Now it's going to be a real winter on the course. The greenkeeping staff has been sent home for Christmas break and will not return until the beginning of January, as they will have to take their usual vacation and time off so that the green men are fresh for a new season when spring comes.
Although the course will be open for play over Christmas and beyond, service levels will be reduced. Flags will not be brought out onto the greens until the new year, when that will only be if the weather is particularly mild. Rivers in bunkers have been taken in for the winter, and we are reducing the number of playable tees to two, the 57th and 49th tees. All other tees are closed for play.