MINUTES OF THE COURSE COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD ON FRIDAY 18 JULY IN THE CLUBHOUSE

PRESENT

AH WOOD (AW)

COURSE DIRECTOR

R THORP (RT)

CO-OPTED

K BIRMINGHAM (KB)

P LONGSON (PL)

MRS B POWELL

CO-OPTED

G CLARKE (HGK)

HEAD GREEKEEPER

MRS R AITKENHEAD

LADY CAPTAIN

APOLOGIES

J MAKINSON

CAPTAIN   

W TYE

PROFESSIONAL

M BARLEY

1.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Minutes of the last meeting were approved, subject to it being noted that the baler had actually cost £1000 (plus £150 carriage) and not £1500 as minuted.

2.

MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising not included on the agenda.

3.

HEAD GREENKEEPERS' REPORT

AHW opened by relaying the numerous positive comments he had received from competitors about the condition of the course following the Club Championship the previous weekend. He asked HGK to pass on these comments to the course staff.

There has been 40 mm of rain during the period, including 20 mm in the week preceding the Club Championship.

Greens continue their monthly programme. They have been verticut and top-dressed with 0.5 tonne dressing per green. They have also been sprayed with an iron/seaweed tonic, and with Primo Max which is proving effective in reducing growth whilst thickening the sward, as desired. Wetting agent is being applied monthly. Greens have also been star slit to keep the surface open.

Through the green, tees have been sprayed with wetting agent and verti-cut. Spot spraying to deal with clover growth has been carried out, and drains on the 8 th topped off. 17 sprinklers have been replaced – this is routine each year. There are a few more to do.

The earthquake machine has been booked for August 18 and 19. It will focus on the rough areas and whatever else there is time for.

The main areas of long rough are now all cut; HGK is very pleased with the second hand cutter. Because of the deterioration in the weather it is unlikely to be suitable for hay. It has been agreed with the local farmer that he will bring his equipment on site to bale up and wrap the cut material as haylage once it has been spun and dried. The purchased baler was problematical to get operational but has now proven itself. This will give us flexibility to make some commercial hay next year, but in 2008 we have just run out of time.

HGK's plans for the greens through the rest of the year are to dress them as normal in August and September. In October the greens will be solid tined and overseeded as soon as the Tamsel Tour event is over, then dressed at twice the normal monthly rate. Greens will be deep slit tined monthly October to January, then solid tined every 6 weeks and deep verti-drained in November.

4.

4a

4b

4c

4d

4e

COURSE MATTERS

See HGK Report - above

Long rough. It was suggested that the rough had begun to intrude into normal play, creating an unnecessarily severe punishment. It was also undergrowing a number of semi-mature copses, again duplicating the hazard. AW had started a discussion with RT about areas to be kept short, together with related ecological aspects, and would circulate a proposal to the committee within a few days. HGK said he would like to know what changes were proposed as soon as possible.

Winter tees. There was discussion about the installation of artificial turf winter tees on all short holes and the first, as previewed in the June minutes. The committee approved a proposal to spend approximately £1100 on this, and endorsed PL's suggestions regarding positioning the new surfaces at the front corners of the tees. It was noted that these tees would not be in the right place to allow for medal play, but it was agreed that if there are to be qualifying medals in the winter then they could be played off the normal grass surfaces.

HGK agreed to proceed with ordering and planning their installation.

There had been some comment about holes for the Club Championship being cut on the Friday before, allowing competitors (inadvertently) to play on the championship course the evening before. HGK explained that he was short-staffed and that he had decided in the interests of his men that he needed to cut the holes on Friday evening. New holes were cut on Sunday morning, but it takes fully 3 men to cut the holes, move the tees, clear the bins and generally prepare the course for competitive play. Although the men are paid overtime (unlike HGK!) they are unwilling to work excessive hours – and there are also issues about them working 12 days without a break.

Members noted that elsewhere courses close the day before their Championships.

AW undertook to discuss with Mr. Captain how to take this forward.

