I trust all GGC members had a most enjoyable Christmas and wish everyone a prosperous and safe 2024. May the golfing gods smile on all members, and we all achieve our lowest GA handicap at some stage during the 2024 calendar year.
I am pleased to say that all our major renovations are now complete, and we are once again playing on the full course.
9th green – The 9th green looks a treat. It has come up well. It is a little soft underfoot but that is to be expected. It rolls well. The ground staff have done a great job in getting this green back into play after 9 weeks. We have now replaced 10 greens in total. Members walking or driving their buggies either in front of or behind the 9th green to access the 1st tee are to cease this practice immediately.
6th – The new look LHS of the 6th is an excellent addition to this hole. There is now ample room for both push buggies and motorised carts to access the 7th tee and reduce the wear and tear that has impacted this area for many years. The grass will be grown slightly longer to make the shot back onto the green a little tougher.
Bare patches – Bare patches on the 12th fairway approx 100m from the green have been repaired together with all areas on various fairways that were impacted by roots.
Trees – A number of trees on both the 1st & 9th fairways have been trimmed as per my November report. The tree lopper will return in late January to continue trimming further trees on the LHS of the 1st fairway near the greenside bunker as well as remove 5 trees identified by the Greens Audit report.
Volunteers – The volunteers completed the following tasks during December:
- Trimmed trees on the RHS of the 2nd fairway and 7th green.
- Chipped all branches etc near the maintenance shed.
- Commenced chipping all branches behind the 10th green.
- Removed 1 small dead tree near the 1st path as well as trim all peppermint trees that were overhanging the 1st path.
Renovations – We shall rotary hoe the LHS of the 1st fairway in late 2024 to remove all bare patches and eradicate the parramatta grass similar to what we completed in front of the 2nd and 13th . All bare areas closer to the green will also be repaired. We shall also look at areas on the RHS of the 1st fairway.
Green renovation 2024 – The 17th green will be seeded in 2024 with an expected commencement date of 19 August 2024 and an end date of 22 November 2024 or a growing in time of just under 14 weeks. Due to the earlier starting time, the Club championships will be brought forward several weeks
Over the past few weeks, some members have asked why the greens are not as quick as we normally experienced on a Saturday several years ago. This question was raised at the 2022 AGM. The answer is not straightforward, and I shall elaborate as best I can below.
- The staff are covered under the Registered and Licensed Clubs Award 2020.
- Prior to 2014, they worked from Monday to Friday.
- Back in around 2014, the course staff work hours were amended to commence work on a Tuesday and finish on a Saturday so that full members could reap the best of playing conditions with greens being double cut and rolled on a Saturday morning.
- It was not until early 2022 that the club was made aware of this anomaly, and it had to be rectified immediately as it was contrary to the award.
- The Registered and Licensed Clubs award stipulates that employees can work up to 38 hours p/w but only 4 hours on a Saturday or Sunday. The ordinary hours they can work from is 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday or 6am to 12 noon on a Saturday or Sunday. This timeframe can be adjusted by 1 hour. For example, our staff commence work at 5am in the mornings.
- To work on a Saturday the Club is required to pay the staff 175% of their full-time earnings for the first 2 hours and 200% for the next two hours. The cost to the club on a Sunday is 200% for every hour worked.
- Two staff members work on a Saturday and Sunday. Based on item F above this basically means that we are paying for 4 staff to work on a Saturday and Sunday. It would be a very costly exercise to request all staff to work on the Saturday under the current Award.
- Presently our Ground staff work 38 hours per week. This comprises 8 hours per day Monday to Friday except Thursday when they work 6 hours. If we were to amend their working days to say Tuesday to Saturday [Can only work 4 hours on a Saturday], the club would effectively lose 2 hours p/w per staff member. With 9 staff, we would be employing the staff to work 36 hours p/w and paying them for 38 hours p/w. Effectively we are losing 18 hours p/w which could be put to better use in improving the course and completing projects that the Greens committee have identified.
- In addition to item H, the majority of Ground staff have to agree to any change in hours as per the Award.
The Ground staff under the current Award complete the following major tasks:
- Greens – Tuesday Single cut, Thursday [Double or Single cut depending on staff and any issues on the day], Saturday [Single cut] & Sunday [Single cut]
- Greens – Rolled Thursday.
- Fairways – Mowed Monday & Fridays during summer, some light grooming on Wednesdays.
- Tees – Mowed Monday & Friday.
- Bunkers – Raked Thursdays only.
When edging on a Wednesday edged holes are raked.
- Staff work (overtime) every Saturday & Sunday, their duties are as follows:
- One staff mows green for approximately 4 hours.
- Second staff changes tee markers, pin placement, hand waters greens if required, Hand Rakes bunkers plus any repairs or course cleanup that’s required.
As a full member, I would like to see the greens double cut & rolled on a Saturday for Saturday events, however, presently the cost is prohibited and until the Award is amended or members are prepared to pay a substantial increase in fees we have to live with the current arrangements.
