Health and Safety

The presence of a mains water supply pipe through the length of the field from west to east necessitated a visit by the water board to confirm the exact location.
Our picture shows John Quinn holding gently the remains of two thin metal flags previously used for marking the exact location of the centre of two greens. The expensive equipment brought along to locate the pipe did not work and so good use was made of manual powers and all present got the chance of testing their skill at water divining.
Stakes have been put in place showing the position of the pipe and will stay there for some months to come.


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First green

The weather could not have been better for our first week of shaping greens and tees. It has been sunny, cold and dry. It has been a pleasure for John and David to watch Ian at work. He too has risen to the challenge and has opted to carry on this Saturday. The ground now bears no relation to what it will look like in a year’s time when the greens have been filled in and the grass has grown.
There is a real enthusiasm in the team to ensure that the end product provides pleasure for today’s golfer while at the same time doing justice to the memory of Frederick Sharp and his original course.


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Fine tuning

The first two days have been spent by Ian preparing a trial green and tee with on-site help from John Quinn, our project manager. Now Peter McEvoy has flown up from his office in Cheltenham to discuss Ian’s work and help ensure that we get it right first time every time! Wednesday the 16th was a great success for sharing of knowledge and meeting of minds.


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The man of the moment

Ian Forsyth is one of those who could use this CAT to pick up an egg and not break it. He has been involved in building golf courses in the past both here and abroad. It is a joy for him to be able to demonstrate his skill on this beautiful piece of ground.


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A very big day

The contract for shaping greens and tees has been awarded to Geddes of Arbroath. The machinery in use has just arrived from Angus where it has been helping to build a new road between Dundee and Arbroath. It is 8am the 14th of November 2005.


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The condie

The Stewart’s knowledge of the field has helped bring to light the presence of a stone drain that was built roughly 200 years ago. It should prove to be a most valuable asset in dealing with the flooding of the lower half of the field. Much of it will need to be repaired but it is felt by all to be well worth it. It will add to the character of the course as well as proving to be an asset in attracting more local fauna.


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Hidden treasure

David & Bob Stewart were born in Forrester’s cottage. They also just happened to be the local experts on matters to do with drainage. Their company is based at Ceres a mile or so away and what they don’t know about the flow of water in “golf field” is not worth knowing. We are extremely lucky to have their knowledge and support at such a time. Our picture shows them at one of six inspection covers installed many years ago at the ends of a “soak-away”. It transpires that five of the covers had already been broken up by ploughing. Nobody has ever used them and they have been technically superfluous to requirements.
The Stewarts have carried out the second job to make way for the digger and taken away 15 inches of concrete and brick as well as ensuring that the soakaway performs more efficiently than it did previously.


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Preparing the ground

When the Sharp family were alive it was the Berwick family who farmed next door at Barbarafield and who maintained the golf course.
Jamie Coggle is himself part of the same family and it has been a happy link with history that he should take on the first job to be done prior to any earth moving. The very fences which were installed to protect trees from cattle and sheep have now been taken down and put to better use elsewhere. It is hoped that there will be many other jobs which Jamie can help with concerning the construction and maintenance of the course in the years ahead.


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A key condition

All parties agreed that the Roads Department was right to take advantage of the considerable investments that both the NTS and G&T were about to make at the property.
We anticipate 300%+ increase in cars entering and exiting Hill of Tarvit and everyone agrees that the existing wall height and tree growth makes it difficult to see clearly both to the left and the right when leaving the property. Our picture shows a Fife builder John Simpson doing a very important job in lowering the height of the wall.
It is assumed that the same people, who quite rightly insisted on the improvements, were not present when their colleagues installed a new road sign a month ago!


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