Holme Hall Golf Club – News and Reviews
Our illustrious Vice Captain Stuart Cranidge,
with a remarkable display of digital dexterity and, knowledge of
MS word has produced his very own first report on the 'B' team's
season so far.
The editors deny any
responsibility for either the accuracy of reporting or any
opinions expressed - we do however know a good solicitor if
needed!
Herewith 'ad verbatim' is the
Vice Captain's report.....
We seem to
have spent more time battling with the weather than with our
opponents for much of the summer but ‘B’ team golf has been as
enjoyable as ever.
The match at
Wheatley proved to be just such an occasion with pouring rain
throughout which clearly affected the golf of some more than
others! John McArthur and Mick Ellis excelled with a 5 & 4 win,
ably supported by winners John Barsby and Rick Thompson (4&2)
and Trev Johnson and Ted Parsons (2&1). At the other end of the
scale Vice Captain Stuart and Professional Richard lost 4&3.
Tony Bulleyment kindly spared Stuart’s blushes by collecting the
‘dinner money’. The end result was a creditable draw.
On 10th
July on a Market Rasen course in lovely condition the ‘B’ team,
under the leadership of the Captain Steve Spavin and last year’s
captain David Sowerby, lost for the first time this season. The
match got off to a good start with Steve and David winning 5&4
but that didn’t last with the next three pairings losing: Roger
Bickley and Rick Thompson went down 4&3, Brian McNeill and
Martin Thompson 3&1 and Tony Bulleyment and Derek Baker 4&2.
Tony Garton and Roy Mee did steady the ship with a 2&1 victory
but with John Barsby and Ted Houghton losing 2&1 it was left to
the last two pairings of Bob York and Mick Ellis and Tony
Ibbetson and Andrew Campbell to salvage the situation.
Unfortunately they could only manage honourable halves so the
match was lost 5&3.
This defeat
was followed by another second place in the next match when the
‘B’ team were entertained by Elsham. Vice Captain Stuart and
Past Captain David were no match for Elsham’s Vice Captain Bob
Andrews and his hand picked partner Robert Taylor they lost
their game 5&4. Trevor Johnson and Trevor Kicks equalised the
score with a magnificent 6&5 win. However in spite of resounding
wins by Josh Raspin and Tony Ibbetson (5&3) and Ted Houghton and
Tony Bulleyment (4&3) the remaining matches went to Elsham with
two closely fought 2&1 wins proving decisive, leaving Elsham 5&3
winners.
The team
returned to winning ways with a 5½ - 2½ victory at Grimsby. The
stars of the night were Trevor Johnson and Roger O’Brien with
their 7&5 win. Other wins were recorded by Ted Houghton and
Brian McNeill 3&2: Tony Ibbetson and Chris Overton 3&1, David
Sowerby and John Barsby 1 up and Captain Steve and Vice Captain
Stuart 2&1. Steve warmly complimented Grimsby on a course
presented in superb condition, a remarkable achievement given
the substantial flooding of the course last year. The fish and
chips which followed were superb but Steve was heard to suggest
on a number of occasions that visitors to Grimsby should try a
fish and chip shop close to the Cleethorpes Train Station in
which he has more than a passing interest!
When Elsham
were entertained on 31st July the ‘B’ team were
looking forward to avenging their earlier defeat. That however
proved beyond them with Elsham winning 5½ - 2½. Unfortunately
the majority of the matches were played in torrential rain with
several pairings ‘surrendering’ to the elements after 9 holes.
The trip to
Selby on 7th August was interesting. The ‘B’ team
arrived to discover that Chris (Selby Captain) and Tony (Vice
Captain) had decided that the format should be 8 AM/AM teams
with opponents becoming partners with an entry fee of £2 per
head. It was frankly an inspired decision. Terry Danby and Andy
Campbell with their Selby partners, Steve Pheasant and Graham
Greaturex were the winners with 83 points. Mick Williams and
Chris Overton and their partners Mark Newman and Ian McNeill
came second with 81 points. Neither group however profited by
their endeavours, since the respective Captains and Vice
captains decided after several glasses of very good Rioja that
the monies collected should go to the Captain’s charities. An
excellent evening was enjoyed by one and all.
