Greens
The chemical treatment for Fusarium applied to the greens over the winter season has worked its magic, with only very small areas on a couple of greens showing any signs of the problem. As we are now entering the growing season we are through the worst.
Throughout the winter months all the greens have been hand cut, and a stimpmeter is being used to show the speed of the greens, at present they are running between 7 and 8. The use of the stinpmeter will continue through the summer months as we hope to improve the quality and speed of the greens.
In preparation for the start of the season all greens will be fertilised & top dressed and all the holes will be furnished with a new flagsticks & flags
(Red for the front 9 and Blue for the back 9).
The 7^th & 13^th greens have undergone drainage work and we are now playing these holes.
All Members are asked to repair their pitch marks as untreated pitch marks do cause damage to the greens.

Bunkers
Reconstruction work has been conducted for this winter period to the bunkers on the 1^st and 14^th and all others bunkers have been re-edged and the drain holes repaired.
The aim is to ensure all bunkers have a minimum of a 6” face so as to avoid any possibility of players putting out of bunkers, and to ensure there is a consistent amount of sand throughout each bunker.
We appreciate the re-design to the RHS bunker on the 14^th is not to everyone’s liking or understanding, but we ask members to give us their feedback once this is in play.
New rakes have been sourced for each bunker and we ask all members to ensure they rake over the bunker if they have had to play out of one. There is no excuse now.

Tees
Work to the 6^th Winter Tee, the Back 8^th Tee and the 18^th Forward Tee has now been completed. The new forward tee at the 18^th unfortunately will not be in play for the start of the season, more time is needed to allow the grass to grow and knit together. The greens committee apologise for the delay in the opening of this tee and ask for the patience of the members.

Drainage
Drainage work has been completed on the 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th & 17^th holes over the winter period. This work will be re turfed where possible. Several areas will need to be seeded but this will be kept to a minimal. The aim of the committee is to try and provided the course in pristine condition throughout the summer months.

Trees
A huge project to remove Approx 170 dead trees has taken place over the past couple of months, together with removing low hanging branches on many other trees lining the course. The benefits of this work will be seen shortly when the trees start to flower.

General
The water hazard to the right of the second green is to remain over the summer period. This decision has been taken to provide all members the chance to have their say whether good or indifferent, their views would be welcomed in the comments book which can be located in the bar area. This will be reviewed following the summer season.
All the concrete tee blocks have been jet washed and the marker plates replaced or repaired. They do look very good now and enhance the Teeing Areas.
All the yardage markers are now back in place.
The trolley ban has been lifted along with the green post rule, the ball will be played where it lies, lift clean place on the mown areas within 6 inches until further notice.
We will be looking at the introduction of the hedgehog wheels for trolleys for the next winter period. This would enable members who wish to use a trolley, powercaddy or otherwise, to use their trolley over that period provided they abide by the ruling of using hedgehog wheels. Further information on this idea will be posted in due course.
The chipping green to the right of the 3^rd back tee has now been staked out for play anytime of the week including competition days. The black stakes identify that you can only chip to the green from inside their boundary. Chipping mats will also be placed around the green to allow chipping from other areas which have previously been inaccessible. We hope members enjoy and use this facility and abide by the practice rules posted.
The practice area to the RHS rough on the 15^th has also been staked out with Yardage mark and Targets marked out on the old green. Again we hope members enjoy and use this facility and abide by the practice rules posted.
The fence along the 14^th Path to the 15^th Tee has been extended so members now need to walk around the 15^th tee to access the 14^th green. The reason for this change is to protect the bank on the 14^th along the back of the 15^th tee which comes into play for many members who miss the green to the RHS, but end up in horrible lies due to the poor quality of the ground in that area. We need members to avoid stepping over the extended fence and walking to the 14^th green for the benefit of all.
Many members have approached the greens committee with their favourable comments on how well the course is looking for this time of year and how hard the green staff are working. This would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of Gary and his team. Thanks guys for your continued hard work.
On a final note, the ‘Own a Hole’ project has now been launched with further details posted on the Greens notice board outside the locker rooms and flyers left on the table outside the Secretaries office, and the Greens Open evening is arranged for Tuesday 29^th March in the main lounge from 7.30pm.

Greens Committee