Course Update
October 2025
Dear Members,
It’s been a tough year! Irrigation failures during a prolonged period of drought are not what we needed. The team have completed a significant amount of work to get our 50 year old system operational. These have included repairing over a dozen major leaks, hand watering greens including using a bowser, replacing sprinkler heads, upgrading a computer system and commissioning a system audit. We have also commenced a full review of our current and future water requirements including reviewing options for a replacement irrigation system. This work is supported by the R&A Water 2030 project which is worth looking at for those who are interested.
RA Report on Water
As the playing season comes to an end we are moving into our course winter programme of improvements. A full list of proposed works is on the notice board. The key areas are drainage, bunker rebuilds, tee rebuilds and tree management. We have contractors starting on the 13th October for 2-3 weeks. They will be draining the 12th (tee to old hedge line) and the right of the 14th fairway. In addition, they will be extending the 12th tee, rebuilding the white 16th tee and completing the 17th red tee. We will also be improving the 15th bridge crossing whilst the contractors are on site. During the works there may be some temporary changes to tee locations etc to ensure contractor safety.
Bunker rebuilds are planned for the 3rd and 6th holes. Subject to time and conditions the bunkers on the 7th and 16th are scheduled next.
A number of poplars and leylandii will be removed in addition to some general tree management. The primary reasons are to minimise disruption to the drainage system (poplar roots are very invasive), to let in light and air across the playing surfaces and to thin out copses to enable trees to achieve full maturity.
Throughout the autumn and winter period there will be a regular programme of greens aeration to relieve soil compaction allowing better air and water penetration to stimulate root growth.
We will be working to a similar winter policy as last year to manage wear on the course. The white tees were taken out of play on the 6th October following the last major of the year. The red and the yellow tees will be taken out of play on the 3rd November. All play will be from the orange or blue tees. The course will also flip on the 3rd November with all golf commencing on the 9th tee.
We will be protecting our tees this winter and the orange course will be played from 14 mats and 4 dedicated grass tees. A copy of the winter policy is on the notice board.
Hopefully the weather sets fair for a bit longer to extend the season.
Greens Commitee
It’s been a tough year! Irrigation failures during a prolonged period of drought are not what we needed. The team have completed a significant amount of work to get our 50 year old system operational. These have included repairing over a dozen major leaks, hand watering greens including using a bowser, replacing sprinkler heads, upgrading a computer system and commissioning a system audit. We have also commenced a full review of our current and future water requirements including reviewing options for a replacement irrigation system. This work is supported by the R&A Water 2030 project which is worth looking at for those who are interested.
RA Report on Water
As the playing season comes to an end we are moving into our course winter programme of improvements. A full list of proposed works is on the notice board. The key areas are drainage, bunker rebuilds, tee rebuilds and tree management. We have contractors starting on the 13th October for 2-3 weeks. They will be draining the 12th (tee to old hedge line) and the right of the 14th fairway. In addition, they will be extending the 12th tee, rebuilding the white 16th tee and completing the 17th red tee. We will also be improving the 15th bridge crossing whilst the contractors are on site. During the works there may be some temporary changes to tee locations etc to ensure contractor safety.
Bunker rebuilds are planned for the 3rd and 6th holes. Subject to time and conditions the bunkers on the 7th and 16th are scheduled next.
A number of poplars and leylandii will be removed in addition to some general tree management. The primary reasons are to minimise disruption to the drainage system (poplar roots are very invasive), to let in light and air across the playing surfaces and to thin out copses to enable trees to achieve full maturity.
Throughout the autumn and winter period there will be a regular programme of greens aeration to relieve soil compaction allowing better air and water penetration to stimulate root growth.
We will be working to a similar winter policy as last year to manage wear on the course. The white tees were taken out of play on the 6th October following the last major of the year. The red and the yellow tees will be taken out of play on the 3rd November. All play will be from the orange or blue tees. The course will also flip on the 3rd November with all golf commencing on the 9th tee.
We will be protecting our tees this winter and the orange course will be played from 14 mats and 4 dedicated grass tees. A copy of the winter policy is on the notice board.
Hopefully the weather sets fair for a bit longer to extend the season.
Greens Commitee