The 14th
match of the season took place at home on 12th August
against Ashby Decoy, another match bedevilled by the weather.
Holme Hall triumphed by 6 matches to 2. The stars on this
occasion were Roger Danby and Tom Bolger and John Barsby and
Tony Bulleyment both with first class wins of 5&4. Comfortable
wins were also recorded by Derek Baker and Andy Campbell (3&2)
and Colin Ashmore and Chris Overton (3&1). Match of the night
however had to be that involving the respective Past Captains,
David Sowerby and Alex Murray. A great deal of golfing pride was
at stake with David and his partner, Mick Piatt, eventually
winning on the last, 1 up. David’s grin at the end was something
to behold. Trevor Johnson declined to collect the ‘dinner
money’, explaining that he didn’t have his abacus with him.
___________________________________________________________________________
GOLF COURSE WORK PROGRAMME - JULY - AUGUST, 2008
GREENS
At the present time all of our greens are in
a very good condition, with cutting being daily at a height of
3mm.
The first main summer feed of the year was
applied during late May consisting of a granular 12.0.9 + 2% Fe
+ 2% Mg Mix, this gave very good results, along with frequent
showers in early June and mild temperatures.
Double de-thatching followed by double
cutting has also been ongoing since early June in order to keep
the sward thinned and seeding grasses under control.
Slight evidence of fusarium was present on
some greens in early June, however no fungicide was applied, as
the natural drying conditions of the greens were enough to halt
the spread further.
Light overall Sorrel rolling (pricking the
surface with small 1cm deep holes) will be ongoing once a month
throughout the summer. This operation helps to keep the top
surface open for better water penetration thus eliminating dry
patch problems.
The second granular fertiliser will be
applied during July, which will then provide nutrients for the
greens through until September. Liquid seaweed applications
will also be ongoing monthly.
TEES
Good growth is being experienced on all tees
at present following their granular fertiliser application in
late May, consisting of 12.3.9 + 2% Fe + 2% Mg.
Overall solid-tining is also underway monthly
to aid water penetration with hand watering with a wetting agent
as a supplement to the irrigation system as and when needed.
Cutting is currently twice a week a 8mm.
BUNKERS
All our bunkers are still being raked
approximately 4 times a week with edging and sand movement
ongoing. A different more angular type of sand has now been
sourced with samples and prices to follow.
FAIRWAYS
Very good growth is evident on all fairways
following the organic granular feed applied during April. A
selective weed killer may also be applied shortly on the worst
fairways.
Following the recent wet and mild spell thick
dense grass is evident on most fairways resulting in cutting at
least twice a week over certain areas. This left lots of cut
grass on the surface, which in some cases was able to be swept
and collected, but as is normally the case it remained on the
surface and settled into the sward.
With all our fairways being fed once a year
and having the facility of irrigation, a build up of thatch
below the surface is an ongoing problem. This thatch layer on
certain fairways is already showing signs of increasing due to
the water holding capacity after heavy rain, the signs of
disease in autumn, and the soft surfaces available for Chafer
Grub and Leatherjacket development. The best way to control
these thatch levels is with a scarifier used approximately twice
a year in the spring and the autumn, as already used on greens
and tees.
The club used to own a second hand tractor
powered charterhouse scarifier, up until two years ago when age
finally got the better of it, and it was no longer cost
effective to repair. We already own a large sweeper collector
which would always collect the debris removed but I feel
consideration for the future purchase of a new tractor powered
scarifier, in order to keep our fairways in a good healthy
condition is worth serious thought.
JIM BIRKETT - HEAD GREEN KEEPER
This page was last updated on
6th July '08
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