Greg’s Greenkeeping Blog May 2026

Greg’s Greenkeeping Blog – May 2026

By Greg Fitzmaurice, Course Manager  ·  May 2026

May has been a challenging month. Growth finally began to pick up after another cold spring, which is exactly what we need to see at this time of year. However, a hot dry spell mid-month brought new problems, and we had to deal with an irrigation failure at the worst possible time. It has been a testing few weeks, but the course has come through it well and is in good shape heading into June.

This is something we want to be open about with members. One of our concerns heading into the season was the fact that the new irrigation storage tank is not yet in place. While planning approval has been granted, the construction is yet to be completed, which means we are relying on the old tank still. The old tank is unable to hold it’s capacity now the liner has failed, and this has further limited the amount of water we have been able to apply.

During the peak of the heatwave, the situation worsened when the connection between the old tank and the new distribution system failed completely. We lost water for several days at a critical time, and the greens suffered as a result. Dry patch began to form which is caused by hydrophobic soil particles, where essentially the soil repels water rather than absorbing it, leading to the turf wilting and losing its health and colour.

Fortunately, we were able to get the problem rectified promptly. Once water was restored, we applied wetting agent across the greens, which breaks down the hydrophobic barrier in the soil and allows water to penetrate properly, followed by a heavy watering to rehydrate the rootzone. The greens have responded well and are recovering. It is a reminder of just how important the new storage tank will be, and we are pushing to get that project moving forward as quickly as possible.

Work on the new irrigation storage tank is moving forward. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Smithson for his work this month in installing a new concrete base, ready for the tank to be fitted. This is an important step in getting the new system in place and we are grateful for his efforts in getting it done.

Once the tank and pump station are fully operational, it will transform how we manage water across the course and ensure we are far better placed to handle dry periods like the one we experienced this month.

Away from the irrigation issues, one of the key maintenance jobs this month has been sharpening the mower blades across all our cutting units using our Bernards grinders. This is something members might not think about, but it has a direct impact on the quality of playing surfaces.

A sharp mower blade cuts the grass cleanly, leaving a smooth, healthy leaf. A blunt blade tears rather than cuts, which stresses the plant, leaves a ragged finish and can cause the surface to look dull or discoloured. On greens in particular, blade sharpness has a noticeable effect on pace and consistency. We have worked through the greens, tees and surrounds mowers, and the improvement in surface quality has been clear. Playing surfaces are back to an excellent standard and should remain so as we head into the peak of the season.

The fringing rough has begun to thicken up with the improvement in growing conditions, and we have already started work on our cut and collected program. This involves cutting and removing the arisings rather than leaving them to mulch back into the surface, which is key to achieving the best results.

The purpose of this program is to reduce the vigour and fertility of the grass over time. By repeatedly cutting and removing the material, we gradually weaken the more aggressive, fast-growing species and encourage a finer, less dense sward. The aim is to strike the right balance — the rough should provide a genuine penalty for wayward shots and discourage errant play, but it should also allow for reasonable ball retrieval and avoid contributing to slow play. A thick, unmanaged rough achieves neither of those things well.

Had it not been for the time lost dealing with the irrigation issues, we would have been further ahead with this work. We are confident of catching up quickly in June and it remains a priority for the team over the coming weeks.

We have had a few comments from members about sand levels and bunker conditions, and it is worth taking a moment to explain what is happening, particularly during hot spells.

The first thing to understand is why bunker sand behaves differently in warm, dry weather. When sand is moist it has a loose, workable texture. As it dries out, the fine particles within the sand begin to bind together, forming a crust. In hot conditions this process accelerates, with the sun baking the sand, causing it to harden and compact in a way that can make it feel almost concrete-like, even if there is plenty of sand underneath. This is a natural characteristic of sand in dry conditions and not something that can be entirely prevented. Keeping bunkers regularly raked does help to break up the crust and maintain a more consistent texture.

The second issue we are seeing is with sand distribution. Despite the bunkers being topped up and now having adequate sand, some of the more frequently visited ones are developing thin patches where the ball tends to come to rest. The cause is the way the sand is being raked. When a golfer rakes by dragging the rake towards them, the sand is continuously pulled to the back of the bunker, away from the entry point and the area where the ball most often lands. Over time this creates a thin, hard area at the front and an accumulation of sand at the back.

The simple fix is to push the sand forward as you rake, rather than dragging it back. This redistributes the sand more evenly across the bunker and helps counteract the natural tendency for it to gather at the rear. We would ask all members to be mindful of this — it is a small habit that makes a significant difference to bunker conditions for everyone.

It is also worth saying that bunker conditions in summer are a good example of something broader — golf courses simply play differently as the seasons change. The firmness underfoot, the speed of the greens, the behavior of the rough, and yes, the feel of the sand in a bunker, all shift throughout the year in response to temperature, rainfall and growth. Both the way we play golf and the way we approach greenkeeping have to adapt accordingly. Rather than aiming to make the course play identically all year round, which is not achievable, our job is to manage those changes as well as possible and present the best conditions we can within whatever the season brings. It is a nuanced picture, and one we hope members can appreciate as part of the experience of playing golf through the year.

Some members will have noticed increased activity on the bank sides and steeper areas of the course over recent weeks. The new Ventrac machine has now been in weekly use and is already making a difference to what the team can achieve.

The Ventrac is a highly versatile piece of equipment designed specifically for working on slopes and difficult terrain that conventional mowers cannot safely or effectively reach. It allows us to mow and present areas as closely cut turf that were previously either left rough or managed far less frequently. The results are visible in the improved presentation around the tee surroundings and in the cleaner sight lines from several tees.

One area that members may particularly notice is Walker’s Gully, where the steep bank on the left hand side is now being mown regularly. This bank was previously unmanaged at that level, which meant balls finding it could stay up in the long grass or be lost altogether. Regular mowing will help balls to release down the slope more consistently, reducing the number of lost balls and improving the experience of playing that hole.

The Ventrac is going to be an increasingly valuable part of how we manage and present the course, and we are looking forward to developing its use further as the season progresses.

June will be about consolidating the good work and pushing on with what May’s challenges delayed. The rough grassland programme will be a priority, and we will be monitoring the greens closely as temperatures continue to rise. The new storage tank project will also be progressing, which will make a significant difference to how we manage irrigation going forward.

Despite a difficult month, the course is in good condition and the team have responded well to the challenges thrown at them. Thank you for your patience and continued support.