Important (re-)opening dates:
29/3: Driving range and ball machine open for the season. Mats must still be used.
29/3: The par 3 course opens.
6/4: The nice teeing ground blocks come out onto the course. Mostly to the delight of the deer.
9/4:: Wooden poles and fresh hollow cups come onto the field.
10/4: 1st and 18th greens will be used again for the opening match
10/4: The ground rules on the field are lifted. However, we will still play with layups. See rules in the starter's house.
We have had some really good working weeks with dry greenkeeping weather. It has been cold so the long-awaited spring growth that will get us out of the winter conditions is taking a while, but we are on our way and these are wonderful conditions to get the course ready for a new busy season.
Our fairway restoration continues. This year's topdressing has been completed with a slightly smaller layer of sand than in previous years. Then we will have to trot around for a shorter time in the sandy desert. The fairways have been reseeded and fertilized.
1, 18 and the putting greens have all been pricked, reseeded and topdressed for the first time. Many more of these trips will follow on these greens to get them free of winter disease.
Tees have been dotted, reseeded and top-dressed. The large tee at Drivinggrange has received the same treatment.
Greens, green surrounds, tees, fairways and bunker edges have all been fertilized – just in time for the weekend's refreshing rain.
April will not feature any major disruptive maintenance tasks. A simple spot-and-sow topdressing of the greens and surroundings is planned, but it will still be a gentle intervention. Otherwise, the mowing tasks will begin gradually, first the greens, then the tees and finally our fairways.
Our new drilling will be completed in April. Expect a few days where everyone plays from tee 45 on the 10th hole so the well drillers have peace of mind.
As always: Remember to line up your impact marks, use a mat and later a tube/bag of divot mix. Look behind and see if your ball shouldn't be passing through. There are many of us on the course so game flow is a challenge.
Enjoy.