Course Report - Oct 2025
Membership Course Report – October 2025
Overview
October delivered a tough stretch of weather, with persistent rainfall and limited drying windows throughout the month. Despite challenging ground conditions, the team has kept standards as high as possible and completed the main autumn maintenance programme. Focus now shifts to winter protection, drainage, and recovery work.
Course Update
Autumn maintenance was completed successfully early in the month. All greens were scarified, mini-cored, and topdressed, with wetter areas receiving additional attention to improve firmness and drainage. Recovery has been slow due to the saturated conditions, although the greens remain in good condition for this time of year with minimal disease present.
Due to prolonged wet conditions, planned verti-draining on greens and approaches was postponed and will now take place during November with top dressing being filled incorporated into the holes on greens areas that hold to much moisture.
Alongside pencil tining to further relieve compaction and improve aeration. Fairway aeration with the Shockwave has continued when ground conditions have allowed, and this will carry on through November as part of ongoing winter preparation.
Work will also begin this month to install new drainage on the 11th green. During this period, a temporary winter hole will be placed on the opposite side of the burn to ensure staff safety while the works are carried out.
Leaf fall has been heavy, and daily clearance has focused on key playing areas particularly greens and tees to maintain playability and presentation standards through the month.
Weather & Course Conditions
October saw around 240mm of rainfall, more than double the monthly average. Several intense downpours mid-month caused temporary flooding on the lower holes, particularly the 4th and 5th. The course has remained playable for much of the month, but soft conditions and standing water have restricted mowing and machinery access at times.
Despite the exceptional rainfall, the greens have remained in good condition thanks to the earlier scarifying and topdressing programme. The benefits of increased sand applications are clear, and a more intensive aeration programme using larger core tines is planned for spring to accelerate thatch and organic matter reduction.
Looking ahead, this approach combined with additional drainage installations across more greens should significantly reduce the need for temporary greens in future seasons.
Winter Preparation
The focus going forward includes:
• Verti-draining and pencil tining all greens and approaches in November.
• Continuing fairway aeration and drainage work where conditions allow.
• Installing new drainage on the 11th green
• Sanding high-traffic areas to firm surfaces and maintain drainage.
Summary
October’s conditions have been extremely testing, but the course remains in good overall shape heading into winter. The work completed through the autumn has strengthened surface performance, and the drainage improvements planned for November will continue to build on that progress. The focus remains on keeping the course playable, protecting turf quality, and improving long-term resilience.
Gary Wilson
Course Manager
October delivered a tough stretch of weather, with persistent rainfall and limited drying windows throughout the month. Despite challenging ground conditions, the team has kept standards as high as possible and completed the main autumn maintenance programme. Focus now shifts to winter protection, drainage, and recovery work.
Course Update
Autumn maintenance was completed successfully early in the month. All greens were scarified, mini-cored, and topdressed, with wetter areas receiving additional attention to improve firmness and drainage. Recovery has been slow due to the saturated conditions, although the greens remain in good condition for this time of year with minimal disease present.
Due to prolonged wet conditions, planned verti-draining on greens and approaches was postponed and will now take place during November with top dressing being filled incorporated into the holes on greens areas that hold to much moisture.
Alongside pencil tining to further relieve compaction and improve aeration. Fairway aeration with the Shockwave has continued when ground conditions have allowed, and this will carry on through November as part of ongoing winter preparation.
Work will also begin this month to install new drainage on the 11th green. During this period, a temporary winter hole will be placed on the opposite side of the burn to ensure staff safety while the works are carried out.
Leaf fall has been heavy, and daily clearance has focused on key playing areas particularly greens and tees to maintain playability and presentation standards through the month.
Weather & Course Conditions
October saw around 240mm of rainfall, more than double the monthly average. Several intense downpours mid-month caused temporary flooding on the lower holes, particularly the 4th and 5th. The course has remained playable for much of the month, but soft conditions and standing water have restricted mowing and machinery access at times.
Despite the exceptional rainfall, the greens have remained in good condition thanks to the earlier scarifying and topdressing programme. The benefits of increased sand applications are clear, and a more intensive aeration programme using larger core tines is planned for spring to accelerate thatch and organic matter reduction.
Looking ahead, this approach combined with additional drainage installations across more greens should significantly reduce the need for temporary greens in future seasons.
Winter Preparation
The focus going forward includes:
• Verti-draining and pencil tining all greens and approaches in November.
• Continuing fairway aeration and drainage work where conditions allow.
• Installing new drainage on the 11th green
• Sanding high-traffic areas to firm surfaces and maintain drainage.
Summary
October’s conditions have been extremely testing, but the course remains in good overall shape heading into winter. The work completed through the autumn has strengthened surface performance, and the drainage improvements planned for November will continue to build on that progress. The focus remains on keeping the course playable, protecting turf quality, and improving long-term resilience.
Gary Wilson
Course Manager