Course Update: Drainage Works on the 13th and 6th Holes

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This week we undertook a series of drainage improvements on the 13th and 6th holes.

Historic drainage, installed some 40–50 years ago, was spaced approximately 15 metres apart. The clay pot shown in the picture dates from this period. While the original drains remain in reasonable condition, the spacing between them is now insufficient to cope with current conditions.

Exploratory digging revealed very few blocked drains — a positive sign — yet the area still becomes very damp during the winter. The growth and maturity of the trees in the copse to the right of the fairway are likely contributing to this issue.

On the corner of the 13th fairway, where waterlogging has been increasingly evident over the past few years, we have installed seven new drainage lines, each upto 10 metres long. These run along the natural fall of the land towards the main drain, which continues down the fairway and into the ditch running parallel to the 14th.

As shown in the photographs, this part of the course is not blessed with ideal soil conditions. Around one foot of topsoil sits above a dense clay layer, which remains remarkably firm even after the recent rainfall.

While we have the digger on site, we are also installing additional drainage lines in front of the 13th tee — another area prone to winter wetness — and to the short-left area of the 6th green. These additions should further improve surface conditions.

The drainage work completed a few years ago on the 3rd fairway greatly improved playability, especially during the winter months when the corner of the fairway was previously prone to closure. We are confident that the current projects will deliver similar benefits to the 13th and 6th holes.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during the temporary closure of these holes, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this work in the months ahead