Well, it’s definitely warmer and also we are experiencing a intermittent rain it’s exactly what the courses need to really kick-start growth on the greens. Brian, our head green keeper, keeps us in the loop with course progress in his weekly course report:

“Soil temperature are finally up which means that we should see some noticeable growth on the greens and with a little more top dressing happening this week we should be back to the high standards that we set last season. Then we will set the bar higher!”

“Also this week we will finish off the work in the new chipping mats on the members’ practice chipping area outside the clubhouse.”

“Coming into action for is first full weeks service is the new zero-turn mower that we mentioned in last week’s report – we will begin to cut in around the trees and make real progress with the semi-rough.”

“Finally, and sadly, the time has come to wish ‘bon-voyage’ to Paul Ellis, our deputy head greenkeeper, who will be heading to new pastures (or fairways). Paul leaves us after 8-years of dedicated service. May I, on behalf of everyone at Leeds Golf Centre, take this opportunity to wish him the very best for the future.”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

The snow seems like a distant memory when the sun is shining like it has done over the weekend! But whilst the hot dry weather is great for golf, a little rain wouldn’t go amiss. The hard-work on the weather-delayed greens preparation continues and Brian tells of the latest equipment arrival to bolster his armoury!

This weeks photo shows the new bunker on the 6th.

“The forecast looks bright which should allow the greens team to top dress the greens again with approximately 3/4 tonne of sand. This will help smooth out the playing surface more and move us further along to the end goal of some great quality playing surfaces.”

“We will also begin to over-seed any newly cultivated areas that are prone to wear around the course and, hopefully with the right growing conditions, it will start to fill out into the great golf course that the re-development work, investment in new maintenance equipment and hard-work have brought around.”

Last week we took delivery of a new piece of equipment too – this is beneficial to you and exciting for us! It is a ‘zero-turn’ mower called a Hustler which allows us to closely mow around the plantations and tricky areas and will really aid us in our course presentation.”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

It’s not all big machines making big changes in green keeping – this week in Brian Carr’s green report we get a little glimpse into some of the strategy and detail that goes into their work schedule and planning.

NB This weeks photos shows the new signage installed recently (to the right), with colour coded pin-position information, and some of the new planting that has been going on around the course (below).

“We can now say with confidence that the weather has improved! This means soil temperatures are rising and we can now start to look at top dressing the greens which we are aiming to have completed this week. This year we will be using pure sand as supposed to previous seasons where we have been gradually reducing the soil content in the mix – this enable the top dressing to be incorporated into the playing surfaces.”

“We should also see the new bunkers on the 2nd and 6th holes completed by the contractors with the remaining bunker work to be completed during the off-season.”

Last Friday saw the departure of one of a greens staff, James Naylor – he has taken up a post at Philadelphia Point Golf Club in the USA. So with a friendly tinge of envy we wish him our congratulations and wish him all the best for the future from everybody at Leeds Golf Centre. Good news too as last week Joe Cavanagh, one of our young apprentices, completed his NVQ Level 2 in green keeping – so a bit ‘well done’ from the team!”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

We don’t want to tempt fate but it really does look like the golf season really is starting and there is even a theory that the current winds that we are experiencing have been caused by green keepers throughout the UK collectively breathing a sigh of relief! This week, Brian Carr brings us good news in his course report: -

“At last spring has finally sprung! With both day and night time temperatures on the up, it looks like an end to the prolonged cold weather of the past few months!”

“Of course, this means the soil temperatures are now also beginning to rise and on Friday they reached 8c – that’s just short of the magic 10c that we need so that the grass really begins to grow and respond to all the hard work and preparation that has taken place over the past 8 months.”

The weak ahead will see more work taking place on the 2nd and 5th greens on the Wike Ridge course and we do hope to have these greens in play towards the weekend. Those playing this week will likely see contractors on course who will be reshaping and adding some new bunkers around the 2nd (see photo to the left) and 6th greens.”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

Greenkeepers are a hardy bunch. Most golfers could be forgiven for thinking that bad weather equates to impromptu holidays for ‘greenies’ but this is not the case! Brian Carr, Leeds Golf Centre’s king of course maintenance, explains what’s been happening and what’s in store this week.

