WEED CONTROL
horndon Park Golf
T
Club rests within a 240-acre woodland conservation site , partly landscaped by Capability Brown and lying just 10 minutes drive from the M25 .
The only Essex entry in England ’ s Top 100 league , the 18-hole parkland course is crowned by the magnificent Palladian Thorndon Hall - the former clubhouse before a replacement opened in the 1970s after the building was redeveloped as private apartments .
Head greenkeeper David Byron and his nine-strong team have to pit their wits against heavy London clay soil but results speak for themselves , given their lofty ranking .
Keeping unwanted growth under control is a year-round operation , he explains . “ We spray everything , from bracken , bramble and understorey scrub to path , drives and the clubhouse patio .”
Knapsacks come in for some heavy work rotas , with the team totalling three to four weeks cumulatively on the various spraying tasks vital for premier presentation and playability . “ Pathways and the main drive alone can take a whole week to treat ,” David reports .
Weed treatment is a key element of the spraying programme , helping the team rid the 74 bunkers of moss build-up and Poa growth ,” he explains , adding : “ We ’ ve future-proofed our greenside bunkers with rubber crumb Pro Fusion and blinder liners to prevent flood washouts . Fairway bunkers are our next job .”
The 15l and 20l Cooper Pegler knapsacks have been a constant at Thorndon Park for at least 15 years and have rarely needed replacing , thanks to David ’ s insistence on pre- and post-season maintenance checks and regular upkeep to replace parts .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March 2022 27