MINUTES OF THE COURSE COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD ON FRIDAY 13 TH JUNE IN THE CLUBHOUSE

PRESENT

AH WOOD

COURSE DIRECTOR

R THORP (RT)

CO-OPTED

K BIRMINGHAM

P LONGSON

M BARLEY (MB)

MRS B POWELL

CO-OPTED

G CLARKE (HGK)

HEAD GREEKEEPER

MRS R AITKENHEAD

LADY CAPTAIN

W TYE

PROFESSIONAL

APOLOGIES

J MAKINSON

CAPTAIN   

1.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Minutes of the last meeting were approved

2.

MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising not included on the agenda.

3.

HEAD GREENKEEPERS' REPORT

AHW opened with a comment from an R&A Committee member who had recently played Eaton. He said that Eaton was in the finest condition he had ever seen for 15 year old course. He ask HGK to pass on these comments to the course staff.

Green have been verticut twice since the last report – this is a monthly process. They have also twice been lightly top-dressed, using 0.5 te dressing each occasion, and have been sprayed with an iron/seaweed tonic. They have also been sprayed with Primo Max which appears to have reduced growth whilst thickening the sward, as desired. Wetting agent is being applied monthly.

The par 3 tees have also been dressed.

Green surrounds have been treated with slow-release Nitrogen fertiliser – this is done quarterly, and is having a very positive effect on the consistency of playing surface.

The course was contract sprayed on the 15 th of May. Unfortunately there was some spray drift and some trees have been affected – most noticeably behind the 11 th green, but there are others. It is likely that the trees will be set back for a season then recover, but the contractor has been requested to attend for discussion.

Ponds have been treated with Clarity Pro, intended to deter blanket weed. It appears to be effective.

HGK provided details and a sample of a possible winter tee material, called SupaTee ( www.supatee.com, “as used at the K Club for their practice ground”). This has the merit of not requiring sand filling. It is in use at Upton. Cost for a tee approximately 7 x 4 feet would be £225. It could be installed towards the front of existing tee areas to benefit from the tee drainage, and be used by men and ladies.

AHW, PL, KB and WT subsequently visited Upton to inspect the material and found it very satisfactory. We do need to check there are no issues about it gripping spikes when played off (Action AHW), and possibly the effect of a fixed playing position on the tee-side area, but assuming these are OK then a proposal will go to next Committee meeting that we install 5 winter tees this autumn (par 3's and 1 st ).

PL and HGK reported that they have been able to purchase a second-hand hay bailer via e-Bay for £1500 plus carriage. This is well under budget, and is an important contribution to the development of our long rough.

4.

4.a

4.b

4.c

COURSE MATTERS

Bunker rakes. The current R&A Guidelines recommend that rakes be left outside bunkers, whilst Eaton's By-Laws say they should be left 1 yard inside, in line with the green. After discussion it was agreed that the disadvantage to greens staff by having to move them before mowing overrode any possible benefit of the R&A view, and the committee reaffirmed existing practice.

AHW will put something in Eaton Outlook or the monthly members' update.

‘Trolleys This way' notice by the putting green. A member had queried the positioning of this notice. After discussion it was agreed that this was in an appropriate position.

Fire insurance question as to whether we need a wireless link to emergency services in the event of fire. The committee decided to seek qualified advice e.g. from Stuart Robinson or Derek Clague. Action: KB

5.

STAFF

Nothing to report

6.

FINANCE

Year to date spending seems to be inside budget with the exception of fuel, where we could end the year around £2500, or more than 50%, overspent.

A mid-year review will be done based on June data ahead of the next Course Committee meeting. At the same time we will start to scope out next year's Budget and Capital Programme.

7.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Nothing to report this month.

8.

COURSE DEVELOPMENT

The report of the sub-group on its proposals for implementation of the Architect's report was discussed at some length. The sub-group commented on their efforts to ensure consistency with the Guidelines developed initially. The Report was approved.

The next steps are to obtain approval for the aspects that deviate from the architect's Report and to submit the Report to the Board for approval in principle to the funding implications. Action: AHW

The Committee also agreed that it wished the report to be shared with the Club membership as soon as possible to invite comments that might be incorporated into the final design. It agreed to seek the advice of the Communications Group to do this.

Action: AHW

9.

ENVIRONMENT

RT explained his proposal for the extension to the 6 th pond, whereby the shelf on the right hand edge of the new pond would be extended by some 6m into the pond, creating a wetland. Apart from creating a useful scarce habitat, this proposal would also reduce the volume of material for excavation and disposal; the wetland would be expected to support reed-mace which would be good for defining the edge of the pond as seen from the tee.

10.

CORRESPONDENCE AND SUGGESTIONS

There was none.

11.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

RT said that the Course notice board outside the locker room entrance had a number of items on it that were out of date, as were some notices within the club. These have now been updated.

RT reported that the Course and EWG committee members as shown on the website are out of date. RT will send lists to Kerry.

12.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Friday 18 th July at 9:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse.