Course Chair Update

Please find below an update from the Course Chair.

January Course Renovation.

A light renovation is scheduled during the 3-day Course closure on 8^th, 9^th and 10^th of January.

This planned renovation is a light follow up to the major annual renovation done in early September. This work ensures David Mason and the Course Team are well positioned to have the Course in its best possible shape for the Opening of the 2024 golf season in February and enable it to be best placed for maintain optimal condition and presentation throughout the coming year ahead.

In relation to the Greens in particular this renovation will be a relatively light “tickle” to the playing surface and a topdressing with sand. With follow up waterings and mowing, we will see this dissipate quickly and be back to good playing condition within a very short time. The trial owersowing of Bent grass on Hole 21 green has been very successful in achieving the desired appearance and performance for play. It provides an infill which masks the variability we currently see throughout the greens due to the substantial off-type species we have amongst the Champion Bermuda playing surfaces. Whilst the Bermuda species growth will be stronger and predominate greens surfaces throughout the summer season, in about April as the weather cools and growth rates slow, it will naturally become more open and the off-types more obvious; both visually and in texture to play. This is where the Bentgrass infill is anticipated to provide its greatest benefit providing a dense cover and truest possible surfaces throughout the Winter period. Based on the success of Hole 21, and more recently the overseeding with Bent on Hole 10 and the East practice putting green done during the September renovation, we will now be oversowing all Greens with Bent during this January renovation. This timing is ideal as the surface will be slightly perforated and allows at least 3 months of establishment in readiness for the Winter season, when we want surfaces to be at their best for Club Championships, Pennants and other key events. There is no additional impost on recovery time, or any maintenance above normal requirements associated with this introduction of Bent Grass.

It is also noted as has previously been outlined by David Mason in his video communications, that this is part of his interim measures to keep our greens presenting and playing their best, until the ultimate grass species solution for our green surfaces is determined.

1^st Hole Area Works

With the upcoming sewer main works programmed for an approx. 3-month period due to commence in early February, the 1^st hole was going to be played as a Par 4 from forward tees. With the tragic fire and loss of our Pro Shop last week, there will now unfortunately be further necessary disruption in the zone adjacent to the Clubhouse and 1^st hole tee area, as we work quickly to remove the old Pro Shop and damaged surrounds and put the interim temporary Pro Shop and associated facilities in place.

As a result of this, and additionally to ensure Members are kept safely clear of the area as much as possible during the construction of the new Pro Shop through into 2025, the 1^st hole will therefore need to continue to be played as a Par 4.

As you are all aware, the current low area of 1^st fairway is in poor condition due to drainage issues, where we are regularly seeing persistent surface water and slush, and problems with play and cart access, even after small amounts of rain.

With the 1^st playing as a Par 4, the quality of presentation and condition of this fairway landing zone from where the majority of second shots will be played is now of even greater importance. Whilst we have the disruption adjacent to the 1^st adjacent to the Clubhouse during the installation of temporary Pro Shop through until approx. mid-January, and as we still have much of the growing season to utilise for rapid recovery, we are taking the opportunity to fix this area of fairway properly so that its right for the future. This fairway repair work is starting next week and involves stripping of existing turf, adjustment to field inlets/pits, laying of new sub-surface drainage pipes, re-shaping and re-profiling the sand subgrade to ensure positive surface flows, and re-turfing. Once the fairway is re-turfed in January it will be back in play almost immediately, noting that initially motorised carts will be directed around the newly turfed area.

The Course routing for the front nine will be starting at the 19^th, then 2^nd through to 9^th. The back nine will be 10^th to 18^th as normal.

We apologise for the disruption and thank you for your patience and understanding throughout these works over the next month.

Richard Garnham, Course Chair