Oatlands Enews – Friday 18th March 2022
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- 2022-23 Membership Renewal
- 2021 Annual Presentation Dinner – Saturday 30th April 2022
- From the Course
- Farewell to Kelly Roveto
- Rowan Easterbrook Wins Royal Sydney Seniors Medal
- 2022 Golfing Programme
- Wednesday Competition Prizes extended to 4 Divisions
- Hole in One – Rowan Easterbrook – 18th hole, Friday 18th March 2022
- Husband & Wife Trophy – Sunday 27th March – Advanced Bookings
- Pennant Update
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Recent Trophy Winners
- Upcoming Events
2022-23 Membership Renewal
Members are reminded that the Club’s 2022-23 Membership renewal is due by 31st March 2022.
Each year, Golf Clubs see an inevitable number of membership resignations for a range of reasons. While we never like to see members leave the Club, we wish any resigning members well for their future endeavours. Resignations from Club membership to date has been well below the historical average for this time over the last 10 years. For each resignation received, the Club has been able to offer a new membership to someone on the waitlist with their membership to commence 1st April 2022. At the time of writing we still have over 30 new applicants on the waitlist and are set to start our new membership year in the strongest membership position for almost two decades.
With a little under two weeks until the end of the 2021-22 membership year, members who pay their subscription in full each year, are reminded that fees can be paid online, Monday – Friday via the Clubhouse Reception, or through the Pro Shop on weekends. Members who pay by the month do not need to do anything unless you are planning on changing membership category or resigning.
As of 1st April 2022, any member who is unfinancial will be placed on hold pending payment of the annual subscription or notification to resign.
As of 15th April 2022, unfinancial members will be resigned automatically to facilitate new memberships for those on the waiting list.
If members have any questions relating to membership, please direct them to the Club’s Reception.
We are all looking forward to a 2022-23 membership year with far less disruption to the Club operations as a result of Covid restrictions and extreme weather events (fingers and toes crossed)!
2021 Annual Presentation Dinner – Saturday 30th April 2022
Members are reminded of the postponed 2021 Annual Presentation Dinner re-scheduled for Saturday 30th April 2022.
This has historically been one of the most popular events on the Club’s event calendar and sees the major mens and mixed trophy winners from 2021 recognised.
Unfortunately, this event was unable to be held following the 2021 Men’s Club Championship Final due to the Covid situation at the time, however, with Covid restrictions seemingly behind us, we are hoping to get a good turn up to this popular event.
Bookings can be made via the online timesheet listed on Saturday 30th April or by contacting reception at administration@oatlandsgolf.com.au
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 20.0mm, Rainfall for 2022: 839.0mm Dam: 100% Green Speed: 9 feet
The course team have continued to clean up and repair the course this week, with the assistance of the volunteers on Monday morning; this is very much appreciated. The chainsaws were out and the large branch that fell between the 3rd and 4th fairways was cut up and picked up, and another large limb behind the 2nd green / 5th tee was also cut up and cleaned up. I reported a few weeks ago that a large tree on the 16th got struck by lightning, well another tree between the 4th and 6th fairways has also been struck with the same marks along the trunk of the tree. The leaves on these two trees are starting to brown off and will soon start falling. Our plan was to get the tree contractors in to remove the limbs from the tree on the 16th and remove the dead tree above the 11th women’s tee during the course closure for greens renovations. The recent wet weather could stop these works from proceeding if the course remains too wet for the large trucks and crane to access the course, as they will cause too much damage to surfaces. A final decision on this tree work will be made the week before greens renovations.
The focus for the course team this week has been mowing to get playing surfaces back to regular standards as quickly as possible, whilst keeping path edges, tree bases, pond edges and distance posts all trimmed as well. Therefore, we have left the repair work of bunkers to focus on our turf playing surfaces. There is also a prediction of further showers and rain over the next week, so we will use our experience from past events to judge when the most appropriate time is to perform the necessary repair work to our bunkers.
We have continued to needle tine greens this week to provide the root systems of these surfaces some relief from the waterlogged conditions they have had to endure recently. This is helping surfaces to dry out as well, so staff must stay alert to ensure greens don’t dry out too much, which is an added stress the plant doesn’t need at the moment. A few greens required hand watering on Tuesday, which might seem crazy so soon after so much rain last week. Large amounts of rain like last week can cause a hydraulic pull of water through the soil profile, particularly on high maintenance areas such as greens.
The team has also used the broom attachment on the Ventrac to flick out mud and decaying material from low lying areas on fairways. The grass in these areas is already struggling as it has been flooded for long periods, and old grass clippings and dirt has washed in with this water. Once this water evaporates, it leaves behind a layer of organic material which will kill the grass below it, as the grass has no available sunlight. The broom removes this decaying material which allows the grass to start recovering. We are also going to verti drain all fairways with the 12th completed so far.
The protection of the course playing surfaces is the priority when making calls regarding course closure and the availability of cart use each day, this is even more important with the current weather conditions we are experiencing and the fact that we are heading into the colder months of the year where growth and recovery from damage is reduced. The moisture levels in the ground are high, and it doesn’t take large amounts of rainfall to change the conditions very quickly, which means carts can be cancelled quickly as we unfortunately saw on Wednesday morning.
This weekend we will be cutting greens both mornings. Enjoy the Weekend!
The Course Team.
Farewell to Kelly Roveto
We wish to advise members that the Club’s Event Supervisor, Kelly Roveto, will be leaving us on Thursday 24th March to take up a senior events and wedding role at the Kirribilli Club.
Kelly has been with the Club for just over 4 years, starting as a casual bar attendant, moving into a more senior bar role and then into the Events Supervisors role.
Kelly has made a significant contribution to the success of the Club in recent years, particularly given the impact of Covid on the clubhouse operation. Her willingness to take on any role through the lockdown, including manning the takeway cafe while the Clubhouse was shut, ensured the Club was able to provide the best possible service to members given the circumstances.
Kelly will be missed by members and fellow staff alike, and we wish her well in her new role.
Rowan Easterbrook Wins Royal Sydney Senior Medal
OGC Member, Rowan Easterbrook, won the prestigious Royal Sydney Senior Medal this week.
In a very strong field of golfers and in difficult conditions, Rowan recorded a score of 76 (+4) to win the event.
Rowan is having a good run on the course with a hole in one today (noted further along in this Enews) and is an integral part of the Club’s Men’s Major Pennant side that recently won their Division 2 pool and are in an upcoming semi-final for a place in Division 1 in 2023.
2022 Golfing Programme
Members wishing to view the full year annual golfing programme can do so by clicking on the link below. This programme will also be listed on the Club’s website under Club Documents. Please note, this programme is subject to change and the website fixtures listings will always be the most up to date if there is any difference between fixtures.
Click Here for the OGC Golf Programme 2022
Wednesday Competition Prizes extended to 4 Grades
The Match Committee recently completed a review of the prize allocation for Wednesday competitions and has determined that a fourth (D Grade) will be added to the existing three grades of prize allocations.
With the increase in player numbers on a Wednesday, and the 2020 increase to the maximum handicap allowed by Golf Australia, there was a noticeable imbalance of players in C grade on a Wednesday compared to A & B grades. As such, the Wednesday grades will be brought into line with Saturday grades which will see the addition of a D grade winner on Wednesday’s.
Wednesday’s grades (as of Wednesday 23rd March) will be as follows;
- A Grade: up to 8.0
- B Grade: 8.1 to 13.0
- C Grade: 13.1 to 27.0
- D Grade: 27.1 and up
Note: These grades are based on Daily Handicaps
Hole in One – Rowan Easterbrook – 18th Hole, Friday 18th March 2022
OGC Member Rowan Easterbrook has continued his impressive form of late with a hole in one on the 18th hole in today’s QPC&C Tiger Tee Challenge. A video of Rowan’s Hole in One can be seen below.
Well done Rowan!
Husband & Wife Trophy – Sunday 27th March – Advanced Bookings
The Club’s Annual Husband & Wife Trophy is scheduled for Sunday 27th March.
This 4Ball Aggregate event is open to Husband & Wife along with de facto couples.
To encourage participation, the Club would like to offer all eligible couples the opportunity to book for this event prior to the timesheet opening at 4:30pm on Saturday 19th March.
To make an advanced booking, please email Sam Howe on gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au prior to the timesheet opening with your preferred tee time and playing partners if applicable.
The Husband & Wife Trophy was first played in 1971 and won in that year by Mr & Mrs Lentfer.
The most prolific winners have been Bill & Judy Tunks with 3 wins to their credit.
Pennant Update
Men’s Major Pennant
Men’s Major Pennant Semi-final postponed due to recent wet weather. An update will be provided as soon as the fixture is re-scheduled.
Ladies Grade
No updatem on Friday 18th March match vs Cronulla at The Australian GC, at the time of publication.
Ladies Silver II Salver and Bronze II
The wet weather has played havoc with the ladies pennants so far this season.
Silver II managed one game and a bye and as Killara is still unplayable, the final game at Roseville has been abandoned, so no result this year.
The Bronze II team was due to play at Ryde-Parramatta today, but with Ryde-Parramatta closed until April this match has also been abandoned.
Following a washout last week, the team will be hoping for the weather to improve, so their season can get underway.
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 19th March: OGC Memorial Bowl
- Saturday 26th March: NB Carlton Qualifying (top 16 pairs)
- Saturday 2nd April: NB Charlton Matchplay Rd 1
Ladies
- Thursday 24th March: Presidents Cup Matchplay Rd 3
- Thursday 31st March: Club Medal Round 3, GNSW Medal Round 3, Veterans Medal Round 3, Veterans Challenge Brooch
Mixed
- Sunday 27th March: Husband & Wife Trophy
Recent Trophy Winners
The wet weather has delayed the completion of any club trophy events for the last week.
