Beast from the East- Part 2

It could well be a story from a far fetched film, but the weather is still dominating the headlines. After Storm Emma had been and gone we were optimistic that spring was on its way and work could start on the course, there are many tasks that have been delayed due to ground conditions, some even cancelled until next winter. It has been the most frustrating year for all, the relenting weather has took its toll on the course and the people involved at Malton and Norton Golf Club. The fact is we are now reliant on a good, dry spring to get the course back into good condition, without one, the saturated conditions will effect maintenance for some time yet.

Only a week after Storm Emma the cold weather returned bringing rain and snow back across the country, we have not had the volumes we did before but a couple of inches of snow has closed the course once again.

Just before the cold snap we had a deluge of rain, this has saturated the course causing localised flooding, however its increased the height of the River Derwent, flooding holes 21-24. This is a common occurrence and something we have to accept as those holes are effectively built on a flood area. The Environment Agency did install a flood defence system that protects Malton and Norton from potential flood damage, however if the river water remains excessively high for a period of time the water comes up through the soil, albeit a slow rate, but does cause flood issues on the course still. The benefits of having the flood defences are the water doesn't rise as quickly as it used to, it doesn't get as high and the water that floods the land is cleaner, so once it recedes it leaves very little silt damage.

I like to look on the positives of all situations, we have taken great steps forward in, hopefully, achieving a more playable course, assessing how Malton and Norton golf Club holds up to the poorest of weather, we have put in place a new policy that will hopefully improve winter golf going forward, taking steps to improve winter cup areas, plans in place to improve winter teeing areas, drainage plans, tree work to help strengthen weak areas of turf caused by shade and rooting and more intense aeration work to create healthier and stronger turf to combat wear. This all has to accounted for when budgets are set, but without targets to improve the course we will always suffer during these difficult times.

Work is always ongoing no matter what mother nature brings us, recently we have started work on the bunkers. All bunkers are to be edged, checked, repaired where necessary and topped up with sand. We have managed to complete 8 holes so far, with choosing the best conditions to lead sand out to bunkers we could get to. Some of the bunkers we are going to go back to when conditions improve to change some of the front lips. Its a common piece of feedback I hear and something I would like to address. Due to the design of some of the bunkers on the course ( designed for ease of maintenance ) the lips can get very steep, causing issues with balls settling under them. The grass faces we have are always going to create this issue, however I would like to see if we can improve the worst of them. If not then a redesign of some of the bunkers will be required in the future.

Tree work has continued, removing low limbs to allow access of the big machinery that is required to maintain the course. over the years the machinery has increased dramatically in size creating dangerous working conditions, putting staff and machinery at risk.

Work has started on the 8th pond , just to recap, the front wall has been damaged from a couple of years ago from a flood event, the soil and stone behind the wall has collapsed creating pressure and excess rot on the front supporting bars holding the facia sleepers. The issue we are faced with, is golfers come very close to the front edge of the wall to retrieve balls from the water. If the front facia was to give way then could cause possible injury to staff or golfers. The front part of the wall is non structural, so there is little risk of total collapse, however there is still a risk for all. To solve this we have looked a several options. The simplest is to remove the facia wall exposing the structural; element, should it be in good condition still. The other options involve removing the wall completely and reshaping the bank and/or the pond to create a long less acute slope for golfers and machinery to travel on. These two options cost money and something that hasn't been budgeted this spring. Until a final decision is made work has stopped, so please take care around the pond and DO NOT enter the restricted zone in front of the pond.

We are trying to get all greens cut, however this is proving difficult when fighting against the conditions, we have managed to cut half and have sprayed them with a preventative fungicide application
Fertiliser applications to tees, surrounds, approaches, fairways, greens and selected areas of semi rough will take place this week, weather depending!!!