West Hove Golf Club Agronomy Podcast

Join Ryan Fenwick (Head Teaching Professional) and Dean Franks (Course Manager.) As they reflect on 2025, the journey the club, the course and its members have been on.   Listen how the greenkeeping team, managed to cap a fantastic year off by welcoming 90+ greenkeepers in a record breaking BIGGA event.   Unfortunately the weather didn’t play ball, however the event went ahead, and greenkeepers co...

Dean, head greenkeeper at West Hove Golf Club, and Ryan discuss the course’s strong condition following a challenging summer, upcoming winter measures like temporary greens, and new traffic-management ropes and posts to protect turf. The episode requests members’ cooperation with winter rules and 90-degree trolley use to maintain greens through wetter months and prevent damage.

Ryan Fenwick interviews Dean, Head Greenkeeper at West Hove Golf Club, about a recent maintenance program that included scarifying, overseeding tees and approaches, contractor-led scarifying of greens, deep verti-drain spiking, and extensive topdressing with kiln-dry sand. They discuss challenges from heavy rain, progress made so far, and the team’s next steps to finish filling holes, refurbish te...

Join us in this episode as we delve into the preparations for the upcoming West Hove Club Championship. Dean and Ryan, share their insights from a recent course walk, discussing strategies to set up the course for optimal play. They highlight the importance of tee and pin positions and how these can influence gameplay. Listeners will gain a perspective on how different settings can challenge golfe...

In this episode of the West Hove Golf Club podcast, Head Professional Ryan Fenwick and Head Greenkeeper Dean discuss the current focus on the tees, fairways of the course. They explore the progress being made, such as the remarkable growth on the greens, and the challenges faced, including the persistent issue of leatherjackets affecting certain areas. Dean provides insights into the measures bein...

In this episode, Dean, the head greenkeeper, and Ryan, the head pro at West Hove Golf Club, discuss the challenges faced with the golf course greens, specifically focusing on the scarring caused by disease and the measures taken to combat it. Despite the difficulty faced in November due to disease, Dean explains the maintenance strategies employed, such as fungicide application and top dressing, t...

Join us for a captivating episode as we sit down with Rebecca Prout, the new General Manager at West Hove Golf Club, and Dean Franks, our dedicated Course Manager. Discover Rebecca's fascinating journey from an amateur golfer to a professional player, and ultimately to her current role at the club. Rebecca shares her rich history in both golf and the hospitality industry, detailing her experiences...

Join us in this episode as we dive into the ongoing challenges at West Hove Golf Club, where Dean provides an insightful update on the condition of the greens. As December brings persistent disease pressure, coupled with fluctuating temperatures, discover the measures being implemented to tackle fusarium and improve the golf course. Listen in as we explore the three-pronged approach: strategic use...

Welcome to the our first episode of the West Hove Golf Club Agronomy Podcast, where we dive into all things golf course management with our new Course Manager, Dean. In this episode, Dean shares his journey from starting as a groundsman to taking the helm at West Hove, bringing a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to the club. Dean discusses the current challenges and ongoing projects at the clu...