Greens Update May 2024

Greens Newsletter
Welcome to Spring 2024!

After a period of unprecedented wet weather we are finally beginning to see our golf course emerge from its winter tribulations and we can look forward to an exciting golf season here at Crewe.

This is the first of a series of short monthly updates I shall be providing to keep members informed.

For those of you who don't know, Alistair Beggs of the R&A provides a regular visiting consultancy service to Crewe Golf Club. His most recent report, dated February 8 can be found in your club documents on the ClubV1 App under Agronomy Reports. His next visit is scheduled for May and the report will be made available to members in the same way.

Reflecting on the recent weather, we have to acknowledge both successes and stumbling blocks for our ambitious Winter course program. The constant rain and sodden ground have prevented access for staff and machinery at times but we have made considerable progress.

As you venture out onto the rapidly drying course you will note that the following planned actions have been carried out:
• Creation of 13 Winter tees
• New paths on the 1st, 11th & around the halfway House.
• Tree management on holes 1, 9, 15 & 16.
• Bunker removal hole 16
• Repairs to bridge on the 1st.

From conversations with many members I know that our recent difficulties have been recognised and members have appreciated the efforts to open at least parts of the course, whilst protecting the greens, tees and fairways for the coming season.

I hope you will agree with me that our greens are clearly evidencing the benefits of the protection afforded them and our summer golf can get underway on a course that shows significant improvements for May 2023.

Apart from the obvious cutting of the grass we are also planning to carry out the following course works in the next few weeks:
• Verticutting the greens - Verticutting is a very beneficial technique for maintaining and improving the overall health of our greens. In addition to removing thatch, it also: provides grass roots with better access to oxygen, water, and nutrients.
• Pro-Coring the Greens - Coring (punching small holes) creates channels for better air exchange and promotes optimal soil health, leading to stronger roots and improved overall turf quality
• Top Dressing - Applying sand topdressing improves putting greens smoothness, increases firmness and dilutes thatch. (Thatch is a layer of dead and living plant material just below the turf surface)
• New directional and safety signage in-keeping with existing notices.
• The Greens will also be sprayed with a wetting agent which reduces surface tension of water and simultaneously allows agent to pass into soil thereby increasing infiltration and water retention.

I always welcome observations, suggestions and comments regarding the course. I can’t please everyone but I will always listen.

Members will be interested to know that I have been joined on the Greens Committee this year by the President, Barry Challinor, John Warham, Kay Sansom, Curtis Vickers, Rob Reid, Ian Goodwin and Simon McNicholas.

Look out for my next update in late May / early June

Best wishes for a good golfing season

Dave Baker
Chair of Greens