Course Update
The courses continue to present well albeit the turf areas across the courses have now entered their low growth and recovery phase. This naturally coincides with the drop in both air and soil temperatures together with shorter daylight length. The frost season is also upon us with eight 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. This has been supported by ongoing applications of turf colourants to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the turf as well as provide a protective barrier to cold stresses the turf will endure during winter.
Course protection and management of delicate high traffic areas throughout winter will again be managed by ropes and signage where required.
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. Some of the more recent detailed works include:
- Turf replacement on selected worn areas and creek banks
- Exposed aggregate path edge trimming
- Tee marker refurbishment
- Broken tee box additions to par 3 holes
- Ongoing selected bunker and wasteland renovations,
The broader tasks and programs can also be seen listed below in the current and future maintenance programs section.
Vegetation Planting Areas
Our vegetation transplanting/planting season is now underway, 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.
Work commenced on all pre-prepared areas recently for this season’s transplanting/support planting program. Similar to last season – the excavator has stripped the existing ground, and transplanted rich native onsite soil material has been used to cap the areas. Support plants will be planted into these zones commencing in July to complete the program in all areas.
Driving Range Tee
The normal annual management system of the driving range tee provides members with six months use on a turf surface (December – May) and six months use on a synthetic surface (June – November) annually.
As a result of the warm autumn and subsequent extended turf recovery, an extra four weeks of turf usage was extended in June on the top tier of the range tee this year whilst the synthetic mats were used on the lower tier. This setup will remain in place for an additional four weeks during July. Full use of the synthetic mats will be in use from Monday 28 July.
Detail Work Program – Fescue Turf Replacement 1st South Putting Green Surround
As part of our detail work programs and starting Monday 7 July, we will begin the replacement of the old fescue turf around the 1st South putting green surround together with the trial use of a synthetic turf strip underneath the balcony/deck overhang section.
The new turf will be laid back to its original height matching in with the path and green surface levels, similar to what was achieved around the putting greens near the golf shop and pool last winter. This will result in that touch of class and perfection presentation to the green surrounds that is desired.
The synthetic turf will enable an improved appearance year-round under the balcony/deck overhang where the environment (low sun, air and water access) is not conducive to growing natural turf, but is a practical, near natural looking solution to resolving the turf decline that we are challenged with at present. This importantly remains aligned with the clubhouse architect’s vision of a grass shadow line stretching through under the decking.
A stage 2 program would see the replacement of the fescue turf on the northern side of the clubhouse.
Boundary Security Fencing Upgrade Program
Our boundary fencing upgrade work for increased security continues with recent works along the Skye Road boundary. 750m is remaining to complete this boundary (365m South-West Side & 385m South-East Side).
The identified very high-risk areas (North/Northwest/Northeast) of our boundary have been importantly prioritized in recent years and are now upgraded and fully complete.
This priority program represents a very sound investment for protection and security of the club, course and important assets.
Warm Season Grass Treatment Programs
Our present pre & post emergent treatment program to control Wintergrass – (Poa annua) across the warm season grass areas of green surrounds, tees and fairways continues as reported and outlined in our present and future programs. This will intensify over the coming six weeks. A non-selective herbicide treatment will once again be delicately used in late June and July. During this time the couch grass is in its full dormancy and in a low risk phase. Selective spot spraying will again be implemented in the delicate areas around green surrounds, tees and high traffic zones as part of this overall program.
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).
- Greens needle-tyne renovation to assist water movement off and through the surface (July & August).
- Couch grass encroachment program on green collars. (Autumn applications 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, Clubhouse Precinct, 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