Fog

Over the last week the weather has been exceptionally mild for the time of the year, this with the combination of no wind and cool nights brings pockets of fog. The course is situated in a small valley, with rolling countryside all around us often leads to fog pockets which sits around the River Derwent and the low lying land. Sometimes only a few miles away the fog can be a lot less dense, if any at all. We currently have a fog policy which has been put in place to ensure safety of golfers and staff on the course is paramount. We cant have anyone being at an increased risk due to low visibility when playing golf here at Malton and Norton. The policy states that 'the course is deemed unplayable and golfers can't start their round if a specific point (the copper beech tree) 250yards from the men's white tee on the 10th is NOT CLEARLY VISIBLE'. If the circumstances are such that the course is playable when golfers start their round and then visibility reduces, the policy then states 'golfers can't continue their round if visibility reduces such that they cant see CLEARLY where their intended shot will finish'. I must reiterate that golfers must be able to see the tree and where they arte hitting the ball clearly, we have witnessed circumstances that we deem dangerous, once on the golf course its is the golfers responsibility to determine if they are playing safely or not, however if we feel these rules are not being followed we will report anyone that put the safety of staff or golfers at risk. Please speak to the pro shop before starting your round as they will advise the current situation regarding playability. Thank you

Elsewhere on the course we have been busy tidying the last of the leaves, with only a few piles left to collect we have just about come to the end of the leaf collection season, the team have done a fantastic job and the course is looking great for the time of year. We have vibrate rolled the greens and they are too holding up well for December, I would urge all golfers to repair as many pitch marks as possible, even if they are not your own, as any scars left by unrepaired pitch marks will remain until spring. The greens have been sprayed with a preventative fungicide to stop fusarium, which rife at the moment due to the unseasonal warm weather. This should help reduce disease activity until January.
Machine servicing is continuing, the majority of machines will be started on in the new year, as we may need them to cut the course before Christmas if growth continues.

The surrounds and approaches are being vertidrained, using 12mm x 200mm tines. The greens will also be vertidrained next week, we hope not too cause to much disruption, however I feel its vital we get some aeration to the wettest greens especially. We will use cross tines which are less disruptive to the surface, while providing good depth and decompaction. They were slit tined last week and we will hopefully do them again followed by the fairways should time allow around Christmas