Dear Members,
You will see the grass has been laid on the 5th green, with outcomes to the design being:
- Increase heights to the left front and back, to allow pin places through these sections
- Increase run offs to these sections to feed errant shots away from the green
- Increase the size to the back right, to again increase the pin placement area
- General flattening of the green, keeping a ridge to the back right, but subtle slopes for difficult reads- The design philosophy of the MCC Greens
This green should be back in play by the start of May.
The mound protecting the front right off the green will be softened, bringing the dirt back into the front right, to stop balls all feeding to the same spot.
1st Green
The Shaper has now finished with the outcomes of design being:
- Increase the width of the left side, bringing the bunkering more into play and more pins through the whole left side, front to back.
- Soften the back left around to the back right, to allow more pin positions through the back section of the green.
- Retain the defined ridge from the front left up to the back right, for more difficult access to pins
We have decided to sow this green from seed, so this will take around 12 weeks, but give us the best outcome.
There will be drainage installed from the current sumps in the front and the high right side, thus allowing drainage of water, instead of the pooling.
It has again been a very difficult summer, with little rain making high salt content, and early humidity that can bring in diseases.
In general, the course remains in excellent condition, and for those that have been playing golf from Bunbury, right through our local area, you will see the real difficulties courses have faced this summer, with most having major issues to greens. MCC has given much of its nursey turf to assist green patching elsewhere.
We acknowledge and thank your course team, fantastically lead by Stewart, who have been able to manage these difficulties and continue to present the course in excellent playing condition.
Much works has been done with Kikuyu and Poa controls, whilst couch encroachment is still a real industry issues, and one we too need to tackle.
We have had an irrigation issue cause the problem at the back of 18, this will shortly be turfed out.
Barry Price, Director of Facilities
