Silves Course Condition 8th September

A meeting with Pestana was held on Wenesday 6th September at Silves Golf Course to discuss the poor condition of the course and what actions were needed to be taken to rectify the situation.

Those who attended were:

Rui Gago - Director of Golf, Pestana

Miguel Grosso - Head Greenkeeper, Pestana

Elisabete Eugenio – Greenkeeper, Silves Golf

Steve Edwards - President, SdM GC (SE)

Euan Pyper - Vice Captain and Greens Committee, SdM GC (EP)

Although most of the damaged areas will recover within a reasonable time there are areas of concern and will take a prolonged period of repair and maintenance.

The points discussed were:

Major problem of holes developing in the semi rough, around the greens, bunkers and on parts of the fairways.
Wet grass cuttings on fairways being left to rot and compressed by machinery/buggy traffic causing the grass to rot and die.
Deep tyre marks (13th hole).
Weeds growing in bunkers.
Damage to the 14th green.

Off the course:

Broken cistern in Ladies toilet.
Faulty door handles on toilets beside 12th tee.
Installation of compressor and air gun.

After a lengthy discussion the following was agreed;

SE and EP would identify the areas of concern that need to be addressed as a priority and send these to Miguel Grosso. Action has now been taken following another inspection of the course. Plan views of all areas needing attention marked in red will be systematically treated, with priority being around the greens, bunkers and approaches to greens e.g. 18th hole. Semi rough damage will then follow with holes 2, 5 and 17 being the first to be addressed.
Pestana will repair fairway damage as part of routine maintenance.
Pestana have tried various chemicals to kill off the strong weed that is growing in some of the bunkers and have now found one that works and so hopefully a difference will be seen in a relative short space of time.
14th Green damage. This problem is not a disease but caused by a dog that belongs to the owner of the house at the back of the green, who apparently lets it play on the green after all the staff have gone home. The action to try and prevent this will be to stake out the area and cover with a net until the green is fully recovered. If the net is removed by the owner of the dog, Pestana will take legal action.

Other actions that Pestana have agreed to, starting on Monday 11th September.

An additional 5 green staff will be assigned to Silves Golf Course.
Extra turf, sand and seed is to be purchased.
Drainage pipes will be installed throughout the course.
New sprinklers will be added to the irrigation system targeting certain dry areas. With good drainage and targeted irrigation, much of the wet areas members endure will disappear.

Note to all members.

The growing period is from now until November which will limit what can be done. Growth then starts again in February.

The red areas around bunkers, greens and approaches are to be addressed as a priority starting at hole 1 (including the approach fringe to the front of 18) then hole 2 through to 18. Other areas in red alongside fairways will then start with holes 2, 5 and 17.