Following my previous update and the agronomist report shared in April, I wanted to provide members with a further update on the work that has already been carried out across the golf course over the last few weeks, along with the continued programme planned throughout May.

I appreciate that many members are keen to see clear progress and visible improvements, particularly following what has been an exceptionally difficult winter period for the golf course. I also fully understand the frustrations many have experienced.

Please be assured that I am trying and doing everything possible to move the golf course forward positively and to ensure we implement the right long-term programme for sustainable improvement. A significant amount of work has already taken place behind the scenes, and whilst some of these processes will take time to fully show results, they are essential foundations for improving overall playing conditions.

Below is a detailed summary of the work completed and planned.

Full Agronomist Report

The full report is available to view below and includes a detailed breakdown of all recommendations across the course:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT

GREENS PROGRAMME

22nd April – Wetting Agent & Seaweed Application

The greens were sprayed with a combination of Zipline Wetting Agent and Seavolution seaweed biostimulant.

Zipline Wetting Agent

A wetting agent helps water soak evenly into the soil profile rather than sitting on the surface, running off, or creating localised dry patch areas.

Benefits include:

  • Reducing dry patch and inconsistent moisture levels
  • Improving water penetration into the rootzone
  • Creating more even moisture throughout the greens
  • Helping roots access water more efficiently during warmer or windy conditions
  • Supporting improved irrigation efficiency

Seavolution Seaweed Biostimulant

Seavolution is designed to support the health of the grass plant itself.

Benefits include:

  • Encouraging stronger root development
  • Assisting turf recovery following stress and winter damage
  • Improving turf vigour and colour
  • Supporting nutrient uptake and soil biology
  • Helping the plant cope with stress from mowing, weather and play

In simple terms:

• Zipline improves how water behaves in the soil
• Seavolution supports the health and recovery of the grass plant

27th April – Deep Solid Tining of Greens

The greens were aerated using our Verti-Drain unit fitted with 8mm pencil tines to a depth of approximately 8 inches.

This process creates thousands of narrow vertical holes throughout the profile with minimal disruption to the playing surface.

The purpose of this work is to:

  • Relieve soil compaction caused by foot traffic and machinery
  • Improve oxygen movement within the rootzone
  • Encourage deeper and healthier root growth
  • Improve water movement and drainage
  • Reduce surface sealing and soft conditions
  • Strengthen the greens ahead of summer stress periods

Deep aeration is a key long-term maintenance process and is essential in helping the greens recover from prolonged wet conditions experienced over winter.

29th April – Tee Fertiliser Programme

All tees received an application of Polyon 18-0-8 controlled-release fertiliser.

This slow-release granular fertiliser feeds the turf steadily over approximately four months and is specifically designed for high-wear areas such as tees.

Benefits include:

  • Encouraging consistent growth and recovery from divots
  • Improving turf density and presentation
  • Supporting wear tolerance and plant strength
  • Reducing excessive flushes of growth
  • Providing a safer, more controlled nutrient release

The potassium content particularly helps strengthen the turf against wear, drought and traffic stress throughout the season.

1st May – Greens Fertiliser Application

The greens received an application of Maxwell Generate 12-3-9 + 2Fe + 2Mg fertiliser.

This product provides a balanced nutritional programme specifically designed for fine turf surfaces such as golf greens.

Benefits include:

  • Controlled, healthy growth and recovery
  • Improved turf density and colour
  • Increased drought and stress tolerance
  • Better plant strength and resilience
  • Enhanced colour through iron without excessive soft growth

The magnesium component also supports chlorophyll production and overall plant health, particularly important within sand-based rootzones.

This application forms part of the new structured feeding programme aimed at rebuilding healthier and more resilient greens.

11th May – Light Top Dressing Programme

The greens will shortly receive a light sand top dressing which will then be brushed into the surface.

This marks the beginning of an ongoing “little and often” top dressing programme throughout the season.

