Hesketh Golf Club
News from the Links.
As we are now half way through June, we are finally getting some consistent growth. I best heard this year described as the Winter from hell followed by three Februarys and a July, the problem being we had no real Spring conditions, i.e Wet and warm, we had the heat during the day and cold cold nights, this did very little to help the soil temperatures and therefore the growth was very late to materialise.
At present the greens are thickening out nicely and the growth has calmed down a little, we are continuing the programme of verti-cutting and top-dressing little and very often, this not only removes lateral growth but also helps smooth out the surface. You may have noticed that the greens were cut by hand on a daily basis (Mon-Fri), at present the hand mowers have been sent for a mid-season regrind, but when they return the greens will continue to be cut this way and at the weekends cut with the triple mower,this not only improves aesthetics but also, in my opinion, gives a finer/cleaner cut.
Tees fairways and greens are receiving extra care and attention with the application of wetting agents and liquid manure (sorry about the smell).
The “dead-zone” by the 14th tee is at the forefront of our minds at the moment, with a couple of ideas in process, more news on this at a later date.
As it’s June, I can’t fail to mention the rough, what are your thoughts? I personally think the course is set up fair with all golfers in mind (except those that think they can play a 3-wood from anywhere on the course). All opinions gratefully received be they to Malcolm, Dave or Myself.
We are organising a course walk of around 5 holes for all those interested on the 2nd July this will be combined with a tour of the maintenance facility with a few machines out working, if I was a member I would want to know why we have verti-cutters, verti-drains, irons etc etc and what they do, after all you buy them. This will be followed by an informal question and answer session in the mixed lounge for all to have their say.
We are now (believe it or not) looking towards our Winter project work, this Winter we will endeavour to re-shape 25 bunkers, re-level and turf 2 tees, at present those in mind are the 6th and 11th. It has also been discussed that the 12 th green complex will be re-designed and rebuilt using suitable materials as I write this the thought is to raise the surroundings of the green and remove the (some would say) crazy mounding, with one bunker being removed and the other two set into the new surround.
The 7th hole is also being looked at with the emphasis on the two fairway bunkers and the area between the two sections of fairway.
The 3rd tee will be raised and the fairway shifted to the right, also the 6th tiger tee will be reshaped and extended. All the above combined with aeration, turfing of worn patches and tree work should keep us busy over the Winter period.
If you have anything you would like to discuss or comment on then please let Malcolm, Dave or myself know, we are of the same enthusiastic mind set and working towards a better Hesketh for all….
