Tag Archive for: golf

Golf Club’s New Wiedenmann XF

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Golf Club’s New Wiedenmann XF: A golf club based in Hertfordshire has replaced its existing Wiedenmann Terra Spike XF with a newer version after 14 years of success.

Craig Betts, Course Manager of Aldwickbury Park GC, Harpenden, said he had no hesitation in making a repeat selection: “Our original machine never let us down. Knowing the machine could deliver all we wanted made it a straight forward update.”

Golf Club's New Wiedenmann XF

“Aside from additional tines, we’ve only needed to replace the bearings on the rollers. Running costs matter so I know first-hand we’ve had versatility and value.   Mark House at our dealer Ernest Doe in Benington sorted the switch, so here’s to another 14 years.”

Changes to the XF in the interim include hydraulic depth control giving infinite depth adjustment from the cab as well as a two piece heave bar system bringing additional shock absorbers.

With vistas across the Lea Valley, Aldwickbury Park’s two busy courses – the 18 hole ‘Manor’ and the par 3 ‘Park’ – both open 365 days a year. Craig Betts and his team don’t leave aeration to chance.   Slots to deep tine all tees, greens and approaches are timetabled to cause least disruption.

“We start early and keep our heads down.  We know the XF to be quick and that’s what we need.  This past month we’ve gone to 275 mm deep but we vary it according to the time and conditions.”

Aldwickbury Park shares its Terra Spike XF with fellow Burhill Golf & Leisure Group club, Redbourn GC, also Harpenden.

For more information, visit: www.wiedenmann.co.uk

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Golf For National Heroes

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Golf For National Heroes: Huxley Golf has completed its third project for Help for Heroes: a large putting green at the charity’s Northern Recovery Centre at Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The project comes after two similar successful projects which were conducted for the charity’s Recovery Centres at Tedworth House, Wiltshire and at Chavasse VC House, Essex.

The new facility will be used by short stay, day visitors and guests to Phoenix House who take part in activities and courses to help them get back out doing what they enjoy most. Beneficiaries are encouraged to develop their own recovery programme under the guidance of specialist staff and may involve participation in sporting activities and guidance on health and wellbeing.

Golf For National Heroes

The putting green was officially opened at a ceremony on 18 January 2018 by Bernie Broad (left), Invictus Team GB Captain, and Peter Scrivener (right), Wasps Legends Trustee of Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation which kindly funded the project.

In extremely wintry conditions, the all-weather course was certainly put to the test on the day and proved that nothing can stand in the way of a good game of golf!

Speaking at the event, Bernie Broad said that sport and activities outdoors were vital to a healthy life style. He said: “I was introduced to golf whilst going through my recovery and it was such an enabler for me. It gave me such a challenge and reason to get out of bed some mornings. The putting green in Catterick, kindly funded by the Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, will enable individuals to get outside and do something out of the ordinary, clear their minds and just breathe in the fresh air. Good putting is also key to good golf and a low handicap!”

The new putting green has pride of place at the entrance to the Recovery Centre, providing an aesthetically pleasing and welcoming – yet low maintenance – focal point on arrival at Phoenix House. The kidney-shaped six-hole green, created using the market-leading Huxley Golf Premier Nylon Putting Turf, measures approximately 76 sq. yards in total. To complete the project, a 35mm fringe surround was laid using Huxley Golf Leisure Turf.

Paul Chester, General Manager at Huxley Golf said: “This was an interesting project in terms of its design. The original idea was to position the new putting green on a hilly grassed area but, working in partnership with the management team, we concluded that the site was too steep. Our solution was to convert a disused bowls court. The result not only looks fantastic but importantly, it is easy for all visitors to access, regardless of injury. We’re extremely proud to have created a golf facility at three out of four Help for Heroes Recovery Centres.”

Help for Heroes Head of Recovery North, David McNeill, said the new creation would improve golfing skills and help the beneficiaries in other areas. He said: “The putting green is brilliant and a fantastic resource. It will encourage people to challenge themselves through golf, whether as an individual or in a group. I look forward to seeing those we support staying out late into the summer nights, enjoying themselves and improving their golfing skills.”

