October Course Report

October has certainly brought a noticeable shift in conditions, with shorter days, cooler mornings, and plenty of leaf fall keeping the team busy. The course is now very much in its autumn phase, and our focus has turned to preparing the playing surfaces for the winter months ahead.

Greens
The greens have come through the early autumn period in good health. Growth has slowed with the drop in temperatures, but we’ve maintained a consistent cutting and rolling schedule to keep them smooth and true. A light aeration programme has continued through the month to aid drainage and oxygen movement within the rootzone. We’ve also applied a balanced autumn fertiliser to strengthen the turf going into winter.

Fairways and Tees
Fairways are holding up well and have benefitted from regular brushing to lift the dew and reduce disease risk. Overseeded areas from last month are establishing nicely, and we’ll continue to monitor recovery. Tees have also responded well to recent work — regular divoting remains important at this time of year, so a big thank you to members who continue to replace theirs.

Bunkers
With wetter weather setting in, sand movement and washouts have become more frequent. The team continues to check and repair bunkers daily where needed. We’ll also begin topping up sand levels in certain bunkers to maintain consistency across the course.

Autumn Maintenance
This month has seen the start of our main aeration work on fairways, approaches, and roughs. While this can temporarily affect playability, it’s a vital process for ensuring good drainage and strong root development. We’ve also been clearing leaves daily to keep the course tidy and prevent them smothering the turf.

Looking Ahead
As we move into November, our attention will turn to winter preparation — servicing machinery, protecting vulnerable areas of the course, and continuing to monitor turf health. Playability will always remain our priority, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding when temporary measures (such as winter mats or roped-off areas) are introduced.

In Summary
Despite the changeable weather, the course remains in excellent condition for the time of year. The team has worked tirelessly to stay on top of growth, presentation, and essential maintenance tasks. Thank you to all members for your continued support — and we hope you enjoy your autumn golf before the real chill of winter sets in.