Content

This week’s Enews covers the following topics:

• Covid-19 Update
• From the Course
• Timeswap Arrangements to end Sunday 10^th October
• Golfing Programme to the end of 2021
• Taking Relief from Ground Under Repair (GUR) and Nearest Point of Relief
• Warren Graham Hole in One – 9^th Hole
• Annual Report 2021
• OGC Grand Final Footy Kits
• OGC Kitchen – Takeaway Menu

Covid-19 Update – Club Operation as of 11th October

Members were advised yesterday of the expected changes that will take place regarding the current Covid-19 restrictions as of Monday 11th October. A copy of that communication is again provided below, however, it is important for members to understand that the easing of restrictions centre around an individual’s vaccination status. 

The Club communicated with all members on 20th September asking for members to provide a copy of their digital vaccination certificate at the earliest opportunity to the Club to make a smooth transition in returning to a more normal operation. At the time of writing, 55.7% of our playing membership have provided their vaccination status. As such, we again ask members to provide this information as soon as possible to assist the Club in providing and managing access to the course, clubhouse and golf shop within the compliance requirements of the Public Health Orders.

Detail of the communication requesting vaccination can be accessed by clicking here.

As previously communicated, as of Monday 11th October, the Public Health Orders are expected to allow access to the golf course for those members that are fully vaccinated in groups of 4, while those members that are unvaccinated will only be able to play in groups of 2. The timesheets have been setup to accommodate this and will clearly demarcate those times that are only accessible for fully vaccinated members and those times that are only accessible for unvaccinated members.

It is worth noting, that a member booked to play in an unvaccinated tee time is not necessarily anti-vaccination, in-fact it is significantly more likely that for a range of reason, they simply have not had their second vaccination jab as yet, and are therefore not eligible for the groups of 4 until such time as they receive the second jab. It is important that all members are treated equally and fairly, and therefore we ask the broader membership to please respect each individual’s status and rights. The Public Health Orders are in place to manage what we can and can’t do until the earmarked date of 1st December when it looks like individual rights based on vaccination status will be lifted.

At the time of writing, the Public Health Orders for Monday 11th October onward have not been published. As such, further communication will occur with the membership next week covering more specific detail relating to Monday 11th October and beyond, including: masks, QR Code, golf shop access and registration for unvaccinated golfers, practice facility use, golf lessons, JDP programme, etc.

Thursday 30th September Member Communication 

Based on the information provided by the NSW Government in the last few days, the Club operation (Course, Clubhouse and Golf Shop) will become more accessible to the broader membership on Monday 11th October. The following is yet to be definitively confirmed via the publication of Public Health Orders, however, is virtually certain:

For Fully Vaccinated* Members – As of 11th October

• Stay at Home Rules will be lifted – This will mean all fully vaccinated members will be able to access the Club’s facilities irrespective of where you reside in Greater Sydney
• The Clubhouse and Golf Shop will be open and accessible to all members that are fully vaccinated
• Golf in groups of 4 will be permissible for members that are full vaccinated
• Golf carts can be shared with two fully vaccinated passengers

* Fully vaccinated or those with an approved medical exemption

For Unvaccinated** Members – As of 11th October

• Stay at Home Rules will remain in effect – You will only be able to access the Club if you reside within the Parramatta LGA or if outside the Parramatta LGA within 5kms of the furthest point of the golf course
• You will not be able to access the Clubhouse or Locker Rooms
• Access to the Golf Shop is still to be confirmed
• Golf will only be allowed in groups of 2
• Golf carts will remain as single use only unless both passengers are part of the same household

** Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated

These changes will have a major impact on the configuration of golf bookings and timesheets as follows:

