Course Update
The courses continue to enjoy the warm dry autumn. Maintenance tasks across the courses have been prioritised to enable a consistent high level of presentation delivery for all member and guest events.
Low rainfall levels continue in 2025 with only 119mm (4.8 inches) recorded year to date, compared to 229mm (9.2 Inches) for the corresponding period in 2024. A variance of 110mm (4.4 Inches).
Watering requirements have reduced from the normal summer levels but have remained a key task and coincide with the extended stretch of warm dry weather. Water resources remain high.
Our deliberate focus and goal to delicately position the turf surfaces for the onset of the cooler months remains our key priority. A detailed level of preparation with specific programs implemented and associated product inputs is required to achieve this goal. (These programs can be seen listed below).
See below a range of course photos captured by our drone this month:
Bunker Renovations Program
Our detailed annual renovation program of bunkers and wastelands is in progress. The program consists of tasks that include, but are not limited to, edge and walk-in trimming, wall and floor contouring, face compaction, lip stability, sand addition and redistribution, walk-in repairs and over-sowing.
This program will remain in progress throughout the winter months and into early spring.
The images below illustrate some of the recent work and bunkers completed.
Current and Future Maintenance Programs
- Course preparation for Member/Guest events and Club Championship rounds.
- Bunker/wasteland general maintenance and renovation programs (In-progress and ongoing).
- Greens scanning and selective hand-weeding program (May).
- Couch grass encroachment program on green collars. (In-progress).
- Wintergrass (Poa annua) control/prevention program within warm season grass areas. (Programs to continue monthly through to October. (In-progress).
- Warm season grass turf nutrition program on selected areas (Autumn).
- Non desired grass and weed control programs in bunkers, wastelands, roughs, vegetation and creek areas. (In-progress).
- Turf colourant, nutrition and disease prevention programs (April/May/June).
- Pre & Post emergent winter grass control program on the green collars and interface areas. (June/July).
- Course furniture maintenance and non slip treatment of timber sleeper areas (May/June/July).
- Fescue turf replacement in selective areas – 1S Creek bed, 1S PG Surrounds, Range tee and other high traffic wear areas (Autumn/Winter – in progress).
- Non invasive verti-drain (solid tines) renovation of selected fairways/green surrounds/tees (Winter/Spring).
- Rough density reduction and mowing line extension program. (In-progress and ongoing).
- Vegetation maintenance programs that include selected slashing, ecological regenerative burns, dead/hazardous tree removal, blackberry eradication treatment, non indigenous tree suckers and woody weed removal (E.G RHS 7S & 16S). (In progress and ongoing).
- Annual Drainage Program continuation. Target areas 9N fairway, 2S teeing complex and other selected smaller areas (dates to be confirmed but likely in late winter/early spring).
Glenn Stuart
Director of Courses