“More snow last week saw the course closed again – it turns out that March was the coldest for 50 years, yet another unwanted weather record for golfers! The good news is that (with crossed fingers) it finally appears that milder weather is upon us and with no real precipitation forecasted either.”

“Despite the snow and freezing temperatures we did manage to get out on the course last week, taking the opportunity to clear the greens of snow and thus give them a chance to dry out a little before the rest of the course thawed. Further, we have been installing knee-high rails around the course, principally on the new woodland walkway between holes six and seven as well as at various crossing points over our tremendous new water features. We will be continuing this week.”

“If the weather and ground conditions improve, we will be fertilising the greens – a task we have been waiting to complete for the past fortnight – and will also be seeking to continue with our bunker maintenance program. In addition, we will ideally be redefining all GUR areas with painted lines, filling divot marks on tees, spraying the new tree plantations, installing more artificial mats at the short game chipping area and cutting greens by hand/turf ironing ahead of the weekend. All of this of course is weather permitting!”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

For members, regulars, occasional visitors and the wider community, news of the remarkable transformation at Leeds Golf Centre has been hard to escape over the past 12 months; indeed, we’ve been stealing the headlines of golf magazines and business pages the UK over!

None of this has happened by accident. We’ve been working hard to ensure that anyone with a passing interest in golf is aware of what has been created in the charming village of Shadwell and with more HUGE announcements on the horizon plus a season-long celebration of its 20^th year, Leeds Golf Centre is set to be catapulted yet higher into the sphere of public consciousness!

Quite aside from the impending switch to our new Wike Ridge layout on Monday March 18^th – where stars past and present from the world of sport will inaugurate it ahead of a members’ competition – current course conditions are very impressive, especially considering the much-reported rainfall during the latter part of 2012. As is the norm at LGC, golfers will invariably enjoy a round without the distraction of fairway mats or the disappointment of temporary greens and winter tees.

In terms of the new Wike Ridge layout itself, final preparations are now in full swing to commence what will undoubtedly be its finest chapter to date. All but a few metres of brand new buggy paths are completed; thousands of plants including fruit trees, gorse and a stunning Mulberry tree on hole #18 are being introduced; new way-finding signage has been ordered. The investment continues whilst other courses are either closing or making cutbacks!

NB The Wike Ridge course will close at strictly 3pm on Sunday 17^th March to enable the final changeover to take place – tee times will only therefore be available until 10.30am to permit this.

Meantime, the usual seasonal work is taking place to prepare the course for spring and summer. Greens have been hollow cored to alleviate compaction and enable air to enter the root structure, tees have been fertilised with lawn sand to assist in removing any moss build-up over winter and an ongoing tree maintenance programme is taking care of any dead, diseased or dangerous branches, especially around the new and existing buggy paths.

As always, Leeds Golf Centre’s greenkeeping team is grateful to members and visitors for their patience during what has been an incredible period of redevelopment. May we also extend our thanks and gratitude to the principal contractors, White Horse, who have done a superb job under challenging climatic conditions to ensure that the new Wike Ridge layout is ready on time for you all to enjoy. We can now look forward with confidence to the opening of the new course and to a stunning year’s golf ahead!

We seem to be repeated ourselves with the cold snaps that keep coming – surely this week we’ll see a change? Even during these conditions our green keepers troop come rain or shine to make sure that your golfing experience at Leeds Golf Centre is as good as it possibly can be.

“Once again last week we dared to believe that spring was making a breakthrough only for winter to remind us that she’s not done just yet! Whilst the snowfall from Wednesday and Thursday seems to be going it has, of course, held up one or two jobs.

In spite of this we still managed to make good progress with the buggy paths on the 7th and at the back to the 12th tee just needing to be topped off and the 16th path is actually finished!

The removal of the dead trees is now in full swing and will continue this week. You may also spot the contractors on course planting new trees – this should hopefully take three to four weeks to complete.

Weather and ground conditions permitting we will be spraying the greens this week with iron and seaweed concentrate to help ‘green-up’ and stimulate grass growth.”

