Oatlands Enews – Friday 20th March
Content
This week’s Enews covers are smaller number of topics with some important news to communicate (and we don’t want to lose readers!!!). As such the following topics will be covered.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Rules of Golf – Temporary modification due to Covid-19
- Volunteers Required to Assist with Greens Renovation
- From the Course
- Pennant Update
- Bridge Club Cancelled Until Further Notice
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Updated Information
The Club sent out a communication to all members yesterday (Thursday 19th March) covering the current advice and range of measures that the Club are undertaking to ensure we play our part in the current global crisis and to ensure members that we are doing everything required and more to provide the safest possible environment for Members and Guests to enjoy the Club facilities.
This communication is available on the news tab of the members homepage of the Club website which can be accessed by clicking on the link below (note, you will need to be logged into the Club website to access this communication.
We will continue to update members as new information comes to hand and the directive from the Australian Department of Health changes. This is an unprecedented situation and the Club are taking unprecedented actions to ensure a safe environment for all. As things currently stand the Course and Clubhouse are open for your enjoyment with a range of measure implemented to reduce the risk of germ transmission. We ask that you please be diligent in adhering to these however also know that the Club and golf courses in general are one of the safest havens to continue to enjoy recreational activity, a much needed outlet in the current uncertain environment.
Change to requirement for non-essential indoor gatherings announced today, Friday 20th March
As of 2:30pm today, the Prime Minister has announced a change to the criteria for non-essential indoor gatherings with indoor venues requiring 4 square metres per person. This criteria does not mean each 4 metres of space can only be occupied by a single person. It simply means that venues only allow a maximum number of people inside based on this ratio, one person per each four square metres available.
Management have reviewed the floor plan of the Clubhouse at Oatlands (see image below) and are currently rearranging the seating in the members bar and function room. The members bar is 340 square metres and the function room is 305 square metres and therefore we have enough space to safely, and in compliance with the Prime Minister’s directive, to host up to 100 people at any given time. With regard to the maximum of 100 people, this includes staff, and as such we will be providing seating for 88 people spread throughout the entire clubhouse. This will mean that in the event that all tables / seats are full, we may need to implement a policy of first in first out to give all members a chance to enjoy the clubhouse facility. We ask for your patience and understanding in the unlikely event that this is required. I say unlikely in reference to this, as a golf timesheet configuration of a two tee staggered for an AM and PM field (even with a full field competition such as tomorrow (Saturday 21st March)) is unlikely to exceed the maximum number allowed at any given time.
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We are a Club built on the strength of our membership and your close relationships with one another. The next few months will be difficult for individuals and businesses alike, and Oatlands is not immune to this, however we want to ensure you all that the safety, health and well being of our members, guests and staff are our highest priority.
The Club and its members will get through this crisis and come out the other side even more resilient than we went in.
The Board, Staff and Management would like to thank all members for their ongoing support and for the feedback provided regarding communications and actions taken to date. As things stand we have no known cases of the virus among our members or staff, we hope and pray that this will continue however if things change we will address them calmly and diligently and continue to communicate with the membership.
We would like to share the video below which is a message of strength, hope and unity, and if we pull together there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Members are encouraged to keep in touch with the Club via the General Manager and don’t hesitate to ask any questions or express any concerns should they arise.
Sincerely,
Sam Howe
General Manager
On behalf of the Board and Staff at Oatlands Golf Club.
Rules of Golf – Temporary modification due to Covid-19
The Royal & Ancient has announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to reduce any hygiene implications related to complying with the Rules of Golf.
The temporary measures are effective immediately and allow the Rules of Golf, and Model Local Rules to be modified as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Scoring
In view of concerns about handling and exchanging scorecards, on a temporary basis, the Club has chosen to allow methods of scoring in stroke play, Stableford and Par that do not strictly comply with Rule 3.3b or do not comply with the normal methods used under Rule 3.3b. These being;
- Players may enter their own hole scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it).
- It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores, but some form of verbal certification should take place.
- Scorecards are to be returned to the box in the Pro Shop for entry by a member of the Pro Shop staff.
Flagstick
- Players are to leave the flagstick in the hole at all times.
Bunkers
- All bunkers are to be treated as NO PLAY ZONES (all rakes are to be removed from bunkers) with free relief.
Volunteers Required to assist with Greens Renovations
The Club are calling for volunteers to assist with upcoming greens renovations on Sunday 5th April – Tuesday 7th April inclusive.
The last two renovations have seen 20-30 additional volunteers to our regular Monday volunteer brigade. The assistance provided by member volunteers during our twice annual renovations are one of the key reason that our course and greens in particular are consistently in such good condition as it allows the course staff to undertake a full renovation which wouldn’t be possible with the 10 staff who maintain our course throughout the year.
