The Duke’s Green Keeping

Although the nighttime temperatures have dropped and we are moving towards autumn, we have been experiencing a welcome dry spell and the course is looking great.

The past few weeks we have been getting the course fertilised. Due to the large amount of rainfall we have been experiencing, additional granular fertiliser applications have been required as the nutrients have leached from the soil faster than normal.The greens have had a 6-5-18, the tees and approaches a 23-2-10 and the fairways and rough a 12-6-6. Depending on the rainfall, this should last through till the end of the season with probably a small top up with liquid fertiliser if required.

We are losing the first of our seasonal team this week, with David Dukelow leaving on Saturday to start a new position in New Zealand at Millbrook just outside Queenstown. He should not be lonely for too long as a familiar face will be joining him out there in a few weeks. My deputy, Jon Methven is taking some time out to work at Queenstown Golf Club for 6 months. While out at Whistling Straits for the 2010 USPGA, Jon met the Course Manager from Queenstown who was also volunteering and have kept in touch and as a result we have had a greenkeeper for there (Scott Wells) come to work here for a season and now Jon heading over there. With us and New Zealand having opposite summer seasons it has worked out really well for us to set up such great opportunities for guys to gain experience.

A couple of weeks ago we also had some involvement in yet another tournament with Jon Methven and Austen Cameron, assisting at the European Masters in Crans Montana, Switzerland. I met  the Course Manager, Hector Forcen, earlier in the year and discussed the possibility of volunteers for the tournament which ended up with 9 guys from Scotland assisting for the week. As well as our two guys, there was green keepers from G West, Cruden Bay, Brora, Skibo Castle and Royal Dornoch all had the chance to experience one of the most picturesque venues on the European tour. The tournament did have its share of rainfall which made it a challenge but with Scot Richie Ramsey winning was very apt considering the amount of Scots assisting prepare the course!. Thanks to Hector for reproving such a fantastic experience for all the guys involved.

Meanwhile here at The Duke’s we are very busy and with The Dunhill Links Championship coming up soon at The Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnourstie, there will be lots of excitement in the area. Good luck to all the courses involved in hosting the tournament where one of our guys Steven Horsburgh shall be assisting at Kingsbarns.

Derek