Speedcut Contractors have been working flat-out on new golf course projects and completing existing sportsturf contracts.
At Silvermere Golf Club, near Chertsey in Surrey, Speedcut have been carrying out reshaping and reconstruction on bunkers from holes one to six and hole 17 with the remainder scheduled for improvement in the autumn.
Working closely with the greenkeeping team, Speedcut have been carrying out a full refurbishment of the driving range in readiness for the opening of a new two-storey range building.
The driving range, which will be ranked as one of the finest in the UK, is being drained and regarded and is having an artificial target green installed along with nine artificial bunkers, together with lighting ‘berms’ (mounds to conceal lights).
Speedcut also returned to Foxhills Golf Club and Resort in Surrey to improve buggy paths and access, prior to the PGA Seniors tournament in May. They previously carried out extensive work to tees and bunker surrounds.
At Lingfield Park Golf Club, next to the racecourse, Speedcut have removed two dangerous storm- damaged bridges and replaced with a new bridge deck with foundations designed to protect from erosion risk.
Canterbury Golf Club, the Harry S. Colt-designed course – where architect James Edwards is planning extensive renovation with Speedcut over a five-to-six year period – has had reshaping done on the first and second holes involving bunkers and the approach to first green
And at Abridge GC in Essex they have built a trial bunker using Astroturf as the bunker liner for evaluation by the club – a technique that has proved highly successful and very competitive compared to other options available.
Tees have been built at Broke Hill GC, Addington Palace GC, Dulwich and Sydenham GC, while a flooded bunker has been rebuilt at Cobtree Manor GC.
Storm damage work repair work has been carried out at West Chiltington Golf Club.
Turfing and seeding work has been completed at Piltdown Golf Club, East Sussex, and the seven rebuilt greens opened for play in early May.
“The kinder weather so far this year has given us the opportunity to move ahead very quickly,” says Barry Pace, Speedcut contracts manager. “We are well ahead of where we thought we would be given the ground conditions following the winter. We are taking on some interesting new projects.”
As well as golf courses Speedcut have also been working on other sportsturf projects including sandmastering a football pitch at CharterhouseSchool following fraize mowing.
Other work is scheduled at Plumpton Racecourse and Lingfield Park Racecourse while football pitches constructed last year are having secondary drainage carried out at Hadlow College, Essex, and Wedmore in Somerset,
Dick Franklin, managing director of Speedcut, says: “We are taking advantage of the improving weather to complete and take on new projects and this has been a very busy time for all the staff.”
Speedcut Contractors www.speedcutcontractors.co.uk