Notice to Members
Just a quick update on the Driving Range, 9th Green and 19th Green Upgrades. Justin has indicated in a video presentation (see below) that the couch on the range is taking a little longer to cover due to the poorer soil conditions. However, in saying that, we have rolled the Driving Range with a 13 tonne roller on Thursday to help promote horizontal root growth and have since fertilized and irrigated the entire range, so hopefully this will give the couch stolons the boost they need. Matt is currently using the range for lessons; however, we would envisage the range will not be fully operational until the end of February. We appreciate your patience and hope as you see the new Undercover Driving Range nearing completion, you see what a wonderful new facility the Club has going forward.
The 9th Green was planted a couple of weeks prior to the 19th and therefore the grass coverage is well advanced. It had its last sanding on Wednesday and was mowed this morning to 4mm. It certainly looks fantastic and we will be looking to open this hole for play on Saturday the 15th of February
The 19th although being planted 2 weeks behind the 9th green showed good early growth, and we initially thought that it may be possible to open this green at the same time as the 9th. However, the local ducks have been having a smorgasbord on the new growth, and despite all our best efforts we were finding it hard to keep them off it. Through trial and error we think we have found a way to keep them off and the green is starting to respond to the program of fertilization and irrigation. We are doing our utmost to have this green opened on the 7th March, but a final decision will be made as we monitor the growth and we get closer to that date.
When we bring the 9th Hole into play and terminate the use of the temporary green on that hole, we will reinstate the 24th Hole to its full length and shift the temporary hole to the 19th fairway. A temporary green has been designed and will be ready for use when this occurs.
We are certainly within sight of the finish line of our major projects and look forward to the members enjoying the new 19th Hole, 9th Green and the Driving Range Facility.
Greens Chairman
Mark Dodd