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