Oatlands Enews – Friday 30th April
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Membership Renewal Update
- From the Course
- Phil Reece – Hole In One
- Clubhouse Entry Tile Replacement
- Ladies News
- Golfing Tips with Jeremy – Decision Making
- Pace of Play – Golfers Responsibilities
- Staff Profile – Andrea Grieve (Financial Controller)
- Paige Stubbs – 4 Week Game Improvement Programme
- Pennant Update
- Upcoming Events – A variety of new Club events
Membership Renewal Update
The 2021-22 Membership Renewals have now been closed off with a very positive result as expected, in light of the increased demand for golf over the last year.
The Club has 955 playing members as of 1st April 2021. This is 74 ahead of the Club’s budget expectation and places us in a strong position to recognise long-term benefit from the resurgence in golf that Covid has created.
This year’s renewals saw 123 resignations across all playing categories, 42 ahead of the budget of 165 resignations. Next year we are aiming to reduce this to 80 resignations which we believe is ambitious but achievable.
The challenge now is to continue to attract new members and work our way back to our cap of 1050 playing members.. To achieve this and to further strengthen the already strong culture at the Club, we will be focusing on improving standards and member experience in order to make membership at OGC such a compelling proposition that your friends and family will feel they are missing out if they aren’t part of it.
This has already begun with a range of new and innovative events being run at the Club such as the recent Cocktail Masterclass and upcoming Paint and Sip events and will be complimented later in the year with a new member welcoming event, Karaoke night, live music and much more.
The recent Member Workshop groups were a great success and have provided a range of short and medium term items to be addressed as well as assisting the next stage of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan development.
Some of the items already underway include:
- Review and update of the Club website
- Review into expanding the Club’s F&B offering across more days and for longer hours
- Girls who Golf series (similar to 5 after 5) commencing in Spring
- Expansion of the Junior Development Programme into an Academy style pathway programme
- Introduction of a member business directory
- Upcoming announcement of new Reciprocal Clubs
- And much, much more
We strongly encourage all members to reach out to the Club General Manager if you have thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to improve the member experience. This can be done in person, by phone or by email.
The Club belongs to the members and the Board and Management are committed to building on the momentum of the last 12 months and making Oatlands Golf Club the envy of our golfing neighbours and broader golfing community.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 0.0mm, Rainfall for 2021: 544.0mm Dam: 80% Green Speed: 9 feet
With the bunker project work finishing up last week, the team has given a green light to dusting this week as well as performing some maintenance to all greens collars after some recent herbicide control of Winter Grass and kikuyu produced some really good results.
The dusting of the greens is a process of applying a very light covering of sand which has the benefit of smoothing out any bumps in the putting surface, creating a truer putting surface. It is also a thatch management practice to control organic matter build up in our putting surfaces. Reducing or controlling thatch in putting surfaces improves the health of the green by reducing the favourable environment that diseases prefer and allows moisture to move more freely through the soil profile and away from surfaces which then produces firmer putting surfaces.
Our collars have had the broom attachment on our Ventrac machine run over them this week, followed by a light scarifying to remove built up mat and thatch material in these areas. These two processes have also removed some dead weed material from our recent herbicide control spraying of Winter Grass and Kikuyu weeds in these couch areas. The collars were also verti drained with the solid needle tines and then fertilised with a high nitrogen based fertiliser. We are not expecting a dramatic increase in growth on our collars following this work due to climatic conditions, but a small increase will ready the collars for the Winter months ahead.
Other work completed this week included fertilising of all tee complexes, new mulch has been added to the mulched area between the 13th and 17th holes using the product produced from the recent tub grinding of our green waste pile, spraying of Winter Grass and Kikuyu in tee complexes and the repair of the back bunker on the 18th hole using some leftover sand from the 15th bunker works, also taking the opportunity to shape this bunker back to its original form after years of gradual growing in around the edges.
Have great weekend everyone!
