Greens week has gone well, despite the scarification being rained off on Wednesday, when we had almost an inch of rain - the greens were starting to flood. There was much more on Saturday, when it rained steadily almost all day, delivering a further 31.5 mm, taking the total for the week to 56.5mm (more than 2 inches). Overall the course handled it well, although inevitably the bunkers flooded and are draining slowly. The course always does handle heavy rain well - until it reaches saturation sometime before the year end — at which point any heavy rain will stick on the surface.

The scarifying contractor returned early on Thursday and managed to treat all the greens, removing a full load of dead and decayed material off each. He brings his own spoil collector and truck, which speeds the work up greatly, Earlier in the week greens had been solid tined and dressed, which was well washed in by Wednesday’s rain. After the scarifying Gavin over-sowed with a bent/fescue fine grass mix and put down another load of dressing, which was brushed in on Thursday and Friday. It’s all gone well, and Gavin is pleased with what’s been done.

Elsewhere the course has been mown throughout. Next week the tees will be solid tined - which will tidy up the worm casts. The recent rain has greened the course up and stimulated some growth.

On Thursday the Grosvenor Estate came on to the course to deal with a tree by the canal bridge behind the 7th green. There is a footpath just beside the fence which is overhung by the tree which had a significant amount of decay in its upper branches. They brought a cherry picker and chipper and took away all the brash they created. It’s good to be properly equipped!

There was no stimp reading this week due to the condition of the greens. That’s probably it for this season.

Course Committee