Timesheets

• Timesheets from 11th October will revert back to pre-Covid lockdown configuration and will open 8 days in advance at 4:30pm (Lifestyle member competition access to timesheets will be 7 days in advance at 7pm)
• Timesheets will primarily be setup in groups of 4 with an allotment of tee times for unvaccinated members (in groups of 2) at the back of each AM, PM and social timesheet
• To avoid a transitional crossover in timesheet opening times, between the timesheets up to Sunday 10th October (currently opening 5 days in advance), and timesheets from 11th October onward (opening 8 days in advance), all timesheets up until Sunday 10th October will open on Friday 1st October on the following schedule:
  • Wednesday 6th October – Opens Friday 1st October at 4:30pm
  • Thursday 7th October – Opens Friday 1st October at 4:40pm
  • Friday 8th October – Opens Friday 1st October at 4:50pm
  • Saturday 9th October – Opens Friday 1st October at 5:00pm
  • Sunday 10th October – Opens Friday 1st October at 5:10pm
• Timesheets from that point forward will open 8 days in advance starting with the timesheets for Monday 11th October opening Sunday 3rd October at 4:30pm.
• Further detail on programming of postponed golf events will be provided in due course.

Timesheets and Vaccination Status

• Timesheets from 11th October onward have been setup with a clear demarcation between fully vaccinated (groups of 4) and unvaccinated (groups of 2) in the tee time description.
• Members who have provided their vaccination status and are fully vaccinated (or have an approved medical exemption) have had an identifier applied to their membership file which is only visible to club administration as per the Club’s privacy policy. This will allow Golf Shop staff to easily identify that members are only booking into times for which they are eligible under the Public Health Orders. 
• In order to play in groups of 4, members will need to provide their vaccination status prior to play as per the member wide communication sent on 20th September. 

For more information on how to find your Digital Certificate please click on the link: Service NSW website – Proof of Vaccination

The NSW Public Health Orders are subject to change, and can do so at short notice, over the coming month as the state transitions back to normality via the link to vaccination rates.

Members are reminded that compliance with the Public Health Orders is a condition of entry to Club facilities. The Club has a registered Covid Safety Plan which is being continually adjusted to coincide with the changing Public Health Orders, and to ensure the safest possible environment for members and staff. It is incumbent upon all members, staff and patrons of OGC to ensure their own individual compliance with the Public Health Orders. It is also incumbent on Club management to report any breaches of the Public Health Orders to the relevant authorities.

The Club will continue to monitor the Public Health Orders and subsequent interpretation and guidance from Golf NSW and Clubs NSW, and provide the most equitable access possible to all members as soon as the Public Health Orders make provision to do so in a compliant manner.

From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 6.0mm,  Rainfall for 2021: 774.5mm   Dam: 95%   Green Speed: 9.5 feet

This week, we have finished turfing around the new bunkers which means this stage of the bunker rejuvenation project is ahead of schedule. The team has been cleaning out bunkers to prepare them for next stage which includes lining with bidim cloth, drainage, and of course the addition of sand will start from next week. The team has been watering Zoysia around bunkers on regular basis to make sure that it will establish well. The areas that were turfed earlier have started taking root, which is a great sign, and it means we can cut back on hand watering.

All surfaces have been cut this week along with blowers and vacuum cleaning up debris. Fairways have been cut twice and only selected areas on rough. Fairway and green side sprinkler heads have been trimmed this week. Whizzer has been on the course as well trimming up under tree bases, fence lines and drainage pits.

The 11^th fairway bunker has been topped up with sand using “recycled” material taken out from bunkers 2,6,8,9,11,16. All fairway bunkers have been topped up using that sand and they all received a trim this week.

Prepared by Martyna (in Dom’s absence….has anyone seen Dom since the Panthers beat the Melbourne Storm…..anyone!!!!)

Enjoy the weekend!

The Course Team.

Timeswap Arrangements to end Sunday 10th October

With the Stay at Home Orders set to be lifted on Monday 11th October and the subsequent ability for the majority of our members to return to their respective Clubs, Oatlands GC is winding up the timeswap arrangements in place with the following Clubs as of Sunday 10th October:

•  Asquith
• Avondale
• Carnarvon
• Castle Hill
• Cumberland
• Killara
• Lynwood
• Monash
• Muirfield
• North Ryde
• Pennant Hills
• Roseville
• Ryde-Parramatta
• Stonecutters Ridge
• Strathfield

These arrangements provided approximately 300 tee times for OGC members since mid-August, many of these at a time when we were unable to reciprocate.