Peter Scrivener, Trustee of Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, added that he hoped the new addition to the Recovery Centre would allow past and present servicemen and women to take their minds off their injuries. He added: “The putting green is a space where they can have some time alone and develop a new skill. When they come here they might be completely new to the experience, but it just gives them somewhere to go, give themselves peace and just enjoy themselves. We are delighted to support this, it is very humbling.”

For more information, visit: www.huxleygolf.com

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Golf Club Vandalised

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Golf Club Vandalised: A North-East golf club has hit out at individuals who stole two buggies and caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Vandals struck at Insch Golf Club leaving tyre marks on a green, pulling up posts and driving over signs.

Club manager Jayne Farquhar said she and her staff were “really upset” after the incident on Tuesday.

She said: “It’s disheartening because everyone works so hard to keep the greens looking good, and this comes at a time when golf clubs are struggling.

“It would be horrible if this turns out to have been someone local.

“This is a members-only club and they pay a lot to play here so for someone to have done this shows total disregard and disrespect for the work put in.”

It is thought that the damage to the green alone could be between £2,000 and £3,000 – and that doesn’t include the cost of repairing the golf buggies.

One of the buggies was recovered more than a mile away on Western Road in Insch at around 8.40pm on Tuesday with the second recovered a short time later.

Vice captain of the club Colin Campbell was hopeful that repairs could be made to the green.

He said: “We are all disappointed.

“This has happened before but never as bad as this – this is substantial damage.

“Our head groundsman is confident that he can re-cover the green, but because the grass isn’t growing now the scars will be visible for a while.

“The mechanic will be looking at the buggies because the windscreens were smashed and there may be also be damage to the underside as the vandals drove over signs.”

Investigating officer Pc Mark Hammond said: “The buggies had been parked at Insch Golf Club at 3.30pm that day but a member of the public called in about the buggy at Western Road in the evening.

“Anyone who either saw any of the buggies being moved later in the afternoon or in the evening or who knows anything about this incident is asked to contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 3594 of 30 January.

“Information can also be provided anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Golf Course ‘Abandoned’

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Golf Course ‘Abandoned’: It is the harsh and unpredictable conditions on the seaside that have traditionally made links golf such an enticing endeavour.

But for England’s oldest course, at least, they are proving too much of a challenge.

The Royal North Devon Golf Club has accused the Government of “abandoning us to the ocean” after Storm Eleanor prompted the collapse of part of its eighth tee and high tides expected next week threaten the demise of the seventh.

Designed by the famous Victorian golfer “Old” Tom Morris, the course at the mouth of the Taw-Torridge Estuary is renowned as the “St Andrews of the South” and one of the UK’s toughest.

The historic lay-out now faces permanent disfigurement, however, due to the brutal coastal erosion.

More than 50 yards of the championship course has been lost as a result of the “preventable” collapse, with boulders strewn across one of the fairways.

The disruption places in jeopardy two major upcoming amateur competitions.

Yet Natural England, the body responsible for the stretch of coast near Westward Ho!, appears content to let the sea reclaim the land, according to the club.

The agency last night insisted no suggestions were ruled out, but a statement explaining that “the dunes and shingle ridge are naturally dynamic coastal features and subject to constant change” have been seized on by local golfers as evidence civil servants are determined to let “mother nature take its course”.

Mark Evans, the club’s general manager, said: “By allowing this collapse we are tampering with history.

“There’s no plan at the moment – it’s a disgrace.”

Founded in 1864, the club quickly gained national status thanks to the patronage of the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, who bestowed the royal title two years later.

Believed to be substantively unchanged since the original Tom Morris design, the course is the oldest in continuous use in England.

While other land is available which would allow the club to reconfigure the course away from the coastal collapse, this would make the golf “not anything like as interesting”, according to Mr Evans.

