COURSES UPDATE
The courses continue to enjoy the warmer summer period but without the recent challenges with heavy wind and rainfall events. This time of year, provides some amazing contrasts between the lush green turf and golden coloured, dry, and wispy roughs, together with striking displays of heath-land plant species mixed in. An excellent time for memorable member and guest experiences.
The important turf purity, disease management/prevention and nutritional programs that unfortunately had to be delayed in spring, (Delayed due to continuous cold/wet weather and windy conditions that caused extensive tree damage and clean-up work) have recommenced and are nearing full completion. The impact on their delay is yet to be fully understood at this time but will likely require some further program implementation in autumn to meet our Course Policy Standards Review Objectives. A full program update including some new additions can be seen in the “current work programs update section” below.
The Course Audit Program and Review undertaken in conjunction with OCM is currently being finalised. Full details with priority recommendations for the 2022-2023 budget period will be presented to the Course Advisory Group in Late February.
The clean-up programs on Tree Damage and Bunker Repairs remain in progress. It is anticipated both programs will be complete in mid-February.
COVID-19 IMPACT
Unfortunately, the course team have been impacted by the recent Covid-19 Outbreak over the past 2-3 weeks. It has been particularly difficult to maintain the facility as we would like with a daily high labour drain (10-20%). It appears however that the impact is declining as the outbreak reduces from its peak.
The following note to the members via a member’s update has been posted. Please note that due to continued staff shortages because of Covid-19 related issues, many aspects of course maintenance will remain impacted and unable to be managed to our normal standards. The areas that will suffer the most impact will be the general course grooming and presentation, product application programs, bunker and wasteland maintenance. The Course Team will continue to work hard to minimise as many impacts as best they can. We thank you for your understanding and patience currently.
KEY GOLF EVENTS
It was very pleasing for the club that we received some extremely positive feedback from the hosting of the Victorian Amateur and Sandbelt Invitational events in December 2021. The South Course played and presented very well for these events, and we look forward to hosting and supporting other significant golf events in the future. The Course Team very proudly, with a detail focus, pride themselves on ensuring the Club’s reputation is further enhanced for our members and the wider golfing communities when hosting key golf events. The next event the Course Team will prepare for is the PK Foundation Pro Am on 31 January 2022 on the North Course.
CURRENT WORK PROGRAMS UPDATE
- Winter Grass (Poa annua) control and prevention in the warm season (Couch grass) areas, “In-Progress” (Note – Entry and Practice areas remain to complete). Delayed Program from Spring.
- Turf disease prevention and control with the current high humidity presence, “Ongoing” Delayed Program from Spring.
- Tree Damage and Repair. “In progress” Ongoing program from Spring.
- Bunker and Wasteland repairs, “In-Progress” (Priority on North Course Prior to Pro-am)
- Algae treatment in bentgrass areas on green and collar surfaces, “In-Progress” (North Course Completed)
- North Course preparation for the upcoming Foundation Pro Am, “In-Progress”
WARM SEASON GRASS AREAS
With the recent months increase in temperature the 50 Hectares of warm season grass across Greens surrounds, Tees and Fairways have finally “awoken” after a slow start to this season.
Our normal green up occurred a lot later than normal, due to cooler soil temperatures and high rainfall volumes through spring (Melbourne experienced its coldest spring in 2021 since 1974 or in 47 Years).
The high levels of humidity that we are experiencing at present has the turf growing much quicker than normal levels, and we would like, we will experience some short term ‘Turf Scalping” In some areas when we perform our mowing practices as a consequence until it subsides, we have introduced a growth regulation program to assist with this challenge.
We expect the warm season grass to play and present extremely well over the summer and autumn seasons.
TREE DAMAGE CLEAN-UP PROGRAM
Our tree damage clean-up for the extreme wind event in November 2021 continues after a break leading into Christmas and contractor availability over the festive season. The tasks required to complete the clean-up include the following.
- Arborist climber to remove final hanging branches
- Selected Stump grinding and area restoration
- Tub grinding/timber removal in debris site
- Final Boundary fencing repairs
An insurance claim is in progress with the final repair work requirements costed and to be lodged with the claim. Insurance assessors visited the site to inspect the damage just as the clean-up commenced. Full details including photo images of the damage was provided.
