Member's

Green keeper and Greens Committee Report – Mid August 2007

In our end April report we advised that we would update you on a regular basis addressing recent activities and future plans. The intent is not to dwell on the past but to give a look ahead for the next few months.

Course Overview: So far this year the weather has been kind to us if not the sun lotion industry. The general concensus from the most important people i.e the members and from visiting clubs is that the course has been in excellent condition and the greens have been of a high quality. Long may this continue !!.

Thanks to the generosity of Terry Rayment we have removed four trees from between the 1^st and 9^th fairways plus 4^th and 5^th. This again has been seen as a success and we are considering whether there is a need to replace as we had originally planned. The new tees have settled well and in particular the second which has withstood the general wear and tear far better than imagined. For the first time greens have been cut every day including the weekends and whilst it is easy to say that we have been lucky with the weather and it is no wonder the course is good condition having played many others in the last few months who have had the same weather ours is as good and in many cases better .Credit must go to Mike, Lee and John achieving this. They know of course that the pressure is now on to maintain and improve further.

It is very important that members also help to maintain the condition of the course by repairing pitch marks and replacing divots. Unfortunately this is not always happening and it is interesting to hear and see that this is causing dissatisfaction within the membership. Therefore please repair pitch marks and divots even if you have not made them yourself.

The future plans :

Fusarium: It is getting close to the dreaded time again. Chemicals are now in stock and plans are in place. The intent is to try and combat it before the disease sets in. Unlike previous years we will spray the greens as a precaution in the Autumn . We will then spray as and when required. This is not the cheapest way but other clubs have successfully used this method and we are hopeful that this works well for us. Only time will tell on this one.

As members will see we had an unusually early outbreak of the disease last week caused by the wet and humid weather. Prompt action was taken by the Assistant Green keeper and we hope to have curtailed its spread. Indications are that this should grow out in the next few weeks. We are obviously monitoring the situation

Repair of grass tees : The intent is to level out the front of the 1st and 10^th, the 3^rd /12^th, the left hand side of the 5^th /14^th . If time / budget permits the front of the 8^th will also be levelled. The plan is to complete this work at the end of Autumn to enable them to establish over the winter and spring.

Rear of first green : A grass mound will be built to replace the sleepers. When in play if a ball is on or clears the mound it will be in play. A ball on the red cinder path will be played from the dropping zone.

Trolleys on First hole : In the winter months trolleys will be taken up the right hand side of the first and around the back of the green using the path. The exception will be in very wet weather where the previously used trolley park area on the bottom left will be used. This is to avoid members slipping down the hill from the second tee to green.

Winter Grass Tees : As a trial for the first time in recent history play will be from grass tees on the 4^th /13^th , 8^th/17^th and the 9^th. Mats will be available should conditions necessitate the use of them.

As per last winter Ladies will play from grass Tees.

Trees. There are no plans to remove any additional trees from the course. Thinning out ( gap widening !!) will take place in front of the 18^th tee and the 5^th /14^th tees and any other spots deemed necessary.

Winter Mats: The new mats have been generally successful and have worn well. These will be used again . They will be re-laid on a different base to enable Tee Pegs to be inserted easier. A new mat will be added to the rear of the 6^th tee so play will be from both the 6^th and 15^th.

The mat on the 2^nd / 11^th will be the full width of the current tee at the bottom of the steps at the front of the first green. Players will leave the green by these steps and use the mats as a path to the cinder path at the side of the tee. Trolley users will use the path at rear of the green as mentioned above.

Capital Projects: Unfortunately the 2 major Projects that we scheduled to complete before the winter have run into delays.

The first being the replacement of the Watermation storage tank and the feed supply into it has been impacted by the time it has taken for Thames Water to finalise costs. It is still the intention to complete and where economically possible add some additional sprinklers. Timing is now the issue and whether as we are coming to the end of the Season it is good practice to do now or keep the money until the Spring and make sure it is place for next season.

The second Project the building of a new Green keeper facility again has taken longer than planned due to complications over planning permission for which we are still awaiting .

We hope you find the above of interest and we will publish another later in the year or early 2008.