Month: February 2019

Chilly To Start…Then It’s A Scorcher!!

Although there’s a light frost to start with, the forecast says it’ll be another warm day later on. Buggies are allowed on the front 9 only and are to stick the paths only. Trolleys can be used on front and back 9’s and are permitted to go on fairways now. If you can use the paths where possible it would be much appreciated. We are still verti-draining greens, so there may be at least one temporary green in use during your round. Please repair pitch marks and divots and enjoy your round.

The benefits of Twilight Golf.

Twilight Golf
Twilight Golf membership

The main benefits of twilight golf is that it is played at the end of the day before it gets dark when you have the course to yourself. The aim is to play as many holes as possible before you can’t see the ball anymore. 

Most golf clubs will offer Twilight Golf tee times with discounted green fees throughout the year. A buggy would normally be included in the green fees (weather permitting) to speed up play.

Sometimes it’s a quick 9 holes, it might stretch to 13 or 14. Very rarely will it be more than 18 holes.

The 2019 golf season is almost upon us and traditionally golf club members will book morning tee times. This means that many clubs will have restrictions for non-members at these times.  

The clocks go forward at the end of March and therefore the days will get increasingly longer. As a result, the golf courses will then get busier in the early afternoon with members, visitors and societies.

These weekday morning/mid-afternoon tee times are probably not feasible for most golfers. The majority will need to go to work or have families and other commitments taking place during the day.

But what about arranging you game later in the day when it’s time for Twilight golf   

Benefits of Twilight Golf

  • The courses are quieter 
  • The weather is warmer 
  • The green fees are cheaper
  • The pace of the game will be quicker 
  • The better golfers will be practising on the course.

Twilight golf is therefore not just great value but offers the opportunity to play some quality golf before the end of the day.

Here are a few helpful hints to make the most out of your Twilight Golf round

  • It’s might be a rush to get to the course but ensure you are ready at least 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled tee time.
  • Use the yellow (forward) tees to shorten the length of the course.
  • Book a buggy and have some fun – you will get around the course much quicker.
  • Utilise the new 2019 Rules of Golf to help speed up the game especially regarding lost balls and take a penalty drop – If in doubt, always play a provisional ball.
  • Consider extending the lengths of the ‘gimme’ puts and allow holes to be halved when both players are in and around the pin.
  • If the course is quiet then you may be able to skip from hole to hole or miss out some holes altogether to play through any slower groups.

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Busy Tines ahead !

Well, I hope you are enjoying this spell of early spring sunshine and warmer daytime temperatures? I personally don’t think we are out of Winter yet as some people keep saying but fingers crossed !

As the title says, (no its not a spelling mistake !), owing to the good conditions we are having we are pushing ahead with lots of aeration work . On Monday we will be deep verti-draining all of the greens, originally planned for March. A good iron behind this work and apart from the visual holes the greens will be fine, especially for February. I will need your patience on Monday and possibly Tuesday while we breathe some vital air into the greens. Anyone that missed my drone video on why we verti-drain its below for you.

The greens will then receive a fertiliser which is designed to correct any lack of nutrients from the winter , harden the plant to protect from disease and also start to kick the grass into growing slowly.

Hopefully the 18th green should be back in play by the weekend. Its been very wet and we have just booked to have drained later this year.

If you have played this week you will have noticed that the large verti-drain is out on the fairways again? It’s making a little superficial mess but the benefits and the great results this will bring to our ‘carpets’ in the spring will outweigh this mess.

The bad boy is out at it again ! Oh and so is the Verti-drain!

We have also already started Solid Tining Tees, Approaches and Surrounds using our great Toro Procore.

Great bit of kit !

The areas look a bit like tea bags after but this aeration is so good for the ground and creates some excellent airspace and vital oxygen to the grass plant. The diagram below hopefully explains why we aerate .

The benefits of aeration

Following this process Tees and Approaches will also receive a nice ‘wake up’ meal as well.

Next week further work will take place on the 13th bunkers rebuild. Hopefully the weather will be kind to let us get these works completed . Incorporated into the new bunker complex will be a ‘run off’ to the right of the 13th Green similar to the 10th and 18th Greens

Finally I would like to clarify a couple of things. Buggys are only allowed on the front 9 holes and must stick to the paths at all times. Trolleys can be used on all 18 holes, but unless you have purchsed Winter wheels (available from the Pro shop), you must keep your trolley on the paths .
We really appreciate your support on this matter, its your course, so lets look after it !

So lots going on on your Golf Course ! That’s it for now , enjoy your Golf , enjoy your Club.

Geoff

Abridge Golf Course Manager

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