The last few weeks have seen unprecedented rain fall throughout the UK and despite it being the warmest March on record last month, this month’s rainfall has a good chance of April 2024 being deemed the wettest April on record.
Our greens staff have coped admirably, and we have kept the course open and playable far more than any of our neighbouring clubs.
The Course Manager, Martin Cunningham and I speak almost every day with regards to how the course is coping and his concern and enthusiasm is very reassuring.
Martin today had an independent greens specialist have a look at our 3rd, 5th and 11th greens, the ones causing the most problems and the outcome is that Martin and his team will be hollow coring and sanding these three greens on Monday and Tuesday next week.
This was considered the best way forward to hopefully have the greens in an acceptable condition for the 1st of May despite the added cost to the greenkeeping budget.
The greens would have been out of play next week anyway so the hollow coring will not cause any extra disappointment.
The independent greens specialist has recommended we don’t use any of the three greens until the 1st of May and after further talks with Martin Cunningham, this will be plan.
This will mean all Club competitions for the remainder of April will go ahead as non-counters, and no General Play scores can be submitted at any time through the Shop or via the Scottish Golf App.
The fairway on hole 15 will continue to be looked at every day and the hole will be open as soon as it is playable, the plan is to have it open at the weekends.
I appreciate this is not welcome news especially during Masters week when we all want to get playing again and on behalf of the Board and greenkeepers, we thank you for your patience and understanding during tough times for most courses away from the coast throughout the UK.
Regards
Mike Robson Martin Cunningham
Club Manager/Secretary Course Manager
13th April 2024