As a golf club we always continue to improve and invest in the course and facilities. Over the years course maintenance, technology and  presentation  have all improved and we pride ourselves in the quality that we are able to provide. It is amazing how many visitors and industry professionals  compliment us and hold us in high regard.

In order to give  a better playing experience through the winter period we now hand mow greens. This has many benefits one of which is to reduce the amount of weight transfer from heavier machinery.

If you look back over the 30 years at our course statistics buggy usage has pretty much become an all year round experience and  use of apron greens has becomes less and less.

There have been a lot of conversations recently relating to main and apron green usage.

We have not had to use apron greens because of rain. Far from it. So far this winter we have had 18.3 inches of rain. Rewind back to the winter of 2000-01, this winter was much wetter at 20.3″ of rain and apron greens were used far more.

This winter we have had more deep, sharp frosts and for prolonged periods. Whilst the frost has been in the ground all is fine; the problems occur when the frost starts to thaw and the greens become wet. When the top 3 inches has thawed it becomes wet and squiggy, however the remaining 6 or 7 inches are still frozen. As that top 3 inches creates more water, that water has nowhere to go because the green below is still frozen.

This happens in the winter when daytime hours are shorter with less sunlight. If you then allow play on the greens feet traffic moves the top surface and then damages the rootzone below. This then creates problems as we enter the grass growing season, because the greens wouldn’t be as flush and therefore will require bigger apron use in the spring time.