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Oatlands Enews – Friday 12th November 2021

Published on 12th November 2021 in E-News, Guests

Content

This week’s Enews covers the following topics:

  • Clubhouse Development Information Session – Registration 
  • From the Course
  • Docket Signing and Cash Payment
  • Five after 5 is Back
  • Mixed Pennant 2022 – Expressions of Interest
  • Mixed Pennant 2021 – Quarter Final
  • Eastern Long-Neck Turtle – Help Record Sightings
  • Pace of Play – A Little Goes a Long Way
  • Club Championship Bookings – Mens and Ladies

Clubhouse Development Information Session – Registration

The Club has conducted the first four Member Information Session on the proposed Clubhouse Development announced to members on 29th October.

This proposal is probably the most important move made by our Club since the founding members purchased the golf course in 1958, and will determine the security of the Club’s future, and the determine whether we have the means to develop our golf course into the best members course in northwest Sydney. As such, all members are strongly encouraged to attend one of the information sessions to allow you to cast an informed vote when this proposal is put to members for approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting in December.  

 

To register to attend the Information Sessions, please complete the online form below. If you are unable to make any of the dates / times listed, please inform the Club’s General Manager, Sam Howe, and we will attempt to facilitate additional times, gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au.

  • Please complete the details below and select the session/s you wish to attend. Please note, due to the Covid capacity of the clubhouse, non-registered members may not be able to attend sessions if capacity is reached.
    Information sessions are expected to go for up to 2 hours including; a 45 minute presentation plus Q&A.

From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 29.5mm,  Rainfall for 2021: 884.5mm   Dam: 100%   Green Speed: 10 feet

With the 1st round of the Club Championships completed, we have taken advantage of a small window of opportunity to perform renovations to our collars, aprons, and tees. All of these playing surfaces have had cores removed from them and these cores have been smashed up with the broom attachment on our Ventrac machine with dead organic matter also being removed from these surfaces during the process of smashing the cores up. These surfaces will be top-dressed using the sand we salvaged when the bunkers were shelled out during the course lockdown.

The topdressing of these areas began on Thursday with all collars and aprons completed, with only the tees on holes 2 through to 11 to be completed on Friday. The heavy rain predicted for Thursday night / Friday morning will settle the sand into the completed surfaces nicely. A high nitrogen fertiliser will be applied early next week to these areas to encourage growth in the couch turf and have these surfaces in the top condition.

The team attempted to start work on the lining of the LHS bunker on the 8th this week. Part of the initial process of this work is to ensure that the PVC exit pipe from the bunker is clear of any obstructions and working correctly. This is checked by pushing a jet nozzle on one of our hoses down the pipe ensuring that the water is free flowing into a drainage pit or the 9th pond, in this instance. All was not well when we tested this exit pipe, and this is the first one we have had a problem with in the 2 years we have been rejuvenating the bunkers. The exit pipe on this occasion had been squashed and broken when it was backfilled during installation some 15 years ago, as some large sandstone rocks had been in the soil mix when the trench for the pipe was backfilled. Staff had to locate the blockage by pushing the hose into the pipe until it stopped, then remove the hose but mark the length of the hose so that we could lay the hose on the ground and get a close gauge on the location, this is so we knew where to start digging for the pipe! A simple process of elimination?

We found the first break but there was a second break/blockage about a metre away. In the end, this exit pipe has been repaired and is working correctly, but we lost a day of bunker work while it was being repaired. Therefore, only a small section of the lining material is in this bunker, so we will continue working on this bunker next week.

The course is in great condition at the moment thanks to a great team effort by all the course staff. The weather has also been on our side of late with the recent rainfall keeping moisture levels in the soils ideal for turf growth.

As many members would be aware, this is Martyna’s last week at Oatlands after being at the Club for the past 6 years. Martyna has secured a position at The Australian Golf Club which will be great for her career development in the long term. Martyna has worked tirelessly during her time here at the Club and has set a very high standard for the person that replaces her. The course team will miss Martyna but wishes her every success in the future.

Enjoy the weekend!

The Course Team.

Docket Signing and Cash Payment

As of Monday 22nd November, the Bar, Sandwich Hut and Pro Shop will require members making purchases on their House Account or Bar Credit to sign the docket as proof of purchase.

This process was put on-hold at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic when NSW Health direction was to avoid communal touch points, however, now that the State has exceeded 80% vaccination status, this direction is no longer in place and as such, signing of dockets will be re-instated as of Monday 22nd November.

Also on Monday 22nd November, all areas of Club operation will once again accept cash payments. This has also been on hold since the beginning of the pandemic for the reasons listed above and is being re-instated due to the change of advice from NSW Health as a result of vaccinations.

Five after 5 is Back

The Club’s popular Five after 5 series are back again for 2021-22 with the first two events scheduled for November 26 and December 17. The timesheets to book these two dates are live on the Club’s website.

Further dates for events in January and February 2022 will be advised in due course.

Mixed Pennant 2022 – Expressions of Interest

It is strange times when we are calling for expressions of interest for a pennant competition that has not been completed for the current year, but that is the case with the 2022 Mixed Pennant competition which due to Covid is still running in 2021 and has been scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2022.

Oatlands has a strong history in this event, including a runner-up finish to Ryde-Parramatta in 2020, and is currently the number one seeded team heading into the final series commencing this coming Sunday.

Any members wishing to take part in the 2022 squad should email the General Manager, Sam Howe, at gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au by no later than 5pm on Friday 26th November. All EOIs will be forwarded to team managers Debbie Jepson and Peter Crawford for consideration.

Mixed Pennant 2021 – Quarter Final

On Sunday the Mixed Pennant team had a great match against a strong Kogarah team in the Quarter Final in the rain at Shelly Beach. In a very exciting finish Debbie Jepson made a birdie putt on the 18th to secure a 3-2 win to Oatlands. Well done to the whole team.

Results were:

  • Kane Milne & Linda Gyzen – Won 2/1
  • Tony Monaghan & Debbie Jepson – All Square
  • Lindsay Maccines & Justa Kim – Won 1 Up
  • Pete Crawford & Stephanie Monaghan – All Square
  • Ben Mees & Pixie Sasse – Lost 1 Down

This Sunday Oatlands play Bexley in the Semi Final at Mona Vale. The other Semi Final is Ryde Parramatta v Mona Vale at Oatlands.

 

The 2021 Mixed Pennant Squad

Eastern Long-Neck Turtle – Help Record Sightings

Oatlands Golf Club has been working with Western Sydney University Professor, Ricky Spencer, in the development and grant funding for habitat and study of the Eastern Long-neck Turtle.

Oatlands Golf Course is an existing habitat for these turtles as can be seen by the photos below of a turtle nesting between the 13th and 14th holes.

Members can assist the development of this fantastic environmental project by assisting to record turtle sightings on the course. Instructions on how to get involved are outlined in the graphic below.

Pace of Play – A Little Goes a Long Way

Since the Club has been allowed to return to play in groups of 4 on Monday 11th October, we have seen unprecedented booking numbers, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays.

While this demand is expected to reduce over the coming weeks with the re-opening of regional travel, it is a good time to remind members of the little things that each golfer can do to assist with Pace of Play.

The information below is provided to all new members at each new member induction and provides a great overview of the many small things that contribute positively (or negatively if not done) to Pace of Play, and subsequently impact all golfers in the field.

TIPS TO AVOID SLOW PLAY

The number one problem in golf today, as evidenced by the overwhelming golfer complaint, is Slow Play. The following tips can help you keep pace with the group in front of you at all times. 

  • Honour system vs. Ready Golf –  Ready Golf is the new Normal!!!
  • Be ready to hit when it is your turn
  • Player furthest from the hole usually plays first but golfers out of range of the group in front can play first, if ready and safe to do so.
  • Place your bag or cart to the right of you when hitting (left for left-handed golfers)
  • Limit practice swings to one or none.
  • Take plenty of clubs with you to your ball when leaving your bag or riding cart.
  • Walk directly to your ball unless you reach someone else’s ball first.
  • Consider all options as you approach your ball to make decisions quickly.
  • Watch all balls until they stop rolling to avoid lengthy searches.
  • Use a fixed object as a reference point.
  • Continue putting until holed out unless you would be standing on someone’s putting line.
  • Record all scores on the next tee.
  • Use the group in front as your reference point for your groups Pace of Play
  • Your position in the field is directly behind the group in front, not directly in front of the group behind
  • Remember, by keeping pace you make the game more enjoyable for everyone!!

Club Championship Bookings – Mens and Ladies

The Men’s and Ladies Club Championships are scheduled to take place over the coming month. Members are advised that as per the Conditions of Play, entry into these events is limited to those in the Full Playing membership categories (this excludes Lifestyle members) and includes 6 Day members for the Ladies Championships.

Given that these are the Club’s premier events, the Match Committee wishes to advise that only those members eligible to contest the Club Championships will be eligible to book on the respective timesheets as listed below:

Mens Club Championships

  • Saturday 6th November –  Round 1: Full playing (excludes Lifestyle) male members only
  • Saturday 20th November – Round 2: Full playing (excludes Lifestyle) male members only

Ladies Club Championships

  • Thursday 18th November – Round 1: Full playing (excludes Lifestyle) including 6 Day, female members only
  • Thursday 25th November – Round 2: Full playing (excludes Lifestyle) including 6 Day,  female members only
  • Thursday 2nd December – Final Round: Full playing (excludes Lifestyle) including 6 Day, female members only

Timesheets have been setup to facilitate these booking rules for the respective Men’s and Ladies Championships. 

 

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