Lake balls on the 3rd are part of the lake bed – remove the balls … destroy the lake

Please note that having thinned the level of lake weed on the 3rd and filled it with fresh water – low and behold we have exposed a treasure trove of golf balls.

Please note that these balls belong to the lake – they are now part of the blue clay structure that holds the water. If you remove them you will damage the integrity of the lake bed and will reduce the effectiveness of the clay bed to retain the water.

We invested heavily in blue clay rather than a lake liner because it is more natural. Because it is more natural we ask that you respect it’s frailties and resist the temptation to gather a few free golf balls at the cost of the lake bed.

Thank you
John
Head Greenkeeper

Feeding the greens… preventing disease and moss

We are currently feeding the greens with a 'spring starter' fertiliser. It comes in a fine granular form which dissolves relatively quickly and so should not interrupt your putting but if you see some granules - you'll now know what they are!

The fertiliser we are applying delivers multiple benefits...

* It contains potassium and iron to improve disease resistance and minimise the incidence of moss
* It is premium 'fine granular' to ensure even coverage and response (it also means minimum to zero disruption to play)

This is one of a sequence of procedures that our agronomist is prescribing as part of our drive for outstanding greens this season.

We will keep you posted on all the green enhancement activities taking place over the coming weeks - particularly where they may impact on your putting in any way.

John
Head Greenkeeper

Upping Our Game – Weekend Lunch Times…

A quick heads up… Either Nick or Michelle will now be managing the weekend lunch time sessions at the Club to support Luke. This will be phased in over the next few weeks starting with this Saturday 14th January.

Healthy Greens… Set for Cracking Season!

set fair for a cracking season...

I have just received confirmation from our agronomist that we have made substantial progress on our greens over the last 6 months. The use of the new 'thatch away' equipment and the ongoing chemical treatments have both reduced the iron layer and increased the general health of the grass plant and soil base. To quote, "well done, you are set fair for a cracking season". Please note that the fusarium patches have been fully treated and are under control. He is not worried about these as they will quickly disappear when we accelerate grass growth in the early spring. 

For those interested in a little more science regarding fusarium, please click here

We are working hard on course maintenance over the winter period and you can expect to see some nice little surprises...

John
Head Green Keeper

Top Golfers get Class ‘A’ Coaching

This November Bruce took a group of golfers - including some of our lowest handicappers on a coaching trip to Portugal.

In addition to grabbing some much needed sun and relaxation some of the feedback was very enlightening!

Too many golfers in the UK see coaching in the context of 'lessons are for beginners' or 'any coaching now will just ruin what I've already learned'.

Neil Terry, a single figure handicapper now sees coaching in a very different light.  Learning to improve your game, whatever standard you currently are, just makes golf more fun!

"...We went out onto the course to demonstrate real life positions I found a personal challenge. I did not even have to hit a ball because after the first few practice swings he knew exactly what the problem was and then focused on correcting. We then proceeded to other holes and approach positions to gain a
different perspective on varying 60-80 yard shots. Since the first session I have received further coaching on my chipping which has made a significant difference to my game as I have now grown confidence in playing these very critical type of shots. I highly recommend spending some time with Bruce for all levels of capability.
Neil Terry,
single figure handicap player

Improving the Bunker Edges…

As part of our Bunker Enhancement Programme we have invested in the latest Strimmers - one very happy Head Greenkeeper!! 

Proud of Our Ladies!

Massive congratulations to our ladies on their success in 2016!! Outstanding result!!

Princes Risborough Golf Club has an active Ladies Section which meets twice a week, on Monday mornings for a roll-up session and on Wednesday mornings for organized games.  We have a reputation for welcoming new members, both those with existing handicaps and those new to the game.  Members of our Ladies Committee reach out to new members to help them integrate into our community and very soon the newcomer or novice feels part of the action.
Organized games include Medals and Stablefords played on Wednesdays or Saturdays, and also informal games played purely for enjoyment on our beautiful Chiltern course.  We also run annual knock-out competitions for individuals and pairs, join with the Men's Section for mixed competitions and play matches against other clubs including participating in the Chiltern League.

To find out more about our membership deals then please contact Michelle or Nick on 01844 346989 or click here.

We are looking forward to another fantastic year!

Better Course Management…

Investing in a second set of mower blades means that we are able to have two people cutting the greens at the same time in peak growing season.  This means less disruption for golfers ie we can have all greens cut before play.  It also means that we have contingency if one of the machines is out of action.

Maintenance on Lake – Hole 3

Please note that the Lake on 3rd Hole is being partially drained down to enable a thinning of the plant life and a more attractive pond for the spring.  Our apologies for any inconvenience caused whilst we are conducting this important maintenance work.

Best Regards

John

Head Greenkeeper