Course Walk

Recently club members were invited to participate in a course walk with Head Greenkeeper Andrew Ricketts. The aim of the walk is to communicate with the clubs membership the various types of works that are carried out by the greenkeeping team to maintain and develop the golf course and surrounding land. The topics covered on this particular walk included :- Winter program, bunker refurbishment, path/walkway renovations, irrigation upgrades, soil profile 10th fairway, Holm oak control and a demonstration on the repair of pitch marks. 

Newly installed grass and mat walkway at the 10th tee

Plug taken from 10th fairway

Rebuilt 13th bunker

9th Path

The severity of slope to the 9th path, which exits the golf course to the main car park has long been problematic for many of our members. In addition to this, during periods of heavy rainfall the path would wash out, become rutted and deposit granite dust onto the course rendering the area unsightly.

Steep incline to car park

Washout onto semi-rough

To remedy these problems the path had to be completely reconstructed. The angle and position had to be changed to allow for ease of exit through a longer, gradual slope and to be blended into the existing land.

Short, steep and unsightly

In all 100 tons of sand back fill, 20 tons of hardcore, 10 tons of hogging, 50 square meters of bod pave and 5 tons of granite dust were used on the project. The bod pave is the product we used to address the issue of washout, it is laid on the finished path and filled with granite dust, this stabilizes the surface preventing ruts and washout.

Sand backfill

Path and bank foundations

Bank turfed, hardcore and hoggin infilled. Bodpave laid

Bodpave back filled with granite dust

Completed view from car park

Completed view from 9th walk off

Completed view from 9th fairway

Walkway Refurbishment

We are constantly trying to improve the artificial pathways on the golf course. Over the years we have tried various materials with varying results. For the first time last year, we experimented using rubber matting placed over turf. The main advantage with this approach is that paths look much more natural with a grass covering, the rubber matting prevents the grass from wearing out under the heavy wear from foot traffic and golf trollies etc. Areas on holes 3 and 8 were completed in early 2016, these performed well throughout the 2016 season so this approach is being used in a number of other locations.

The images below show the path on the exit from the 18th hole being converted from granite dust to a hard wearing grass surface.

Unsightly granite walkway from the 18th green

Granite path and worn turf stripped out

Levels re-established and graded with sandy soil

Turf re-laid around main walkway

A hard wearing turf is laid in main walkway with a rubber mat pegged on top

Walkway complete with the addition of a storm drain to ease flooding in this area

Within 3 to 5 weeks the grass blades have grown through the holes in the mat rendering it almost invisible to the eye

Winter Work Review - 7th Hole

To improve the visual characteristices of this hole we have taken measures to dramatically reduce the footprint of artificial paths on the 7th hole. The path from the tee has been shortened by approximately 30yds. Beyond improving the look of the area, this allows the chance to extend the fairway towards the tee thus reducing the distance of the carry. As a result, we hope this makes this hole more enjoyable to play.

The path in the centre of the fairwayy leading to the green complex has been removed. The area has been completely reshaped and turf from the old 5th and 10th tees used to provide a good blend with the surrounding ground.

Winter Work Review - New 11th Path

Following comments received at the Open Forum meeting held in the Clubhouse last year, a new path has been built from the 11th green to the 12th tees. To preserve the quality of the turf around the 11th green, golf trolley users are requested to always use the path, and no other route, to get to the 12th tee.

Buggies should use the same route as last year - break off right before the first of the three bunkers - before merging with the new path. Adhereance to this guidance will ensure the best possible playing conditions are achieved in this area.

13th Tee Path Construction

Work is progressing well on the refurbishment and extension of the 13th tee path. New wooden edging is being put in to improve the look of the path and to properly define the edges.

 

12th Tee Realignment

The 12th tee has been modified slightly to ensure that it points squarely toward the new green. The sleeper edging has been removed and has been replaced with a length of half round rail and a slightly sloping bank. This has allowed us to alter the line of the edge of the tee.