A mixed bag weather wise, has not stopped the courses suddenly changing almost overnight.  One day the course is still in winter mode, the next day, verdant fairways and thick rough.  We have been out cutting some fairways with tees mowers just to remove some thick course growth and this will help tighten up the sward.
 All ditches,ponds and tree bases have been strimmed and flailed in the last week, this is a monthly job in the growing season and always helps define the golf course.  As you can see from the picture, something we try hard to achieve is the balance between uncut (conservation rough) and in play areas.  Most pond and ditches on the courses have one clean side to help ball retrieval and one unkempt side to encourage wildlife to move through these areas.  During the last winter we spent a lot of time cleaning and maintaining ditches and having one clear side helps with access in the winter months.  

 This week on both courses we will be verti-cutting greens, Priors is being solid-tined on Monday/Tuesday and then heavily dressed, Abbotts will receive a slightly lighter dressing with no tining.  Seedheads are slowly disappearing on the greens and this verti-cut should remove a good deal more.

 Uncut rough on the Abbotts has now thickened up, giving us a better idea of the areas that need cutting so we will be out this week with the mower.  As always it is a balance between how the course looks and how it plays and if we can get through the next month with most of the long grass we will see the lovely seedhead topped thin rough blowing in the wind.