Course Update
Greenkeepers AGM Report 2024
The winter of 2023/24 broke all records for the amount of rain that fell. This provided numerous challenges for the Greenkeeping team. Simple tasks such as getting around the course proved problematic and being so wet resulted in a trolley ban for large periods of the winter. Many areas of the golf course had traffic management ropes erected to help minimise damage to the playing surfaces.
In the summer we experienced a mix of sunshine and showers which resulted in a lusher than normal golf course. As we entered September rainfall was really heavy again but thankfully October and early November was abnormally dry allowing a good extension to the golfing season.
Unfortunately, however as I write this, stormy conditions have once again returned but fingers crossed are hopefully not set in the for the winter.
All playing surfaces have met or exceeded targets this year in terms of smoothness and trueness and hopefully this has been enjoyed by all our members and visitors to the course.
October saw us commence construction of a new lake on the 13th hole. This is both beneficial to the playing aspect of the hole but also will provide a valuable addition to our irrigation capacity should it ever be required in future dry/hot summers. We have experienced an issue with the lake holding water but just last week I found two open land drains which had been missed during construction and these have been plugged, hopefully rectifying this problem. This will now be filled using a combination of rainfall and pumping from the reservoir once the pumps are fixed, which is imminent.
Weather permitting, planned winter works will include extension/construction of new paths through the wetter areas of the golf course.
Also, at some point in the near future we will be adding an extension to the back of the first Blenheim green as the front of this green has moved over the years and the slope is currently becoming too difficult for play.
Brett Moggridge
Head Greenkeeper
Tree clearing – 3rd Hole
In recent weeks Golfers may have noticed the tree clearing taking place to the left of the 3rd hole and next to the Oxford Canal.
Approximately 40 willow trees have been felled which will go onto be used for cricket bats.
The ground conditions are perfect growing conditions being wet all year round. So good that these willows matured in just 12 years instead of the usual 15 years! The cycle will continue with new willow trees being planted again come the spring. Other trees coming to the end of their lifecycle were also cleared and cut down.
Course News & Course Conditions
*Please keep updated with course conditions via the IG App and our website www.kirtlingtongolfclub.com.
