COURSE REPORT 2007
Our objective continues to be all the year round golf, with firm and true greens without recourse to the use of temporary greens in the winter. This has been achieved despite the extremes of weather during the year. Very heavy rain at the end of June and early July was challenging, but the course stood up to it well, although green-fee income, at this usually busy time of the year, was sharply hit.
1. GREENS
The established maintenance programme has borne fruit with greens in excellent condition throughout the year.
2. TEES
The path constructed from the first green to the 2 nd tee has been reinforced to good effect and some additional work on the surface of this path will be undertaken during this winter.
3 . BUNKERS
The major work during 2007 involved the construction of two fairway bunkers on the 4 th hole, and a radical reconstruction of the two bunkers alongside the green, to form one large bunker shielding the green. These changes have been welcomed by members and visitors alike, everyone agreeing that the hole is more interesting as a result. The major work which will be undertaken in 2008, will involve the construction of two fairway bunkers on the 5 th hole, and a reconstruction of the bunker in front of the 5 th green.
4. TREES
The Abbey Trustees were approached during the course of the year to request the removal of approximately six trees alongside the 5 th /14 th green, which were severely shading the green and inhibiting growth. Unfortunately, this request did not meet with a sympathetic response, but it is hoped that in due course, as the trees get larger, a change of heart may result.
• EQUIPMENT
There has been no major expenditure on equipment during the year, although the Club was fortunate in having a redundant spiker donated to the Club by the York Racecourse Authorities. This has been helpful in aerating the fairways. It is anticipated that two new tee-signs will be purchased for the 4 th /13 th and 5 th /14 th tees to assist visitors who will not be familiar with the layout of these two holes when the bunkering on both holes is complete.
• WINTER WORK
During the winter months further scrub will be removed from under the trees adjoining the 1 st and 10 th holes with additional work to the laurel bushes alongside the track of the 9 th hole to improve the appearance and also the playing of these holes. A number of poplar trees will be either removed or lopped back for safety reasons, as these trees are “growing out”, and becoming dangerous.
• THANK YOU
Thanks go to our Green-keeper, Tom Berriman, for his dedicated work on the course throughout the year, and also to Alan Ward for his assistance during the summer months. Our good fortune in going through the year without incurring any major expenditure on replacement machinery is a tribute to the care with which our green keepers use our existing machinery and the skilled maintenance of that machinery – thank you again.
