News from HQ

摘要

As I write this section at the end of November, a cold snap has developed which may of course create certain problems for greenkeepers and groundsmen but no doubt is a welcome change from the often extremely wet conditions experienced through much ofthe past few months, It has been interesting to note on the television that some of the Premier League soccer grounds which appeared to play extremely well over the past two or three quite dry winters are now not looking quite so good. I suspect that there are many groundsmen keeping their fingers crossed that the second half of the winter will be much drier. The wet autumn has however had another effect namely far more work the advisory and consultancy staff in evaluating drainage problems, I recentlymade a visit to some school playing fields where significant areas were unplayable and indeed likely to remain so through much of the winter unless there is a long drying period without rain, Whilst the wet school playing fields will no doubt need some additional drainage to enhance their performance, the visit illustrated one common failing that my colleagues and myself experience when investigating drainage and indeed other site problems - namely the lack of good drainage plans and other relevant information. With changing groundsmen and greenkeeping staff as well as changes of administrative staff in the Clubhouse etc. it is not uncommon for drainage plans or irrigation plans etc. to get lost'. Furthermore, additional drainage or irrigation extensions introduced over the years are very rarely accurately recorded on any initial drawings and this can create major headaches and a lot of extra work when one has to address unexplainable wet spots etc.