Oatlands Enews – Friday 28th June 2024
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- From the Course
- Christmas in July at OGC, Saturday 27th July
- Ladies Oatlands and Long Markers Cup Matchplay Trophies
- DeBortoli Wine Appreciation Dinner, Saturday 17th August
- Oatlands Senior Open
- Governor’s Cup – Rescheduled Date, Saturday 13th July
- Ball Prize Credit – Expires 30th June 2024
- Pennant Update
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
- Upcoming Member Events: July & August
- Members Only Facebook Group
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 32.5mm, Rainfall for 2024: 852.0mm, Dam: 100%, Green Speed: 10.0 feet
The course has dried out remarkably well this week considering that any rainfall we receive at the moment has an increased effect on surfaces, as the sub soils aren’t getting a chance to dry out as they would in the warmer parts of the year. This means if we receive 3mm, its having the same effect as 30mm during the summer months. The course team is as frustrated as the members, as the constant wet conditions are having an impact on the work that we can perform out on the course without causing damage to playing surfaces.
Our greens are in great condition with rolling of these surfaces being the predominant maintenance practice this week to firm up these surfaces. They are slowly drying out and will only become firmer and faster the longer the rain stays away. We can push the greens much harder at this time of the year as they aren’t under any heat or humidity stress like they are in the summer period.
Tees have been aerated this week with solid tines to reduce compaction in the soil profile which in turn will allow rainfall to infiltrate through the profile. Monday was a very productive day with this task while the course was closed, and staff members have worked around play for the remainder of the week to complete all tees with very little impact to members.
Pigment applications to fairways and tee pads were completed last week and provides definition of these surfaces during the winter months. Pigment was applied to greens this week in a tank mix with a herbicide that restricts the seed head forming on the winter grass plants in our putting surfaces. This application is usually made during the night as it has a 4 hour re-entry period, meaning no one can access a surface that has been sprayed for 4 hours after the application, hence why we usually perform this application at night. We took advantage of the course closure on Monday and made this application earlier in the afternoon once the course staff had left at the end of their day.
Fungicide applications to fairways have begun this week to control the patch disease that appears on our fairway surfaces every winter period. This disease lives in the thatch of the turf or between the leaf of the turf and the soil, therefore we must apply a small amount of irrigation after the fungicide is applied to ensure it is placed correctly to control this disease. While irrigation isn’t ideal given the recent weather conditions, this fungicide application is very important for the health and condition of our fairways coming out of winter.
The wet weather is highlighting areas around the course that require drainage work to ensure better access to the course during these rain periods, for all golfers and cart users. A stormwater pipe on the 7th hole was unblocked (tree roots) this week which won’t necessarily help the 7th fairway but will stop the surface water running down and across the 3rd fairway in front of the green. The course team is planning to install new drainage across the 2nd flyover, which will help the 2nd flyover area and the 3rd flyover as water will be collected by the drainage lines before it has time to build-up and move down the hill and saturate the 3rd flyover.
Volunteers were very productive on Monday morning performing maintenance tasks in the clubhouse, gurney cleaning the practice net area, and trimming back the Mondo grass borders in the rose garden. Thank you gentlemen for all your efforts this week!
Greens will be mown on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Happy Golfing!
The Course Team.
Christmas in July at OGC, Saturday 27th July
Members and guests are invited to join the Club for our annual Christmas in July dinner prepared by Chef Andrew Yang.
Come along and join the festivities of a northern hemi-sphere style Christmas meal in typical Australian style.
Includes: Three course banquet for $65pp.
Ladies Oatlands and Long Markers Cup Matchplay Trophies
The Finals of the Oatlands & Long Markers Cups were played on Thursday 27/06.
The Oatlands Cup winner was Linda Gyzen who defeated Michele Hannaford 2/1
The Long Markers Cup winner was Judith Leeds-Roberts who defeated Lizzie Sorbara 3/2
Well Done Ladies!!
DeBortoli Wine Appreciation Dinner, Saturday 17th August
Members and guests are invited to join us for the DeBortoli Wine Appreciation Dinner on Saturday 17th August.
Bookings can be made through the website by or by contacting reception.
Oatlands Senior Open
The Oatlands Senior Open (Golf NSW Senior Order of Merit event) was played on Tuesday 25 June, with 78 players taking part in the event including 44 players from other Clubs.
Timothy Orgill of Royal Queensland won the day with a fine score of 69 (-1) Despite the rain leading up to the event, the course presented very well with Timothy Orgill (Royal Queensland GC) scoring of 69 (-1) to win by 3-shots from Mark Hale (Cypress Lakes).
The over 65s trophy was won by Douglas Cullam (Monash CC) with a score of 76 (+6).
The overall nett winner was Todd Mayne (Kareela GC) with a score of 69 on a countback, while the lone OGC winner was John Gallie in the over 65s nett with a score of 72.
The Club was thrilled to receive a handful of emails after the event congratulating the Club and Course staff on how well the course was presented, particularly given it had been closed just a day earlier.
Governor’s Cup – Rescheduled Date, Saturday 13th July
With the golf course closed last Saturday, the annual Governors Cup has been re-scheduled to Saturday 13th July.
Bookings for this event are via the usual Saturday timesheet booking process.
Ball Prize Credit – Expires 30th June 2024
Members are reminded that ball prize credit accumulated up to the 31st March 2024 will need to used by 30th June 2024.
Credit not used by this time will automatically expire.
Credit accumulated after 31st March 2024 will remain available for use until 30th June 2025.
Balances are available on the Account section of the member page of the Club website or by contacting the Pro Shop.
Credit can only be used at the Pro Shop.
Pennant Update
Men’s Interclub
The Men’s Interclub side contested the final of this event for the second consecutive year on Sunday 23rd June, against The Australian Golf Club at The Australian Golf Club. The final of this event is traditionally held at Royal Sydney Golf Club, however with Royal Sydney closed for re-development until 2025, The Australian stepped in as host of the final prior to the competition commencing.
Playing a final on a non-neutral venue was always going to be a tough ask, and while our side performed admirably, the golfing gods weren’t quite on our side with the narrowest of losses 4.5 matches to 3.5 matches placing us on the second step of the podium for the second straight year.
The individual results from the days play were as follows:
- Grant Lomas lost 5/4
- Earl Rees won 1up
- Ian Priest lost 4/2
- Tom McMurtry lost 3/2
- Budd Frome squared match
- Blair McDonald won 3/2
- Mark Robinson won 3/2
- James Roberts lost 7/5
Well done to the squad on another great season!
Men’s Master Pennant
Master Pennants Result round 6 – Washout against Twin Creeks.
With a home win required to avoid relegation, unfortunately Sundays Game got washout out, putting us into the relegation playoffs.
This Sunday we play Marrickville GC at the Coast GC, with winner remaining in Division 2.
Fortunately, The Coast GC was in our division last year so most of our players have match practice at this course.
Twin creeks won our division and were a very strong side. We all wish them the best to take out the pennant.
This year opposition teams were very strong with 6 players in the group off scratch handicaps or better with all games played in great spirit.
Special thanks especially to Charlie Kim and Mike McKechnie who both practiced very hard this season and were rewarded winning 4 matches each for Oatlands.
All the best for the team and a big win on Sunday!
Regards Rod Butcher
Team Captain/Manager
Recent Trophy Event Winners
Oatlands Senior Open
See earlier article.
Ladies 2Ball Knockout Matchplay
The semi-final of the Ladies 2Ball Knockout Matchplay was postponed on Sunday 23rd June due to the course being closed.
The semi-final has been re-scheduled for Sunday 30th June, with a date for the final TBC due to the prospect for a clash with the WS Targett Knockout.
Ladies Oatlands and Long Markers Cup
See earlier article and click on the link below for a full list of results from each competition.
Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 29th June – Foundation Day
- Saturday 6th July – Winter Medal and Southpaw Cup
- Sunday 7th July – Father & Son Trophy
- Saturday 13th July – Governor’s Cup
- Saturday 27th July – Legacy Cup
Ladies
- Sunday 30th June – Ladies 2Ball Hcp Matchplay Semi-finals
- Thursday 4th July – Foundation Day
- Monday 8th July – Challenge Cup & Anniversary Salver (GolfNSW Jean Derrin event)
- Monday 15th July – Interclub vs Muirfield at OGC
- Thursday 18th July – Club Medal
- Thursday 25th July – Captain’s vs Presidents
- Monday 29th July – Veteran’s Teams Day
Mixed
- Sunday 7th July – Parent & Child Trophy
- Sunday 14th July – WS Targett Knockout Qualifying
- Sunday 21st July – WS Targett Knockout Quarter-finals
- Sunday 28th July – WS Targett Knockout Semi-finals
Upcoming Member Events: July and August
The Club has lots of fantastic events coming up for members and guests, and we encourage members to take part in the Club’s diverse event offering over the coming months:
- Thursday 4th July, Ladies Foundation Day
- Saturday 27th July, Christmas in July
- Wednesday 31st July, The Bettington Restaurant
- Friday 16th August, 500 Social Cards Evening
- Saturday 17th August, Debortoli Wine Appreciation Dinner
- Wednesday 28th August, The Bettington Restaurant
Note: Bar Account Credit and Birthday vouchers can be used for all of these events!
Members Only Facebook Group
If you aren’t already part of our Members Only Facebook Group, join up now and join in the conversation.
This group is where members can share their experience of Oatlands Golf Club and chat to one another about interesting things happening in the world of golf and society as a whole.
Importantly, members are advised that this social media platform will not be used for the Club to communicate critical information, which 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.