Huyton & Prescot Golf Club.

Winter Course Protection

A.CONSIDINE : GREENS CHAIRMAN WINTER 2010/2011

Course Closure Policy

Casual water???
Members,
As you are aware, we are entering
the Close season, and being a park-
land Course, we are vulnerable to
poor weather and heavy usage. I
think you’re also aware, but if not
I’ll state it again, we intend to have
no signs, ropes, hoops, or restric-
tions through the competition sea-
son, but that has to change
through the Winter months.
When Richard & the staff see signs
of wear and tear, or it is an histori-
cally vulnerable area, we will rope
it off, or set up hoops, with accom-
panying signs to try to protect ar-
eas and spread the load. I have
asked him to be imaginative, and
occasionally direct you away from
obvious areas, like the entrance
to the Greenside path on the 15th,
but golfers are stubborn creatures
and will always try to opt for the
shortest route.
Amongst all these strategies, is
the policy for closing the Course.
If exceptionally poor weather has
created a situation, where in
Richard’s opinion, the Course is
unplayable, or being unduly dam-
aged, he will close the Course.
This can frustrate the odd Mem-
ber who thinks the 1st tee and
18th green doesn’t look too bad,
but remember Richard checks
the whole Course.
If it is a real borderline decision,
we would always try to open the
Course at the weekend, to cater
for the majority of Members, al-
though in reality that very rarely
happens.
I’ve mention ‘partial closures/
restrictions below, but I would
ask that Members use restraint
when wanting to question the
Course Closure policy. The Pro-
fessional and Chairman of Greens
are the only persons allowed to
question Richard on his Closure
decision at the time it has hap-
pened. Members should ap-
proach these two people to ask
questions or politely vent their
frustration. Members knocking
on Richards door will .
It may be difficult, on a wet, icy,
miserable January morning, when
you’re trudging through the mud
and puddles, to remember that
August afternoon, when you are
having a ball and proud of your
Course, but the two are linked,
and we would ask for your toler-
ance & patience.

Partial Closure’s, Trolleys & Sit-ons.

I hope you have time to avail your-
self of the EGU Study on Course
damage, that is situated in the
folder nearby. One couldn’t get
away from the obvious damage
caused by electric trolleys, and in
particular sit-ons. The one that
usually causes a fuss is the ban on
Sit-ons.
Yet there is also the DDA
(Disability legislation), and how
this impacts on decisions. Thank-
fully, in my opinion, it still allows
for common sense. You cannot,
and quite rightly, impose blanket
bans on sit-ons, because they
cause the most damage.
Yet when the weather and general
Course usage, has created a following morning. Misuse and
situation where sit-on damage inconsiderate riding would
would be most acute, and by probably result in more closures.
banning sit-ons would allow the
Hopefully by working together,
Course to be opened to others,
we can limit the disruption to as
we will ban sit-ons for that day.
little as possible.
To put things in perspective, that
Happy Winter Golfing!
happened on 5-7 individual days
last Winter. We consider that an
fair and proportionate response.
We would also ask the sit-on
community to stay in the rough
during wet or adverse weather. Of
course that does not mean you
cannot cross fairways and the
like, but because of their nature,
the Greenstaff are able to see
exactly where they have been the