Course Update – 16 January 2025

Course Update

The courses enter 2026 well positioned albeit were tested heavily last week with two days of extreme heat with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. The heat dried the turf areas throughout the property and impacted on the recovery of the South Course fairways as expected, but this impact will be short term until we replenish the soil moisture with irrigated water inputs over the coming week or if we are fortunate to have some summer rainfall. Water resources in the dam and the effluent supply remain strong.

The Course Team continue to work hard on the South Course fairways to complete the full recovery post the reported aggressive scarifying renovation program undertaken in late December. We are now approaching four weeks post the renovation and expect a rapid final recovery phase in the coming weeks to have the fairways return to their best condition and meet the program’s key objective and outcomes. Fertiliser has been applied to aid the recovery with additional added in selected thin areas. The short game area was verti-cut last week to complete the full renovation areas for this period. 

“Preferred lies” will remain in place across all renovated areas until the turf surfaces have satisfactorily recovered.  See in the images below the process steps and the strong recovery appearing. 

Aggressive low cut mowing post the scarifying process on 1S
Scarifying machine in operation on 7S
9S – 1 week post scarifying
9S – 3 weeks post scarifying
18 South Fairway – 3.5 weeks post scarifying and showing positive recovery

 

MAR/ASR (Managed Aquifer Recharge/Aquifer Storage and Recovery) WATER PROJECT UPDATE

We are pleased to report that our Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Project is progressing well. Taking advantage of the South Course closure during the warm season grass scarifying renovations, the trunkline pipework installation that crosses fairways and in play zones on 2S, 8S, 16S & 17S was successfully installed in December to minimise impact on member play. The remaining pipework installation in the out of play areas 11S/17S & 1S/10S recommenced in the recent week and will continue until the network is complete over the coming weeks. The remaining aspects of the project will be undertaken in Q1 and Q2 of 2026. Members will be provided further details in February 2026. 

The pipeline installation is the first package of work to be undertaken.

A Temporary Local Rule will remain in place (see below) while the Course Team consolidate the reinstated turf across the fairways and rough areas in the coming weeks.

TEMPORARY LOCAL RULE – COURSE WORKS

South Course – 2, 8,16,17

When interference exists to a player’s, lie, stance or swing from the MAR Water Project Works , a player may take free relief by placing a ball within one club length.

This applies to the General Area (fairway and rough).

The pipeline work that crossed fairways 2S and 8S as seen above is now complete with turf reinstated.

Rainfall

The rainfall recorded for 2025 was a low 575mm. This is well below our 10 year average and the second lowest recorded level in the last 10 years. January has only had 1mm recorded to date.

January rainfall currently sitting at 1mm

Current and Future Maintenance Programs

  • Consistent course golfing season preparation and presentation for Member/Guest events.
  • MAR Water project pipeline installation (January/February)
  • Warm season grass nutritional program South Course. (December/January).
  • Turfgrass growth regulation programs. (Full summer period). 
  • Annual Drainage Program – A follow-up sand top-dressing program with-in the drainage lines to finetune and level the fairway surface on holes 9N & 17N. (February).
  • Bunker/wasteland general maintenance, weed control and renovation programs (In-progress and ongoing).
  • Greens scanning and selective hand-weeding program (February – April).
  • Non-desired grass and weed control programs in turf areas, bunkers, wastelands, roughs, vegetation and creeks. (In-progress and ongoing).
  • Rough density reduction and mowing line extension program. (In-progress and ongoing).
  • Warm season couch grass encroachment control and prevention in green collars (Autumn – March/April).
  • Fairway disease preventative treatment program commencement. (January – March). Engagement of a world’s leading weed, pest and disease professor to be utilised and a trial plot plan incorporated on the 10S fairway (In progress).  
  • Vegetation maintenance programs that include selected slashing, tree pruning and weight reduction, dead/hazardous tree removal,  non indigenous tree suckers and woody weed removal (e.g. LHS 4N, RHS 16S) and general weed control. (In progress and ongoing). 
  • Perimeter landscaping and beautification surrounding the new buggy storage facility. (January).

Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses