A drier October and November has been very welcome, and it’s time to make the most of them says Ganton course manager Simon Olver
If you need any sign that our climate is becoming more unpredictable, and our weather patterns more extreme, just think back to what your golf course was like in November and December 2023.
In November 2023, we had 106.2mm of rainfall at Ganton. In 2024, we’ve had 30mm. That’s a significant reduction and we’re very thankful for it!
With the reduction in rainfall comes more opportunities to get out on the golf course and do some work. I’ve seen lots of venues sharing what they’ve been doing on social media to make long-term improvements, and it’s great to see these stories and read positive comments on them.
Improving primary drainage is essential if we’re going to be able to come through more extreme weather in the future. We’ve seen an increase in the intensity of rainfall, with periods where more rain is falling in a matter of hours than we’d expect in a month. Add in extended wet conditions such as those we had in the second half of 2023 and it’s impossible to deny our climate is changing.
With huge volumes of rain comes greater need for primary drainage – the pipework, ditches and watercourses which move water away from playing areas. We’re seeing a lot of courses invest in this now – having experienced the problems we had 12 months ago – and while this work is disruptive, its long-term benefits are huge. Please give your greenkeepers a pat on the back for getting out there on the dark, frosty mornings and getting this labour-intensive work done. We’ll reap the rewards in the spring.
While the reduction in rainfall is great, we’ve been hit hard by turf diseases across the country this year. This has been caused by high levels of growth late in the season, which required more cutting in wet, humid conditions. Where we’d normally put fungicide out and let it do its job, we’ve still been mowing and therefore only getting a few days of benefit from the product. It’s also more difficult to get your choice of fungicide right as the air and soil temperatures begin falling, increasing the potential for outbreaks. As we move into the colder months, some of the scarring from any outbreaks may still be visible, but this will be sorted as soon as the temperatures pick back up.
At this time of year, golf courses can look different as the seasons change and greenkeeping teams switch focus. Rest assured, we all dislike this as much as you do! As growth rates fall and traffic remains high, you’ll see more wear and tear. To mitigate this, you’ll see posts and rope or paint funnelling players away from key areas. Sticking to these is vital to ensure your fine turf areas are back to their best as early as possible.
Remember even the expert weather forecasters struggle at this time of year, so conditions and setups will change daily – roll with the punches and enjoy getting out on the course. It’s winter in the UK – it isn’t like what you see on the TV from the southern states of the US and the Middle East. Pop your woolly hat on, fill up a flask, and enjoy it!
By the time I’m back in February, we’ll be raring to get into full flow and reap the rewards of all the work we’ve done.
