Oswestry Golf Club
Greens Update September24
We are happy to say Harvey our new Groundsman has settled in well at the Golf Club. Within a few days he was handling the machines like a professional and making a good job of cutting.
On Saturday 21st September 2024 we had the SHUGC Men’s County Event. Thanks to our Greens team we received some very favourable complements.
Contrary to popular belief the Green Staff do not pep up the course for visiting parties. We like to think it is maintained to its best for the members at all times.
The greens iron was used Tuesday and Friday prior to the 21st as conditions were suitable.
There will be no major construction work carried out on the course this winter due to financial restraints.
You will have seen during the last couple of weeks green staff working on the bunkers, this is the start of the winter programme.
The tidying of the bunkers will continue with sand being moved round to try and equalise the consistency in each bunker.
A number of years ago the bunkers at Oswestry underwent a major renovation. During this time the bunkers were filled with builder’s sand to a serious depth. After time it was decide to change the sand to the current bunker sand. After advice it was decided to remove all the builders’ sand and replace it with new sand. This would be impracticable and very costly. The decision was to leave approximately 2 feet of builder’s sand, cover it with a thick layer of root zone and top up with the current sand.
Over the years the sand has become contaminated, rabbits digging through the sand and root zone into the earth. This causes the current bunker sand to be a mixture of builder’s sand, root zone, earth and new sand. The darker our bunker sand is the more builders’ sand in it.
In future bunker rakes will be placed in the back of the bunker with the head in the sand facing the front of the bunker with the black part of the handle resting outside of the bunker clear of the ground.
A few years ago in winter the greens machines would be cleaned, serviced and put away in the shed. Cutting now continues 12 months of the year with the height of cut altered to winter height. This increases the diesel budget considerably.
We are now entering the leaf season; the machines will be out blowing. There are a number of reasons we blow the leaves, if the leaves are left they discolour the grass, prevent the wind and sun getting to the grass, the worms will drag part of the leaf into the top profile of the earth which turns to mud and we have enough problem with work casts. It also keeps the speed of play up when looking for your golf ball.
Green staff will spend time this winter clearing up the greenkeepers compound and sheds.
All wooden benches will be brought in and renovated for the new season next year.
Unfortunately there will not be any funds in the budget for major tree work again this year. Our green staff will carry out what tree work they can, removing small trees and heightening the tree canopies.
We intend to carrying out a full clean and inspection of all machinery, completing a full inventory and putting together a 3/5 year plan of leasing and purchasing of equipment to show members how their money is spent.
Our man on the course has come up with some interesting figures on pitch marks, instead of printing the numbers for individual greens I can tell you the average number of pitch marks not repaired each week is 330. There are free pitch repairers in the shop please ladies and gentlemen let us all try and improve the number of pitch marks we repair.
With the morning dew we are seeing more and more members pulling trolleys across tees, between greens and bunkers and in some cases across greens. Personally I find it difficult to understand why anyone would want to pull a trolley across a green.
Please, we are trying to improve every aspect of Oswestry Golf Course please show some respect to the staff and members who are trying to improve you’re playing experience.
On Wednesday 16th October 2024 ALS will verti-drain the fairways. You will be notified of any disruption to play.
Once again if members have any reasonable suggestions on how we can improve your course or playing experience please let us know.
Ian Pearce
Director of course.
28.9.24.
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