A tempestuous Valentine's night-the gale force winds and High Post's trees have a falling out!!!

Several of the course's evergreen trees, the alien pines and conifers, succumbed to the stormy weather on Valentine's night.
Although the initial impression is one of destruction, there is an upside to this...

These trees are not indigenous to the course and, as such, are not to be lamented-rather it is an opportunity to accelerate the under-planting policy by planting native species like ash, beech or possibly juniper.

A parting of the ways on the 13th.......

That must've made a sound?

One of the pines on the 18th tee resulting in the yellow tee being out of play!

Left of 16th fairway, the 2 larger trees causing the smaller one to come to earth.

There were several other casualties of the storm. The lleylandii situated on the 'garden' that leads to the practice area have had to be felled due to their roots having heaved from the previous storm, several of the lleylandii that act as a barrier twixt the 1st tee and the road have either come down of their own accord or had to be felled for the same heaving problem and a few hawthorn bushes in various locations have fallen.

The left of the 1st will have to be assessed as to whether similar trees should be planted to maintain the safety of users of the A345.









The 'barrier' as it now stands...

Although alien to the course and going against the course policy of only planting indigenous species, the Leylandii that are to be planted to restore the safety of road users,

6th February 2014

Another victim of the recent storm force winds, the aging hawthorn at the rear of the 9th green.

It's replacement, a 10 or so year old yew tree found struggling to compete with both a larger nearby specimen and the invasive hawthorn scrub just in front of the 14th tee.

High Post's fauna and flora

Here at High Post we are very privileged to have an environment that plays host to a varied and sometimes rare wildlife.

Although the primary purpose is obviously the playing of golf, we nevertheless are custodians of this downland tract of land and maintaining the ecologically sensitive landscape is a priority.

 

 

 

This post in the blog will feature both the flora and fauna we have and what we are doing to protect it and how to encourage it...

 

 

 

 

The iconic and symbolic hare.......

....getting themselves a little confused by the unseasonably warm conditions!!

Here seen indulging in their mating ritual, or 'boxing'

Our 'resident' photographer, Paul, eventually managed to track down our most recent visitor to the course and managed to take this splendid shot of a Muntjac deer.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The famous squall of the 25th January 2014!

A rather tempestuous evening resulted in several pine trees submitting to the high winds.

The 13th white tee where the large pine also took out one of the smaller ones on the opposite side.









In line with course policy these will be replaced with an indigenous species, as will the four that succumbed to the wind on the left of the 1st.

14th January 2014

Bunker renovation on the 4th.

The cross-bunker on the 4th, being the most 'popular' on the course, is in much need of renovation. The work undertaken will involve grading of the front face to a more acceptable incline and a minor reshaping of the bunker itself to accommodate the aforementioned.
This will result in a less penalising bunker shot and a more aesthetic appearance.

The Eiger-esque face of the bunker!!

The first stage, removal of sand, completed.






Phase 2 almost completed...

The removal of the excess sand/soil has highlighted an interesting shaping of the bunker. It has revealed the position where two bunkers originally lay.

The removal of further soil from the bank to necessitate a single bunker would result in a slope that would be too shallow and would detract from the bunker being the hazard that it should be.

The plan now is to reinstate the original two bunkers and to have a ridge running between them. This will be a continuation of the front face toward the centre meaning that any ball running up the middle would still find it's way into the sand.

The result will be that the hazard will be more in keeping with the traditional bunker style and more aesthetically appealing whilst still maintaining the current playability of the hole... no advantage will be gained by it not being a large, single bunker.

Landscaping complete.

Just needs a couple of weeks to settle and then, after a final rake over, the turf will be laid.

7th January 2014

more aeration.

This time with the shallower tines of the Procore....

.....and the green returned to a playable condition by rolling with a pedestrian mower!

Monday 6th January 2013

Not directly related to greenkeeping but I thought my invitation to play in Peter Hickling's 10th anniversary scramble worthy of a mention...

Despite the efforts of my team, (many thanks to Bryan and Ted for carrying me!!) in pushing the man of the day down into 3rd position, it was felt that my presence was most welcome!

I'd like to thank Peter for inviting me to play as it was a good opportunity for me to see the course through a golfer's perspective-this I feel is quite important as, not only does it cement relations between the members and the greenstaff, it also creates an opportunity for both sides to see the other's viewpoints and raises topics that may otherwise go unseen or unheard.