Course Update
The courses continue to benefit from the much-needed rainfall in recent weeks, with 44mm recorded during February following an extremely hot and dry January, and a further 25mm received in March keeping rainfall recordings well below the averages.
The Course Team remain focused on delivering consistently high-quality playing surfaces for members and their guests, particularly in preparation for all current events, as well as the upcoming Club Championships and Pennant rounds.
As we move into autumn, attention will shift toward preparing the courses for the cooler winter months. Key focus areas include turf health and recovery, disease/weed control and prevention, traffic management in high-wear areas, moisture management, drainage system maintenance with future planning of new course areas.
In addition, our annual vegetation planting/transplanting programs will commence soon, with approximately 10,000–15,000 native trees, shrubs, heathland plants, and grasses scheduled for installation. Selected bunker maintenance and renovation works will also feature prominently throughout autumn and winter.
Current “In-Progress” Course Bunker/Wasteland Weatherproofing Projects
Work has progressed very well on the selected bunkers identified for weatherproofing. Two bunkers remain in progress and are nearing completion, which will soon finalise this phase of the program.
We are very pleased with the results achieved in collaboration with our course architects across both bunkers and wasteland areas and look forward to continuing the next phase in June, further details on this will be communicated prior to commencement.
The strategic approach behind this program is to weatherproof the courses while improving overall playing conditions. The areas listed below with supporting area images represent the initial stage of an ongoing program of course improvement works.
Course Work Areas
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LHS 3N Wasteland – improved entry/exit and erosion control – Completed
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RHS 11N Greenside Bunker – erosion control – Completed
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RHS 17N Fairway Bunker and Wasteland – erosion control and drainage installation – In-progress
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17N Greenside Bunker – improved entry/exit and erosion control – Completed
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18N Tee Carry – erosion control and drainage – Completed
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8S Greenside Bunker LHS – improved entry/exit and erosion control – In-progress
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13S Fairway Bunker – improved entry and erosion control – Completed
- 6N Greenside Bunker – improved entry/exit and face firmness – Completed
Fairway Patch Disease/BF1 Pathogen Trial Update
We have been fortunate to engage with world-leading weed, pest, and disease expert John E. Kaminski (Ph.D., Penn State University) over the past three months during his industry-supported sabbatical in Australia.
During this period, his expertise has been proactively leveraged to design and implement an on-site product trial program on the 10S Fairway, targeting the management and potential treatment of Fairway Patch Disease (BF1), an issue previously identified on our course and experienced more broadly across Australian and international clubs.
The trial program was conducted throughout December, January, and February. While it is too early to determine definitive outcomes, further product applications are expected to be recommended for autumn and spring. A return visit is also anticipated in late 2026 to review progress and ongoing results.
Upon completion, the full program findings will be shared with PK and the broader golfing industry.
Staff Development and Support – New Zealand Open
We are pleased to report that two of our staff members once again had the opportunity to assist the maintenance team at Millbrook Resort during the New Zealand Open. This marks the third consecutive year we have successfully supported this initiative with staff participation.
Mitchell Driver and Rieley Cope gained highly valuable industry experience, developing practical skills and transferable knowledge that will directly benefit course preparation and presentation at PK, particularly for future tournaments and key member events.
As part of the broader development experience, Mitchell and Rieley also undertook a study tour of several premier and emerging golf facilities. This included visits to Jack’s Point Golf Club and The Hills Golf Club. They also visited the developing Hogan’s Gully Golf Club, gaining insight into construction, design, and early-stage agronomic planning.
In addition, the team visited Glendhu Golf Course, a significant new golf course development in Wanaka, providing further exposure to modern course design, construction methodologies, and future industry direction.
These development opportunities are a key component of our broader strategy to attract, retain, and develop high-quality staff, while supporting long-term succession planning. The program also strengthens our valued and growing relationship with our international reciprocal partner, Millbrook.
Boundary Security Fencing Update
Work is underway to upgrade the final section of security fencing along Skye Road, with completion expected during April. This project will address all remaining high-priority boundary areas and mark the culmination of a significant multi-year investment in Club security, particularly in the highest-risk zones.
The upgrade will strengthen perimeter protection while delivering a clear improvement in boundary presentation.
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, April 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/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 (spring).
- Infrastructure: Boundary fencing replacement along Skye Road (March–April), MAR Water Project Water Cleaning System, Tanks, Pump Station, Electrical Cabinets and Bore Headworks/pumps (April – June).
- Irrigation: Sprinkler distance indicator replacement in 2026 (winter – summer).
Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses