Heavy rain won't stop play at Bowood

Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort has announced that no matter how extreme the rainfall, the course won't be closed for play.   The 18-hole championship venue in Wiltshire, set over 200 acres of mature woodland and surrounded by beautiful parkland, has worked hard at ensuring that inclement weather and heavy rain will not shut the course.

"The sodden landscape and flooding that has been experienced up and down the country repeatedly within the past year has been incredibly challenging, tiresome and dispiriting for courses and golfers," said Bowood's head greenskeeper, Jaey Goodchild.

"Fortunately, however, our course drains quickly, remaining firm even when soil is wet so that our golfers won't be hampered by waterlogged ground."

Jaey heads a 10-strong team who work tirelessly to ensure the course in kept in pristine condition all year round.

Bowood also has its own weather station, which provides forecasting tools for particular irrigation needs.

"Our greens are constructed of a sand-based rootzone and are managed to ensure fine playability all year round. We also aerate and top-dress our surfaces regularly to maintain greens performance," adds Jaey.

"However, our modern agronomical approach for turf management to meet the highest demands of a top golf course has to be balanced alongside consideration for our environment."

Indeed, Bowood focus on nutritional ways to reduce pesticide use to avoid damage to the abundant wildlife.

Bowood's course was built in 1992 after being designed by Ryder Cup player and renowned architect Dave Thomas.