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This week’s Enews covers the following topics:

• From the Course
• Ladies Annual Dinner – What a Great Night!!!
• Care for the Course – Golf Cart Traffic Management
• Volkswagen Scramble Results
• Christmas Cheer – Ham & Turkey Days
• Bistro on Bettington – Rename and Win
• Out of Bounds Register – 1st, 6th and 12th Hole
• Upcoming Events

From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 8.5mm Rainfall for 2020: 1,140.5mm   Dam: 85%   Green Speed: 9 feet

Green Health over Speed!

The team has been able to trim around all tree bases, valve boxes and drainage pits this week with the addition of our summer casuals. We have also been able to hand weed in the rocks of the 9^th pond and along the 19^th creek line. These casuals have very little golf course experience being fresh out of year 12, but they are willing to learn and are getting the hang of things quickly.

Greens were dusted on Monday, which is a very light topdressing of sand. This practice helps deliver a smooth, true ball roll on greens and also helps to control thatch build up in the greens profile.

The team started a herbicide spray program on tees last Friday to control summer weeds in our tee complexes. The result is the yellowing of the turf on the 7^th, 9^th and 10^th tees. Our application rates were a little too high on this occasion and some leaf burn has occurred to the couch grass. The weeds have died however, so now we will adjust our application rate so that we get the desired result of weed control and less damage to our couch grass.

We have been able to repair a leaking irrigation pipe behind the 9^th green this week without any disruption to our overnight watering schedule. This leaking pipe was actually the fill line to the tank which is situated on the LHS of the pathway. This is the 4^th leak in this particular pipe work in the last 6 months, so we will be looking at the possibility of replacing this whole line during the winter months when the need for nightly irrigation isn’t as important.

The team will be planting some new trees along the rough line of the 6^th hole next week to provide more protection to the houses that run parallel with our boundary. These plantings will attempt to realign players’ direction off the tee, with their focus being pushed away from the fence line.

Some very warm weather is on the way for the weekend, so we will be putting the health of the greens ahead of all else this weekend. These consecutive hot days on Saturday and Sunday, as well as Tuesday will certainly test our fairways as well. We will be irrigating all surfaces as much as we can each night to replace lost moisture during the day. 

Volunteers were on course on Monday morning performing a bunker run before the competition, blowing fairways, clubhouse maintenance, vacuuming of debris and gurney work on the paths and practice mats on the practice tee. Thank you, gentlemen, for all your help this week, and we look forward to seeing you all next Monday.

This weekend we will be cutting on Saturday, and only removing the dew from the greens on Sunday. Ray will be setting pins on Saturday, and Martyna will be setting them on Sunday.

Have a good weekend! 

The Course Team.

Ladies Annual Dinner – What a Great Night!!!

Golf gear was swapped for glamour gear as the Oatlands ladies enjoyed a lovely evening of good food, a beverage or two, and great company. The function room was stylishly decorated by Denny White and Kate Crawford, our lovely Ladies President Lesleigh Perkins summed up the year that was, the major prize winners were presented with their trophies and we thanked Amanda Walkerden for her commitment and dedication to her role as Lady Captain over the last 3 years. The evening was topped off with a guest appearance from Peter Lonard and Murray Forest who humbly entertained us with stories and achievements from Peter’s golfing career. Another great year at Oatlands and looking forward to 2021!

Care for the Course – Golf Cart Traffic Management

The Match Committee would like to ask all members and their guests who utilise the Clubs motorised carts to please adhered to the traffic management measures in place around the course to limit the damage caused golf carts in the most sensitive areas of the course.

All members are encouraged to watch the short video below by Club General Manager and PGA Professional, Sam Howe.

Volkswagen Scramble Results

The Clubs annual Volkswagen Scramble was held on Tuesday 24th November. This year over 80 competitors took part in the Club Qualifying proudly sponsored by Denlo Volkswagen Parramatta for the chance to qualify for the regional final.

A perfect day greeted the golfers and the scoring was very good in the 4 person ambrose format.

The eventual winners of the day were the team of Alan McGibbon, Kelvin Wheat, Jonathan Kenny and Mark White (pictured below) with a score of 54 & 5/8, narrowly beating the team of Kane Milne, Owen Simonsen, Brenton Cherry and Luke Eustace.

A special thanks to the team at Denlo Volkswagen Parramatta who came on board to sponsor the Clubs local event. Members who are considering a new vehicle should mention that they are members at Oatlands to receive the VW Scramble discount on all new vehicles.

Christmas Cheer – Ham & Turkey Days

The Clubs annual Christmas Cheer Ham & Turkey Days are almost upon us and will be held on the following dates;

• Mens: Wednesday 3rd December: Ham & Turkey
• Ladies: Thursday 4th December: Ham & Turkey
• Mixed: Sunday 6th December: Ham’s only

The Wednesday & Thursday events will be shotgun starts and members are reminded that you must be at the presentation which will occur after each shotgun (Wednesday AM and PM shotguns, Thursday AM only) to receive your Ham or Turkey should you score well enough.

A big thank you to tireless volunteer John Carey for organising over 140 Hams and Turkey’s to be given as prizes across the 3 days.

Bistro on Bettington – Rename and Win

The Board and Staff would like to re-brand the Clubs popular Bistro on Bettington dining event and are offering members the chance to submit suggestions for a new name for the chance to win a dinner for 4 people (including drinks) for the best name suggestion.

The event is fine dining and one of the Clubs most popular events and we would like suggestions that encompass the nature of the fine dining on offer and / or the great camaraderie the Club is famous for.

To enter simply fill in the form below. Entries close 31st December 2020.

Out of Bounds Register – 1st, 6th and 12th Holes

Members will notice that Out of Bounds Registers (as pictured) have been installed on the 1st, 6th and 12th tees.

Whenever a golf ball causes damage to property, the damage is covered under individual member insurance that is part of your membership and affiliation fees paid on your behalf to Golf Australia.

In order for the Club to claim this insurance, we need to be able to determine who struck the golf ball, hence these registers have been installed.

A claim against this insurance does not impact your personal insurances in any way.

Members are requested to please complete the form contained in each register anytime a ball is hit out of bounds on these holes or when a provisional ball needs to be played if there is any doubt as to whether a ball is out of bounds. Without this register, the cost of any damage is payable by the Club.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Upcoming Member and Guests Events

The Club has a range of Member Events planned for the month ahead that we hope you will join us for and bring along friends and family:

Bistro on Bettington November – January