The Course Team
Phil Reece – Hole in One
OGC Member Phil Reece has recorded his first hole in one on Saturday 24th April on the 18th hole.
Phil’s hole in one is particularly important as his two sons, who have both recorded mutiple aces, will now stop giving him so much grief.
Phil’s hole in one was captured on the Club CCTV camera on the 18th hole and can be seen below;
Well done Phil.
Clubhouse Entry Tile Replacement
Members will have noticed that removal of the succulants and large cermic pots from the main Clubhouse entry and golf course side entry.
These plants were starting to look very aged and the required fertiliser to keep them going has leached out of the pots and stained the rubber tiles below.
The removal of the plants have made the two areas even more unsightly as can be seen from the image adjacent, however the tiles are in the process of being replaced with the work expected to take place over the coming weeks.
We thank you for your patience in the intervening period.
Ladies News
Forty Oatlands lady members enjoyed an interclub event with Pennant Hills Golf Club on Monday 26th April. 20 teams competed playing Canadian Foursomes in perfect weather and gathered for a sandwich and catch up afterwards. Michele Hannaford and Leanne Maguire won the individual team event of the day with 65 nett and Pennant Hills took out the overall day 12 to 8. Thanks to all the women who represented our Club and we’ll fight back for the trophy next year with a home club advantage!
The Ladies Fourball Knockout final was contested yesterday between Anna Kim and Cheryl Peterson playing Louise Carlin and Reiko McGrath. Anna and Cheryl won the event 3/2. Congratulations to Anna and Cheryl and well done to the eight teams who qualified and competed in each round up to the final.
Good luck to our Bronze 11 Shield Pennants team represented by Kim Lim, Jill Vale, Pauline Fallance, Judith Leeds-Roberts and Soreen Fern playing their final game today at Concord, against Pennant Hills. It’s been a very competitive comp so enjoy the last round ladies.
The Vets Team event will be played on Monday 3 May 2021, put your name down if you haven’t already, everyone is welcome. The event is a shotgun start at 8.30am, and don’t forget to fill out your lunch order prior to playing.
Check the notice board in the ladies locker room for upcoming May events but in particular remember Barbara Koch Day on Thursday 13 May. This is a single stableford event in groups of 4 and there are still spots on the timesheet. It’s a fun day and it would be great to see as many members participating as possible. In honour of Barbara, please wear pink or purple – her favourite colours and bring some money for raffle tickets with all funds raised going to our chosen charity ANZGOG (Australia and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group).
Happy golfing ladies in this glorious Autumn weather.
Golf Tips with Jeremy – Decision Making
This week’s tip from PGA Professional Jeremy Ward covers the strategic side of the game and making the right decision when you have left yourself in a tricky position.
To book a lesson with Jeremy or any of our PGA Professionals, please contact the Pro Shop or book online.
Pace of Play – Golfer Responsibilities
The changes to the Rules of Golf that came into effect in 2019 have had a positive impact on Pace of Play in general however, this does not mean that it has completely been eliminated.
All golfers are reminded of their responsibility in setting and maintaining a pace of play that allows the game of golf to be enjoyable for all. This includes but is not limited too:
- Playing READY – This means that if you are ready to hit and it is safe to do so then you should hit, regardless of whether you are furthest from the hole or not
- Calling up on par 3’s
- Calling up when a ball is lost
- If a playing partners ball is lost when your group has fallen behind, you should not help in searching
- A ball is lost if it isn’t found in 3 minutes (this was reduced in 2019 from 5 minutes)
- Leave your bag / buggy between the flag and the direction of the next tee when putting
- Be conscious of your own speed of play – Don’t dawdle, limit practice swings, be ready to hit when it is your turn
If everyone focuses on Pace of Play and keeping up with the group in front then the slowest rounds (even in a full field Tiger Tee Challenge or Stroke event) should be 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Staff Profile – Andrea Grieve (Financial Controller)
“I love interacting and chatting with our members as you come to the front counter or on the phone. As someone once told me I am a talkative financial controller that doesn’t fit the stereotype of the “quiet accountant”.
