Maintenance and Greenkeeping
Still often called The Dog Golf Course, as it all started in Dog Field on Greys Green Farm
We aim to provide the Best Value Pay andPlay Golf Courses in Berks/Bucks/Oxon, at exceptional value for money
Greens
Our new maintenance development program will enhance the quality, consistency and playability of the Greens. The practices listed below will guarantee an improvement to all putting services and will make your game a more pleasurable experience
- Fertiliser application at the correct periodic times of year
- Regular aeration such as slit tining, solid tining, verti-draining, hollow coring and sorrel spiking
- Very regular topdressing applications
- Throughout the summer daily mowing if required but no less than every other day
- Hole changing every other day to R and A standard – if the ground will allow
- Correct chemical application
- Verti cutting/scarifying at correct times of year
All other aspects of the golf courses will also be improved. Please see below some of the other operations that have been introduced:
Approach to greens
The approach area to the greens such as the aprons/surrounds will be given added definition to enhance the aesthetic appearance and playability of the holes
Tees
- All teeing areas will be moved no later than every other day allowing for even wear and tear
- All worn areas will be treated with a mixture of top soil and seed to aid recovery time
- Weekly light aeration and topdressing will take place, to enhance the playable surface throughout the golfing season and winter period
- All teeing areas will be mown separately from the fairway - adding to the courses' definition
Fairways
- The fairways will be constantly maintained to a height of 20mm throughout the growing season, give optimum playability to all standards of golfer
- Fairways will be shaped and sculptured, which will be more pleasing to the eye
- All starting and finishing holes will be stripe cut, further adding to the aesthetic effect of the course
Semi-rough
Well maintained semi rough adds so much visually to a course, by defining and giving separation to the different holes. However, it is essential to stay on top of the semi rough, as slow play is an enemy to the casual golfer whatever their standard. Semi rough will be maintained to a height of 40mm. This will penalise the poor shot, while still making it possible to locate the ball quickly, thus keeping play flowing in a timely manner
Other areas
- Pathways will remain clean and litter free
- Car Park will be cleaned and litter picked daily
- Flower and shrub beds kept weed free – once introduced
- Grass areas kept closely mown and edged
- All furniture to be kept in good repair – once introduced
- All litter bins to be emptied daily
Maintenance on the Greens
Grooming: We have used a cylindrical grooming tool fitted to the cutting units on the
greens mower, which reduces some of the grasses' lateral growth, providing a truer roll when putting. We will continue this process along with verti-cutting, a slightly harsher version, throughout the year.
Aeration: To alleviate some of the soil compaction on the greens, to enhance moisture and nutrient retention and provide a more consistent putting surface, we have 
commenced our Aeration Programme. You may have spotted a large number of small holes approximately 8mm in diameter and 40mm deep on the tees and greens. As the season continues, this process will enhance your putting experience
Fertiliser: As part of the ongoing programme to provide a better putting surface, and in keeping with our "Green" credentials,we have just applied one of the most organic granular amenities fertilisers on the market to date. This product will produce a stronger denser sword, stimulate root-mass with its seaweed content and support disease resistance. Once again, aiding a better putting surface.
The Maintenance Fleet is now Complete - Greys Green Golf Course joins the ‘REDS’
After many weeks of demonstrating all makes, models and designs of golf course maintenance machinery, to ensure the continued upgrade maintenance/playability condition of all three courses at Greys Green Golf Course, there was one clear winner and we have purchased 4 new golf course maintenance machines from TORO, the world's leading golf course machinery manufacturer, from the local dealership of Handy TURF Machinery. TORO provide equipment to many of the top courses throughout the world due to their workmanship, reliability, durability and superior quality of cut - the perfect choice to maintain the improvements recently introduced at GGGC. Alan Wilson of Handy Turf Machinery has worked closely with Lee to find the right mix of machines for the course. Lee says, "I need to have excellent machines and a good working relationship with my suppliers to provide the best possible playing surface for all of our customers whatever the weather and time of year. This is why I have chosen Toro equipment from the local dealer Handy’s. Toro, based in Minneapolis, USA, are the world's largest manufacturer specialising in turf care equipment. Official sponsors of the PGA European Tour, Toro machines are used to prepare the top golf courses around the world for their tournaments".
