Drax Golf Club Winter Course Development Programme: Preparing for a Stronger 2027

As we move into autumn, our Head Greenkeeper Mark Sneap and the Greens Team are beginning an extensive programme of winter maintenance and course development at Drax Golf Club.

Following a meeting with Mark and a subsequent presentation to the committee, a number of projects have been identified to improve the condition, drainage, playability and long-term resilience of the course.

The programme will be guided by weather and ground conditions, with work carried out whenever conditions allow. Some projects will take place over the coming weeks, while others will be developed further as part of our longer-term course improvement plans.

Preparing the tees for 2027

One of the main priorities this winter will be improving the condition of our tees following a particularly hot summer.

The 16th general play and medal tees will be stripped of their existing turf, levelled with topsoil and re-turfed. Once completed, the area will be allowed to settle before being regularly monitored and, where necessary, remedial work carried out.

The aim is to have the 16th tees in excellent condition and ready for the start of the 2027 season.

Work will also continue on the 14th tee. Having been introduced for the 2026 season, the tee has been affected by the challenging summer conditions but is now beginning to show encouraging growth. The plan is to topsoil and re-seed the area, with progress carefully monitored over the winter. If growth continues as hoped, re-turfing should not be necessary.

With the arrival of new machinery expected shortly, the remaining tees will also receive attention. They will be scarified, seeded and fertilised, with topsoil added where required.

These improvements will give the tees an opportunity to recover over the winter and should leave them in a much stronger position heading into 2027.

Winter tees from October

To allow this essential work to take place, Drax Golf Club will move onto winter tees from Thursday 1 October.

This is an important part of the winter maintenance programme and will allow the main tees to rest while improvement work is undertaken.

We appreciate members' understanding while this work takes place. The short-term changes are designed to protect and improve the course for the seasons ahead.

Improving drainage on the 5th hole

Drainage will also be a major focus of this winter's programme.

The irrigation company is due to attend to locate and repair the damaged cable on the 5th hole. Once its position has been established, the Greens Team will be able to determine the best solution for improving drainage in the area.

Options currently being considered include removing the bunker on the left-hand side and creating a pond, with drainage directed into it to help dry the surrounding area.

An alternative approach would involve creating a ditch, installing additional drainage and reshaping the bunker.

The bunker on the right-hand side is also planned for reshaping as part of any wider work undertaken on the hole.

Repairing drainage scars on the 7th

The 7th hole will also benefit from improvement work following previous drainage projects.

The drainage runs across the fairway will be levelled with topsoil and re-seeded, helping to repair the scars left by the earlier work and gradually return the area to a more natural and consistent playing surface.

A major bunker project on the 8th

The bunkers on the 8th hole are another key area identified for improvement.

The current proposal is to undertake a significant refurbishment of the bunkers, including reshaping the existing features, extending mounds and creating new run-off areas.

Further work is also being considered around the front of the green, potentially creating a new sunken bunker and reshaping the surrounding area.

Because this is a more substantial project, the Greens Team will look at the best way to maintain access to the hole while the work is undertaken. This could include the introduction of a temporary green at suitable times, or temporarily routing play from the 7th green directly to the 9th tee while the project is completed.

Further details will be shared once the plans are finalised.

Managing water on the 9th

Water management is another priority on the 9th hole.

Approximately 20 yards to the left of the green, an open drainage ditch is being considered to relieve water pressure in the area.

The proposed drainage would run alongside the practice area for approximately 40 yards before connecting with existing drainage further towards the boundary and directing water into the surrounding tree area.

This work forms part of the wider approach to improving the course's drainage and resilience during periods of wet weather.

Keeping our greens in the best possible condition

The main greens have already received significant autumn maintenance, including scarifying and top dressing, and further work is planned throughout the winter.

Our intention is to keep the main greens in play for as long as ground and weather conditions allow.

The Greens Team will continue to monitor conditions closely, with any move to winter greens made only when necessary to protect the playing surfaces.

Our winter greens will also receive attention. With the new machinery arriving, they will be verti-drained, sanded and seeded where appropriate and marked as GUR ready for use if conditions require them.

While winter greens cannot be expected to match the quality of the main greens, maintaining them properly gives us a reliable alternative during periods of poor weather and, importantly, allows the main greens to recover when conditions are particularly challenging.

Looking beyond winter: a five-year course development plan

The work taking place this winter is part of a much bigger picture for Drax Golf Club.

Mark will be undertaking a course walk with the Greens Committee and any members who wish to participate, with the aim of developing the club's next five-year course development plan.

The course walk will help identify future projects, priorities and areas requiring investment, creating a clear long-term roadmap for the continued development of Drax.

Further information, including the date of the course walk, will be shared with members once arrangements have been confirmed.

Building a better Drax for 2027 and beyond

Winter is an important time at any golf club. While some of the work may mean temporary changes to the way we play the course, it provides a vital opportunity for the Greens Team to address areas that need attention and invest in the condition and resilience of the course.

From improving our tees and drainage to refurbishing bunkers and carefully managing our greens, the programme has one clear objective: to continue improving Drax Golf Club for our members and visitors.

A huge thank you goes to Mark, Lee and our army of volunteers for the work they continue to put into the course throughout the year.

We will share further updates as the winter programme progresses.