Course Update
The courses continue to present well and enjoyed the recent long run of of warm and dry summer and autumn weather periods. Turf growth and recovery has now reduced significantly as expected with the onset of the cooler winter months. The frost season is upon us with six frost events having occurred earlier than normally expected. This will soon impact turf colour and density in our warm season grass (green surrounds, tees and fairways), with an earlier onset of the turf’s dormancy period likely.
Our deliberate focus and goal in recent months to delicately position the turf surfaces for the onset of the cooler months has the course well positioned.
Detailed maintenance tasks across the property continue to be prioritised to enable a consistent high level of course presentation delivery for all members and guests. These tasks and programs can be seen listed below in the current and future maintenance programs section.
Vegetation Planting Areas
Our vegetation planting season will commence a bit later than normal due to the dryer ground conditions. Moist ground conditions are desired and important to ensure high plant establishment and survival rates are achieved. In excess of 10,000 native trees, shrubs, heathland plants and grasses will be delivered in July and installed this year.
The below highlighted areas have been pre-prepared for this season’s transplanting/support planting program. Similar to last season, the excavator will strip the existing ground and transplanted rich native onsite soil material used to cap the areas. Support plants will be planted into these zones to complete.
The planting programs have commenced and are progressing well. The expected completion is in spring.
Additional Sand Bins and Rubbish/Recycling Bins
New additional bins and base paving pads have been added to the South Course on holes 4 and 17. These will provide members more access locations for sand to assist course divot repairs and rubbish disposal.
Rainfall
Rainfall for the year to date continues to track well below the the 10 year average as seen on the below chart. 185mm (7.4 inches) has been recorded year to date in 2025. This is 113mm (4.5 inches) less than the corresponding period last year in 2024.
Current and Future Maintenance Programs
- Course preparation for Member/Guest events.
- Bunker/wasteland general maintenance and renovation programs (In-progress and ongoing).
- Greens scanning and selective hand-weeding program (July & August).
- Couch grass encroachment program on green collars. (Autumn aplications completed and to recommence in Spring).
- Wintergrass (Poa annua) control/prevention program within warm season grass areas. (Programs to continue monthly through to October. (In-progress and to intensify during July).
- Warm season grass turf nutrition program on selected areas (Autumn – Completed).
- Non desired grass and weed control programs in bunkers, wastelands, roughs, vegetation and creek areas. (In-progress and ongoing).
- Turf colourant, nutrition and disease prevention programs (April/May/June – Completed).
- Pre & Post emergent winter grass control program on the green collars and interface areas. (June/July/August).
- Course furniture maintenance and non slip treatment of timber sleeper areas (May/June/July).
- Fescue turf replacement in selective areas – 1S Creek bed, 1S PG Surrounds, Range tee and other high traffic wear areas (Autumn/Winter – in progress).
- Non invasive verti-drain (solid tines) renovation of selected fairways/green surrounds/tees (Winter/Spring).
- Rough density reduction and mowing line extension program. (In-progress and ongoing).
- Vegetation maintenance programs that include selected slashing, ecological regenerative burns, dead/hazardous tree removal, blackberry eradication treatment, non indigenous tree suckers and woody weed removal (E.G RHS 7S & 16S, LHS 7N & 18N). (In progress and ongoing).
- Annual Drainage Program continuation. Target areas 9N fairway, 2S teeing complex and other selected smaller areas (dates to be confirmed but likely in late winter/early spring).
Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses