As we move into the autumn months, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on what has been a long, hot, and exceptionally dry summer across the estate.
While the sustained warm weather provided excellent conditions for golf, it also presented a number of significant challenges for the greenkeeping team. Through careful planning, diligent maintenance, significant volumes of irrigation and a tremendous amount of hard work, the team has continued to present the courses to a very high standard despite the demanding conditions.
Looking ahead, we are excited to be entering the final phase of our Colt Course bunker refurbishment programme. Over the autumn period, work will begin on the remaining five bunkers, marking the completion of a significant investment project that has enhanced both the playability and visual appeal of the course.
I would also like to congratulate Keith Davis, Alfie Rowell and John Chambers on successfully completing and passing their NVQ qualifications. This achievement reflects their commitment to professional development and is a testament to the hard work and dedication they bring to the team every day. Well done to both of them on this well-deserved success.
As a reminder to all members, winter wheels will be mandatory on all golf trolleys from Monday 5th October 2026. The use of winter wheels plays an important role in protecting our turf during the wetter months by reducing surface wear and minimising damage to vulnerable areas of the course. We thank all members for their cooperation and support in helping us maintain the best possible playing conditions throughout the winter period.
As always, thank you for your continued support and interest in the work that goes on behind the scenes. I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter and find it an informative insight into the ongoing management and development of our courses.
I look forward to seeing you all out on the golf course.
Brian Clark
Golf Course & Estates Manager
New Machinery – New Brush for Brushing In Top Dressings
Throughout the summer months, over 250 tonnes of sand-based topdressing are applied to our greens. This essential practice helps to create smoother putting surfaces, manage organic matter accumulation, and improve drainage. Once the dressing has been applied, it must be thoroughly worked into the turf canopy to maximise its effectiveness.
To enhance this process, we recently invested in a new Sweep-N-Fill powered brush, replacing our older, non-powered unit. The new equipment enables the team to incorporate topdressing more quickly and efficiently, minimising disruption to golfers while significantly reducing the time required to complete the task. This increased efficiency allows the team to move on to other essential course maintenance activities sooner, making better use of available resources.
The Sweep-N-Fill brush is the result of years of product development and is widely regarded as one of the most effective machines available for incorporating heavy topdressings and filling aeration holes. Its twin contra-rotating brushes are driven by the ground wheels, ensuring a consistent brushing action regardless of travel speed. This efficient operation not only improves the incorporation of topdressing but also reduces the amount of sand required to fill aeration holes and restore the playing surface following maintenance work.
The brush units float independently, allowing them to closely follow the contours of the greens and deliver even results across the entire surface. An electric lift system and adjustable towing hitch provide excellent versatility, enabling the machine to be used with a range of power units, from utility vehicles to greens mowers.
In addition to improving topdressing operations, regular brushing helps lift lateral growth, encourages healthier and more upright turf, reduces grain, and promotes a truer, faster ball roll. The result is a more consistent putting surface and improved playing conditions.
Primary Rough Areas – Colt Course
An important ongoing course management project is the continued improvement of the primary rough areas across the Colt Course. Our aim is to develop rough that is long and wispy, providing an appropriate penalty for wayward shots while still allowing golfers to locate and play their ball without unnecessary delays.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the naturally high fertility of the soil. The land on which the Colt Course was constructed was used for agriculture for hundreds of years and was repeatedly fertilised to maximise production. As a result, many rough areas continue to produce strong, dense growth, which can make ball finding difficult and impact the overall playing experience.
To encourage the finer, less aggressive grasses that we are aiming for, it is important to gradually reduce soil fertility. Over the coming months, the team will continue a programme of cutting, baling and removing rough grass from selected areas of the course. By removing the cut material rather than leaving it to decompose, we steadily reduce the amount of nutrients returned to the soil.
This is a long-term process, but over time it will help create a more desirable rough composition, improving course presentation, increasing ecological diversity, and delivering fairer, more enjoyable playing conditions for all golfers.
Summer Greens Maintenance – DryJect Success & Looking Ahead
Following a long, hot summer, maintaining the health and playability of our greens has been more important than ever. In early August, we completed our annual summer greens maintenance, once again investing in the expertise of an external team to carry out work using the DryJect system, a method proven to deliver excellent results with minimal disruption.
For those unfamiliar, DryJect uses a high-speed, water-based injection system to blast aeration holes deep into the root zone, fracturing compacted soil while simultaneously filling the holes with sand using patented vacuum technology. This process improves compaction relief, enhances water infiltration, and boosts oxygen flow to the roots, all while leaving the surface smooth and immediately playable.
We’re pleased to report that the impact on ball roll was virtually nil, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This approach allows us to maintain high standards without compromising playability.
Looking ahead, while DryJect is incredibly effective, we still believe that core removal remains essential for long-term turf health, particularly to reduce thatch levels. This more intensive work will continue to take place in late winter or early spring, ensuring our greens remain in top condition year-round.
Looking ahead to 2027, we will be trialling a new biological and enzyme technology product designed to break down and remove thatch. We are optimistic that this innovation, along with large amounts of topdressing, will eliminate the need for traditional summer greens maintenance operations altogether.
The application of the product will have no impact on playing surfaces during the main summer golfing season, ensuring uninterrupted course conditions.
We will share further details about this transition in our approach to greens maintenance in future 2027 editions of Making the Cut.
Winter Wheels – In Effect from Monday 5th October 2026
Starting Monday 5th October 2026, all golf trolleys must be fitted with winter wheels to access the courses.
