Golf Hillingdon – Golf Course Maintenance Overview 2012

The London Borough of Hillingdon is committed to the improvement and development of the three golf courses at Uxbridge GC, Ruislip GC and Haste Hill GC. As part of this commitment we provide the latest information on the plans for the courses during 2012.

The Four M’s

Management

Consultant Kevin Munt has been retained to provide management consultation, agronomic and greenkeeping advice. Kevin will be acting as interim Course Manager for the three golf courses and is providing work schedules, material requirements and budget recommendations. This arrangement will be in place until a new Course Manager is recruited.

Manpower

Greenstaff levels and skills are to be increased for the coming season and KM will be advising on and assisting with this recruitment in conjunction with the Council.

Machinery

A complete machinery replacement plan has been drawn up, the implementation/phasing of this is going through the necessary authorisations/procurement processes at the moment. The introduction of new machinery for ground staff will increase the levels of maintenance/improvement that can occur of playing surfaces and provide higher quality playing surfaces.

Maintenance

Individual maintenance schedules for the whole year have been drawn up for each of the courses. These work programmes are focused on the improvement of the playing surfaces with particular focus on the greens. Notification of planned work will be placed on the Councils notice boards at each club.

Greens

Deep aeration, thatch removal and sand topdressing operations will be carried out in the early spring (late March early April). This will be followed by routine cultural operations such as verti-cutting, aeration, and topdressing. The greens will also be hollow cored and top-dressed in the autumn.

Tees

Hollow coring, scarification, over seeding and topdressing will take place in April and the autumn.

Fairways

The fairways will be sprayed for worm and weed control in both spring and autumn. Regular aeration will also be undertaken.

Bunkers

The bunkers at Haste Hill will be overhauled, starting as soon as the snow clears, with all weed and grass growth removed, edges redefined, sand redistributed and where necessary new sand added.

Furnishings

New flag pins, flags (Yellow & Black Chequered), hole cups, member bunker rakes and litter bins have been ordered and will be put out on the courses once the snow has gone.