Sowing The Seeds Of A Great Future

Nov 4 2009 The Journal

WHAT a difference a year can make; this time last year we like many other courses were recovering from the worst rain and floods seen in years. This year we have been praying for rain, especially as we have spent the last few weeks seeding the new holes on the Colt Course and have struggled to keep them damp.

But we shouldn't complain, Abbotts our contractors building the new course have only lost three days all year due to wet weather, which I'm sure must be some sort of record for the North East.

The construction of the Colt Course has gone well this summer and all major earthworks are now complete.

The finishing crew are now working their way round seeding the greens, fairways and rough, unfortunately as the temperature has now dropped and the autumn sets in we will have to finish some areas in the spring.

The warm early autumn temperatures have allowed the areas seeded early to germinate well and we all already cutting two fairways and four greens, and to my amazement one fairway is striped already.

However, I don't think it is quite ready for me to have my clubs on the back of my buggy yet, and fear I would have six angry green-keepers chasing me if I did.

2010 is certainly going to be a frustrating year as the course will take shape and look great, but look is all we will be able to do.

I am already receiving great compliments from people driving into the site commenting on how good the new course looks. What they don't know is that what they can see from the drive is just a drop in the ocean in terms of the dramatic setting and quality of the holes you can't see.

I have had one very interesting meeting this month with Jim Hinckley. Many of you may not have heard of Jim but he is the 12th most important man in the world of golf and is Arnold Palmer's agent (google him for more information).