I am sure all members will join the Board in offering our sincerest gratitude to these Clubs, the manner in which golf clubs have supported one another during this lockdown has been a rare silver lining of this pandemic.

Golfing Programme to the end of 2021

Since the end of June, the Club has had to postpone a significant number of trophy and club golf events on the men’s, ladies and mixed golf programme.

With the imminent return to groups of 4, the following draft programme* has been put together up to the end of 2021 in an attempt to complete as many of these events as possible:

• Thursday 21 October: Captain’s Cup Qualifying, Medal Rnd 4
• Sunday 24th October: WS Targett Matchplay – Quarter-Finals (Qualifying completed pre-lockdown)
• Monday 25th October: Veterans Closing Day, Team Events
• Thursday 28th October: Captains Cup Matchplay Quarter-Final 
• Sunday 31st October: WS Targett Matchplay – Semi-Finals
• Thursday 4th November: Captains Cup Matchplay Semi-Final
• Saturday 6th November: Men’s Club Championship Medal and Matchplay Qualifying – Rnd 1 of 2
• Sunday 7th November: WS Targett Matchplay – Finals
• Thursday 11th November: Captains Cup Matchplay Final
• Saturday 13th November: Digger’s Day
• Monday 15th November: Ladies Annual General Meeting, 8:30am Shotgun Start
• Thursday 18th November: Ladies Club Championships Rnd1, Medal Rnd 5 
• Saturday 20th November: Men’s Club Championship Medal and Matchplay Qualifying – Rnd 2 of 2
• Sunday 21st November: Father & Son Trophy
• Thursday 25th November: Ladies Club Championships Rnd 2, Medal Rnd 6
• Saturday 27th November: Oatlands Cup
• Sunday 28th November: Sunday Xmas Cheer
• Monday 29th November: Ladies Xmas Cheer Ham & Turkey Day
• Wednesday 1st December: Men’s Xmas Cheer Ham & Turkey Day
• Saturday 4th December: Men’s Plate, Middle Marker and Long Marker Championship Matchplay – Rnd 1
• Thursday 2nd December: Ladies Club Championships Final Round, Gold Medal
• Sunday 5th December: Men’s Club Championship Matchplay – Rnd 1
• Thursday 9th December: Ladies Presentation Night
• Saturday 11th December: Presidents vs Captains Day
• Sunday 12th December: Mixed Foursomes Championships, 36 holes
• Saturday 18th December: Men’s Plate, Middle Marker and Long Marker Championship Matchplay – Quarter-Finals
• Sunday 19th December: Men’s Club Championship Matchplay – Quarter-Finals
• Saturday 15th January: Men’s Plate, Middle Marker and Long Marker Championship Matchplay – Semi-Finals
• Sunday 16th January: Men’s Club Championship Matchplay – Semi-Finals
• Saturday 22nd January: Men’s Club Championship, Plate, Middle Marker and Long Marker Championship Matchplay – Final

*Subject to provisions in the Public Health Orders

Cancelled events for 2021:

• Mens HP Evans Knockout
• Mens Presidents Cup
• Mens Winter Medal
• Mens Oatlands Senior Cup – TBC pending Public Health Orders and visitor access
• Legacy Cup
• Ladies Castle Hill Interclub
• Ladies Summer Foursomes
• Ladies Grace Norris Trophy

Taking Relief from Ground Under Repair (GUR) and Nearest Point of Relief

Following a number of member requests, Club General Manager, Sam Howe, has filmed a short video on the correct procedure for taking relief from GUR.

Warren Graham Hole in One – 9th Hole

OGC member Warren Graham scored an ace on the 9th hole on Saturday 25th September.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a photo of Warren, however that doesn’t diminish from his perfect shot.

Well done Warren!

Annual Report 2021

Given the current status of the Covid-19 restrictions, and the forced closure of the Clubhouse, this year’s Annual General Meeting will be held electronically. Details of the online meeting and registration have been sent to all eligible members today.

A copy of the Club’s Annual Report can be accessed by clicking on the link below, along with Director Nominations for 2021-22;

Oatlands Golf Club Annual Report 2021

Director Nominations 2021-22

OGC Grand Final Footy Kits

OGC Kitchen – Takeaway Menu