Woodland management

What a difference a few days can make, last Saturday we woke up to the snow and by Friday morning, following a slow thaw we have glorious sunshine. The temperatures are still low but this is perfect for golf at least.

The course was closed from Saturday to Wednesday due at first the snow but then the sheets of ice that appeared because the snow melt during the day and the frosts at night.

We decided to postpone the Divot Trophy as the temperatures were to low and because of the weather we were unable to scarify the fairways as planned the week before, meaning if we did carry out this operation the chances are most would be removed during the process (especially
blowing the fairways clear). Please keep an eye for this event as we need numbers. It's good competition and a great way to help your course.

During the week we carried out some subtle woodland management. This word can strike fear into every golfer but the works were essential to move the course into the right direction and speed up play.
Remember the woodlands that are sustainable are managed woodlands.

•We have reduce the bush back right of 8th to speed up play from 6th Tee, leaving the holly bush.
•Removed some Hornbeam from the ditch on the left of 15th to get a better view of the hole.
• Pruned back the Oakes over hanging the 12th and 10th greens ( we do this every two years) so you can hit the greens better and improve light/air to the greens also.
•Reduced the hedges to make them easier to maintain in the future.

The bigger logs were used to create log piles or stacks in the woodland areas out of play. We do this for our ecology reasons as they break down they become perfect homes for bugs and grubs including stag beetles. Once these start to appear it encourages the birds to the golf course. We have seen a particular rise in Green Woodpeckers over the last three years. All of these things make a more natural environment and better place to enjoy our golf.

We also cleared the last few leafs from ditches, edged the last couple of bunkers, carried on refurbishing course furniture, repaired some of the drainage that had collapsed during the last wet spell.

I hope you all have a chance to play over Easter and we hope the temperatures will rise up in the coming days.

Happy Easter to you all