MAINTAINING OUR COURSE
CARING FOR THE COURSE WHILST PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Thanks to our team of ten greens staff, led by our Course Manager Andrew Kerr (MG) and his deputy Matt Kent, our golf course is maintained to be in prime condition. Our dedicated team now carry out the great majority of our course development work in-house, to ensure we also comply with our environmental and ecology policy.
ANDREW KERR MG
COURSE MANAGER
Andrew is a Master Greenkeeper – an award granted by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and is also on the professional BASIS register. With over 25 years of experience and an agricultural background, Andrew has a wide ranging knowledge of agronomy, nature and the environment.
DEVELOPMENTS
ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS
The Surrey course, with its challenging fairways and undulating greens, has been substantially upgraded in recent years. On-going investment has seen improvements to most holes with new drainage, new tees, upgraded bunkers and in the past year, hole extensions.
OUR NEW AWARD-WINNING 14TH HOLE
A 70-yard extension to our 14th hole, involving the creation of two new tees, has resulted in a truly iconic Par 5 of some 570 yards. This project won 2nd place in the annual BIGGA awards for greenkeeping project of the year
OTHER RECENT PROJECTS
A network of pathways has significantly improved playing opportunities in the winter and protected the playing surfaces all year round.
The creation of a new short game practice area in the centre of the course has greatly improved facilities for practice and instruction.
New tees with easier access have created an excellent all-year platform.
FUTURE PROJECTS
The Greens Committee have a rolling 5-year development plan for strengthening and improving our Surrey course while being sensitive to the surrounding flora and fauna. We are taking inspiration from our past to see where we can create even more challenging course layouts for the future.
CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
Surbiton Golf Club is committed to improving all aspects of conservation, environmental protection and ecology on its land. We have an environmental and ecology policy to help guide the management of the course and these polices have been created to ensure that we look after the Surrey woodlands, soft landscape and wildlife areas, as well as we look after the playing surfaces.
However, this is not only an issue of social responsibility; we believe that existing and potential members appreciate the concern for the environment and the additional benefit of playing in these beautiful surroundings. It is therefore, an integral and forward-looking part of our planning and not just something we do when regulations require us to act.
PLANT AND ANIMAL WELFARE
Our Club is determined to maintain and encourage all aspects of plant and animal welfare on the course. The removal of less beneficial woodland and replacing with native species of trees is underway. Animal and bird life is encouraged and protected by creating natural areas around the course. As a result:
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Deer are once again breeding on the course
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Owls have reappeared
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Protected areas have been established for badgers
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Bat houses have been introduced at appropriate points
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Starling ‘hotels’ and other bird boxes have been installed to encourage breeding
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Bee hives have been installed and the honey is sold through the club
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Log piles to provide habitats for the smaller species