Early Spring Golf Course update – A note from Ben Archer

The Spring greens maintenance was completed last week. Such major work to the greens does unfortunately affect the playing surfaces for a couple of weeks, however, the work is critical to help ensure the best possible surfaces for the summer season. Thank you for your understanding during this period.

Over the coming weeks you will notice some changes to the course, notably the removal of four bunkers. Whilst essential for most top-quality golf courses, bunkers are a drain on resource so we have identified bunkers that we will be replacing with grassy areas. The bunkers we have selected are very rarely visited and therefore do not receive the regular raking required to maintain a healthy surface. We feel that this change will only improve the golf course. The bunkers in question are the two at the back of the 3^rd green and the two at the back of the 12^th green. Removing these bunkers will free up time for the two Bens to work on other more important areas of the course.

By the 1^st April you will also see some improvements to our course furniture. This includes new tee markers, flags, flagsticks and bunker rakes.

Finally, Gwynn Davies, an agronomist from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) recently spent a day with us. He was here to learn about our golf course and to discuss ways we can improve it. The STRI are now working with Ben to develop a plan for golf course improvements. We expect to see some positive results before the end of this season. Whilst with us, Gwynn commended Ben for his work on the course and was particularly impressed with this winter’s tree work which he confirmed will result in much improved putting surfaces on the relevant greens.