By Matthew Beedle
Yorkshire Voice recently reported that Pontefract and District Golf Club were hoping to beat the deadline they had set themselves to get their course into good condition and also with full playing tees.
Just over a week ago, the club only had 12 holes open with four of those still on winter greens.
Remarkably, Pontefract held its first weekly Wednesday competition of the year, with all greens and tees up to standard.
The turnaround is largely thanks to new head green keeper Gary Anderson, who is highly regarded by manager Malcolm Huddlestone and members of the club.
Huddlestone said: “Considering he has a blank canvas in front of him, no disrespect to our previous head green keeper, but he’s certainly had some favourable comments from members so far.”
Fairways getting in to shape after a good cut, getting that summer feeling☀️🏌🏻 pic.twitter.com/ePumlrdq8d
— Pontefract Golf (@PontefractGolf) March 24, 2017
Assistant professional Steve Clancy, who is shortly moving to Ashbourne Golf Club, was impressed by Anderson’s goal of making the greens at the club quicker than they have been over the previous years.
Clancy said: “I spoke to Gary and he is hoping to get the greens running at 10 or 11 on the stimpmeter. To put that into context, that’s roughly how quick the greens on the PGA Tour averagely run at.”
This comes at a good time as the club will now be looking to turn its attention to gaining visitors during the expected boom in participation while the Masters tournament takes place at the start of April.