Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in January 2024

After a few dry weeks early in the month we finished with a much wetter start to summer than expected. The course recorded 116mm of rain for the month with 90mm of that falling in the last 10 days.

The total rainfall for the year was 838mm, which was 1,420mm less than 2022. December was warm with an average maximum temperature of 29 degrees, including 8 days over 30degrees. We are keeping our fingers crossed for some regular rain for the next couple of months, at night of course!

The greens handled the heat and elevated holiday season traffic well with only minor injury incurred during the mid-month heat wave. Speeds have slowed which can be attributed to less rolling and slightly less frequent cutting to manage the heat and the increased number of golfers.

It is important to remember that the health and well being of our greens takes priority over their speed during summer.

A solid tine of greens is scheduled for mid-January to relieve some compaction and assist in air and water movement within the profile.

The tees were beginning to feel the heat early in the month but really appreciated the rain later on but are in great condition, showing the benefit of earlier organic applications. The 3^rd tee is doing well and wear is being managed on the back part of the tee as much as possible, as well as regular fertiliser and pesticide applications to keep it going.

Once again, I’d like to remind members to fill divots on tees. It is very disappointing to see the lack of care shown by some golfers, particularly on the par 3 tees. I also ask members using the practice tee to be more considerate with their divot patterns and repair.

Like the tees, the fairways were also starting to dry out with the warm start to December. The late rain and organic fertiliser application saw them bounce back very quickly to superb condition late in the month. As mentioned last month, we have a major blockage in the storm water pipe on the 8^th fairway. This pipe is responsible for carrying water from Joseph Street, including the suburb on the other side of the road, as well as all storm water collected on the course North of the 5^th green.

A small pipe was installed across the 8^th fairway, not to solve the problem, but to temporarily relieve some pressure on water flow until we could hire a large excavator to clear the pipe and install new pipes. This work should go ahead in mid-January.

The bunkers have caused us nothing but headaches during the wet weather and I intend beginning a drainage repair program, similar to the work carried out on the 16^th bunker in the near future.

Shay Tasker
Course Manager