The team will clear the bunkers, check the drainage, relay the bases, and add fresh sand. There will be no redesign of the bunkers themselves. This work is expected to take to two weeks (Monday to Friday), weather permitting. During this time, the tee will be moved forward to play as a short par 3. The course will be amended to 17 holes for WHS scoring and will remain qualifying. Once this work is finished, the team will move on to renovating the 6th tee.
Mole Ploughing
Now that ground conditions allow, the greenkeeping team has restarted mole ploughing. This round focuses on the back nine, with holes 11 and 13 largely completed. You will notice the fissures as you play these holes; while they will seal at the surface much faster than last time, the deeper ploughing should help prevent water from standing during wet spells.
Robot Mower Trial
Many of you may have noticed the Toro robot mower docking to charge at the rear of the 18th green over the past few days. This is the first robot we have trialled in a couple of years, and the greenkeeping team has been very impressed. The device has been mowing the rough around the 4th, 10th, and 18th holes with high efficiency and cut quality. Following this encouraging start, the mower will be returned soon, and we will trial versions from other manufacturers in the coming months.
Buggy Geofencing & Transportation Policy
As mentioned in previous updates, live geofencing is now active on our course buggies. Zones have been created around putting greens, tees, and hazards. Currently, a buggy will sound an alarm when driven into a restricted zone to alert the driver to move away. As ground conditions change, these zones will be updated. Please note that if a buggy is driven too far into an alarm zone, it will stop, requiring the driver to reverse back onto the designated route.
This system ensures we remain aligned with the updated England Golf ‘Buggies and Transportation’ policy released in December 2025. To help us meet these requirements, all members who use a personal ride-on vehicle must contact us at membership@hagleygolfclub.co.uk to confirm its use on the course. You will receive a reply requesting up-to-date insurance information and details on the club’s policy for safe operation, particularly during the winter.
We will send the next update as work on the 14th hole concludes and plans for the 6th tee near completion.