Life on the (cliff) edge!

I have heard the word 'gem' used numerously to describe many a course, but Lewes Golf Club is what I would call a true gem. Head Greenkeeper Tim Brewster discusses how this small club is run on an environmentally and sympathetically modest budget.

Golf has been played on this stunningly naturally beautiful East Sussex downland course since 1896. The course sits atop the chalk cliffs that overlook the town of Lewes (half an hour's drive east of Brighton on the south coast). As a result, the course offers breathtaking views across the South Downs National Park in one direction and the equally impressive English Channel in the other.

Lewes Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 71 (6,248 yard), members club, downland golf course when measured from the back tees. Admittedly, the course is not the longest in the area, but the undulating small greens and sloping fairways challenge any golfer, especially if the wind gets up (which Course Manager Tim Brewster was quick to tell me is 99% of the time)!

I defend my description to call this course a true gem - not only because of its striking natural beauty, but the fact that it's a small club run on an environmentally and sympathetically modest budget, and what it lacks in size and prestige it more than makes up for in authenticity, passion and heart, especially from its dedicated team that tend the course (more of that later).

Wildlife

"The course forms part of the South Downs National Park (not an S.S.S.I.), but we work very closely with the park rangers and are in constant communication with them on all the works we do on the course. We are very much aware of our responsibility to nurture the flora and fauna on the golf course."

By the side of the 18th green (on the edge of the chalky cliff face), there is a nesting pair of peregrine falcons. "We're really pleased we have these rare birds on our land," said Tim, "you can easily spend an hour of your day watching these beautiful birds, playing in the skies above the clubhouse." He went on, "we also have kestrels, skylarks and we're proud that our rough grass management has helped encourage breeding pairs of red kites. The kites are also doing a great job in scaring off the crows," smiled Tim.

Left The course has seen an increase in butterfly population including this Marbled White butterfly. Right: Shrub clearance allowing natural flora to thrive.

"Leaving long grass areas has not only benefited wildlife but has significantly helped reduce our labour costs," explained Tim. "It's a win-win all round really. We all benefit from designating wildlife areas and the members like the fact that we are doing our best for the environment. In recent years, it's been encouraging to see an increase in our butterfly population; we've noticed Dark Green Fritillary, Chalk hill Blue and White butterfly numbers steadily increase," he mentioned with pride. "It also gives some much-needed definition on what can be a rather bleak course at certain times of the year. We apply just the one selective weedkiller at the beginning of the year before any bird activity begins, then only cut and collect these areas at the end of the season, which is perfect timing so as not to disturb the kites and insect populations."

In the past, Tim and his team used an old cut and collect machine to harvest these areas which took months. Now however, thanks to financial aid from the South Downs National Park, the club have just bought a new larger Wessex 180 flail cut and collector and a terrarake which does a great job to speed up the process. He was quick to point out that this mutually beneficial collaboration was started way back in the day by his predecessor Lawrie Tremlett (now at West Cornwall G.C.) who was Lewes's head greenkeeper for 25 years.

Water Management

As you would expect, irrigation is a challenge, especially as Tim's Hunter system only covers greens and the new 13th tees. "Each green has four Hunter i85 heads which provide decent coverage, but that's it," he explained. "The pump system is adequate for now, but as we build more tees and tag them to the system, I envisage we'll need an additional pump to provide enough pressure. We're borehole fed with mains back up; we only used this last year when temperatures tipped 40 degrees."

From experience on similar sites, I know watering on the top of a chalk hill is challenging to say the least. Tim favours occasional heavy watering (when the wind eases off), then relies on 'topping up' with regular hand watering. Moisture levels (which he constantly monitors), determines which areas need extra. "It's a fine line, so it's constantly at the forefront of my mind all summer," confessed Tim.

"Some greens are constructed with pure sand, some are ballast, and some are clay based (to hold moisture). I'm fascinated by historic construction methods. 125 years ago, the greens were built with whatever was available on site. As a result, there is little consistency of material, depth, or grass species, so I need to understand every green intimately as they all perform differently."

Tim's journey

Prior to his joining Lewes, Tim climbed the ranks and served his time as assistant at Dorking G.C. and Guilford G.C., before heading off travelling down under for a year where he found work at Aukland G.C. as assistant. On his return, he quickly picked up the assistant role at Betchworth Park G.C. and Close House G.C. before moving to The Royal Automobile Club as senior greenkeeper. He then moved to Reigate Hill G.C. in 2017 as deputy and, after two years, successfully got his own course at Lewes as head man in 2019. Fair to say, since joining the club Tim has settled into his new role with ease.

Tim's a family man and when he's not helping to bring up his three-year-old daughter, he enjoys playing football, cricket and golf.

Sustainability

Being on a chalk hill does have some advantages! Disease isn't an issue as the 'open' course has little shade thus reducing moisture and dew. Tim is rightly proud he hasn't sprayed a fungicide since he started! He admitted, "there have been times when disease has 'flared up', but I leave these areas to help the sward develop its own natural immunity."

He uses a low nutrient programme based on soil samples from consolidated turf, and Sea nymph seaweed helped with Aquatrols wetting agents. "Liquid only feeds are a challenge," he explained, "getting a decent spray day is few and far between, but we make it work!"

Tim is trying to promote a fescue rich surface on his greens, higher heights of cut, never lower than 5mm, frequent rolling and lower nutritional applications. "Aeration is a challenge due to dry conditions," he mentioned, "I'm always careful when punching holes. Our main aeration is completed in the winter months, with some old school slitting and sarrel rolling throughout the year. I have two greens maintenance days, spring and autumn, where we get on fendress 80/20 sand and overseed with fescue. In the future, I'd like a Vredo type overseeder which I would like to use more frequently and try to move more away from broadcasting seed."

The club is proactive when it comes to machinery. "We own various dedicated pieces of equipment for specific tasks," explained Tim, "and I'm looking forward to the new Toro hybrid cutting equipment fleet being delivered, hopefully very soon!"

Team from left to right: Colin Martin James Brown Tim Brewster and Simon Garcia.

Projects

"When the course was built, there were no bunkers, and now we have eleven. We've rebuilt four, changing the sand to China Clay because its angular particles help maintain moisture. We've also made them deeper and put steps in to help better access," explained Tim.

"Two new tees have been built on hole thirteen, with further planned. The emphasis is to enlarge the width. Due to the rules of golf, we must be mindful of the measured distance; long narrow tees don't help wear and tear, whilst wider tees give more flexibility. We're using 200mm of 70/30 rootzone and a dwarf rye/fescue seed mix and, where possible, we've changed the angles of play. Start to finish, it took us eight months to complete."

I must mention a couple of future projects Tim and the guys have in the pipeline - creating a wash down area complete with natural reed bed and a nature dew pond out on the course, again all sustainable and wildlife conscious.

I caught up with Tim following a recent Sussex B.I.G.G.A. section tournament. "We had 53 greenkeepers playing," he explained, "It was a bit nerve wracking as it was the first event I have hosted as the main man. Obviously, the golf course had to be at its best, but the team delivered the course to a high standard." No mean feat with just three greenkeepers and Tim making four. "They're a great bunch; they have passion and are all willing to go the extra distance to produce a lovely golf course. One of my team, Colin Martin, has been here for 43 years and his knowledge of the course is invaluable."