Golf News

MAY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE
'NEWS LETTER'
JULY 2010

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in May which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in June, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in July 2010.

JUNE COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti-draining has proceeded as per the schedule.

Desert Hard Pan

The program of removing undesirable plants near playing areas of the golf course has been completed on holes 3, 9, 13, & 18.

Fungicide Spraying

The preventative spray program was completed as per the schedule.

Hydro Jetting Greens

The greens were hydrojetted as per the schedule.

JULY COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Fungicide Spraying

The preventative fungicide spraying program of all grass areas will continue in July. This safeguard helps protect the course against strong summer turf grass diseases. Signs will be placed on fairway 1, green surround 1 and fairway 9, to remind all players that spraying is in progress. The reception staff will also advise players before play when spraying is in progress. Please remember to wash your hands after play.

Hand Watering

Throughout the summer months hand watering of greens and tees will take place. Please be advised that this is an essential part of summer maintenance. Hand watering cannot be stopped during play for this reason.

Putting Green Irrigation Changes

The existing irrigation layout for the Putting Green is unable to maintain uniform irrigation coverage for the greens surface, resulting in undesired dry patch areas. Changing of the current sprinkler head spacing will alleviate this problem. Machinery work will be carried out outside normal playing hours to help keep disruption to a minimum.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the remaining scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010

November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

Kind Regards		Kind Regards
Simon Coaker Director of Golf		Anthony Brooks Golf Course Superintendent

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Dear Member / Property Owner,

The current Desert Springs tournament calendar for 2010 had been designed by the Club and its elected officers to reflect the established pattern and frequency of visits to the Resort experienced during different periods over recent years and the degree of consistency of interest and support for the events demonstrated by our members and owners.

In their Committee meeting of the 8th April, the Club’s officers and officials agreed to consider the 2011 Tournament Calendar with the intention to encourage and foster a continuation of the support demonstrated to date by all concerned and to ensure the continued success and growth of the Club.

It is the intention and wish of the clubs’ committee and management to continue to raise the profile of the Club and encourage the support of Club tournaments by all golfers, both members of Desert Springs Golf Club and guests and visitors and to do this by providing a full, balanced and well organised calendar of events.

Therefore the 2011 calendar has been compiled to take account of those tournaments, which have proven to be well supported and to schedule the events for times of the year, when a high number of members are generally at the resort. Again this has been done in full consultation between the elected officers and the officials of the Club and following a review of the Tournament Calendar for 2009 and 2010 to date, including analysis of the events that were played, of when they were played and the number of entrants that competed.

You can download the agreed 2011 Desert Springs Golf Club Tournament Calendar from within ‘The Golfing Year’ section of our official website by clicking here.

We hope the schedule of events fits well with any travel arrangements you are planning to make for next year.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively whilst at the Resort, reading the notice boards in the locker rooms in the Clubhouse.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Desert Springs in the near future.

For further information contact: Club Captain Philip Lockyer
Email: goldenparkresort@googlemail.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1242 242 004

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in April which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in May, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in June 2010.

MAY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Hollow Coring Greens

Due to adverse turfgrass and climatic factors the greens were not hollow cored. Strong hot winds and high temperatures slowed the greens recovery rate after April’s hollow coring. It would have been counterproductive to have hollow cored the greens as per the schedule. The greens have now fully recovered from the April’s coring programme. The greens will be hydro jetted in June to compensate for the missed scheduled of coring the greens. There will be no long term detriment to the health or playability of the greens.

Hollow Coring Tees

As with the greens, it was not ideal to core the tees at the time.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti draining has proceeded as per the schedule.

Desert Hard Pan

The program of removing undesirable plants near playing areas has been completed on holes 4, 7, 10, & 11.

JUNE COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti draining the fairways will continue throughout June. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion.

Desert Hard Pan

As previously advised, after a very mild and wet winter, with, to date, two years of rain fall recorded since October 2009, the naturally occurring desert plants are now encroaching into the playing areas of the desert hardpan. We have begun the removal of these plants and shall continue through holes 9, 13, 3 & 18. Areas of the hardpan beyond that of the normal playing areas will be remain as natural areas.

Fungicide Spraying

The preventative fungicide spraying program of all grass areas will commence in June. This safeguard helps protect the course against strong summer turf grass diseases. Signs will be placed on fairway 1, green surround 1 and fairway 9 to remind all players that spraying is in progress. The reception staff will also advise players before play when spraying is in progress. Please remember to wash your hands after play.

Hydro Jet Greens

The greens will be aerified with the “Hydro Jet” machine. This system of aeration creates small pin sized air holes in the green by the use of high pressure water, reducing soil compaction and improving water movement throughout the soil profile. There will be no adverse effect to the quality of the green playing surface during this programme.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the remaining scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Desert Springs Academy Director and PGA Professional, Christine Langford, will host a series of clinics and tuition events at the Academy this summer. Beginning at the end of June through until the beginning of September, there will be a golf clinic and tuition session each morning from Monday – Saturday, starting early to take advantage of the cooler early mornings.

