Golf Manager John Glendinning continues his column outlining what goes on behind-the-scenes at Close House
WE have now changed our name to Val de Close House and cancelled our flights to the Alps, and also exchanged our buggies for skidoos.
We had some members, who had obviously received new golf clubs for Christmas, phone in the interim period between Christmas and New Year to see if the course was open – the staff politely asked them if they had looked outside over the last week!
The snow has allowed us to have our first play on the new golf course but, in order to do so, we swapped our clubs for skis and a snowboard, and I have realised bunkers don’t just create an obstacle for golf – unless you are used to “big air” they should be avoided, as Jonny and I found out.
Despite the weather, we have still been kept busy – the greenkeepers have spent more time ploughing snow off the drive than cutting grass.
We have managed to get some jobs done that we normally wouldn’t have had time for, eg woodland management. We have been cutting down trees which are close to some of the greens on the Filly course to get more light and air into the greens, and painting course furniture.
Our mechanics Steve and Colin have been servicing the machines ready for the spring, and repairing vehicles they hadn’t had time to fix last year.
As expected, we haven’t been able to make much progress with the construction of the Colt Course – the contractors will be back when the weather improves. What is encouraging is that we don’t seem to have had much damage caused by the weather so, hopefully, the construction will be able to pick up from where we left off before Christmas.
We are now starting to make plans for the spring with the new course, with a recruitment advert going in this month’s magazine for more greenkeepers this spring. We have also just ordered two more fairway mowers to be delivered in the spring. I was tempted to ask if we could have ski piste attachments rather than cutting units on the mowers, but apparently John Deere don’t stock them!