From a members perspective I am the one who sends out your monthly accounts or subscription renewals or sorts out your account issues. My role is much more than that. As the Financial Controller of the Club for the last three years, my primary responsibility is to prepare the financial accounts for the board and auditors as well as monitoring the financial health of the Club. I enjoy showing members how to navigate the members accounts area of the website to make it easier for you to use. If you need help to do this drop into the office so I can show you. Additionally, I look after IT and HR as well as supporting the other office staff members.
I really enjoy that I have a multifaceted role at the Club as no two days are the same.
Outside of work I love going to the gym, gardening, cooking, bushwalking and spending time with family and friends.
I grew up in the country NSW and came to Sydney to study at Uni and never left. My country upbringing has stayed with me as I regularly escape the rat race to the rural areas and find myself looking at dam heights, how the crops are going and what’s in the siloes. Working at Oatlands has the bonus of being surrounded by green every day and the illusion of wide-open space. Sydney is a great place to live as I get to go to shows, visit museums, escape into bushland close to home and see fabulous art displays.
Paige Stubbs – 4 Week Game Improvement Programme
Members and guests are invited to enjoy the opportunity to learn from Oatlands Tour Professional / PGA Golf Coach Paige Stubbs where she will simplify your game to improve your score as well as help you with your mental game and pre-shot routine.
Limited to 4 people per clinic: $230pp
Details
Clinic A
Week 1 – Tuesday 4th May 10am: Putting (1 hour)
Week 2 – Tuesday 11th May 10am: Chipping/Bunkers (1 hour)
Week 3 – Tuesday 18th May 10am: Driving Range (1 hour)
Week 4 – Tuesday 25th May 10am: On Course Playing (Mental Game/Routine Included) (2 hours)
Clinic B
Week 1 – Tuesday 4th May 2pm: Putting (1 hour)
Week 2 – Tuesday 11th May 2pm: Chipping/Bunkers (1 hour)
Week 3 – Tuesday 18th May 2pm: Driving Range (1 hour)
Week 4 – Tuesday 25th May 1pm: On Course Playing (Mental Game/Routine Included) (2 hours)
Please feel free to contact Paige on 0416421677 for more information. Booking is available online in Paige Stubbs Lessons or call the Pro Shop.
Pennant Update
There has been a lull in Pennant proceedings over the last month however, we have a number of Pennant competitions about to commence with Oatlands members representing the Club.
- Mixed Pennant – Commences Sunday 2nd May with a match vs Beverley Park at home, tee times starting at 10:44am
- Men’s Interclub – Commences Sunday 2nd May with a match vs Royal Sydney Golf Club at The Lakes, tee times starting at 7:56am
- Men’s Master Pennant – Commences Sunday 16th May with a match vs Eastlake Golf Club at Eastlake, tee times starting at 11:38am.
- Men’s Major Pennant (postponed relegation final for Division 2), now home and away with leg one vs Glenmore Heritage Valley at home on Saturday 15th May from 7:00am and leg 2 at Glenmore Heritage Valley on Saturday 19th June.
Good luck to all teams and Club representatives in their respective matches!
Mother’s Day Luncheon – Sunday 9th May
The Club is pleased to be able to offer our popular Mother’s Day Luncheon this year after the 2020 lunch had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
We will once again be providing a gift for all Mum’s in attendance and entertainment for the younger kids.
This event usually books out so get in early to avoid missing out.
The Bettington Mexican Night – Friday 14th May
OGC Karaoke Night – Friday 21st May
Paint & Sip – Friday 28th May
Join us for our very first Paint & Sip event. This boutique event hosted by Northern Beaches artist, Julie Miller, will gives members and their guests to enjoy and evening of fun, food, wine and artistic flare. Details of the event are outlined below with the art creation for replication (with Julie’s expert aasistance) the next slide down.
This event is limited to a maximum of 24 people so book early to avoid missing out.
