Key investments at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club
A recent irrigation upgrade, as well as several sustainability projects, have been key to course development at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club. Head greenkeeper Gareth Pearson and his deputy Mark Linsley talk us through the benefits.
Before the irrigation improvements, some of the team would hand water greens for at least an hour every day. “Hand watering wasn’t making a positive impact,” commented Gareth, “and areas of the course were being neglected because we didn’t have the manpower to manage them. The old irrigation system worsened every year but finally, last year, we installed the Toro irrigation system for the greens and tees.”
The system has cost the club nearly half a million pounds, but Gareth is confident it will be worth it for the long-term success of the course: “It isn’t the easiest terrain, so the installation was difficult, but we are already seeing the benefits of utilising it as a management tool; when applying wetting agents before the new system, we wouldn’t have been able to if it was too windy or there was no rain. Now, we can pick a week to topdress and apply wetting agent whilst using the system to its full potential.”
Deputy Head Greenkeeper Mark Linsley expanded on the benefits: “We were able to utilise the new system a lot at the end of last summer and we saved the man hours for other jobs.”
The benefit of managing coastal courses
Having worked on a coastal course his entire career, Gareth feels that if you have the correct grasses and keep on top of your work ‘coastal courses can manage themselves’. Mark backed this up: “In my previous course, we had a few issues with fusarium and had to take action. However, here at Bamburgh, we have gone thirty years without using a fungicide. I don’t know if it is the coastal breeze keeping the dew off, or the course management, but it’s great from a sustainable point of view.”
Gareth highlighted the challenge of having half the course on farmland and half on the coast: “On the farmland side, we have to sand that much more than the coastal side in order to try and firm it up throughout winter.
The farmland greens also need more verti-cutting and brushing, and there is more rough grass compared to the fescue we have on the coastal side.”
Mark added: “The farmland greens also hold more water compared to the coastal ones, despite them being closer to the sea, therefore, they sometimes need more maintenance.”
A difficult winter for everyone
Like many, the weather has affected a number of projects that Gareth and his team have been able to complete this winter. He explained: “Usually, we would have maintenance finished by Christmas, then it would be drier and we could start topdressing. That hasn’t been able to happen this winter.”
Mark added: “We would have two extra bunkers on the course had the weather not stopped us. They were due to go on the farmland side, but undertaking that during such extreme weather would have made a mess. It also wouldn’t be anywhere near finished.”
Pushing for sustainability success
Mark started at the club nearly three years ago and he has made it his mission to push the sustainability drive. “When I came here, I instantly saw the beauty of the course. The roughs are now full of native wildflowers, and we also have several red-listed birds nest here.”
All birds are protected in some form and Mark has a Schedule 1 bird licence which allows him to check on the more protected species: “The licence is good because I can check the owl boxes to see if there has been any disturbance. We have recently installed a further five bird boxes which will hopefully attract more wildlife.”
Mark also explained why the rough areas are set free at Bamburgh: “They get cut twice a year and are raked out once a year. We have made it thin and wispy to cater for the wildlife more than the golfers.” Gareth also mentioned the benefits of the thin roughs: “Golfers were
having slower rounds as they were constantly looking for balls but, more importantly, Mark has really made a difference from a sustainability point of view. It’s just about changing your mindset to think more sustainably and how to recycle. For instance, we recently completed a log clear out and, instead of those going to waste, we used the big logs to build bug hotels which appear to be successful.”
The club have entered the Operation Pollinator awards for the last two years and Mark is hoping to see success in the future: “Last year we didn’t make it through, but the year before we made it to the finals. It would be nice to go one step further and think we could have success this year.” Good luck guys!