Winter Work Barriers

It sometimes can be very difficult to work on the golf course during the winter time. The last two winters have been very cold with lots of snow which has shut the golf course for periods of time. This winter has been the wettest on record and this brings its own difficulties.

 

Since Christmas we have had seven inches of rain fall on the course and it really has struggled to cope sometimes. Golf is a twelve month sport nowadays and people expect to play in the best conditions all year round. Sometimes this is simply not possible, especially with days of rain on end.

 

The high water table means the rain doesn't have anywhere to go and it just tops itself up all the time. This makes playing conditions very difficult. The pinch points on the golf course, the main walk offs from green to tee etc become very waterlogged, muddy even.

 

Typical sight after heavy rain


The winter programme is a guide to what the staff are trying to achieve over this period in order to improve the golf course. However when we have weather that is so inclement then this has to be reviewed. Losing so many days to heavy downpours means that not all the work may be carried out. However we will try and achieve as much as possible before the season starts.

 

The ninth fairway drainage work was abandoned due to the poor weather as the rootzone was continually being washed away. This will be finished as soon as possible and then we can turn our attention to the ditch at the right hand of the first. We are also looking at other areas of the course and trying to repair sunken drains and unblock existing drainage.

 

What we have to remember is that while we are carrying out drainage, construction or repair work, thought must be given for the upcoming season. This means aeration work on the greens and tees, organising fertiliser programmes and stock levels. Spraying or spreading products has to be carried out.

 

 

The irrigation system will be turned on for the season and many pop ups have to be replaced to increase efficiency. We will also this year be using a product added to the irrigation to improve the greens. More details will come on this in time.

 

So all in all there is much to do and we will try to achieve as much as possible. Hopefully mother nature will give us a break soon.