‘Beat the Heat’ is for golfers with some experience and involves a long game clinic with tuition on Monday morning from 08.30 hrs -10.00 hrs. For players wanting to concentrate on short game, the clinics will take place on Wednesday mornings. Each clinic will deal with a different area of long and short game techniques; a comprehensive fact sheet will accompany the series! The clinics are open to both male and female golfers with a handicap or golfing experience.

‘Get Into Golf’ on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 08.30 hrs - 10.00 hrs is for beginners and inexperienced players wishing to grasp the basics of the game – a great opportunity for any non golfers in the family to give it a try, clubs will be provided. Available for all the family, no age restrictions apply.

‘Junior Academy’ on Friday and Saturday mornings from 08.30 hrs - 10.00 hrs. Get them out of bed and on the range, a mix of instruction, practice and competition, suitable for young golfers with some experience aged 8 -18 years.

The cost for each clinic is 15 Euros, per person. Sign up for any combination of 6 sessions for you and your family and pay for 5 - just 75 Euros for 9 hours. Places at the clinics should be booked and paid for at golf reception by the previous day to allow us to prepare accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Desert Springs Golf Academy this summer.

For further information contact: Christine Langford
Email: cl@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 627 484 460

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in March which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in April, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in May 2010.

APRIL COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Cactus Removal Hole 7

Work to remove and strategically replant some of the Agave americana which, over time, have grown to such an extent that they have encroached upon the playability of the right hand side of the hole, has been completed.

Hollow Coring Greens

The greens have been hollow cored as per the schedule. This is an essential part of golf course maintenance that is carried out to both maintain and enhance the playing quality of the putting surfaces with which we are accustomed at The Indiana. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti draining has not been completed.

MAY COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Hollow Coring Greens

As previously advised, please be reminded that the greens will be hollowed cored on Thursday 20th & Friday 21st of May with small 6mm micro tines. The hollow coring of the greens is a practice which is scheduled each year to both maintain and enhance the playing quality of the putting surfaces with which we are accustomed at The Indiana. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

Hollow Coring Tees

The tees, like the greens, need to be hollow cored to help dilute thatch, reduce soil compaction and improve air and water movement throughout the soil profile. This management program will take one week to complete. During this time tee markers may be moved to adjacent teeing areas so that work can continue during busy golfing periods.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti draining the fairways will continue throughout May. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion.

Desert Hard Pan

After a very mild and wet winter, with, to date, two years of rain fall recorded since October 2009, the naturally occurring desert plants are now encroaching into the playing areas of the desert hardpan. These plants will be removed. Areas of the hardpan beyond that of the normal playing areas will be remain as natural areas.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the remaining scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

José Ignacio Olea, PGA Professional at the Desert Springs Golf Academy, will be hosting the first ‘Men’s Coffee Morning Group Golf Lesson’ at the Golf Academy on Friday 30th April from 10.00 hrs – 11.00 hrs.

Attendance to the coffee morning is open to all men, whether golfer or non-golfer, member or non-member and includes coffee and croissants/cakes upon arrival, one hours group tuition at the golf academy, with FREE use of academy range balls and golf clubs for only 10 Euros per person.

To register for the Men’s Coffee Morning simply speak with the golf reception staff at the Clubhouse when at the Resort or alternatively just turn up on the day and register.

José Ignacio Olea commented;

“The whole approach to the group lesson is relaxed and although the emphasis is on learning, fun is also high on the agenda! This is both a great way for non-golfers to be introduced to the game of golf and for experienced golfers to learn new skills that they can take to the course to improve their score. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for golfers to meet one another, possibly for the first time and develop friendships!”

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 670 613 900

The Handicap system introduced in May 2008 has now settled down and is generally accepted as a fairer method of managing handicaps for Spanish Federated Members, Non-Spanish Federated members and guests.

The system we are using is as follows:

1) For those members who have both a Spanish license and another official handicap in a different country, they will be asked to present at the beginning of the year a current handicap certificate to review and evaluate if any adjustment must be made. This player will play off the Official Spanish Federation Handicap.

2) For members and guests not affiliated to the Spanish Federation, they will be asked for an official handicap certificate every time they wish to enter a Desert Springs Club Competition. If the player records a round where the handicap is lowered, a downward adjustment will be applied. Subsequent rounds where there is an addition to the handicap can only take an adjustment back to a maximum of zero. In other words, a person not affiliated to the Spanish Federation will not play at a higher handicap than their handicap certificate states, but can play at a lower handicap if their scores allow for a handicap reduction.

