CLUB DIARY & INFORMATION
FOR MEMBERS
CLUB DIARY - Sunday, 23rd November to Sunday, 30th November 2025
Sun, 23rd Christmas Am-Am – Shotgun start @8.30am
Ladies Competition to follow @ 12.45pm approx
Mon 24th
Tues, 25th Ladies Competition Day – 9 Hole Stableford
Dining Room – Private Function – Morning/Lunchtime
Wed, 26th CLUB NIGHT
Thurs, 27th
Fri, 28th
Sat, 29th Christmas Betterball
Sun, 30th Greenkeepers Revenge
9 Hole Competition starting at 9.00am
In view of the numbers, it has been decided to allocate tee times.
These will be sent out next week.
Members are reminded that the new barrier is being installed on Monday. It is not expected that there will be any delays entering or exiting the carpark. However, we would thank you, in advance, for your patience if there is any.
**COURSE MANAGER’S REPORT **
This week we have been getting on with more irrigation work as we look to complete the section on the 1st apron and 2nd tees. Making use of the digger, we have laid all the pipe and back filled where we can leaving holes for the installation of the sprinklers which will be done by the Dep shortly. This will result in us having water to holes 1,2,3 and 4 which is a great start. We are hoping to continue the work on more holes, if budget allows. We are currently planning this and working out costs.
We have seen the big tractor and blower on the course this week as we clear up the course from last weekend's storm. Hand blowing has also been done around greens where the tractor can't get. The course took the storm very well with us closing Friday and Saturday but reopening Sunday with no restrictions. The new pathways and the ropes are helping us control traffic and with buggies and trolleys keeping to them, it all helps in keeping the course open. The end of the week saw temperatures drop and whilst this helps us keep the course open, it does mean we have to use the temporary greens. We will review the greens frequently when this happens and look to get them on main greens as soon as they thaw. Here in brief is why we use temporary greens during frost.
In general terms, the less stress a plant is put under during the winter months, the healthier it should be when the weather warms up. When grass freezes, water within its cells expands and this can put the membranes under a huge amount of pressure. With the grass largely dormant during the winter, this is a time when it is at its most vulnerable. When golfers tread across a frozen green, the compaction can cause bruising underfoot. The barriers between the cells break and the plant is killed from the inside. As the temperature then rises and the green thaws, the dead grass turns brown and wastes away. This damage can last well into the spring. I know some golf clubs do play on main greens even during frost, however It depends on what type of greens you have. If you’ve got grass with fescues and bents like we have here at Penn and we continue to promote, you need to protect those grasses because they don’t like people walking over them in the frost. They won’t deal with it very well. The greens have to be thawed 8 inches down before going back on main. The greens can look green and thawed at times so please trust that if this is the case and we are still on temps, that we have checked and are making the best decisions for the health of our greens. During the thawing process is when the roots are at the most vulnerable to damage.
I haven't made fairway mats compulsory yet as most of the fairways are still in good condition. There are a few that are starting to turn a bit muddy as a result of worm casts. 4th, 17th and bottom of 18 are examples of this. There are mats on the 1st tee for anyone wishing to use them. I will continue to review the use of them on a daily basis. Once they do become compulsory, I have had a lot of good feedback on the Spurk mat which can be found following this link. We had to replace over 100 mats this year due to them not being returned so members may wish to purchase their own better quality mat.
https://spurkgolf.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11714431810&gbraid=0AAAAABwO2FBmmmB9W786SF8veWuZyvJu-&gclid=CjwKCAiAuIDJBhBoEiwAxhgyFt48LcoRg59ER3YvQ5idIy0uwxevMHnYp_09K14Q2MbawMjvKucsrRoCUsYQAvD_BwE
Enjoy your weekend
Dave.
Sun, 23rd Christmas Am-Am – Shotgun start @8.30am
Ladies Competition to follow @ 12.45pm approx
Mon 24th
Tues, 25th Ladies Competition Day – 9 Hole Stableford
Dining Room – Private Function – Morning/Lunchtime
Wed, 26th CLUB NIGHT
Thurs, 27th
Fri, 28th
Sat, 29th Christmas Betterball
Sun, 30th Greenkeepers Revenge
9 Hole Competition starting at 9.00am
In view of the numbers, it has been decided to allocate tee times.
These will be sent out next week.
Members are reminded that the new barrier is being installed on Monday. It is not expected that there will be any delays entering or exiting the carpark. However, we would thank you, in advance, for your patience if there is any.
**COURSE MANAGER’S REPORT **
This week we have been getting on with more irrigation work as we look to complete the section on the 1st apron and 2nd tees. Making use of the digger, we have laid all the pipe and back filled where we can leaving holes for the installation of the sprinklers which will be done by the Dep shortly. This will result in us having water to holes 1,2,3 and 4 which is a great start. We are hoping to continue the work on more holes, if budget allows. We are currently planning this and working out costs.
We have seen the big tractor and blower on the course this week as we clear up the course from last weekend's storm. Hand blowing has also been done around greens where the tractor can't get. The course took the storm very well with us closing Friday and Saturday but reopening Sunday with no restrictions. The new pathways and the ropes are helping us control traffic and with buggies and trolleys keeping to them, it all helps in keeping the course open. The end of the week saw temperatures drop and whilst this helps us keep the course open, it does mean we have to use the temporary greens. We will review the greens frequently when this happens and look to get them on main greens as soon as they thaw. Here in brief is why we use temporary greens during frost.
In general terms, the less stress a plant is put under during the winter months, the healthier it should be when the weather warms up. When grass freezes, water within its cells expands and this can put the membranes under a huge amount of pressure. With the grass largely dormant during the winter, this is a time when it is at its most vulnerable. When golfers tread across a frozen green, the compaction can cause bruising underfoot. The barriers between the cells break and the plant is killed from the inside. As the temperature then rises and the green thaws, the dead grass turns brown and wastes away. This damage can last well into the spring. I know some golf clubs do play on main greens even during frost, however It depends on what type of greens you have. If you’ve got grass with fescues and bents like we have here at Penn and we continue to promote, you need to protect those grasses because they don’t like people walking over them in the frost. They won’t deal with it very well. The greens have to be thawed 8 inches down before going back on main. The greens can look green and thawed at times so please trust that if this is the case and we are still on temps, that we have checked and are making the best decisions for the health of our greens. During the thawing process is when the roots are at the most vulnerable to damage.
I haven't made fairway mats compulsory yet as most of the fairways are still in good condition. There are a few that are starting to turn a bit muddy as a result of worm casts. 4th, 17th and bottom of 18 are examples of this. There are mats on the 1st tee for anyone wishing to use them. I will continue to review the use of them on a daily basis. Once they do become compulsory, I have had a lot of good feedback on the Spurk mat which can be found following this link. We had to replace over 100 mats this year due to them not being returned so members may wish to purchase their own better quality mat.
https://spurkgolf.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11714431810&gbraid=0AAAAABwO2FBmmmB9W786SF8veWuZyvJu-&gclid=CjwKCAiAuIDJBhBoEiwAxhgyFt48LcoRg59ER3YvQ5idIy0uwxevMHnYp_09K14Q2MbawMjvKucsrRoCUsYQAvD_BwE
Enjoy your weekend
Dave.