Green Renovations
The 2025 Greens Renovation Program is near completion with only the three short game greens remaining to fully complete the program. These will be completed next week. The Course Team have worked very diligently to successfully complete all the course and putting green areas to date. A good recovery response is occurring and mowing maintenance will be reintroduced from next week. The mowing heights will gradually be lowered until we reach our spring-summer levels over the coming weeks/month. Full recovery is expected in the coming 3-4 weeks as originally anticipated.
The greens renovations program was the same as previous seasons. The process consists of coring the greens (10mm hollow tine), applying amendments to correct any soil deficiencies or to benefit turf health, apply sand to refill the core holes, undertake a deeper verti draining of the greens profile (8mm solid tine) to complete the program. This is a vital yearly task that sets the foundations and creates the desired environment enabling the greens to be presented at industry leading standards.
The key benefit in undertaking all the green renovations across both courses in the same period is our members & guests will now importantly have a sustained level of presentation and playability without maintenance disturbance for the next 10-11 months.
Fairway Renovations (Verti-Drain) on North Course
The verti-drain renovation program on the North Course fairways has been completed well and as planned using contractors. The Course Team will continue this program on the delicate areas on tees and greens surrounds in the coming weeks. This renovation will have a positive and significant impact on turf health, drainage capability, disease prevention and more with minimal impact on the playing surface.
Annual Drainage Program
The commencement of our annual drainage program has now begun. The main target areas selected from our drainage master plan for 2025 are sections on the 9N & 17N fairways (see map below). The larger fairway areas require contractor support and other smaller areas (2S blue/white tee complex, 4S, 4N green surrounds will be competed in-house). Work began on 17N whilst the North Course was closed for the greens renovations to limit any impact on members and maximise the program’s productivity. A full hole closure for the weekdays only over a two week period will be required on 9N to safely and productively complete the work. Approximately 1,500m of sub-surface drainage will be installed.
17th North – Approximately 550m has successfully been installed and with the initial turf reinstatement commencing. The works will take another week of turf reinstatement to fully complete.
9th North – This hole will have drainage works begin on 8 September. The works will require two weeks to install during the period of 8-19 September (Monday to Fridays only) and the remainder of September to reinstate for completion. The hole closure periods – “Weekdays only” are on the following dates (8-12 and 15-19 September). Only 17 holes will be in play during these periods with the normal 18 holes returning for the weekends.
Some G.U.R and/or preferred lies and traffic management on the drainage areas will be required whilst the turf is being reinstated and during the consolidation phase post the work.
Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses