Abridge Golf Club
Urgent work to be done!
Dear all, As I write this the heavens have dumped a lot of rain on us last night and a lot more is predicted the next 5 days!. Course is holding up well but you may have a few Winter greens in play to let the drainage work. PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE DON'T CONTROL THE WEATHER !
On the subject of greens we presently have half a dozen that are struggling to keep grass cover on them in places, especially 1,2,9 and 17. The problems are three issues .
You don't have to be a Rocket science to understand that light and air movement are essential components for healthy greens. Look at your own lawns and see where they are in constant shade and how hard it is to get anything to grow ? Grass or plants! You will also understand when you play the Course and consider the Greens that are struggling that when you look at where the sun moves through out the day and where the trees and scrub are so dense it is very easy to see the causes of the problems
Our Course will be 60 years old next year and what started off as small tree saplings are now very very overgrown and some urgent attention is now needed. Having consulted with an Ecologist and two Agronomists they have all confirmed the issues and as of this week we have started to solve the problems. It will not be a quick fix as weather conditions are now against us. You ALL know we can get the grass cover back with warmer drier weather but we are now going to do our best to eradicate these problems through the Winter months going forward.
So, over the coming 3 months and beyond we will be Coppicing, Thinning, Strategically removing and reducing in height many trees around the Course especially around Greens 1,2,4,6,7,8,9,11,14,15,17 and 18.
Reducing, thinning and general clearing of scrub to allow more light and air movement
This is not a case of just choosing and doing the work for the sake of it but it is an informed project / decision with the help of a very experienced Ecologist, Two agronomists and mine and my staffs own knowledge and experience of what needs doing to areas . It may look a little drastic first of all , but I can assure you with light and air movement the benefits to the Trees, the Ecology , the Bio-diversity , the wildlife and, most Importantly given we are a Golf Course, the grass surfaces! Once we have completed these areas we will work on other parts of the Course
This problem is not suddenly new the last three years, but until almost 4 years ago when COVID 19 hit our shores we had a lot less members so Footfall traffic was a lot less, but now with Paths, Drainage and 750+ members the Footfall traffic has increased dramatically, and this last sentence is the 3rd issue which compounds the lack of light and air movement issue. Surfaces are struggling to recover from a lot of Golf being played.
Many other courses have had similar issues and have taken the same action . Some Members have protested to the work at these Courses initially perhaps through a lack of understanding of the issues. Thorndon Park Golf Club,to name one I personally know of what has been done, some Members were not happy with the proposal. Since taking the correct advice from the right specialistst he work that was carried out has been excellent with excellent results and the Members there now love the work that was doneand are now fully understanding why .
If you would like more evidence and support of the issues please look out for this update by email tomorrow where I have attached a PDF file to click on which contains some great articles explaining the situation we have and what needs to be done.
THE GREENS COMMITTEE 100% UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND ARE 100% SUPPORTING THIS WORK.
WE HAVE COMMITTED TO REPLACING ANY TREES THAT ARE FULLY REMOVED WITH AN APPROPRIATE SPECIES TREE IN ADVISED AREAS OF THE COURSE.
The work will be carried out by my team and also with the help of a Tree Surgeon. It maybe messy in some areas while the work is being done but please remember that Greenkeepers workings are treated as immovable obstructions and therefore the appropriate golf rules apply. We may for Health and Saftey reasons also have to close or limit holes whilst certain works are taking place.
I have spoken to many of you about the above issues and all so far fully understand the necessity of doing this work.
Winter is coming fast so after a full Consultation and agreement by your Greens Committee I will be releasing a Winter Play policy document early next week. Please look at for it especially with regards to Winter Wheels.
Finally please keep off all the new turf on tees and at 13th and 14th , you will ruin it otherwise.
Thank you for your support
Enjoy your Course , Enjoy your Club..........it's yours remember!
Geoff
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