HARRY BATTERSBY – NOMINATED FOR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
The club would like to congratulate Harry Battersby for being nominated the VGCSA (Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association) 2021-22 Golf Turf Apprentice Award by Holmesglen TAFE.
CHEMICAL USE AUDIT AND RISK REVIEW
With the recent and very unfortunate chemical damage on the greens at a sandbelt facility an immediate audit and review of our Procedures and Administration Risk Controls with chemical use is in progress. Meetings have been undertaken with our leadership team and soon the entire staff to ensure “risk levels” are fully understood, minimised and safe procedural sustainability with improved risk controls maintained. The use of an ongoing SAO (Safe Act Observation) process will be utilised and recorded to ensure the correct procedures and continuous improvements are made. Our annual training programs will continue and be expanded using our safety consultants and external providers.
Collaborative discussion has also been undertaken with our Safety Consultants EPAR as part of our review process. Agreed recommendations from this review will be presented to the CEO and Board for consideration.
Our Risk Register will be amended with any new initiatives implemented from the review.
2021 COURSE REVIEW
A summary and review of the courses (2021 Course Review) was provided to the members in December 2021 as follows.
Our Course Team have worked very diligently throughout 2021 through some very exciting yet challenging periods of closure and restricted hours to elevate many aspects of the courses and the surrounding environs once again.
Golf event highlights of the year have included the successful hosting of the Foundation Pro-Am, Club Pennant including the Division 1 Finals on the North Course, Club Championships, Victorian Amateur Championships and excitingly this week the final round of the new Sandbelt Invitational Event.
Our facilities have continued to mature and evolve under our Course Audit and Improvement Program initiative. The following projects have been completed in 2021:
- Annual Drainage Program
- 8th South Cart Path
- 10 North / 11 North new short grass link-in
- Direction Signs Installed around the clubhouse precinct
- Creek crossing bridges installed on 5 & 10 South
- 2 & 10 South Tee shortgrass extension
- Shortgrass extension on 4 South rear of green
- 13 South Wasteland Restoration & Upgrade
- Cart Path Drainage 1 & 18 South
- 4 New Turn Out Bays added on the 1st South Tee Complex Area
- Exposed Aggregate Turning Circle on 14 North
- Timber pathways additions on 4N,13N,15N and18S.
- Timber Non-slip Treatment Program
- New Drinking Bubbler and adjacent Seat Location Pad installed on 1 South
- Sand Bucket and Rubbish Bin Pad Exiting 10 South
- New Tee Markers Introduced and Tee Plates Installed
- New Lighting Installed between Southern Carpark & 1st South Tee and Putting Green Zone
- Continuation of Security Fencing Upgrade on our Perimeter Boundary
Our greens renovation program was brought forward and performed successfully whilst in a lockdown period. This has enabled members and their guests to importantly have a clean run on the courses without project and maintenance work impacts.
We have encountered some extreme weather conditions with high windstorms causing significant tree damage on two occasions, as well as battling through our coldest spring since 1974 (47 years). Our rainfall volume for the year to date has totalled 841mm (33.6 inches). Tree clean-up and repair work has successfully been implemented and our courses have come alive for the golfing season with the warmth of summer.
A new key focus was the General Environmental Duty (GED) that commenced on 1 July. This is at the centre of the Environmental Protect Act 2017 and applies to all Victorians. You must reduce the risk from harm from your activities:
- to human health and the environment
- from pollution or waste
All course staff have now completed the recommended GED Training within our EPAR Safety System. Paperless spray recordings have been implemented as part of this new responsibility.
Knowledge and focus on climate change, awareness, impacts, and environmental considerations from our facility maintenance practices will align with the GED in the immediate future.
A comprehensive Water Study Investigation remains in progress to fully assess all future water options. The aim of this extremely important study is to provide accurate information and direction to sustainably provide a water source/s to ideally future drought-proof the courses. This will include investigation on Aquifer Surface Recharge (ASR) System, Ground Water Bores, Pressurized Effluent Water Scheme, Additional Storm Water Harvesting as well as an Independent High Creek Water Flow System. A detailed report is expected in April 2022.
We look forward to implementing further initiatives and programs in 2022 with the responsibility to deliver on our continuous improvement plan and maximize the potential of the property for our members.
Director of Courses
Glenn Stuart