Another event-full summer week. Gavin has no sooner readied the course for one event when he has another one close behind. Like all head greenkeepers (and clubs!) he is keen to present ‘his’ course to visitors in the best of condition, but it does create extra demands on the team - and at a time of year when we have staff summer holidays to accommodate. Gavin does try and spread out the holiday absences, but new starters like Spencer can come with holidays pre-booked - as now. It means we can be short-handed at peak demand times: ’twas ever thus, but it means not as much course-prepping as Gavin would like gets done.

The week’s data base recorded 9.5 mm of rain, most of it heavy early on Thursday morning. Greens have been sprayed with growth regulator and given a light feed. Tees likewise. On Friday the greens were running at exactly 9’. The warmth and humidity is encouraging various fungal issues - red thread, fairy rings and a hint of fusarium - which we see every summer.

Elsewhere we have been able to Flymo the ditches and bunkers. The main rough mower (shaft-drive) had to go off-site to have an axle replaced (it had to be cut off). It’s not the best piece of machinery we’ve ever had, but it does endure some heavy treatment.

Course Committee