Greenkeeper's Update
January & February 2026
Dear Members,
With the season now fast approaching, I'd like to share a combined update covering January and February. Both months brought their own challenges, but we've made excellent progress and we're in a strong position as we build towards the season opener on Friday, 4th April.
January – Frost, Trees, and Getting Ahead
January kicked off with some seriously hard frosts, with freezing conditions reaching more than eight inches into the ground. With the course largely unplayable for maintenance, we made the most of the time by pressing ahead with essential tree work, clearing dead and broken trees and branches, as well as trees affected by ash dieback.
Despite the difficult conditions, we achieved a great deal:
• Tackled worm casts across the course using our new Flicker brush, which performed well once conditions dried sufficiently
• Cut the winter greens, most of the fairways, and a good portion of the rough during the drier spells
• Completed sanding of all tees and verti-drained the approaches - these will receive a further sand application when conditions allow
• Began preparations for the new season, with tee markers being prepared and in-house machinery maintenance now underway
• Progressed the greens verti-draining programme - completed by the end of the month, weather permitting
• The drainage work on the 16th hole, paused due to frozen ground, was lined up to resume in February
A big thank you to our volunteers, who've been busy raking the spinneys and clearing secondary growth from trees around the course throughout January. Your help makes a real difference.
A Word on Frost Damage
We noticed some frost damage on the putting green and the 18th green during January. This happens when members walk on greens that are still frozen. They don't always look frozen, so it's easy to misjudge. Please be reassured that if greens are fit for play, they will be open. There's no need to check for yourself, and walking on frozen surfaces can cause lasting damage to the turf. Thank you for your understanding.
February – Washout, but Progress Behind the Scenes
February was, frankly, a bit of a washout. Heavy rainfall and numerous course closures significantly limited what we could do outdoors. That said, the team kept busy and made good use of the time in other ways:
• All in-house equipment servicing is now fully complete. Everything is ready for the season ahead
• New tee markers have been prepared and painted
• Ongoing clearance of leaves and debris around the spinneys, and continued removal of dead ash trees on the bottom side of the course
• All greens have received their first granular feed of the year which is a positive step forward for the turf heading into spring
• Our volunteers have almost completed raking the spinneys and are looking forward to starting work on tidying the avenue between the 3rd and 4th holes
Looking Ahead to the Season
With April 4th fast approaching, our attention is turning firmly towards season preparation. Over the coming weeks, conditions permitting, we plan to:
• Begin bunker edging, raking, and sand redistribution across the course
• Tackle the stump grinding from the winter tree removal programme
• Verti-cut and pencil tine the greens, followed by top dressing and brushing
• Apply feed to the greens as growth conditions improve
We're in a considerably better position than at the same point last year, when the 2025 season didn't get underway until late April due to extreme weather. The winter work - tree clearance, tee sanding, verti-draining, equipment servicing, and greens feeding — puts us in great shape to hit the ground running.
As always, the goal remains clear: to make Wishaw Golf Club the finest course in Lanarkshire. We're looking forward to the season ahead and to welcoming you all back out on the course.
Join Our Volunteer Team
Our volunteer team continues to make a huge difference to the course. If you can spare a few hours, we meet regularly on Mondays from 8:30 AM — but any day that suits you works just as well. Give as much or as little time as you can; it all helps.
Please contact the club office if you're interested.
Best regards,
Gerry Bradley
Head Greenkeeper, Wishaw Golf Club
With the season now fast approaching, I'd like to share a combined update covering January and February. Both months brought their own challenges, but we've made excellent progress and we're in a strong position as we build towards the season opener on Friday, 4th April.
January – Frost, Trees, and Getting Ahead
January kicked off with some seriously hard frosts, with freezing conditions reaching more than eight inches into the ground. With the course largely unplayable for maintenance, we made the most of the time by pressing ahead with essential tree work, clearing dead and broken trees and branches, as well as trees affected by ash dieback.
Despite the difficult conditions, we achieved a great deal:
• Tackled worm casts across the course using our new Flicker brush, which performed well once conditions dried sufficiently
• Cut the winter greens, most of the fairways, and a good portion of the rough during the drier spells
• Completed sanding of all tees and verti-drained the approaches - these will receive a further sand application when conditions allow
• Began preparations for the new season, with tee markers being prepared and in-house machinery maintenance now underway
• Progressed the greens verti-draining programme - completed by the end of the month, weather permitting
• The drainage work on the 16th hole, paused due to frozen ground, was lined up to resume in February
A big thank you to our volunteers, who've been busy raking the spinneys and clearing secondary growth from trees around the course throughout January. Your help makes a real difference.
A Word on Frost Damage
We noticed some frost damage on the putting green and the 18th green during January. This happens when members walk on greens that are still frozen. They don't always look frozen, so it's easy to misjudge. Please be reassured that if greens are fit for play, they will be open. There's no need to check for yourself, and walking on frozen surfaces can cause lasting damage to the turf. Thank you for your understanding.
February – Washout, but Progress Behind the Scenes
February was, frankly, a bit of a washout. Heavy rainfall and numerous course closures significantly limited what we could do outdoors. That said, the team kept busy and made good use of the time in other ways:
• All in-house equipment servicing is now fully complete. Everything is ready for the season ahead
• New tee markers have been prepared and painted
• Ongoing clearance of leaves and debris around the spinneys, and continued removal of dead ash trees on the bottom side of the course
• All greens have received their first granular feed of the year which is a positive step forward for the turf heading into spring
• Our volunteers have almost completed raking the spinneys and are looking forward to starting work on tidying the avenue between the 3rd and 4th holes
Looking Ahead to the Season
With April 4th fast approaching, our attention is turning firmly towards season preparation. Over the coming weeks, conditions permitting, we plan to:
• Begin bunker edging, raking, and sand redistribution across the course
• Tackle the stump grinding from the winter tree removal programme
• Verti-cut and pencil tine the greens, followed by top dressing and brushing
• Apply feed to the greens as growth conditions improve
We're in a considerably better position than at the same point last year, when the 2025 season didn't get underway until late April due to extreme weather. The winter work - tree clearance, tee sanding, verti-draining, equipment servicing, and greens feeding — puts us in great shape to hit the ground running.
As always, the goal remains clear: to make Wishaw Golf Club the finest course in Lanarkshire. We're looking forward to the season ahead and to welcoming you all back out on the course.
Join Our Volunteer Team
Our volunteer team continues to make a huge difference to the course. If you can spare a few hours, we meet regularly on Mondays from 8:30 AM — but any day that suits you works just as well. Give as much or as little time as you can; it all helps.
Please contact the club office if you're interested.
Best regards,
Gerry Bradley
Head Greenkeeper, Wishaw Golf Club