Brian D Carr

Head Greenkeeper

Unremarkably, given the state of the UK’s bizarre climate in recent years, the snow has gone just as quickly as it arrived! And whilst the recent cold snap has hindered the greenkeepers in some respects, they’ve typically made the most of it. Brian Carr reports.

“Last week saw us bringing machine maintenance to a close – the wintry weather gave us a much-needed opportunity to carry out this essential work, all of which is intended to ensure that our greenkeeping ‘hardware’ is in optimum condition for the time when we can use it properly! Of course, the downside to the inclement conditions meant that our progress on the 16th and 7th hole buggy paths was hindered – mostly because deliveries of materials were delayed due to the hazardous driving conditions. That said, providing we now get a clear run of weather, we will be making a start on the 7th this week.”

“As the skies brighten, we will continue giving the trees their winter pruning, especially around the new 4th green. This week will also see the greenkeeping staff continuing to de-plug and re-turf the damaged areas on greens and relieving some of the drain runs around the course – especially the one beside the lake on the 18th. Furthermore, we may be starting to erect the knee-height rails at crossing points over the new burn and around the water features – this work will all be done in-house by the greenkeeping team.”

“At this moment in time, course maintenance and preparation is in ‘the lap of the gods’ due to the aforementioned climate; for this reason, I would kindly ask our valued members and visitors to be patient given the circumstances. Thank you.”

Brian D Carr
Head Greenkeeper

As the snow flakes fall, our green keeping staff carry on their stirling efforts against the elements. Whilst you can enjoy golf indoors in our golf simulator at Leeds Golf Centre, you can do so safe in the knowledge that Brian and his team will be doing all they can to make sure the course remains open whenever possible.

“During the next week or so we will be continuing with the path maintenance and rebuilding re-building of the new 16th and 7th pathways and re-stoning the 8th fairway path.

Last week saw the completion of the drainage to the 9th green on The Oaks course which should put and end to  any problems that were found there over the past few months. We also finished off tidying up the new woodland walk up to the 7th tee.

A lot of the extra work that we have been putting in over the last couple of months have essentially been caused by the extreme wet weather that we experienced in 2012. You can trust me when I say that my green keeping team are working extremely hard to prepare the courses so that they are in as good a shape as possible for the coming season. Speaking on behalf of my team and, no doubt, all the members and visitors to Leeds Golf Centre, we hope that 2013 will be a much drier year allowing us all to enjoy a great golf season and the fruits of the hard work and investment that we have seen here.

Other regular & additional work that we will be doing this week is:

• De-plug the range
• Mark out GUR areas
• Roll all newly laid turf areas
• Continue machinery maintenance
• Clear lane of debris
• Clear car park of snow and grit relevant areas as needed”.

Brian D Carr
Head Greenkeeper

The clouds don’t seem to be too threatening at the moment – which is not only a great reason for golfers to rejoice but undoubtedly a welcome relief for our heroic greenkeepers! After working tirelessly through a wet winter to keep the course open when others were forced to close, the greenkeeping team are now revelling in the positive feedback we receive from golfers every day.

“Given the relative height of the water table, waterlogging is going to be a big problem for golf courses this year; there’s simply nowhere for the water to drain to. However, using our guile and ingenuity, we have recently drained the greens on holes 3 and 6 of the Wike Ridge course and will soon be tackling hole number 9 on The Oaks.

Limiting play to winter greens is something we wish to avoid as general policy but some disruption is likely – at the end of the day, making sure we have superb putting surfaces come the start of the season is high on our list of priorities. Like all other parkland courses around the UK, this will prove to be a major challenge this year but we think we have an excellent strategy to achieve this. Other tasks for the coming week include installing the new timber edging on the 16th hole buggy paths and laying the gravel if it stays completely dry for a day or two.

Other regular & additional work that we will be doing this week is:

• De-plug the range
• Machinery maintenance
• Cut and divot club lawns
• Check 8th bunkers and de-stone

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone at Leeds Golf Centre a happy New Year as we look forward to a wonderfully successful golfing season ahead.”

Brian D Carr
Head Greenkeeper