It’s been another year of weather extremes, but we’re really pleased with how well the course has come through the summer. Despite very little rainfall, the fairways in particular held up brilliantly and that’s largely thanks to the new irrigation system we installed last year. It’s already proving to be a game changer!

To put things in perspective, spring 2025 was the second driest on record, which meant the course didn’t get much of a chance to recover after winter 2024, the fifth wettest winter on record. The lack of spring rain made it tough for high traffic areas to bounce back as they normally would.

Then followed summer 2025, the hottest year on record. That’s why it’s been so encouraging to see how well the course has coped, especially compared to previous years. The irrigation system and the team’s hard work have made a real difference, keeping the turf healthy and playable through some challenging conditions.

The greens have once again been a real highlight, with positive feedback throughout the year. This consistency is the result of years of hard work to bring thatch levels down to under 5%. Keeping thatch under control means we no longer need to carry out heavy disruption work like hollow coring or aggressive scarifying. Instead, we can focus on solid tining and verti-cutting, which keeps surfaces smooth and recovery times fast after works been carried out.

We’ve also applied over 90 tonnes of dressing this year. This not only firms up the greens and makes them roll truer but also improves drainage and overall playability.

Unfortunately, the biggest challenge we’ve faced on the greens this year has been vandalism, mainly from players taking divots out of the surfaces or failing to repair pitch marks. These small acts cause a lot of unnecessary damage and extra work for the team, so please, take a moment to repair pitch marks and respect the course. Every bit of care helps keep the greens in top condition for everyone.

This autumn, our focus has been on getting the course ready for the winter months ahead. We’ve Verti-Drained (vertical aeration) all surfaces to improve drainage, this process fractures the soil, allowing water to move more freely through the soil profile. In addition, we hired a machine called a Verti-Quake (linear aeration), which slices through the surface to further relieve compaction. Together, these treatments should help keep the course drier and more playable throughout the winter.

Looking ahead, this winter will be all about tree work. Over the past few years, we’ve been gradually removing or managing problematic trees around the course, particularly near the greens. This winter, we’ll continue that work with a focus on crown lifting, which we started around the 2nd green last year an improvement that’s been noticeable both visually and agronomically. Allowing more light and airflow around the greens makes a big difference to turf health and playability. Both myself and Nathan are fully qualified in tree climbing and certified tree inspectors, so you can be assured that every piece of work is carefully planned. We always consider safety, playability, and agronomics before carrying out any tree work.

The team have been fantastic all year, working tirelessly to keep the course in great condition through some testing weather. We’re delighted to welcome Ryan Stockman to the team, he’s made a real difference in the short time he’s been with us and has settled in brilliantly.

On a much sadder note, we were deeply saddened by the passing of John Le Tissier on 26th September. John had been part of our greenkeeping team for three years and had been bravely battling a brain tumour for nearly a year. He was a huge part of our team and is greatly missed, not only for his dedication and hard work but, more importantly, for being a genuinely kind and wonderful person.

As we move deeper into autumn, the course is in great shape, and it’s rewarding to see the results of all the improvements from irrigation to drainage and tree management  really paying off.

A huge thank you to all members for your continued support and for helping us take care of the course.

Rob Hill & The Greenkeeping Team.