It wasn't quite like finding oil, but it's extremely valuable to us
You wouldn’t think it after the last few months of rain, but for many years water has actually been one of the biggest challenges facing our course. Historically, we’ve often struggled to get enough water where it’s needed most, particularly during the summer months, and especially around the greens. Like many clubs, we’ve had to deal with ageing infrastructure, pressure issues, and systems that simply weren’t designed for the demands of the modern game.
As part of our continued efforts to improve the course for everyone who plays here, the club invested last year in a number of key upgrades. These included new sprinklers, improved valves, and better control over how water is delivered closer to the greens. While these improvements may not always be immediately visible, they play a vital role in maintaining consistent playing surfaces, protecting turf during dry spells, and ensuring the course remains enjoyable throughout the season.
Recently, while looking back through the club’s history, we came across a fantastic old photograph from 1977 showing the original watering system being officially turned on by our President at the time,
Lord Aberdare. The valve featured in the photo was designed to reduce water pressure to the lower holes on the course, an area that has caused issues over the years and remains critical to managing effective irrigation.
Back then, this was a major milestone for the club. There was no Sky Sports in the clubhouse, no internet, and improvements like this were genuinely big events. Committee members, club members, and invited guests all turned out to mark what was, at the time, a significant feat of engineering and a real investment in the future of the course.
Thanks to the knowledge and support of long-standing member, former Chair of Greens, and Club Captain John Lloyd, one of only three people still alive who appear in that original photograph, we were recently able to relocate the valve and carefully dig it out. Remarkably, it’s still there and will once again play an important role in helping our greens team manage water more effectively.
This small piece of club history is a great reminder that improving the course has always been a priority at Mountain Ash Golf Club. From past generations to the present day, each investment builds on the last, helping us protect the course, enhance playing conditions, and ensure it continues to be enjoyed by members and visitors alike for many years to come.
