We’ve been short-staffed this week, being down to half our usual strength due to ongoing sickness and annual holidays. One consequence has been we weren’t able to follow our usual Friday routine of cutting and rolling the greens - we didn’t have enough people to double up on mowing and deploy the Turf-Iron.

Gavin is now off until after the Bank Holiday weekend enjoying a well-deserved break, leaving a refreshed Callum in charge.

We only had 0.5 mm of rain this week - as measured in the gauge, barely enough to wet the surface. The greens were still running at 9’ on the Stimp, despite not being rolled. The dry patch problem continues. We are experimenting with a ‘penetrant’ (a wetting agent formulated to help get moisture deeper into the root zone).

The farmer took the long rough during the week, in record time. He cut on Tuesday and had it baled and collected by close of play Thursday. Although before cutting the rough looked lush the yield was only 40 bales, which is a bit less than half what we usually get - another consequence of this exceptional dry year. Nevertheless the farmer is very pleased to have it. Locally there is a severe winter feed shortage which will have serious consequences for both dairy and beef farmers (and shop prices).

Course Committee