This week the team employed the help of Ken and Jacob Siems of Siems Turfgrass to Dryject the greens. Dryjecting is a process of high powered water injection that aerates the soil profile and simultaneously back fills the channels created with sand. The benefits of Dryject are the ability to target organic matter build up at specified depths, increased root zone oxygen diffusion and increased infiltration rates which in time should contribute towards firmer, healthier surfaces. The video below created by Assistant Greenkeeper Darren Burton gives a great insight into the process of Dryjecting t ..read more

The Club and Greenkeeping Department are delighted to welcome Lee Campany back to the role of Deputy Course Manager. Lee rejoins the team from Princes Golf Club where he held the position of Irrigation Technician. Lee is a fantastic addition to the team and I am sure everyone will join me in congratulating Lee and welcoming him back to the club. Lee Campany – Deputy Course Manager ..read more

For the second time this winter the team have focused their attention on refining the native rough areas. The prolonged dry spell at the beginning of the new year allowed for controlled burning of hard to reach areas. Controlled burning is carried out with approval from Natural England as part of the clubs land management plan. Michael McDonnell burning areas that can’t be maintained using machinery. Prior to the second round of flail mowing the team utilised a tractor mounted rake to stand up any dead, decaying plant material from the initial flail mowing procedure before Christmas. The tract ..read more

This week the Greenkeeping team welcomed a new course mascot into its ranks. Bryn Williams is the latest recruit and is settling in well. He already seems to have taken a shine to the halfway hut and hopefully everyone will have a chance to meet him out on the course soon. Bryn Williams ..read more

In recent weeks the Tees, Greens Surrounds, Flow Areas and Pathways have all been topdressed at a rate of 20 tonnes per hectare with native dune sand, that has been excavated and screened on site using the clubs new Herbst Screener. The photo below displays an aerial image of the 13th Green Surround following the application of sand.  13th Green Surround following topdressing. Topdressing is an essential cultural practice carried out to help dilute organic matter, which in turn helps to improve infiltration rates and root zone porosity. The benefits of healthier root zones in the lon ..read more

The club has appointed Ben Williams as its new Course Manager. Ben has been employed at the club for the last 4 ½ years where he started as an Assistant Greenkeeper, gaining promotion to First Assistant Greenkeeper and then onto Deputy Course Manager. Ben was successful following a lengthy interview process and is looking forward to building upon the excellent work of James Bledge previously.   Ben Williams. Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club Course Manager ..read more

Royal Cinque Ports Course & Estates Manager James Bledge spent his last day at the club today before taking up the position of Links Manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. James has spent the last nine years at the club, the first two as Deputy Course Manager, the next five years as Course Manager and the last two years as Course & Estates Manager.  James Bledge and Stevie Bledge. In this time, James has transformed the golf course culminating in the course entering Top100golfcourses.com World Top 100 at number 95. James’ list of achievements at the club are endless and it is with ..read more

easel-displays-putting-green-v4Download Work commences next week on the new putting green, please click on the link to see an explanation of the works ..read more

It’s been 9 years since the greenkeeping team embarked on a journey to improve the native long roughs, the start of which was logged in only the 3rd ever blog post. A link to the beginning of the journey is below. https://royalcinqueports.wordpress.com/2012/10/ 9 years and 427 blog posts later the benefits of the native long rough management plan are clear to see. A combination of flail mowing, graminicide applications, raking and controlled burning has resulted in the removal of a large percentage of rank, lush grassland. The thinning of these areas over time has improved species composition ..read more

Everyone at the club is extremely proud of Golf Course and Estates Manager James Bledge’s recent success in the Excellence in Communications Awards. The British International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) run the award alongside partner sponsor Campey Turfcare Systems. The award is presented to individuals who have promoted the work of greenkeepers and highlighted current discussion topics in greenkeeping, through submitted Greenkeeper International articles. James was presented with the award recently at BIGGA’s summer Festival of Turf event. BIGGA’s news article about the Excellen ..read more