The purpose of regular top dressing is to:

  • Improve smoothness and trueness of ball roll
  • Reduce surface imperfections and bumpiness
  • Dilute organic matter and thatch build-up
  • Improve firmness and consistency
  • Enhance drainage and moisture movement
  • Promote healthier, denser turf surfaces

Modern greenkeeping practices favour regular light applications rather than heavy disruptive dressing, allowing us to improve surfaces gradually whilst minimising disruption to golfers. This is the start of an on-going improvement process.

13th May – Biostimulant & Root Development Programme

The greens will be sprayed with a mixture of Goëmar Seaweed and Basfoliar Rootbooster SL.

These products are designed to improve overall turf health and rooting performance.

Goëmar Seaweed helps:

  • Improve stress tolerance
  • Encourage healthier root growth
  • Improve turf recovery and vigour
  • Support plant resilience during difficult conditions

Basfoliar Rootbooster SL helps:

  • Promote deeper and stronger roots
  • Improve nutrient uptake efficiency
  • Support recovery following aeration
  • Maintain turf density and plant strength

These products are particularly important during recovery periods and ahead of the summer months.

Greens Height of Cut

As part of the recovery programme, the greens height of cut was increased from 5mm to 7mm in order to reduce stress on the plant following winter damage.

Subject to continued recovery and growth, the plan this month is to gradually reduce the height of cut from 7mm down to 6mm.

This will be done carefully and progressively to avoid placing excessive stress back onto the greens too quickly.

Dyna-Coring Programme

We are currently awaiting the return of our Dyna-Corer units following repair work after damage sustained during previous use in March.

Once returned, we will begin a Dyna-Coring programme on the greens.

This process removes small cores of organic material and thatch from the surface before the greens are top dressed and brushed in.

This is one of the most important long-term maintenance operations for improving green quality.

Benefits include:

  • Physically removing excess thatch and organic matter
  • Improving firmness and surface performance
  • Enhancing drainage and air movement
  • Reducing disease pressure
  • Improving root development
  • Creating a healthier long-term soil profile

Whilst coring can cause short-term disruption, it is absolutely essential preventative maintenance and is a programme that has unfortunately not been carried out consistently enough in previous years.

This work is critical to producing firmer, smoother and more consistent greens over the long term.

Overseeding Programme

The larger scars and bare areas on greens will also be overseeded by hand using All Bent grass seed.

Bent grasses are one of the preferred species for golf greens due to their:

  • Finer leaf texture
  • Improved putting quality
  • Better year-round performance
  • Ability to create smoother, truer surfaces

This overseeding programme will help gradually improve turf density and surface quality over time.

Further Aeration Planned

A further deep solid tining operation using the Verti-Drain and 8mm pencil tines to approximately 9 inches depth is scheduled towards the end of May.

This continued aeration programme is vital for maintaining oxygen levels, reducing compaction and improving long-term root development.

Additional Wetting Agent & Seaweed Application

Towards the end of the month the greens will also receive a further application of Zipline Wetting Agent and Seavolution seaweed as part of the ongoing moisture management and plant health programme.

Course-Wide Improvements

Alongside the greens programme, continued work is also taking place across the wider golf course including:

  • Weekly fairway cutting
  • Tee and collar maintenance improvements
  • Ongoing bunker work and presentation improvements
  • Rough management where required and possible with machinery in fleet
  • Irrigation system inspections and repairs
  • Machinery assessment and servicing
  • Improvement work around green surrounds and carry areas

Final Comments

I appreciate that recovery and improvement take time, particularly following prolonged difficult conditions.

However, a huge amount of work has already been undertaken in a relatively short space of time and, importantly, we now have a clear, structured and expert-led plan in place moving forward.

My focus remains firmly on making long-term improvements that will provide golfers with healthier turf, more consistent playing surfaces and a golf course we can all be proud of.

I would again like to thank all members for their continued patience, support and understanding whilst this programme of improvements continues.

Kind regards,

George