As quick as the good weather came it went just as sharp. The wet weather has returned and with a bang. Over the Easter weekend we have had over 25mm of rain with the majority of it falling on Monday, 24 hours of continual rain has left the course in very sorry state, there are very little words needed to describe the frustration we are all feeling, ill let the pictures speak for themselves.
The course has suffered before and recovered just as quick, hopefully the year is heading in the right direction to get drier, warmer and allow some golf to be played. The ditches we installed on the course are working great, it is evident that a lot of drainage still needs to be installed to get standing water into them. Water will slowly move down through soils, it cant however move laterally with the same ease. Drainage is in the 'Strategic Plan' and something that we feel strongly is needed to increase the playability of the course. It does however come at an incredible expense as there is so many areas that need work.
Work doesn't stop on the course, we are continuing where possible, there are a number of small repair and renovation tasks still to completed on the course. The path at the rear of the 9th ladies tee is being improved by installing plastic reinforcement into the soil, the 10th ditch is in need of a repair where an old drain has collapsed, a few of the old winter tees are being removed and levelled, the irrigation pump house is getting a stone access path built to it, we have some leylandii to plant around the short game area to create screening from the greenkepers buildings and we have some old rabbit damage to level in the pine copses that were thinned. We are also starting to trim sprinkler heads and boxes ready to test the irrigation (as if we need more water), however we need to ensure it is in full working order should it be required.
