From the Greens Convenor

Members will have noticed improvement work on the 17th Green on Monday 19th July.
This work was partially based on recommendations contained in a report from Ronnie Lumsden (a course architect and agronomist). However, the fixtures calendar is demanding and will cause some disruption when we proceed with the maintenance work to the remaining greens. The following question and answer should inform the membership.

Q What did the greens staff do?
A Used the earthquake machine followed by Micro coring on the 17th with a sand and seed top dressing.

Q Why now?
A Some of the greens are not up to standard and required this work. Micro coring and over seeding in warmer weather ensures seed germination and a quick recovery. Ideally, this work should be programmed
annually into the work schedule in consultation with the match and handicap secretary. This will be planned for next year!

Q Is this the same sort or work that takes place at the end of September?
A No, the later work involves larger hollow coring to aerate the greens in preparation for the next season.

Q Will the rest be micro cored and top dressed this year?
A That is our intention but we have to work with an eye on the fixtures calendar to minimise any disruption to members and visitors. Weather permitting, work to the other greens will commence overnight on Sunday 19th September.

Q Will the greens improve next year?
A Yes, we are committed to a programme of continuous improvement.

Volunteer Power

Volunteers have come to the fore again this month.
Brian Candlish has used his professional skills to extend the club's IT infrastructure to install WiFi to the lower floor of the club. This means that we can now process handicap changes, competition entries and prize lists from a laptop in the lounge whilst a competition is in progress and the touch screen computer is in continual use by members. Brian also intends to rationalise the back office network which, as with most volunteer-led organisations IT, has grown like Topsy.
Willie Wallace, the club administrator is, sadly, on sick leave for the foreseeable future. Some of his job functions are being managed by Jim Littlejohn who is coming to terms with Fairway Credit and with the gents' locker allocations. Alex Anderson, the acting treasurer, is also utilising volunteers Russell Fleming and Alistair McCulloch to get to grips with some of the club‟s accounting and member history records.
Susan McKerracher has become involved in some of the club‟s efforts in marketing in order to raise the profile of the club externally and to enhance members experiences by arranging reciprocal agreements with other golf clubs.
Jim Currie is trying to recruit members of a match and handicap sub-committee with whom to share responsibility for the preparation, conduct and finalising of club and open competitions. Applicants please eMail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Two new members, Graham Struthers and Ben Edwards, have come forward as volunteers to assist in clubhouse related projects. Ben has been redecorating the Snooker room with help from a few others!! Please feel free to put your name behind the bar if you want to "slap some paint on". Many hands make light work! This will greatly improve the look of the snooker room and we may be able to organise a top class competition come the start of the winter season. Graham has started an appraisal of our energy bills and will be carrying out a full survey shortly, the purpose of which is to look at saving the club (members) up to 40% of the energy costs. This could lighten (ok, ok cheap pun) the load on our outgoings substantially for the foreseeable future. Two new members, two new projects underway!