It is great to be back playing golf after our COVID 19 shutdown. During this period, the Board had three aims in mind.

  • Reduce the high exposure to leave.

  • Maintain the course

  • Keep our staff employed.

As a result, we had three staff employed for 30 hours per week. The aim was to maintain the grass on fairways, tees, greens and rough. Two took annual leave per week on the roster. There was no intention to do the one-percenters other than in an emergency (water leakage etc). The Course on return to golf presented very well. 

It would be fair to say the course is copping a hammering since the return, mainly due to the number of rounds currently being played. This has resulted in high wear on the tees and significant divots on fairways. The tee markers are being regularly rotated to try and remedy the problem at the tees.

To assist with the level of divots in the fairway I ask that all golfers empty their bucket on each fairway. Do not walk past a divot without stopping to repair it. This includes divots in the rough. It is a small price to pay to have fantastic fairways.

Green Maintenance

Fungicide has been sprayed to all greens to control Fusarium. Greens have been fertilised, and a chemical which promotes better water flow from the surface, and which allows greens to better drain and harden.

Fairways

We have measured the length from the back of the ladies' tees to the fairway on every hole. Two, in particular, had a long carry, 133 and 148 metres, and the intent is to bring the fairways to within 100 metres. This has begun on the 5th hole, and the trenching on the 18th is to locate the irrigation pipes so that the 18th can be extended.

Paths

All paths have been sprayed and the volunteers have a program to edge each path. This will take some time.

Bunkers

Not being able to rake bunkers during a round of golf is contributing to their deterioration. However, bunkers are being raked every week by course staff. Members may have noticed a black crust on the face of some bunkers. This is a problem that we have had for some years and occurs after the irrigation system. It is a result of some form of a contaminant in the recycled irrigation water. Each bunker face is being scrapped down, and the crust removed. There is sufficient sand for the time being, but most bunkers will have new sand soon. Rabbits continue to be a problem and we have laid bait. Two bunkers on the 17th have now been filled, and we can look forward to a different playing surface soon.

Bill Kennedy

Course Director