Full Steam Ahead Into The Season

Lots of work has been done this week, but unfortunately we haven't been able to top dress to make things smoother on the greens. This is because the vehicle that runs our top dresser has broken down beyond repair. This vehicle is 12 years old so it has served us well, I have given committee a few options which will be discussed at the committee meeting this coming monday. In the mean time I have arranged for a demo top dresser to come on monday morning, this will give us a good look at the more up to date equipment and also get our greens top dressed! After that has all been brushed in, and, weather permitting we will put our granular fertiliser down, which should then really kick the greens into action.
We have rolled the greens every day this week and I'm sure you'll agree they are getting smoother, however I know there is still more than the odd lump and bump, they should get smoother as everyday passes now the frosts seem to have gone for the year. Because we have rolled so much, and there is still so little growth the greens are a little speedy, so good luck if your playing in the Bancroft Trophy today!
All the tee markers are back on the summer tees, and we are now under FULL summer rules. There is a temporary/local rule in place and a notice is up right where you sign in on the computer, please look out for it.
We have a new 'hole locating system' (yes yes, i made that title up on my own!) you will notice there are little flags on the pin, if this is at the top of the pin it means the hole is at the back of the green, if its in the middle the hole is in the middle, if its at the bottom, the hole is at the front. I know, from a golfers point of view there was nothing wrong with the old system. However from a green keeping point of view it was a bit of a nightmare. Especially last year with the greens being so wet and us only having 1 third of the green to pick a hole location.
I need some feedback also on the way the bunkers have been raked. My new first assistant has come out with a few very good (if not foreign to us), ideas on bunker raking that he has learned from working abroad, and more recently at Wentworth Golf Club. The idea was to flat rake the bunkers first to level the sand out and then to go in with a spring bok rake through the middle, with the idea of leaving a flattened edge around the edge of the bunker for your ball to roll off into the middle raked part. However it seems that Wentworths bunkers were a little more suited to this system. It just made our bunkers look a little scruffy and unfinished. So we came up with our own 'hybrid' way of raking which looks nice and neat.  At least 3 members commented yesterday on how well they played and asked when we had put the new sand in! What do you think? Comments below please.
Right I'd better go and get my son ready for his Semi Final cup match against Leek Town, good luck in the first major of the year, i think you'll need it!!
Leigh