Members at Haywards Heath Golf Club in West Sussex are enjoying some of the best playing conditions in the history of the 102-year-old club following the implementation of a greens recovery programme over the last 15 months.
The club engaged Greg Evans Golf Course Solutions in 2022 – the year of its centenary – to conduct an agronomy audit following significant irrigation failures and greens damage after an extreme summer.
The club’s then General Manager, Paul Tidey, initiated the audit to thoroughly assess the playing surfaces, with a particular focus on the greens. The audit by GEGCS led to several key recommendations. The primary recommendation was the implementation of a Greens Recovery Plan, centred on scarification to remove dead material, and an intensive overseeding plan using rye grass to ensure healthy growth during the winter.
Following the audit and recommendations, the club engaged PSI Irrigation to upgrade the greens with a double valve sprinkler system, a weather station, and a soil moisture meter for daily data monitoring.
Another critical recommendation was to address the high organic matter levels in the top 20mm layer, which were found to be averaging 14%, significantly higher than the industry standard of 5%. This focus on reducing organic matter was essential to improving the overall health and playability of the greens.
In spring 2023, GEGCS was commissioned by the club under a management agreement. This arrangement involved two site visits per month and close collaboration with Course Manager Peter Ray and Deputy Course Manager Liam Baldwin. A 52-week agronomic plan was developed and is reviewed remotely by Greg Evans to ensure optimal turf conditions are consistently maintained.
With the appointment of the new General Manager, Nick Duc, and the experienced Course Manager, Peter Ray, who has been with the club for over 40 years, greenstaff continue to conduct daily performance checks, including stimpmeter readings, to ensure the greens meet members’ expectations and maintain high standards of playability.
With the greens now in a much stronger position to withstand extreme weather conditions, the combined efforts from everyone involved ensure year-round playability.
