Green’s Update – Dec 2022
Chairman of Greens, Terry Gale
Welcome to the December 2022 newsletter.
December is traditionally the month of festivities & I trust all members enjoyed the Xmas period & celebrated with family & friends.
An update on the course activities is detailed below:
- New Course Machinery – One new John Deere Greens & Fairway mower have been received. The second fairway mower is expected to be received mid to late January 2023.
- Tree audit – The volunteers have removed several dead trees as identified in the Tree audit as follows:
- One dead banksia and one dead Sheoak along the RHS of the 10th fairway & a dead spotted gum next to the 11th tee box.
- A prickly bark & Spotted gum on the LHS of the 12th
- A dead sheoak on the RHS of the 13th
- Only stumps approx 1m in height remain. These stumps will be removed when we hire a stump grinder in early January 2023.
- Bare spots – We indicated in the Nov newsletter that large uneven & bare area on the RHS of the 17th fairway past the large gum tree would be rotary hoed & seeded with cores sometime during Dec. The parramatta grass has been poisoned. We will now complete this task after the Summer Cup upon the request of Match.
- Bunkers – As advised in the Nov newsletter, Greens & Match have reviewed all bunkers on the course & have formulated a plan to address a number of issues with our Bunkers. Improvement to our bunkers will primarily commence during the winter months. If time permits, Grounds may commence some of the smaller tasks during summer however, this will be subject to staff availability & ensuring all other daily tasks are maintained & the standard of the course is not jeopardized such as mowing fairways, greens & tee boxes etc.
- Warmup range – The council has approved our request to install a 4m high fence along our boundary to lessen the chance of any stray golf balls hitting the houses on the RHS of the range. The fence should be installed in Feb 2023. Three warmup cages have also been installed to enable members to practice with their long irons or woods.
- Fence on the 3rd – Work is in the preliminary stages on constructing one or two fences next to the 3rd tee box to restrict members from hitting balls towards Ranford Rd & fading the ball back on to the 3rd
- Greens Audit – Living Turf has recommended the 14th green be replaced – We are presently discussing the options & costs surrounding the green replacement.
- Tee Boxes – Several tee boxes have been lightly top dressed to assist with the recovery of these areas.
- Fairways – Have all been sprayed with Primo Maxx. This is a growth regulator that will reduce growth and will give a finer and tighter surface. This program will continue monthly through to April. Iron has also been applied to give a deeper darker green color to the fairways.
- White lines have been painted on several roots that are visible on the fairways with the intention of removing these roots which should assist in the recovery of small bare patches.
- Greens – Have been needle tined and will continue to be needle tined monthly to help reduce black layer by getting oxygen into the root zone. This process will also aid in water infiltration through to the rootzone. Nematicide and fungicides have been applied and will continue through the summer months and into early autumn. Poa annua seed head is quite visible on most greens this season, spraying to suppress the seed head for next season will start in late April.
- Divot on 13th green – Refer photos attached. There were two areas on the 13th green where it appears someone has in anger taken a divot out of the green. This action occurred on Tuesday the 27th Dec & is not acceptable or tolerated. I am certain that this action was witnessed by a playing partner.
Trivia question – I located some old photos of the club & will periodically attach a photo to the newsletter to see if members can recall where & when the photo was taken.
Refer the photo below. Does anyone know which section of the course this photo was taken & the approximate year?
The answer will be published in the Jan 2023 newsletter.
On behalf of the Greens committee, we wish all members, their families & friends every success & prosperity for 2023.
May you all achieve career best handicaps.
