Course Status
27th April from Mark
The rain over the past few days, 2¾ inches of it, about what we should expect in the whole month, has made the course very wet indeed. The greens have generally handled the water quite well and have drained quickly once the rain has stopped. The rest of the course, however, is quite a different matter.
The top inch or so all over the course is now extremely soft and wet. Consequently, we are advising anyone playing to take extreme care, particularly when walking on slopes, no matter how slight.
We are not closed today but are very close to it. The weather forecast through today and tomorrow don’t give us any reason to believe we will have to close at all. However, to try to minimize the impact on the course, particularly over the weekend, would all members who are capable of carrying their clubs please do so. The use of electric and pull trolleys are not being banned but they will make something of a mess in the prevailing conditions and it would be a shame to spoil the good work done over the winter months.
Moving on to next week: weather permitting, we are spraying tees and fairways on Thursday, 3rd May with selective herbicide (weedkiller). When we do this we don’t cut for two days prior and two days following the treatment for maximum effect. Please be aware that we will not be cutting the fairways from Tuesday of next week until Monday of the following week. The course will consequently not have its striped appearance through next week but we will be back to normal the following week. Could anyone playing on Thursday morning please start from the 1st tee only to allow the sprayer to get through the job as quickly and smoothly as possible. Many thanks!
Let’s hope we can all enjoy our golf over the weekend.
Regards, Mark Crossley
28th March, from Trevor
With immediate effect, and for the next few weeks, 'Winter Rules' have been relaxed back to the 'standard'. The compulsory use of mats on the fairways has been removed, as has compulsory lifting on fairways 1, 4 and 7 and playing from the semi-rough.
To all intents and purposes we are now playing Winter Rules that consist of 'A ball lying on a closely mown surface may be lifted, cleaned and placed, within 6 inches of its original position, not nearer the hole'. The full 'Winter Rules' Notice is available here.
It goes without saying, of course, that we must now be especially conscientious in replacing divots. To ensure that the pain we have suffered in using mats throughout the winter has not been for nothing, please ensure that divots are replaced and pressed well into place. The course is coming out of winter well but we need Mother Nature to drop some rain on us over the next few weeks to go along with the sunshine we are enjoying at present.
Of course, if you like playing from your mat and you are playing for fun, you can always continue to use it to protect the course for a little longer.
And don't forget your pitchmark!!
From Mark on 16th March:-
I've now finished the pre-season preparation of the playing surfaces much earlier than planned or in past years. Greens have been hollow-tined and top-dressed. Tees and approaches have been solid-tined and top-dressed and have also received an application of slow-release fertiliser. The 1st, 4th and 7th fairways have been hollow-cored and will be over-seeded early in April in an effort to thicken the sward even further.
The use of mats on the fairways remains, and will do for a few weeks yet. This is to try to protect the fairways while there is little or no growth, as at present.
Now the mornings are happening earlier, play is permitted on the course from 7.30 a.m. I am planning to start using summer tees early in April.
Have a great golfing weekend, just don't forget it's not Spring yet!!
Regards, Mark Crossley
Extracts from Mark's previous update on 16th February:-
Tidying of the perimeters around the golf course and areas behind the 13th green, between 14th tee and 17th green, around the 18th ladies tee and to the left side of the 18th green has been taking place this winter; around 50 trees have been relocated from their nursery positions into what will be their final positions around the course. The majority of these young trees are Oak that were originally planted with the intention of moving them or are indeed self-setters. We've planted a wild grassland seed mixture as well as an annual wildflower seeds in many cleared areas.
Bob Taylor, ecologist for many of the Open Championship venues will visit to conduct an ecological survey of the golf course in Spring.
All work on felling, trimming and planting of trees has been done following discussions with both the Forestry Commission and Derbyshire County Council Tree Preservation Officer throughout for advice as to how best to proceed and to ensure that we do not contravene any rules or regulations.
Congratulations to Mark and all his team for such an excellent job.
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Our web site is an information source for members and visitors to The Chesterfield Golf Club (also known locally as Walton Golf Club), a beautiful, well established parkland course set amidst stunning views in North East Derbyshire.