West Hove Golf Club Agronomy Podcast
A podcast about golf course agronomy at West Hove Golf Club. It is hosted by Course Manager Dean Franks and Head Teaching Pro Ryan Fenwick. Each episode educates members and explains ongoing and future work being done on the course. The show features guest interviews and covers key agronomy topics. It aims to take listeners along on the club's journey and new chapter.
Episodes
Surviving the Drought: How Our Course Came Back to Life
Dean, the head professional, and Ryan discuss a brutal, rainless summer and how the greenkeeping team prioritized greens and tees with persistent irrigation, hand watering and careful maintenance to keep playing surfaces alive.
They cover the recent bounce-back after rain and wetting-agent treatments, targeted renovation work, badger damage and deterrents, and the team’s hard work during coring an
West Hove Golf Club Agronomy Podcast - Christmas Special
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
Winter Greens & Member Rules: Protecting West Hove's Turf
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.
Rain, Sand & Recovery: Inside Westhove’s Greens Renovation
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
Mastering the Course: Insights on Setting Up a Championship
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
Battling Leatherjackets and Reviving Fairways and Tees: Insights from West Hove Golf Club
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
Battling Disease: Golf Course Greens Maintenance
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
A New Era at West Hove: Meet Rebecca Prout, Our Dynamic General Manager
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
Battling the Green: Overcoming Golf Course Challenges in December
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
Inside the Greens (Episode 1): A Conversation with Dean Franks, West Hove's New Course Manager and Head Teaching Pro Ryan Fenwick.
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