An example:

This adjustment is the one that is updated after each tournament and posted on the club notice board and is added to the competitors club handicap.

The reason that we have to use this system is that there is no reciprocation between the Spanish Federation and other handicapping systems.

The system does favor, slightly, the Spanish Federated members and we do encourage all members to join the Spanish Federation.

Some benefits from joining the Spanish Federation are:

• Insurance on all golf courses in Spain.
• No need to present your handicap certificate on every competition.
• Handicap can go up and down.
• It is the committee’s policy to move towards a position where only Spanish Federation Handicaps are accepted for Club Competitions.

Reminders:

1) All Spanish Federated Members are requested to provide their Non-Spanish (if the have one) Handicap Certificate once a year – this is used, as stated above, to carry out a review to ensure that the two are kept reasonably in line, as appropriate.

Please submit your non-federated 2010 handicap certificate ASAP.

2) All Non-Spanish Federated Members are requested to produce their handicap certificate prior to entering a competition – we are now checking the handicap certificates of prize winners before awarding any prizes.

For further information contact: Paul Taylor -Handicap Committee
Email: paul.f.taylor@btinternet.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 7899 755 321

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in February which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in March, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in April 2010.

MARCH COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

4th Tee Complex - Irrigation Changes

The new irrigation system to the ladies tee has been completed. The ice plants that surround the tees had spread roots into the tee surface. These plants have been cut back and root pruned.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens were solid tined as per the maintenance schedule.

Verti Draining Fairways

Holes 4 and 7 have been completed.

Cactus Removal Hole 7

Work has commenced on the removal of the Agave americana which, over time, have grown to such an extent that they have encroached upon the playability of the right hand side of the hole. That which has been removed will be strategically replanted in a non playing area within the desert of the golf course.

APRIL COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Hollow coring greens

As previously advised, please be reminded that the greens will be hollowed cored on Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th April. The hollow coring of the greens is a practice which is scheduled each year to both maintain and enhance the playing quality of the putting surfaces with which we are accustomed at The Indiana. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti-draining the fairways will continue throughout April. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion.

Cactus Removal Hole 7

The Agave americana on the 7th Hole, in strategic places, will be removed to improve the playability of the hole and improve maintenance practices. During this time there will be machinery working along side the fairway. Disruption to play, as always, will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
April 26th & 27th
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Following on from its introduction during 2009, Desert Springs has secured the continuation of the reciprocal agreement over green fees with the Golf Clubs of Almeria. Valid from today through to 31st December 2010, Members of Desert Springs Golf Club will benefit from the following discounted green fee rates: -Alboran Golf Club 35€, Mundo Aguilón Golf Club 35€, Playa Serena Golf Club 35€, Valle del Este Golf Club 35€, Almerimar Golf Club 34€, Marina Golf Club 35€, La Envía Golf Club 30€, Playa Macenas Golf Club 35€ & El Cortijo Grande Golf Club 27€.

These privileged rates will always be subject to availability on the golf courses, and are strictly available on the basis that our members provide proof of membership at the time of registration at the respective Golf Clubs Golf Administration.

This proof must be in the form of the presentation of your Desert Springs Golf Club membership card accompanied by photographic evidence in the form of either a passport, residencia or driving license.

Further information on the Golf Clubs of Almeria can be found in the “Official Guide of Golf Clubs”, published by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation available in the Clubhouse.

Our golf reception staff will be happy to contact any of the golf clubs on your behalf and organise reservations for you.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Desert Springs is holding its sixth elections amongst members to choose a Vice-Captain and two members for each of the Club’s Handicap and Competitions Committees, for the period 1st April 2010 through to 31st March 2011. The closing date for all completed ‘Club Officials Election Nomination’ forms to be returned to the Club was 18.00 hrs, February 28th.

José Ignacio Olea, Golf Operations Manager commented,

“In accepting their nomination, these Nominees confirm their willingness to represent fellow members and to build upon the foundations created by previous Club Officials for the benefit of all. We would take this opportunity to encourage all members to show their confidence in them.”

Where a person has been nominated more than once, we have only listed one of the nominations.

The following persons have accepted their nomination and secondment to be put forward for election to the office of:

A ‘Desert Springs Golf Club Officials Vote Form’ identifying all those persons put forward for election to each position has been sent to all members. They are also available at the Clubhouse reception and an e-mail vote form has been posted on our website in the Owners section.

The qualification for voting is that all persons wishing to vote must be current members of the Desert Springs Golf Club. All completed voting forms must be returned to the Clubhouse reception at Desert Springs by 18.00 hrs on March 31st by hand, e-mail or fax, but preferably not by post in view of the vagaries experienced. Once validated, the votes submitted will be counted and the names of the successful candidates elected for office by the membership along with the number of votes received will be announced.

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  670 613 900