COURSE NEWS 26th JANUARY
New Steps to the 15th Tee
We’ve had just on an inch of rain this week, 40% of which came courtesy of storm Eowin overnight Thursday. Until the storm blew in we’d had an extended period of still air and high humidity i.e. minimal evaporation, keeping the ground very soft. Friday’s storm forced course closure for safety reasons - other local courses did the same. At first sight we seem to have suffered little damage. A tree by the pond on 2 came down towards the road: the council cleared the road itself and we will sort out the rest this week. The soft conditions have kept machinery off the course and disrupted Gavin’s plans for the week - banding has not been possible, nor solid tining. But there is minimal growth so we haven't needed to mow, although we have been able to give the new tees a light cut using a rotary mower which does not affect the surface. Reducing the height of the cut rough from 50 mm to 35 mm has been effective in keeping those areas rather drier than previous years.
Elsewhere the team have continued with tree and shrub work. The tree surgeon doubts if the worst of the trees that had had their bark stripped by squirrels last spring will survive but he recommends leaving them in place, hoping they will distract the squirrels from the healthy plants. The only ‘remedy’ is to shoot them, but there is such an abundance of the pests it’s hard to make a difference.
Gavin is well on with machinery servicing. He changes oils and hydraulic fluids, replaces gaskets filters and bearings, and adjusts settings where necessary. Course machinery lives a hard life, but the detailed attention it receives extends its working life appreciably, as well as enhancing its trade-in values. Just as well, as golf machinery has increased substantially in price.
The most prominent activity of the week has been the new steps to the 15th tee. These are made using new oak timber and a blended rubber crumb/stone/resin material which is slightly resilient and fully porous, meaning water drains straight through - no puddles, no ice slip hazard. Please use them - don’t climb the tee slopes, with or without your trolleys!
Course Committee
Elsewhere the team have continued with tree and shrub work. The tree surgeon doubts if the worst of the trees that had had their bark stripped by squirrels last spring will survive but he recommends leaving them in place, hoping they will distract the squirrels from the healthy plants. The only ‘remedy’ is to shoot them, but there is such an abundance of the pests it’s hard to make a difference.
Gavin is well on with machinery servicing. He changes oils and hydraulic fluids, replaces gaskets filters and bearings, and adjusts settings where necessary. Course machinery lives a hard life, but the detailed attention it receives extends its working life appreciably, as well as enhancing its trade-in values. Just as well, as golf machinery has increased substantially in price.
The most prominent activity of the week has been the new steps to the 15th tee. These are made using new oak timber and a blended rubber crumb/stone/resin material which is slightly resilient and fully porous, meaning water drains straight through - no puddles, no ice slip hazard. Please use them - don’t climb the tee slopes, with or without your trolleys!
Course Committee