How is your course shaping up after winter and the dry spring?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

A local weather station has it that our area has had a total of 17.7mm of rain across March, April and May to date. Even the 46mm in Feb came in a couple of downpours. Over the same period last year we had approx 150mm, with a further 77mm in the Feb.

Since his records began in 2006, the average rainfall March to early May is over 100mm, with Feb average 55mm.

It’s been very dry…and cold…and it shows. Course is coming on nicely, though areas of newer turf and seeding are needing careful watching and attention.

 

[SteveJay]

Looking like a real links now, brown fairways, drives going miles and miles, bouncy as hell. Greens are gradually improving, Brabazon Northern Qualifier next week so everyone working to get it in tip top condition for that.

 

[Junior]

Course is firm and fast and greens are puuuuuure at the minute. Unbelievably some members still complain

 

[nickjdavis]

Have to say, having played a couple of times this week, in increasingly dry weather, the course is looking in fantastic condition. Loads of definition around the fairways, sensible first cut of rough, damaging (but not destructive) second cut (which is good as the ball is running very well but is prone to taking the odd bounce here and there which sometimes punishes what would otherwise be decently struck shots). Greens are going through their mid spring phase of being a bit bobbly as the two grass types grow at different rates, but experience shows that this will soon settle down.

The pond that was dug on the 8th last year and has never really worked, because it failed to hold water and looked an absolute mess has been renovated, resculpted and lined properly and when it was bedded in and matured, with all the intended planting around the edges it will look fantastic. Still have the morons who insist on climbing down the banks (which are reasonably steep) to retrieve balls despite the clubs request for them not to do so....bloody great footprints everywhere and marks where folks have slipped, in the nicely contoured banks. I guess only a fence of sharpened spikes topped with razor wire will be enough to deter the selfish idiots - who are probably those who moan the loudest about the state of the course but do nothing to help.

Could do with the nets in the practice bays being renewed....again damaged by scum with a cigarette lighter and the holes have just continued to grow. I genuinely believe that we have members who do not actually care whether the club survives or not and that there will always be somewhere else they can go and play.

Back on a brighter note....the cherry trees that are dotted around the course look like they will be absolutely loaded with fruit, as does the plum tree by the 7th green. Hopefully I can time things right in a couple of months time and pick a load of both and we can replenish our domestic supplies of Cherry/Plum brandy and I might see if I can use some and brew a Cherry Stout....a few years back i managed to walk off the course with in excess of 20kg of cherries....was fun up a ladder fighting the wasps to get at them!!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

As each week of warm weather goes by the course is shaping up nicely nice

Greens was running nicely , still a good amount of leatherjacket damage but a week or top dressing and over seeding will help nicely

Fairways coming along as well with the hope that preferred lies can be removed in the next 2 weeks

 

[Skytot]

As each week of warm weather goes by the course is shaping up nicely nice

Greens was running nicely , still a good amount of leatherjacket damage but a week or top dressing and over seeding will help nicely

Fairways coming along as well with the hope that preferred lies can be removed in the next 2 weeks

Can’t believe your still on preferred lies in May ..
we stopped it in April, but our greens are poor . Cored & Slit end of March and not recovered yet . Some tees really brown and cracking. It could be a tough summer for our courses.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Can’t believe your still on preferred lies in May ..
we stopped it in April, but our greens are poor . Cored & Slit end of March and not recovered yet . Some tees really brown and cracking. It could be a tough summer for our courses.

The fairways still have plenty of slits and cores with the growth inconsistent so we have just allowed it to extend for a couple weeks to give it all a chance

 

[Jigger]

Still preferred lies at ours but greens are fantastic

 

[Springveldt]

Took a few photo’s today with the new phone to see what the camera quality is like (see I bought today for that story).

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Took a few photo’s today with the new phone to see what the camera quality is like (see I bought today for that story).

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What’s the course ?

 

[Springveldt]

What’s the course ?

Newbiggin

 

[clubchamp98]

Newbiggin

Any 300+ yd drives.
Looks toasted.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Newbiggin

Links ? Or links land at least

 

[Springveldt]

Any 300+ yd drives.
Looks toasted.

Aye, a few.

Mate drove the 6th and the 7th.

 

[Springveldt]

Links ? Or links land at least

Aye, links. A couple of holes are a bit inland but most of them have links sandy soil.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Played at Kinross today, Montgomery course. The course is in great condition apart from the greens. Very patchy, really struggling.