The video below gives an idea of the work involved and the invaluable assistance that the volunteers provide;
If you are able to assist, please email the General Manager, Sam Howe at gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au.
Days and times are listed below. Volunteers can assist on any or all of the days.
Sunday 5th April from 1pm
Monday 6th April from 8am
Tuesday 7th April from 8am
Volunteers on Monday and Tuesday will be provided with lunch and drinks throughout the day.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 23.0mm Rainfall for 2020: 534.5mm Dam: 100% Green Speed: 10.0ft
It was a wet start to the week, so with very little play on Monday we were able to aerate the 1st and 11th fairways fairly quickly without interruptions from any players. The piece of equipment we used to aerate these fairways attaches to a tractor and has solid tynes only 4 inches long. The attachment is called an ‘Aeravator’ and when lowered onto the ground the tynes push into the ground. The tynes are attached to a barrel, and as the tractor is driven the tynes roll over and punch a hole into the ground. The Aeravator is PTO driven and this creates a wiggle motion of the tyne as it enters the ground, helping to create a slightly bigger aeration hole. There is some surface disruption during this process which is why we have paint a blue line around the 1st and 11th fairways to clearly define the area for optional preferred lie under our local rule. The warmer weather on Thursday and Friday will encourage growth, as will the fertiliser application that these fairways will also receive this week.
The small dirt crossing near the putting green has been dug out this week and had bitumen placed in this area which will provide a cleaner and stable surface. We also used the excavator to dig out a drainage culvert across the roadway leading down to the 15th tee area. This will now slow any surface water running down this roadway in heavy rainfall periods.
Turf has been laid around the 16th green surrounds, 15th flyover and tree stumps throughout the course. We are in the process of preparing the area behind the 9th green, but this area will be completed on Friday. We will now lay green plastic mesh over the new turf across the 15th flyover to protect this area in the future.
All tees have been fertilised with Urea and potassium to thicken the coverage on them before we head into the cooler months of the year.
All areas of the course have been cut this week including a full cut of roughs again.
Our volunteers were on course on Monday edging paths, picking rocks from the 16th flyover, clubhouse maintenance and stick picking. Thank you gentlemen for your help once again this week.
Enjoy the weekend!
The Course Team.
Pennant Update
Mixed Pennant
Another exciting team win in the Semi Final last Sunday (3-2) against Cronulla at Ryde Parramatta. An incredibly close match. A special mention must go to Lindsay and Justa who withstood the pressure down the 18th to win on the last green to get the team into the final. Well done to you both. But as I have mentioned before, everyone in the team (even if you didn’t play today or get over the line today) has been a part of helping the team get to this stage. Thanks everyone who has played at any stage throughout the season and also for those that were there supporting the team today – Steve, Linda, John, Rodney.
Results:
- Linda Gyzen and Ben Mees Lost 5/4
- Justa Kim and Lindsay MacInnes Won 1Up
- Deb Jepson and Tony Monaghan Won 6/5
- Steph Monaghan and Pete Crawford Won 3/1
- Pixie Sasse and Chris Garland Lost 3/1
Final: This Sunday 22nd March at 11:56am at Monash: Oatlands (1) v Ryde Parramatta (3)
The team for the Final on Sunday is the same as last week:
- Linda Gyzen and Ben Mees
- Justa Kim and Lindsay MacInnes
- Deb Jepson and Tony Monaghan
- Steph Monaghan and Pete Crawford
- Pixie Sasse and Chris Garland
Good luck to all involved.
Major Pennant
The OGC Men’s Major Pennant team played their final match on Sunday 15th March against Glenmore Heritage Valley at Glenmore with the team requiring a halved match or better to win their division. The day’s matches seesawed throughout the day and came down to the wire with Grant Lomas winning 2 &1 (and achieving an undefeated season), Sean Porter coming from 2 down with 3 holes to play to record a half and 17 year old Wil Reece winning his match (playing at number one for the first time) against the previously undefeated and friend of Oatlands, Andrew Robb, 2&1 to see the team record a match result of 3.5 points each and see our home grown heroes win the division.
Unfortunately, subsequent to this result, Golf NSW has postponed all pennants due to the coronavirus and until further notice so our lads will need on further advice on if / when they can play their semi-final match against Penrith GC and a chance to gain promotion to Division one.
Ladies Grade
Golf NSW has postponed all Golf NSW managed Pennant competitions until further notice.
Silver II
This competition is managed by Northern Districts and is currently still being played. An update on results will be provided in next week’s Enews.
Bridge Club Cancelled Until Further Notice
The organisers of the Oatlands Ladies Bridge Club have decided to cancel the monthly Bridge Club until further notice.