Oatlands Enews – Friday 31st March 2023
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Membership Renewals 2023-23
- From the Course
- Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf
- Easter Trading
- School Holiday Junior Clinic with Max Dakic
- Practice Facility Protocol
- US Masters Breakfast – Monday 10th April 2023
- PING Fitting Day – 13th April 2023 – Limited Space Available
- Pennant Update
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Members Only Facebook Group – Join in the Fun
Membership Renewals 2023-23
Today is the last day of the 2022-23 Membership year and the final day for members to renew before bookings rights are temporarily placed on hold, and for those not renewing, ahead of formal resignation on 15th May.
The 2023-24 renewals have been very strong, particularly given the current economic pressures, and the Club looks to start the new membership year in one of its strongest positions by historical standards.
As always, we are sad to lose Club members, with resignations a result of a range of factors including moving away, illness or injury preventing golf, or increased family commitments. For any member receiving this Enews for the last time, we wish you well and convey our thanks and gratitude for your time at Oatlands and remind you that you are always welcome back.
To all the members that have renewed for the new year ahead, we look forward to another exciting year of golf, a range of new and existing club events to bring us together, and the next chapter in the long history of our great Club.
Note: The Admin Office will be open on Saturday 1st April 2023 from 10am – 2pm.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 22.5mm, Rainfall for 2023: 386.0mm Dam: 100% Green Speed: 9.5feet
It was a wet start to the week with the greens going under water on Monday morning after a short but heavy down pour. The cloudy and cooler weather that has been around for most of the week, hasn’t allowed greens to dry at all and therefore surfaces have remained wet and soft. Green speed is reduced when the greens are like this, but the greens are very healthy.
All tee complexes have been sprayed this week with a tank mix containing a pre-emergent herbicide for winter weeds and two insecticides. One of the insecticides was a knockdown product to control pests already in these areas, and the other product was a residual insecticide to provide cover against any insects for several months. This application required watering in to be most effective, so the rainfall was ideal for this.
All green surrounds have been sprayed with growth regulator to control the growth between weekly cuts, which will inevitably present a better playing surface. Our green and bunker surrounds are the last remaining areas to be sprayed for winter weeds, with this work to begin next week.
Work has started on the rejuvenation of the 1st fairway bunker, with the base of this bunker being cleared of weeds, debris and loose soil. The drainage lines have also been cleared and checked, and hopefully we will have the bidim cloth lining installed by the weekend, with drainage, bunker mat and sand to follow next week.
Members may have noticed lots of small mud/dirt spots on fairways whilst playing over the past few weeks. These are worm castings being brought about by the wet soil profiles in our fairways. They do say worms are good for soils, so our fairway soils must be in great condition.
Our volunteers arrived for a mornings work on Monday but were washed out by the heavy rain, with clubhouse repairs still being performed. Thanks to everyone that turned up, and thanks to John and Joe for the work to the clubhouse!
We will be cutting greens on Saturday and only removing dew from the greens on Sunday.
Have a great weekend!
The Course Team
Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf
With the recent update to the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2023, the R&A have just produced a fantastic ‘Quick Guide to the Rules’ to assist new and long-term golfers alike with their knowledge of the rules and etiquette of golf.
All members are encouraged to watch this short 12minute video.
Easter Trading
The Golf Course, Clubhouse and Pro Shop will be open for members and guests over the Easter Holiday with the following adjustments to normal operations:
Good Friday – 7th April
- Golf: Medley Competition, two tee start AM and PM
- Clubhouse: Sandwich Hut Closed
Easter Saturday – 8th April
- No change
Easter Sunday – 9th April
- No change
Easter Monday – 10th April
- Golf: US Masters Stableford, 9:30am Shotgun Start
- Clubhouse: US Masters Breakfast from 6am / Sandwich Hut Closed
We wish all members a happy and safe Easter long weekend!
School Holiday Junior Clinic with Max Dakic
On the Tuesday 11th of April, OGC Professional Max Dakic, will be running a Junior School Holiday Clinic for members and guests. The clinic will cover all aspects of the game including driving, pitching, chipping, bunkers and putting. Food and beverage will be provided to the students involved in the clinic. Golf clubs are available for juniors who don’t own clubs.
Clinic Price – $90p
Duration – 2Hrs 30Mins (11:00am – 1:30pm)
To make a booking, please call the Pro Shop or visit the Club website.
Practice Facility Protocol
The Club has received feedback recently around members uncertainty as to the protocol for use of our Practice Facilities when multiple golfers want to utilise the limited facilities available.
It is difficult to implement a policy that captures all configurations of use, however the policy in place, as indicated on the signage on the practice range tee and green, is as follows:
Practice Priority
Right of way for the use of this practice area is based on the “First In” principle and common courtesy.
Note: Coaching staff have right of way at all times.
In a practical sense, this means that if someone is utilising the practice fairway, they have right of way. In the event that they are hitting balls from the practice mats, additional golfers are welcome to hit balls from one of the 5 other practice mats, however hitting balls from halfway down the practice fairway or close to the green would not be allowed. In this instance, the second golfer should look to utilise the pitching area behind the clubhouse, the practice green adjacent to the 11th green, or adjust their planned practice accordingly.
Following on from this, members are reminded that while our practice facilities are good in comparison to many other Clubs, they are limited by the available land, and as such golfers practicing need to be mindful not to monopolise certain areas of the practice facilities. This is where the principle of ‘common courtesy comes in’. As an example, in the image below we can see a member practicing in a fashion that monopolises the use of a particular hole on the putting green, with golf balls surrounding a single hole. This type of drill is perfectly acceptable when it is quiet (outside of competition tee times as is the case in this photo), however would be unfair to other golfers in the middle of a busy competition field.
Monopolising Practice Areas
In all situations, PGA coaching staff have right of way when conducting paid lessons for members and guests, and may need to exercise their discretion in taking over parts of our practice facilities that are being used to facilitate the lesson or clinic.
Our Pro Shop staff are responsible for monitoring and managing the use of the Club’s practice facilities and in the event of any member uncertainty, will clarify the priority of access with individual members.
Hitting Balls down the 13th Hole from the Practice Tee
Members are reminded that it is against Club Policy for golf balls to be hit down the 13th fairway from the practice tee unless under the supervision of one of the Club’s PGA Professionals.
This rule is in place for the safety and enjoyment of members, as there is not always a clear line of sight down the 13th fairway from the practice tee, and it is extremely frustrating for members and guests playing the 13th hole to have to look for their ball in a sea of golf balls hit from the 13th tee.
We thank all members in advance for their understanding of practice range priority and trust that by keeping in mind the principle of “first priority” and “common courtesy” that members will be able to maximise the benefits of the Club’s facilities.
US Masters Breakfast and OGC Green Jacket – Monday 10th April 2023
To say OGC has not had a great run at its Masters Breakfast in recent years would be putting it mildly, with 2020 cruelled by Covid, 2021 thrown into disarray due to weather in the US, and 2022 affected by wet weather in Sydney. Despite this, and with our bad luck behind us, every golfer is undoubtedly looking forward to the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, the OGC US Masters Breakfast and Stableford.
But seriously, the US Masters at Augusta Georgia is a tournament like no other and one that catches the imagination of golfers all over the world, and with the tension between the USPGA Tour and LIV at boiling point, and the Masters being one of the few tournaments that all of the world’s best players can compete, the 2023 Masters promises to be one for the ages.
The OGC Masters Breakfast will take place on Monday 10th April. The coverage will commence in the Clubhouse from 6am (hopefully with Aussie Cam Smith in the lead), breakfast served from 7:30am and a shotgun start after the completion of the Masters final round at approximately 9:30am.
The Club runs two events over the 18 holes:
- 18 hole single stableford for the OGC Green Jacket
- Two ball aggregate stableford with each player drawing a tournament player from the Masters and using their final round score to create an aggregate.
Bookings are available via the Club website or by contacting Reception or the Pro Shop.
MEMBERS AND GUESTS ARE WELCOME
PING Fitting Day – 13th April 2023 – Limited Space Available
The Club will be hosting a PING Fitting Day on Thursday 13th April 2023, with spaces limited to just 5 fitting sessions between 8am and 12pm.
- Driver or Fairway Wood – 30 Minutes
- Iron Fitting – 45 Minutes
- Full Set Fitting – 1 Hour
Bookings for the Fitting Day are available via the Club website or by contacting the Pro Shop.
Pennant Update
Silver II
Our Silver II ladies played their last match a fortnight ago with Oatlands hosting the final fixture (and therefore not playing) on Friday 24th March.
It was great to have all the Clubs’ in our division for the final round and lunch, and all were treated with typical Oatlands hospitality that capped off a great season for the seven Club’s in our division. They included:
- Oatlands
- Pennant Hills
- Concord
- Killara
- North Ryde
- Roseville
- Monash
Bronze II
Our Bronze II ladies have been in action over the last few weeks. We had an away match at Pennant Hills on 10th March against Pymble that we lost 4 to 1, an away match at Ryde-Parramatta on 17th March against Concord that we won 3.5 to 1.5, and an away match at Avondale on 24th March against Bayview that we lost 3 to 2.
Our Bronze II ladies are in action again today at Bayview against Avondale. At the time of writing, the matches were still underway.
Recent Trophy Event Winners
The annual Husband & Wife Trophy took place on Sunday 26th March with a strong field of 24 couples contesting the 2 Ball Aggregate event. The winners of the event for 2023 were Neil Hardy and Rhonda Tresnan with a fine score of 77 points to finish 5 points clear of the next best pairing.
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 1st April – NB Charlton Quarter Finals (click here for a copy of the draw)
- Monday 10th April – US Masters Breakfast and Golf
- Saturday 15th April – Club Medal
- Monday 17th April – Wednesday 19th April inclusive – Course Renovation and Closure
- Saturday 29th April – NB Charlton Semi Finals
Ladies
- Thursday 6th April – Grace Norris Trophy Final
- Monday 10th April – US Masters Breakfast and Golf
- Monday 17th April – Wednesday 19th April inclusive – Course Renovation and Closure
Mixed
- Monday 10th April – US Masters Breakfast and Golf
- Monday 17th April – Wednesday 19th April inclusive – Course Renovation and Closure
Members Only Facebook Group – Join in the Fun
The engagement among the membership on our Members Only Facebook group has continued to grow in recent months with posts from members and staff happening daily.
So if you aren’t already part of our Members Only Facebook Group, join up now and join in the fun banter.
We now have over 370 members who have joined the group and hope to see this get closer to 700 in the next 12-months.
Importantly, members are advised that this social media platform will not be used for the Club to communicate critical information, that will remain via the Enews, website and direct email however, it is a place that members and the Club can post interesting Club and golf related items to compliment this Enews.
To join the Members Only Facebook Group please click on the link below and then click on the “JOIN GROUP” button. You will be asked a few questions to verify you are a member and then approved by the group administrator shortly thereafter.
www.facebook.com/groups/870087546972166/