This policy, first introduced in Autumn 2020, has made a significant difference over the past 6 years, greatly reducing wear and tear on the course during the wetter months. Winter wheels minimise ground contact and help prevent slipping and sliding, protecting fairways, walkways, and other high-traffic areas.
This small adjustment to your trolley goes a long way in supporting course maintenance and keeping the playing surfaces in the best possible condition. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and will help us keep the courses open and enjoyable for longer throughout the autumn and winter seasons.
Winter Bunker Refurbishment Programme
Following the successful refurbishment of the majority of our greenside bunkers last winter, we will be returning this October to complete the remaining five bunkers as part of our ongoing bunker improvement programme on the Colt Course.
The final phase of work will focus on the greenside bunkers on holes 3, 5 and 16, bringing these areas up to the same high standard as those completed previously. The project will involve the removal of the existing sand, improvements to the drainage systems where required, and the installation of the CapillaryFlow bunker liner system, renowned for its durability, drainage performance, and ability to maintain consistent playing conditions.
Once the liners have been installed, each bunker will be topped up with fresh sand to provide improved playability, greater consistency, and enhanced resilience throughout the year.
We anticipate completing the work with minimal disruption to play during the winter months and would like to thank all members in advance for their patience and understanding while these important improvements are carried out.
The completion of this programme will represent a significant milestone in our ongoing investment in the Colt Course, helping to ensure that our bunkers remain in excellent condition and continue to provide a high-quality playing experience for years to come.
Colt Course Fairway & Green Approach Top-Dressing
As part of our ongoing commitment to improving course conditions on the Lee Westwood Colt Course, we will for the very first time be carrying out fairway top dressing programme in the coming weeks. This year, approximately 500 tonnes of high-quality marine sand will be applied across the fairways.
Top dressing is an important agronomic practice that delivers several long-term benefits. By regularly applying sand in the coming years, we will help to improve drainage, allowing water to move more freely through the surface and reducing the likelihood of wet, soft playing conditions. It also helps to reduce thatch levels, preventing the build-up of excess organic matter that can hold moisture and lead to inconsistent turf performance.
Regular sand applications also help to firm up the playing surface, creating better year-round playability and promoting a more consistent ball lie. In addition, top dressing helps to smooth the fairway surface, improving both presentation and playing quality for golfers.
Over time, repeated applications of sand help to enhance the rootzone, creating a healthier growing environment for the turf and encouraging stronger, deeper rooting. This leads to more resilient fairways that can better withstand both heavy rainfall and periods of dry weather.
Moving forward, we plan to make fairway top dressing an annual programme, allowing us to gradually build on these benefits year after year and continue improving the quality, consistency and performance of our fairways.
Fairway Verti-Draining Programme
Over the coming months, the team will be undertaking a programme of Verti-Draining fairways across both golf courses. This essential maintenance operation helps relieve soil compaction caused by regular play and machinery traffic, improving the overall health and performance of the turf.
Verti-Draining uses deep-reaching tines to break up compacted layers beneath the surface, allowing air, water and nutrients to move more freely through the soil profile. This encourages deeper root growth, improves drainage, and helps the turf better withstand periods of stress, particularly during wet or dry weather.
While the operation may leave visible holes for a short period, any disruption is temporary. The long-term benefits include healthier turf, firmer fairways, improved drainage, and more consistent playing conditions throughout the year.
As part of our ongoing commitment to course improvement, Verti-Draining remains one of the most valuable practices we undertake to maintain high-quality fairways and year-round playability.
The 4 R’s – A Winter Reminder
As we head into the winter months, the 4 R’s become more important than ever in helping us maintain course quality and small actions by all players makes a huge difference collectively: Repair pitch marks, Replace divots, Rake bunkers, and Respect ropes. A gentle reminder to please repair any pitch marks, replace divots, rake bunkers after use, and walk around ropes rather than stepping over them. These small actions make a big difference, especially during winter when grass recovery is at its slowest. By following designated walkways and respecting course etiquette, you’re supporting the team’s efforts to keep the course in the best possible condition throughout the season.
Irrigation System – Seasonal Switch-Off & Maintenance
After a long, hot summer, our irrigation system has been working tirelessly to keep the courses healthy and playable. We’re fortunate that the majority of our irrigation is automated, covering key playing areas and operating overnight, an ideal time for the grass to absorb moisture without disrupting play. This system uses sustainably sourced water from our onsite borehole, avoiding reliance on mains water, which many other clubs depend on.
In areas not covered by automation, our team has supplemented with hand watering, mobile sprinklers and the new water bowser that we purchased earlier this year to ensure consistent coverage throughout the dry season.
As we now transition into the colder months, the automated system will be switched off and drained to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. This also provides an opportunity for the team to carry out essential maintenance and repairs, ensuring everything is in top condition for next season.
Air2G2 Greens Maintenance – Investing in Long-Term Health
We’re pleased to share that the greens across both courses are currently in excellent condition, thanks to ongoing monitoring and care. To build on this progress and ensure both short- and long-term health, we’ll soon be carrying out a round of Air2G2 aeration work with our own machine that we purchased in 2025.
This advanced piece of equipment uses three probes to inject pressurised air up to 12 inches beneath the surface, covering a diameter of up to 9 feet. The process targets compacted soil caused by foot traffic, machinery, and natural wear, loosening it without disturbing the turf or root structure. The result? Improved porosity, better drainage, enhanced gas exchange, and healthier plant growth, all with minimal disruption to the putting surface.
