The Duke’s Green Keeping

It can be a common theme that the first thing I do each day is check the weather forecast to see if it changed since I last checked it before I went to bed!.

The weather can be a constant challenge and can change our planned work very quickly. In the summer its usually the rain which keeps us on our toes but in winter it can be rain, frost, snow and wind or in the case of  last week all four.  Last weeks wind could have been worse for us but we escaped with only a few trees down which was lucky compared to some parts of the country.

These photos show the damage caused when a large tree came down behind our 12th tee. Luckily it is not in play or over a road so we can deal with it when it suits us rather than need to drop everything to clear it up. This tree was rather large and took out another tree on the way down.

The two photos below illustrate what we can have to deal with when the weather turns cold. These pictures are taken nearly a year apart but show how even when some parts of the course are open for play and ‘green’, other areas like our 5th green retains snow/frost for longer.

By the time I speak to you again Santa Claus will have been and gone (hopefully, otherwise I will have a couple of very disappointed children in my house). So have a great Christmas and I will continue to keep you all updated on The Duke’s in 2012.

Derek