Count on Mac for moisture management

Michael 'Mac' MacDonell knows every inch of the turf at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent.

As greenkeeper on reportedly the driest course in the country, he's responsible for hand-watering the high and dry spots through the summer, to maintain high quality playing surfaces on one of the classic links courses.

Under the spotlight as a Qualifying Venue for the Open earlier this month, and despite one of the hottest and driest early summer seasons on record, Mac reported the course looked and was playing better than ever.

The difference this year? - Course Manager, James Bledge (above) introduced a wall-to-wall Qualibra wetting agent programme earlier this season. It set-up the soil and turf rooting conditions to make better use of available moisture and irrigation. 

"I think Qualibra has been the best wetter we have ever used," said Mac. "We've seen no dry patch developimng during the warmest and driest summer for many years."

"When the greens have dried out now they haven't gone crusty like previous years, so they've stayed firm and fast," he added. "It's certainly made my life a little easier."

Watch an amazing video of the awesome Royal Cinque Ports' greenkeeping team, and their band of willing volunteers, preparing the course for the Final Open Qualifier - you'll get to see the great condition of the course and the challenges faced. 

Read the full report on James Bledge's approach to water management at Royal Cinque Ports.