The Membership questionnaire was briefly discussed. Other than an understandable comment re the practice facilities the report was felt to be very positive. RT drew attention to the comment about more/better/suitable litter receptacles, and in particular the suggestion about a broken tee receptacle. The search continues for something appropriate.

5.

STAFF

Liam, the summer temporary employee, has started and is proving very helpful. Members noted the good work done on the stream banks.

Chris continues his NVQ 3.

6.

FINANCE

The half-yearly Review shows that spending is in line with the budget projections, and that there is sufficient in the system to fund the winter tees under minor capital projects. It is possible that the fuel overspend might be contained, but that will depend on a good run on maintenance expenditure, which is unpredictable at this point in the year.

The budget programme was mentioned, and a meeting set up for July 28 to review next year's proposals.

7.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

In light of a number of comments from members regarding the Course Project PL had carried out a paper analysis of the ‘firing lines' from various tees to compare what we experience now with the impact of the proposed changes. This shows that the current angle of deviation necessary to impinge on adjacent fairways ranges down to 13º. New tees lie within that range other than the 14 th fairway from the 2 nd tee, which reduces to 11º at 220 yards. This is not regarded as a significant change, with other local courses offering greater hazard.

However, one member has raised a question about the Health & Safety issues relating to the road and the existing 2 nd tee. The committee agreed that we need to take the time to evaluate this properly. Further advice will be sought once the issue is properly scoped.

A recent joint publication by BIGGA, the National Golf Unions and the R&A in conjunction with the Health & Safety Executive entitled ‘health & Safety in Golf Course Management and Maintenance', published in November 2007, has come to light. Inter alia it suggests that a Club HSE Policy should include Risk Assessments of each hole.

We need to assess this document in conjunction with the Club health & Safety Director.

8.

COURSE DEVELOPMENT

AW reported that the 3-week feedback period on matters relating to the Course Development project ended today. He was pleased to advise that there were numerous comments, both verbal and by e-mail. Almost all of these were very positive, both regarding the nature and the content of the Report. All written inputs have been responded to in writing.

There were 4 or 5 comments about Safety – see preceding section, with the associated commitment to review these matters further.

One member was concerned that he could find it difficult to clear the stream from the proposed new tee position on 2.

Only two responding members were opposed to the modifications as outlined in the report. They felt that it was neither necessary nor appropriate for a Members' club to introduce challenge through greater length.

It was agreed that the feedback provided full authority to proceed. AHW will inform the Board accordingly. He advised the committee that the Board had already given outline approval to include the proposed spending in the budget for next year and had also agreed to the £6000 requested to start works in 2008

9.

ENVIRONMENT

RT briefly outlined the draft report from the Cheshire wildlife Trust regarding our water features. He was pleased to advise that the report indicated that we have healthy and interesting water areas, and drew particular attention to the suggestions that water margins be sloping rather than shelved.

The EWG had agreed that the proposed wetland associated with the pond on 6 should be to the left looking down the hole to mirror the same area on the other side of the trees.

10.

CORRESPONDENCE AND SUGGESTIONS

There had been two suggestions that related to the course. One was to propose that the greenkeepers' toilet be made available for members' use. This had been rejected by the House group looking at proposals for new course toilets. The Committee supported this.

The second was to propose that fairway disks be placed at 200, 150 and 100 yards in addition to the existing 150 yard posts. There was an inconclusive discussion, with opinions fairly evenly split between accepting some form of additional yardage marking and others feeling that judgement should still be part of the challenge but recognising that stroke savers and GPS measuring devices were increasingly prevalent – although the latter not yet for EGC competitions.

AW suggested that since yardage markers related as much to how the game should be played as to the course itself we ought to seek input from the Ladies and Men's Committees. This was agreed: AW will write to both Captains.

11.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

RT drew attention to signs of deterioration on some stream banks due to their steep angle. There is some erosion at the base and some slumping. The solution would be to make the bank angle shallower; this would entail a major amount of earthmoving and result in wider streams. It was agreed to explore the matter when the digging contractor comes in to excavate the 6 th pond, but this is likely to be a long-term project.

12.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Friday 29 th August at 9:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse.