Oatlands Enews – Friday 4th December 2020
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Bettington Road Memorial Update
- From the Course
- Major Pennant 2020 – A Great Year
- Korean Beer and Soft Drink – Now Available
- Handicap Adjustments Made for Irregular Scoring
- Christmas Cheer – Two Great Club Days
- Short Game Clinics with Jeremy and Christmas Lesson Vouchers
- Care for the Course – Golf Cart Traffic Management
Bettington Road Memorial Update
Members would be aware that since the tragic car accident that killed 4 children on Bettington Road on 1st February this year, that the Club has been in ongoing discussion with the families of the children, and Parramatta Council, regarding a potential permanent memorial for the children.
These discussions have been sensitive and complex, and the Board have taken every measure to balance the desire of the families and the best interest of the Club and its members.
This matter was raised at the Clubs AGM in October where members were advised that any memorial on the Clubs land (core property) would require member approval.
In October the Board received a submission from Council with three options for a permanent memorial. Two of these options were on Council land and therefore the Board had no objection to these. The third option was on Club land and was beyond the scale of what had been discussed with the family’s and Council. As such this option was rejected by the Board. Council have since come back to the Club indicating the families preference to place a memorial on Club land as opposed to Council land. The Club has informed Council that if a proposal is submitted to the Club which the Board considers appropriate to take to the members, such proposal would be taken to the members for consideration at an Extraordinary General Meeting or the next Annual General Meeting.
At the time of writing no further submission has been received.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 13.0mm Rainfall for 2020: 1,153.5mm Dam: 85% Green Speed: 9 feet
Green Health over Speed!
We managed the greens through the hot weekend without any damage to any of the putting surfaces, which was a good achievement by the team considering that records were broken with the temperatures that were reached and we hadn’t even begun summer yet!
Several fungicides, wetting agent and fertiliser applications have been made to the greens over the past 7 days. The weather that we have been experiencing creates unfavourable growing conditions for the turf species which we have on our greens. Add to this that the majority of our greens are over 80 years old with no sub surface drainage, and the whole scenario makes it even more difficult for our greens and creates an environment for disease to thrive. Members will have noticed some patches which have developed on the greens over the past week or two, as a result of a wet soil profile during the week or two of wet weather followed by the hot weather over the last week. The applications over the past week have got this disease under control and our program will keep the greens cleaner heading into the summer months.
The winds that brought the hot air last weekend also brought down a large amount of debris onto the course. The course staff as well as the volunteers spent all of Monday tidying up this debris using our 2 blowers, vacuum and hand rakes to full effect. Over 60 hours was spent on Monday alone simply tidying up greens, tees, bunkers and fairway surfaces with further vacuuming of roughs continuing into Tuesday.
New trees have been planted along the left hand side of the 6th fairway in an effort to provide more protection to the houses that line the boundary of this hole, and at the same time direct players vision on the tee towards the right side of the fairway. There were 3 types planted being Lilly Pilli’s, Lemon Myrtle’s and Melaleuca linariiflora.
As mentioned previously, our volunteers were on course on Monday morning assisting with the clean-up of debris from the weekend. Thank you, gentlemen, for all your help this week, and every week!
Have a good weekend!
The Course Team.
Major Pennant 2020 – A Great Year
The Clubs major pennant contested the second leg of the Division 2 semi-final away to Penrith GC on Sunday 29th November. After a narrow loss at home earlier in the year our side needed to win the match 5-2 in order to progress to the final and automatic promotion do Division 1.
The conditions on Sunday were horrible for golf with the temperature at Penrith reaching 42 degrees and a strongly westerly wind a challenge for all golfers.
Our side put up a good fight but fell short with Penrith getting up and progressing to the final.
Congratulations to all players for their commitment of the unusually long season that included multiple Covid delays.
Thanks also to Rodney Walsh who after 8 years of managing the team is stepping down after this season, Rodney’s commitment and passion for the team and the players has been wonderful for the Club and for all the players that have represented the Club during his tenure as manager.
With the 2021 Major Pennant commencing early in 2021 we are pleased to announce that Ken Doolan has accepted the role as team manager and Rodney’s replacement. We wish him well and are confident that he will build on the success of the 2020 season.
Korean Beer and Soft Drink – Now Available
Following the Clubs successful Korean BBQ night in October the Club has been approached by some of our members requesting that the Club stock some Korean beer and soft drink options. As such and effective tomorrow the Club now have two Korean bottled beers available from the Bar and two soft drink options available from Pro Shop.
Korean Bottle Beer: Kloud and Cass
Soft Drink: Chill Cider and Lets Coffee
Handicap Adjustments Made for Irregular Scoring
The Match Committee would like to make members aware that in line with recent communication regarding scoring integrity the Club Captain / Handicapper and Management have been reviewing a number of scoring irregularities that have been occurring, particularly in the Tiger Tee Challenge, and have made a number of artificial handicap adjustments in the interest of scoring integrity and member equity with regard to the winning of prizes.
An example of one of these adjustments is outlined in the below communication sent to a member. This has had the name removed however will give concerned members an insight into how the Match Committee are handling these issues;
Good Afternoon Mr. xxxx
Following a recent review of scoring in the Clubs weekly Tiger Challenge by the Clubs Handicapper / Club Captain, a decision has been made to apply a 4 shot reduction to your handicap on the following grounds.
Since 1st July this year you have played 5 competition rounds at Oatlands Golf Club, 4 of which have been in the Clubs Tiger Tee Challenge, where the course is set up at its most difficult and returned scores of 36 points or more on each occasion. Over the same period, you have played at Oatlands socially 89 times.
As such, the handicapper believes that your handicap is not an accurate reflection of your golfing ability. Therefore, in line with the Golf Australia handicapping regulations, a handicap adjustment of 4 shots has been applied as of today with your new GA handicap now xxx.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
xxxx
Christmas Cheer – Two Great Club Days
The Clubs popular Christmas Cheer Ham and Turkey days took place this week on Wednesday and Thursday.
Both days were shotgun starts with almost 200 members playing on Wednesday and 90 members on Thursday.
Over 100 Hams and Turkeys were given out over the two days with presentation following each of the 3 shotgun starts and members needing to attendance to claim their prize.
The atmosphere in the Club for each presentation was absolutely fantastic with the respective Men’s and Ladies Presidents and Captains announcing the winners and a range of volunteers on hand to hand them out.
We would again like to thank the tireless John Carey who organised the Ham’s and Turkey’s including picking up and delivering them on Thursday due to the Clubs limited freezer space. John Carey was also assisted by Club President George Issac, Dick Peet and Stephen Jones who bagged up all the prizes on Wednesday prior to presentation. If the measure of a club was on the contribution of its volunteers and / or the willingness of its members to lend a helping hand, then Oatlands is the measure of all others.
Social Golf – Maximise of 2 balls Only
Members are reminded that when playing socially a maximum of two golf balls can be played at a time and only if this does not hold up play.
The image below was taken on the morning of Friday 4th December and shows that someone has hit 9 golf balls from the same place on the 13th hole.
Any member who is caught breaching this Club rule will face disciplinary action up to and include suspension of booking rights.
Short Game Clinics with Jeremy Ward and Christmas Lesson Vouchers
4 week (1 hour) Clinic focusing on SHORT GAME ONLY. 4 week program includes:
- Friday 11th December – Week 1 – Chipping – How to create backspin and the correct technique for the flop shot
- Friday 18th December – Week 2 – Pitching – How to control ball flight and distance
- Tuesday 22nd December – Week 3 – Putting – A variety of drills to help with short & long putts plus the importance of routine
- Tuesday 29th December – Week 4 – Bunkers – Bunker technique and how to get out of a bunker every time
10:00am to 11:00am
Total cost Per Member – $195
Booking available through the Online Booking Sheet or by contacting the Pro Shop.
For more details please contact Jeremy Ward in the Pro Shop, golfoperations@oatlandsgolf.com.au
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.