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This week’s Enews covers the following topics:

• Membership Renewals – Due 31st March 2021
• Barbara Koch Day Postponed – Raffle to Carry Over
• US Masters Breakfast and OGC Green Jacket – Monday 12th April (Limited Space Remaining)
• From the Course
• Course Renovation / Closure
• The Bettington Wine Tasting Dinner – Saturday 27^th March
• Staff Profile – David Ecob (PGA Teaching Professional)
• Margaret Patterson – 89yrs and 43 points
• The Bettington Greek Night – Saturday 17th April
• Ladies Volunteer Morning – Monday 29^th March
• Oatlands Pub Trivia Night – Friday 30th April
• Pennant Update

Membership Renewals – Due 31st March

Membership renewals are going well with low resignations to date and a strong waiting list of new applicants to take their place.

Members are reminded that renewals are due no later than 31st March. Members who have not paid by this date will be unable to utilise the golf course until fees are paid.

In previous years, the Club has waited until the end of April before resigning members who have not renewed. As a result of the Club’s strong membership position and wait list, resignations will occur on 9th April in order to make way for those waiting.

If members who haven’t yet renewed and are planning to renew, we ask that you please do so by no later than 31st March, keeping in mind that bank transfers can take up to 2 business days to be picked up by the Club.

Also, if members who haven’t yet renewed and are planning to resign, we ask that you please inform the Club formally via admin@oatlandsgolf.com.au to expedite the process of offering new applicants on the waitlist a membership position. 

Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

Sam Howe
General Manager
Oatlands Golf Club

Barbara Koch Day Postponed – Raffle to Carry

Unfortunately, the Barbara Koch Day on Thursday was postponed due to wet weather. At this stage, a new date has not been set however, this will be done in due course and is expected to be in May.

For those members who have already purchased raffle tickets towards the charity fundraising of the day, the raffle and tickets sold will carry over to the re-scheduled event.

Lesleigh Perkins
Lady President

US Masters Breakfast and OGC Green Jacket – Monday 12th April – Limited Spaces Available

Once again, proving how popular this event is at OGC, at the time of writing there are only 25 spaces remaining in the golf field for the day with over 3 weeks left until the last round of the Masters.

The coverage will commence in the Clubhouse from 6am, breakfast served from 7:30am and a shotgun start after the completion of the Masters final round at approximately 9:15am.

The Club runs two events over the 18 holes;

• 18 hole single stableford
• 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

From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 58.0mm,  Rainfall for 2021: 228mm   Dam: 100%   Green Speed: 9.0 feet

The course is starting to be softened up after the rainfall on Sunday and now the drenching on Thursday, but overall, it is holding up well. The needle tyning of greens last week was very timely and is allowing our putting surfaces to drain away any surface water as quickly as possible.

Our work on the bunkers has continued this week with new turf being installed around the 7^th and 15^th greenside bunkers. All the couch was removed from around the 15^th bunkers and this has all been replaced with the Zoysia grass. The collar was left as we are still not confident enough that this turf species will perform as well as the Santa Anna couch on our collar surfaces. Work has begun on lining and installing the drainage in the RHS bunker on the 7^th. Very difficult conditions for the staff to be performing this work yesterday, so full credit to them for pushing on with this work.

Our green waste pile that was located on the left-hand side of the 15^th hole has been processed and is now in 3 or 4 large mulch piles, ready for use around the course. The material was processed twice which has resulted in a product that can be used in garden beds and on our mulched areas throughout the course.

The new Zoysia turf on the 9^th tee has had its first cut this week at 25mm which didn’t cut too much off. The height of cut for this turf will be lowered gradually to avoid scalping, which the Zoysia doesn’t handle very well.

All areas of the course have been mown this week with fairways being cut twice and a full cut of rough as well.

Our volunteers were on course Monday morning edging pathways and clearing built up leaf debris from the fence line along the 6^th hole. Clearing of drains around the Proshop/ cart shed was also performed, as well as on-going clubhouse maintenance tasks.

Good Golfing!

The Course Team

Course Renovation / Closure

Members are reminded that the twice annual course renovation and closure is scheduled for Sunday 28th March (afternoon only) through to Tuesday 30th March inclusive.

• Sunday 28th March: Course closed, Clubhouse, Pro Shop and Practice Nets open
• Monday 29th March: Course, Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Carpark and all Practice Facilities closed
• Tuesday 30th March: Course, Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Carpark and all Practice Facilities closed 

At this stage, the renovation and closures are going ahead as planned. In the event of a weather disruption, members will be advised via direct email and the website.

The Bettington Wine Tasting Dinner – Saturday 27th March – Limited Space Remaining

Staff Profile – David Ecob (PGA Teaching Professional)

My passion and love for golf began when I was just 6 years old. After a successful amateur career and winning the Australian Amateur Championship, I turned professional at the age of 22.

I’ve played both international and local PGA events, winning several tournaments in my professional career. Due to an injury I sustained early on, I retired from the tour and took up the Head Professional position at Richmond Golf Club, running my own business there for 12 years. After my time at Richmond, I became the Head Teaching Professional at Oatlands Golf Club. I thoroughly enjoy coaching, motivating and assisting golfers of all ages and abilities. I was nominated NSW/ACT PGA Coach of the Year in 2014.

Living at the foot of the mountains, on 10 acres of bushland with my beautiful wife Michele and our three children, Tyler, Mia and Eliza; we are a family of golfers and love our sport. In my downtime, I love nothing better than to throw a line in and also enjoy some gardening.

Over the last few years, I have been playing on the PGA Legends Tour, catching up with old mates and still loving it!

Margaret Patterson – 89 Years and 43 Points

A few weeks back we mentioned long standing Club member Tony Steele for beating his age, well not to be out done, one of our lady members has recorded a similarly memorable feat on Monday 8th March.

Margaret Patterson, a member of over 45 years, had a score of 43 points on Monday 8th March and won her grade for the day.

43 points is a day to remember for any of us, but how many of us think we might still be able to accomplish the feat at 89 years of age?

Well done Margaret, you are an inspiration to us all!

Ladies Volunteer Morning – Monday 29th March

Our Lady Members are encouraged to join our recently formed band of enthusiastic gardening volunteers on Monday 29th March (during course renovation closure) from 8am.

For those interested in assisting, a sign-up sheet is located in the Ladies Locker Room or you can email the Ladies Committee on ladies@oatlandsgolf.com.au

We recommend you bring your own gardening gloves, if you have them, as these can be in short supply subject to the number of volunteers who attend.

Oatlands Pub Trivia Night – Friday 30th April

Come and join us as we host another amazing trivia night at Oatlands Golf Club.

Grab a drink, put your thinking caps on and test both your ability to recall what would be otherwise totally useless information.

Pennant Update

Mens Major Pennant

Relegation final postponed – Date TBC

Golf Gag

After a particularly poor round, a golfer spotted a lake as he walked despondently up the 18th. He looked at his caddie and said, “I’ve played so badly all day, I think I’m going to drown myself in that lake.” The caddie, quick as a flash, replied, “I’m not sure you could keep your head down that long.”