12/06/2026
Weekly Course Update
It’s the end of another week where it seemed to rain in between the torrential rain, as the weather continues to hinder us one way or another.Just when conditions begin to improve, another heavy shower arrives to set us back again. While the course has certainly benefited from some of the rainfall after the recent dry spell, the sheer volume and frequency of it has made planning and carrying out work a challenge at times.
On Monday, we took advantage of a welcome dry day to get the knapsack sprayers out and carry out w**d control work around the base of trees and in ditches across the course. This helps keep these areas tidy and prevents unwanted vegetation from becoming established.
Although opportunities were limited, we made the most of every break in the weather throughout the week. Whenever we had a small window, the team was quick to get back out and continue spraying operations, allowing us to make good progress despite the challenging conditions.
The strimmer was also kept busy throughout the week as we continued tidying a number of areas around the course. These areas will now be treated as part of our ongoing w**d control programme to help keep vegetation under control and maintain a neat appearance.
We have completed the installation of new cups on all greens. In addition, the ferrules at the base of each flagstick have been replaced, helping to ensure the pins remain straight and improving the overall presentation of the course.
The windbreak installed around the 18th tee earlier this year proved less durable than anticipated, with a number of tears appearing during recent periods of strong winds. As a result, a more robust replacement has now been installed. We still have one remaining section to complete, which will be finished as time allows. Work has also continued on the hedge planting around the tee. Further sections were planted this week and we will continue this project next week as we work towards completing the area.
The greens have been cut daily and continue to improve week by week. We also carried out a verti-cutting operation midweek to help maintain surface quality and encourage healthy growth. Tees and fairways have been mown twice this week, while the banks surrounding tees and greens have also been cut, along with the main body of right across the course.
The divot trolley has been topped up and is now positioned at the 14th tee. All Ground Under Repair areas have been clearly marked and all course bins have been emptied.
With the heavy downpours throughout the week, the bunkers have been a constant challenge. The team have put in many hours of hard work repairing washouts and restoring them to a playable condition ahead of the weekend. Alongside this, essential maintenance has been carried out on several machines to keep the fleet sharp, reliable and running efficiently as we move into the busiest part of the summer season.
Finally, we would like to wish everyone taking part in tomorrow’s C.T. Farr Classic the very best of luck. The “fifth major” is always one of the highlights of the golfing calendar at Whitehead.
Congratulations from all the greenkeeping staff to Colin on reaching the remarkable milestone of 30 years at the club.
The team will be back out early tomorrow morning changing pin positions and mowing the greens ahead of the competition, before returning again on Sunday morning to ensure the greens remain in top condition throughout theweekend’s play.
Enjoy your golf, enjoy the C.T. Farr Classic, and have a great weekend.
BM
