Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in August 2025

August wasn’t what we were hoping for, weather-wise. After heavy rainfall in early July, the course was just starting to recover when we copped another 258mm of rain, with only five sunny days the whole month. A couple of warm days at the end nudged the average maximum temperature just over 18 degrees. With that rainfall, our year-to-date total has just ticked over 1,000mm—Sydney’s yearly average is about 1,100mm.

Despite the conditions, the greens held up nicely. They did flood during the heavy downpours, but the water drained away quite quickly. The planned renovations for mid-August had to be adjusted due to the weather; instead of hollow tining and topdressing, we used solid tines.

Soil amendments were applied, and the greens have bounced back well. We’ll keep verti-draining with solid tines each month until the next renovation which is set for November.

Green speeds registered at 10’2, not counting wet days or immediately post-renovation. Applications for Poa seed control have begun and have been quite effective so far.

The tees managed to hang on through a cold, wet August. Some shady tees started to suffer, but warmer days at the end of August and into early September are bringing them back. Tees on the 3rd, 12th, and 16th are still struggling, and we’ll consider turf work on those once soil temperatures rise and the couch starts growing again.

All tees are set for renovation in November after the Championships are finished.

Fairways, especially the low spots, had a tough time as we’ve seen with wet spells before, but most are already recovering. We’re lowering the height of cut in preparation for Championships. We are also trialling a biological treatment for Ground Pearl on several of the worst-affected patches as the growing season kicks off.

Like the tees, fairway renovations are scheduled for November. Just a reminder to members: please repair divots on the fairways, especially now while the ground is still soft and the Championships are just around the corner.

Bunkers spent most of August more like ponds than sand traps. That said, the bunkers on the 1st and 9th, with the new sand, stayed completely dry and performed well. Work on the 11th bunkers was mostly put on hold because of the rain, but we’ll resume work as soon as possible. The goal is to have them ready for Championships.

Shay Tasker
Course Manager