Short post to inform you that John Murray is resuming the Tuesday Senior morning classes this Autumn from Tuesday 3rd November.

Limited to 4 golfers per hour in two sessions from 10am and 11am.

Cost of the class is £15 which includes 100 range balls.

Please phone 0131 663 8038 to book a place or reserve your name for future classes.

• Visiting the Melville practice range doesn’t require booking
• Sorry no toilets or club hire
• Shop closed, takeaway drinks & sweets
• Putting green still closed until guidelines advise otherwise
• Walk the Line! – enter and exit the golf range in single file
• Payments preferably contactless
• Extra Marshaling on the bays

We are striving to provide a safe and enjoyable environment to practice.

I thought I would give you an update on the greens.

As you are all probably aware the greens have suffered this year due to lack of maintenance throughout the spring , lockdown (COVID-19) and staff being furloughed.

The greens on the golf course have suffered this year due to coming out of an extremely wet winter and having extreme heats over the lockdown period. With the irrigation system not working on hole no.2 and hole no.8 they have suffered from severe dry patch. Basidiomycete (superficial fairy rings) have also developed due to no Symbio products (compost teas) and bio stimulants  being applied since last November and have left the greens unsightly and has affected ball roll.

Going forward we have had Turf Irrigation Services  (TIS)  in to service the system and have replaced decoders and solonoids, installed some new sprinkler heads on the 2nd green, 6th green and 7th green and we have replaced all  the sprinkler heads on the 3rd tees to give more coverage. We will continue to keep replacing the sprinkler heads over the next year to a more reliable unit as the current sprinkler heads are not reliable due to there age.

I have also been seeking advice from Symbio and we have had soil samples taken for analysis which I will share when results are in.

We have also been advised to double our wetting agent inputs and instead of a cheap budget wetter we are now using a better quality product which will enable moisture to flow through the soil profile and will allow beneficial soil moisture to be retained. Whilst we are working this into the soil profile we have to irrigate for longer periods and the greens will appear wet and soft over the next few weeks.

Due to lockdown and most companies closed for business our first application of compost teas and bio stimulants were not applied until mid June we are now doubling up our inputs over the next few months  to allow more microbes in to the thatch layer in a short space of time. This will help to break down the thatch layer encourage deeper rooting which will also increase nutrient and water uptake as well as improving the soil profile.

The greens have been micro tined fortnightly to allow better penetration of water and air and we are applying liquid aeration after tining. We have been advised to increase the height of cut to 6mm to take the stress out of the plant and will also help with seed germination after over-seeding.

Next week we are continuing with our very late spring maintenance! Apologies in advance for any disruption in play.
Monday- Light verti cut and micro tined to create seed pockets.
Tuesday – Wetting agent applied and watered in to the soil profile.
Wednesday / Thursday – Over-seeding worn areas and sand top dressing , worked into the surface this will help level out the greens and will help with smoothing the surface and also seed germination.
Friday – brushed into surface.

I hope this has given you some information on what has happened to the greens over the spring and what we are planning in the next few months to improve the putting surfaces.

We are reopening Melville Golf Centre .

For visitors to the golf course 24 hour bookings for tee-offs can be made from 10am on Thursday 28th  Call 0131 654 0224. Tee-offs are open from 0730am on Friday 29th.

Guidelines will be further explained when you make your booking. Tee-offs limited to 2 golfers (3 for one household) and we require email details for contact tracking purposes. Greens will be cut to 6mm.

Anyone arriving without booking in advance will not be permitted onto the golf course. Members of the Golf Club have a 7 day booking window

Everything subject to change to follow government announcements.

Visiting the practice range doesn’t require booking.

• No toilets or drinks available.
• Shop closed, outdoor only.
• Golfers in one car with one other guest from the same household.
• Putting green is closed.
• Enter and exit the golf range in single file
• Bacterial spray provided  to clean basket handles before use at the range ball machine
• Strictly a maximum of 1 person per Range Bay. Sharing of Range Bays is not permitted
• All customers expected to adhere to our safety guidelines safety guidelines.
• Anyone found not to be adhering to these guidelines will be asked to leave.
• For the foreseeable future, we no longer accept cash. Card Payments Only! Preferably contactless.

We would like to reiterate that all government guidelines are being followed and we are striving to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for you to get back playing golf.

CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 ADVISORY

As a sporting venue, Melville Golf Centre take health issues seriously and as a Board we wish to let you know that we are monitoring the advice given with regard to the containment of Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Latest information can be found on the link:-

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

Both the range and course will remain open and we have no plans to cancel any of our activities at this point in time inline with current Government advice. We will continue to monitor all available information and act accordingly.

Golf is a great sport for people to get out, exercise and enjoy fresh air. However, we would ask all members and visitors to follow the guidelines set out by the NHS and the Government.

• Wash hands well and regularly with soap and water
• Cover mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and dispose of used tissues safely
• Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are not clean
• Do not kiss or shake hands unnecessarily
• Do not come to the Golf centre if you have any of the symptoms; a fever, a cough or breathing difficulties and please refer to NHS guidance

There is extra hand wipes, club wipes and sanitisers available. Both drinks and food are to be consumed outside the premises.

Thanking you for your cooperation-please enjoy your golf practice facilities that we provide.