Course Targets 2012

Mission & objectives for the golf courses

Mission:

•To prepare and preserve the golf courses at Cumberwell Park as the major asset and to provide enjoyment to all members and visitors alike.

•To plan and execute a programme that presents a high quality golfing experience whilst also enhancing and preserving aesthetics and a natural environment.

•To promote a friendly and unified team, where all employees are able to participate fully in the presentation and development of the courses.

Overall Objectives:

The course will be maintained such that excellent playing conditions exist for both the expert and the average golfer. The golf course should play to a consistently high standard throughout the year and should be brought up to championship standards for selected key events. The Golf and Course Managers will determine these events annually.

The goal of maintenance is to create the least amount of interference to golf that is possible and also to promote a golfer friendly atmosphere where customer service is paramount. When maintenance does take place, it will be communicated via notices in the clubhouse and course as well as postings on the club’s website.

Environmental stewardship and the promotion of sustainable golf course maintenance practices will also be considered a high priority.

The courses will be developed and maintained to handle increasing golfing use and to ensure a free flow of golf of all abilities. The target should be an average time of less than two hours for a group of golfers to play each nine holes.

These objectives will be met within an overall annual capital and maintenance budget prepared by the Course Manager and approved by the Business Owners.

The balancing act:

The greens are considered as the most important playing area on the course and it is also the area that receives the most inputs in terms of labour, machinery and materials. The key objective is to provide a putting surface with smoothness, firmness and with an overall uniformity. They should be free from significant disease, weeds, moss or blemishes.

There are many variables which determine the playability the greens at Cumberwell and they are influenced by a number of factors. For example, oxygen is considered the most important source for grass to survive. Aeration is recommended to take place fortnightly to promote a good oxygen supply to the roots. This operation can be to the detriment of the playing surface. We can counteract the short term unevenness by rolling but of course this can have the effect of sealing the surface closed and undoing the benefit of aerating. There are many operations we carry out on the course which may be seen as disruptive to the playing surface but are carried out for the longer term sustainability of the green. There is obviously a balance to be met and the timing of these operations is vitally important.

Objectives for 2012:

“Organic matter – the biggest issue affecting greens in the UK” (STRI, 2011). This is an issue that is a high priority when we devise our course management plan. Organic matter is produced as a result of dead plant tissue. It naturally builds up over time and affects playability of the greens. The main influences it has are:

·         Moisture holding surface & poor water infiltration

·         Sward composition that favours Annual Meadow grass which can be coarse & tufty by nature

·         Soft surface which leaves prominent pitchmarks

·         Inconsistent surface (smoothness & trueness) depending on surface moisture

·         Higher disease incidence and severity, particularly Fusarium

The key aim is to reduce organic matter levels in the upper profile of the green and this will be carried out in various forms throughout the year:

·         Hollow core in March to remove organic matter and replace with sand

·         Hollow core in July/August

·         4 micro-coring operations

·         Maintain regular sand dressing applications

·         Monthly deep aeration to incorporate air which will enable more effective organic matter breakdown

·         Disc slitting during the winter to ameliorate organic matter in to the lower profile

Additional information:

·         The golf course will not close except during conditions where it is considered golf is impossible to play with any level of seriousness or where safety may be compromised.

·         Cumberwell Park is committed to conservation management the details of which are contained in a separate and lengthy document, which is available on request.

·         Cumberwell Park is also proud of its commitment to health and safety. Health and Safety records can be inspected upon request.

Matthew James

Course Manager