What Makes Sa's Top Course?

You would find it rather hard to believe that the pristine layout of Leopard Creek Country Club, home to the Alfred Dunhill Championship, is in fact at its best in winter.

The greenkeeper himself, Derek Muggeridge, is the man who makes that claim, and he explains that the greens have been planted with grass which is more susceptible to cooler conditions.

“The greens here at Leopard Creek have been planted with Bent grass,” he said. “And this is due to most of the members playing the majority of their golf during the winter months here.”

So when you look at how green and lush the course is looking for this year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the European Tour, event, it certainly makes up for the daily hours that Muggeridge and his team put in.

“During tournaments we are up at five and finish well after the field at about seven in the evening,” he said.

“And during this time of the year we really have to nurse the greens, by scheduling the water sprayers carefully and keeping an eye out for heat-spots during play.”

Leopard Creek uses a sub-air system which drains water out of the greens by means of fans fitted to the drains. This is necessary for those days when it storms or during the rainy season. And for those mornings when dew covers the surfaces, the team has a roller fitted with a soft sponge to ensure there is no excess moisture at any time.

All-in-all this is just another day’s work for Muggeridge; however it is a graphic illustration of what it takes to be the number one in South Africa.

From: Sunshinetour.com