Course Update – 27 February 2026

Course Update

The courses have benefited from some much-needed rainfall in recent weeks, with 38.5mm recorded during February following an extremely hot and dry January. Summer conditions place significant stress on turf surfaces and can increase the risk of turf pathogen presence. To manage these challenges, both preventative and curative agronomic programs are actively implemented across all fine turf areas. Enhanced monitoring focus will continue until environmental pressures ease with the reduction in soil temperatures and daylight hours as we move towards the autumn season.

The Course Team remains focused on delivering consistently high-quality playing surfaces for members and their guests, particularly in preparation for the present events along with the upcoming Club Championships and Pennant Rounds.

As we transition into autumn, attention will shift toward carefully preparing the courses for the cooler winter months. This includes the commencement of our annual vegetation planting program, with approximately 10,000–15,000 native trees, shrubs, heathland plants, and grasses scheduled for installation.

Work will also recommence soon upgrading the final stretch of security fencing along Skye Road. Completion of this project will address high-priority boundary areas and further enhance the overall security of the site.

Course Bunker/Wasteland Weatherproofing Projects 

Work has progressed well across ten selected bunker and wasteland improvement areas, as outlined in our recent update. Our course architects, OCM, have worked closely with the Course Team throughout these projects and will continue to collaborate on all future improvement programs. Final refinement of these works will occur progressively as the areas settle and consolidate over time.

These projects form part of a broader strategic initiative to weatherproof the courses while enhancing overall playing conditions. The areas listed below represent the initial phase of an ongoing improvement program.

February Work Program Areas In-Progress

  • LHS 3N Wasteland – Improved entry/exit access and erosion control

  • RHS 11N Greenside Bunker – Erosion control and additional exit entry locations

  • RHS 17N Fairway Bunker & Wasteland – Erosion control and drainage installation

  • 17N Greenside Bunker – Improved entry/exit access and erosion control

  • 18N Tee Carry – Erosion control and drainage

  • 8S LHS Greenside Bunker – Erosion control and Improved entry and exit

  • 13S Fairway Bunker – Erosion control and Improved entry and exit

  • 18N Fairway Bunker – Erosion control and Improved entry and exit

  • Short-Game Area Wasteland – Erosion control

Further bunkers are scheduled for prioritised improvement works in the coming weeks, including RHS 2N, LHS 3N, Front 6N, RHS 13N, 17S and additional identified areas.

Improved drainage and divides to 18N tee carry / 17N wasteland with OCM
18N tee carry. Improved sand erosion, drainage, vegetation and turf lines
17N Greenside bunker in progress. New divide for erosion control and improved entry points
Divide for erosion control and improved access to the bunkers on right side of 11N
Improved access and vegetation stabilising the divide on the left fairway bunker 18N

Current and Future Maintenance Programs

  • Course Presentation: Consistent preparation and presentation of the course throughout the golfing season for Member and Guest events, Club Championships and Pennant Rounds.

  • Bunkers & Wastelands: Ongoing general maintenance, weed control and renovation programs, including enhanced weather-proofing works scheduled for February, March and June.

  • Greens Management: Regular greens scanning, selective hand-weeding, Pre-and post-emergent winter grass control programs on green collars and interface areas and fungal disease prevention and suppression programs (February–May).

  • Winter Turf Preparation: Turf area preparation for the cooler months, incorporating nutrition, fungal disease prevention & suppression and supportive colourant application programs (March–June).

  • Growth Regulation: Turfgrass growth regulation programs implemented throughout the full summer period.

  • Weed & Undesirable Grass Control: Ongoing control programs across bunkers, wastelands, roughs, vegetation zones and creek areas.

  • Rough Management: Rough density reduction and mowing line extension program (ongoing).

  • Winter Grass Control: Pre and post-emergent winter grass control programs on green collars and interface areas (May – July).

  • Couch Grass Encroachment: Warm-season couch grass control and prevention within green collars, comprising three targeted treatments (March–April).

  • Fairway Disease Management: Curative and preventative fairway disease treatment programs (February–April).

  • Vegetation Management: Comprehensive vegetation programs including selective slashing, ecological regenerative burns, removal of dead or hazardous trees, non-indigenous tree suckers and woody weeds (northern boundary fence line), and autumn tree, shrub and heathland planting and transplanting. Boundary clearing and screen planting programs continue through autumn and winter (ongoing).

  • Annual Drainage Program: Follow-up sand top-dressing within existing drainage lines to fine-tune and level fairway surfaces on holes 9N and 17N (February–March). New drainage installations scheduled for winter 2026 on holes 2S, 9N, 17N, 10N and selected smaller areas.

  • Clubhouse Gardens: Southern-side clubhouse garden hedge replacement and expansion (winter).

  • Turf Nursery: Bentgrass turf nursery replacement program (autumn).

  • Infrastructure: Boundary fencing replacement along Skye Road (March–April)

 

Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses