Oatlands Enews – Friday 30th June 2023
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Family Membership Incentive – 50% Joining Fee Reduction for Immediate Family
- Last Chance to make a Tax Deductible Donation for our Junior Development Programme in the current Tax Year
- From the Course
- New Golf Cart Fleet Arriving Soon with in-cart GPS
- Member Event Survey – What Events Do You Want?
- Complimentary Visitor Vouchers for all Full and 6-Day Playing Members
- Pennant Update
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Members Only Facebook Group
Family Membership Incentive – 50% Joining Fee Reduction for Immediate Family
The Board and Membership Committee of Oatlands Golf Club are pleased to announce a new membership initiative designed to encourage immediate family of our existing membership to join our wonderful Club.
Starting 1st July, all immediate family of an existing member in any of the Club’s playing membership categories, will be eligible for a 50% reduction to the joining fee of the respective category in which they join.
Eligibility criteria are listed below:
- Must be in one of the following relationships with a current Playing Member of the Club.
- Spouse including defacto*
- Children including in-law relationships*
- Parents including in-law relationships*
- Siblings
* Defacto and in-law relationships require verification via a shared address on a photo ID or marriage certificate.
This is an exciting opportunity for existing members of the Club and one that we hope will continue to build the strong family and intergenerational culture that is one of the hallmarks of OGC.
For further information on this incentive or to make an application, please contact Kathy Bright via email: administration@oatlandsgolf.com.au or by phoning the Club Reception.
Last Chance to make a Tax Deductible Donation for our Junior Development Programme in the current Tax Year
The Club would like to remind members of the opportunity to make a fully tax deductible donation to the Club’s highly successful Junior Development and High Performance Programmes through the Australian Sports Foundation by 30th June 2023, by clicking on the link below and following the prompts;
https://asf.org.au/donate/elite-player-development-programme
Our junior programme is one of the largest and most active in Sydney, and in recent years, under the guidance of Jeremy Ward, has seen the programme evolve to a point where the Club now has almost 40 boys and girls with GA handicaps and 9 boys and girls, 16 years or younger, with single figure handicaps.
This programme is fantastic for the future of the Club’s membership, but also fantastic for the kids who have the opportunity to take part, with golf a game for life that teaches our kids valuable life lessons, along with the rules and etiquette that are an integral part of our great game.
The programme costs the Club approximately $40,000 per annum, and this fundraising initiative (in-conjuction with the recent JDP Fundraising Golf Day) plays an important role in growing the programme for the future of the Club.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 7.5mm, Rainfall for 2023: 555.0mm, Dam: 100% Green Speed: 10.0 feet
Work on the course this week has concentrated on the 8th flyover, with final shaping of the introduced soils being performed, as well as the installation of the new Geohex through the centre of this area. In the past, we have filled the hexagon shaped holes with blue metal, but we have chosen to use a brown decomposed granite for a more natural presentation of this pathway. Decomposed granite has been used for pathways in the past around the course, but not in conjunction with the Geohex product. We have all but been guaranteed that the Geohex will stop the granite from being washed away with rainfall, as has happened in the past and why pathways were replaced with concrete.
With the final shaping completed, we were able to source part of the required turf for this site, with this initial turf laid either side of the new path, which will protect the path should we receive any significant rainfall. It is always a gamble leaving exposed soils open to the elements, as they can wash away easily with a heavy downpour of rain.
We have also started needle tining greens this week, with all the back 7 greens completed, with the 1st, 7th, Chipper, Nursery, Practice and Putting greens also completed. The remaining greens will be completed next week in and around members play with very little interruptions.
We are continuing with our dusting program throughout the winter months, with the amount of sand applied to putting surfaces reduced to match the growth rates on the greens. During the warmer months when growth is increased, we will also increase the amount of sand we apply with each dusting. The sand is a thatch management tool, with high amounts of thatch creating spongy playing surfaces, and providing favourable conditions for disease pathogens to develop.
Our wonderful volunteers were on course Monday morning, preparing bunker before the competition players, adding mulch to the right hand side area on the 11th hole, practice net cleaning and checking, and clubhouse maintenance. Mike Cuming has been busy preparing the rose garden for fertilising, with the blooms in Spring to be in abundance! Thank you to all those involved this week; it is very much appreciated by the course staff and your fellow members.
Looking forward to the Winter Eats & Beats event in the clubhouse on Friday 14th July, with live music from Georgie Lyons, and new offerings on the Bistro Menu! See you up there for a catch up!
Greens will be cut on Saturday, with only the dew being removed from them on Sunday.
Have a great weekend and happy golfing!
The Course Team.
New Golf Cart Fleet Arriving Soon with in-cart GPS
The Club is in the process of upgrading our golf cart fleet from Yamaha Carts to Club Cars.
The new Club Car Carts will include in-cart GPS which will not only improve the experience for the user, but will also provide protection for the golf course through the ability to geo-fence sensitive areas of the golf course.
The new carts will arrive in 6-8 weeks.
In the meantime, a temporary fleet of Club Cars have been provided to replace 22 of the Yamaha Carts which have been operating beyond their designated lease period due to supply issues.
The new cart fleet will be a big step forward for member experience, course care and cart management.
Member Event Survey – What Events Do You Want?
The Oatlands Hospitality and Events team would love to get feedback on what type of events you would like to see held at the Club.
Please complete the form below to provide feedback on the ideas listed or if you have any ideas we haven’t considered.
Member Survey - Club Event Ideas
Complimentary Visitor Vouchers for all Full and 6-Day Playing Members
All Full Playing (Full, Intermediate and Junior) and 6-Day members are reminded that your membership includes an annual allotment of complimentary Visitor Vouchers.
These vouchers last until the end of the membership year (31st March), analysis of redemption in the last membership year shows that under 50% are utilised.
These vouchers are a great way to introduce friends and family to your Club through a complimentary round of golf.
To check the available Visitor Vouchers each member has available, please visit the MEMBER ACCOUNTS section of the website or speak to a member of the Pro Shop staff.
Pennant Update
Master Pennant
Master Pennants Results – Relegation Semi-Final
After a very tough season, our Master Pennant team were required to play in the relegation playoffs to remain in Division 2.
Under pressure to perform, we weren’t let down by a team of fighters with Oatlands defeating Beverley Park 5 matches to 3.
Great wins from Dave Osborne, Steve Doherty, Mike McKechnie, Simon Perry and Russ Brooks getting us over the line once again on the 18th hole.
Throughout the season everyone played as a team and gave there all despite always being up against very strong opponents.
Looking forward to everyone being even better for next year, keep practicing and thanks for an enjoyable season!
Rod Butcher
Team Manager and Captain
Interclub Pennant
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!”
What a great effort from the Interclub team to finally make the final of this prestigious event.
It started so well, clear skies, no wind, high energy and excitement, greens running at 12. As the day went on, it got tougher and tougher with strong winds swirling making club selection almost impossible and sinking putts was a lottery.
Mark Robinson and Ed McCann kicked off proceedings and played some great golf to be up most of the day with Mark holding on to win his match 3/1 but unfortunately Ed was run down, losing on the 18th 2 down. Our No 5 &6, Blair McDonald and James Roberts found their opponents too tough and both went down 4/3. Our number 3, Ian Priest, once again showed his grit and determination winning 3/2 with our number 4 ,Tom McMurtry, halving his match on 18 after his opponent made a fantastic up and down from the back of the green.
It then came down to Luke Mason and Grant Lomas, with Luke all square playing the 18th and Grant 1 up. We needed a half and a win from the boys to force a play off. Unfortunately we could only conjure up a half from the final pairing, with their opponents both making unbelievable up and downs from almost impossible locations, which left us agonizingly short going down 5/3.
The Oatlands team did the club proud, fighting all day but fell agonizingly short. Four matches going to the 18th. A fantastic season by all. A special mention goes to Mark Robinson with an unbeaten record this season (how he is playing off 10 is beyond comprehension).
See you all next year for one better!
Blair McDonald
Interclub Captain / Manager
Bronze I Pennant
Bronze I played their first match today and suffered a loss away to North Ryde (at Ryde-Parramatta).
Recent Trophy Event Winners
Ladies Oatlands Cup and Long Markers KO
Congratulations to the winners of the Ladies Oatlands Cup and Long Markers Knockout.
In yesterday’s finals, Eileen Stratford defeated Anna Kim 3/2 to win the Oatlands Cup and Kam Chee Wong defeated Carole Blonk 3/2 to win the Long Markers Knockout. Congratulations ladies!
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 1st July – Foundation Day
- Saturday 8th July – Winter Medal
- Sunday 9th July – Father & Son and Parent and Child Trophy
- Saturday 29th July – Legacy Cup
Ladies
- Thursday 6th July – Foundation Day
- Sunday 9th July – Parent & Child
- Sunday 9th July – 2Ball Handicap Matchplay Final
- Thursday 20th July – Club Medal
- Thursday 27th July – Captain’s vs President’s
Mixed
- Sunday 2nd July – WS Targett Fourball Knockout Qualifying
- Sunday 9th July – Parent & Child
- Sunday 16th July – WS Targett Fourball Knockout Quarter-Finals
- Sunday 23rd July – WS Targett Fourball Knockout Semi-Finals
- Sunday 30th July – WS Targett Fourball Knockout Final
Members Only Facebook Group
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 380 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/