Natural England said it would permit the club to build two new greens, providing it relinquished the two existing ones threatened by erosion.

The collapse and subsequent flooding have also provoked fears over the security of a nearby landfill site containing hospital waste and other toxic material such as asbestos.

The club says wrangling between the local Torridge District Council and Devon County Council has so far held back action to address the problem, although last night Torridge said the two authorities were “working well”.

It is understood that to adequately protect the golf course, and by extension the landfill site, from the sea erosion would require a costly project of installing “rock amour” along the coast.

“They’ve got to look at the bigger picture,” said Mr Evans

“Yes they might be saving England’s oldest golf course but they’re saving an environmental disaster that’s just waiting to happen.”

He said both Natural England and local council officers were “burying their heads in the sand”.

However, a meeting has been scheduled for January 29 to discuss the landfill site.

“Natural England is working with Devon County Council, Torridge District Council , the Environment Agency and the golf club to consider options and agree the longer term management of coastal change at Northam Burrows,” a spokesman for the agency told The Daily Telegraph.

“The dunes and shingle ridge are naturally dynamic coastal features and subject to constant change, a characteristic that makes this stretch of coast so special for wildlife and its wonderful wild landscape.

“As a Site of Special Scientific Interest any works would need the consent of Natural England and having an agreed longer term approach to coastal management in place will enable the golf club to plan for the future.”

Jane Whittaker, leader of Torridge District Council, said: “Following recent storms and their impact we have already had initial meetings to discuss both the old Devon County Landfill site and how the Golf Club can be supported into the future.”

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Success For Deeside Golf Club

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Success For Deeside Golf Club: The greenkeeping team at Deeside Golf Club in Aberdeenshire is celebrating after winning a BIGGA award at BTME 2018. 

Led by Course Manager Neil McLoughlin (41), the greenkeeping team were announced as the winner of the BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year Award sponsored by Baroness, at a ceremony held this evening in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.

Success For Deeside Golf Club

When Storm Frank hit Aberdeenshire the day before New Year’s Eve in 2015, it caused the River Dee to reach record levels, three times covering the course in a thick layer of silt and debris.

In the aftermath, the team was able to get 10 holes reopened after just 77 days and the clean-up saw over six tonnes of grass seed laid down, 10,000m2 of turf laid and all 98 bunkers rebuilt, using 3,000 tonnes of sand for topdressing and bunkers.

During 2017 the hard work continued, with the silt layer impeding drainage. Over 400m of drainage was installed and a programme of scarification and topdressing helped break down the silt layer further.

The Deeside team was presented with the award by television presenter and #ThisGirlGolfs ambassador Naga Munchetty at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration sponsored by Textron Golf. The awards ceremony is one of the highlights of BTME 2018, the premier turf management exhibition in Europe.

Neil said: “It’s a real honour to win this award. Storm Frank came in and devastated the whole Dee Valley and the golf course ended up in a hell of a state.

“We do flood quite a lot, but generally we call them clean floods

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “Of the golf clubs who were hit hard by the devastation that Storm Frank wrought in December 2015, it was perhaps Deeside who were hit hardest of all.

“For greenkeepers who dedicate their lives to maintaining a relatively small patch of land, the damage must have been heartbreaking. It is therefore to Neil and his team’s immense credit that they were able to pick themselves up and restore the course to its former glory.

“I cannot praise the greenkeeping team highly enough for the work they have done to get Deeside back on its feet. They are truly an inspiration to greenkeepers all over the country and they are worthy recipients of this year’s BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year Award sponsored by Baroness.”

The other finalists for the BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year Award sponsored by Baroness were Andrew Brougham, head greenkeeper of Astbury Golf Club, and Stuart Imeson, course manager at Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club.

BTME 2018 runs until Thursday 25 January and features more than 150 exhibitors from all aspects of the turf management industry. Each year more than 4,500 greenkeepers, trade members, club managers and other representatives of the golfing industry come together to network and share news of the latest education and innovation.

Visit http://btme.org.uk/ for more information.

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