Oatlands Enews – Friday 27th May 2022
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Junior Development Programme Fundraiser – Monday 13th June 2022
- From the Course
- Captain’s Corner – Wet Weather Course/Cart Decision-making
- Getting Started Programme – A Great Way to Introduce New Members
- Winter Shotgun Starts on Saturday’s to commence Saturday 4th June
- Caption Competition – The Winner Is!
- Ladies Volunteer Gardening – Tuesday 7th June
- Friday Happy Hour at OGC
- Pennant Update
- Updated Golfing Programme
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Recent Trophy Winners
- Upcoming Events
Junior Development Programme Fundraiser – Monday 13th June
The video below is a small example of the JDP clinics conducted 10-12 times weekly during each school term.
The JDP Fundraiser event will be an Ambrose with a 12pm shotgun start followed by a light meal, and will see a number of our 90 JDP members taking part and engaging with participants on the golf course throughout the day. This is a great way for members to support our enviable junior programme and the future of your Club.
Bookings for this event are open now and can be made via the Club’s website or by contacting the Pro Shop.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 28.0mm, Rainfall for 2022: 1,300.0 Dam: 100% Green Speed: 9.5 feet
We understand members’ frustration with not being able to play the course this past week. We share the same frustration, having spent all last week preparing the course for the weekend, only for Friday afternoon’s rain creating very wet conditions which would’ve left the course vulnerable to damage, and unsafe for use. As I’ve been mentioning over the past few weeks, we aren’t getting any real drying conditions between the rainfall events, which means if we receive 5mm it has the effect of receiving 25mm as nothing has had a chance to dry out properly.
Even though the course was closed for most of the week, it has still been a very productive week for the course team. All greens have been needle tined down to a depth of 200mm which will enable air movement into the saturated soil profiles and allow water movement through surfaces when the rainfall is high. All greens were rolled following the needle tining resulting in very little surface disruption.
The team also took the opportunity to continue verti draining fairways. With no interruptions from players and now having two larger verti drain units, we were able to verti drain the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, and the bottom half of the 13th fairway. Again, this aeration process allows these surfaces to dry just that little bit quicker as we are enabling the surface water to enter the soil profile, whilst also allowing air movement into the soil profile once the moisture levels reduce.
The lining of the front left bunker on the 11th was completed this week, and work has begun on the left hand side bunker at the 2nd. The sand won’t be added to the 11th bunker this week, as a loaded trailer is too heavy to be driving around the wet greens surrounds and will cause too much damage.
Minor drainage rectification work was performed at the top of the 11th fairway this week to a pit that has been continuously overflowing during this wet weather event. A new exit pipe has been installed which will connect two pits at the top of this fairway, and both will now transfer the collected water straight into the drainage pipes that were installed above the vacant blocks on this hole. Any tree roots were cut through when we were trenching in this line, so this incidental root pruning will also help the fairway surface during the growing season.
Our volunteers were on limited course access duties this week, only being allowed to drive and park their carts on the roadway along the 15th hole whilst they continued to lift sprinkler heads on this 15th fairway. Our volunteers also dug up a sink hole in the 15th flyover area, which has resulted from the old terracotta pipe breaking below. To resolve this problem, we will need to replace this section of terracotta pipe with a new PVC pipe. Thank you once again gentlemen for all your help.
Have a good weekend,
The Course Team.
Captain’s Corner – Wet Weather Course/Cart Decision-making
With the continuation of rain and wet conditions on the course, it would appear to be the appropriate time to advise members of how decisions are made on whether the course should be open or closed, and whether carts should be allowed on the course.
If you have been following Course Superintendent, Dom Yates, videos and course commentary you would be aware of where the main drainage issues are on the course. To say that the course is totally saturated would be an understatement, which means that even very small amounts of rain makes the playing surface unplayable, and generally not enjoyable.
Without doubt, the two most important considerations that are given to whether the course will be open and carts allowed, are member safety and course damage. I will vouch for the fact that Dom will try and have the course open as much as possible, and he is also very much aware of these two considerations.
Between 2.00-3.00pm each day, Dom will assess the course for the following day. He will take into account the conditions at that time, how much rain we have had during the day, and make an estimate of what may occur in the following 12-14 hours. At that time, he will make a call on whether the course should be closed the following day, or to defer the decision until around 5.30 am the next day. Dom will also consult with the General Manager, Captain and Vice-Captain to reach agreement on the course of action. This assessment will be repeated in the morning after checking the rain gauge, weather prediction for the day & review the rain radar, as well as the course. A final decision is then made on whether the course will be opened or closed.
We have seen many instances, in the past 3-4 weeks, where players have concluded that maybe the course should have been closed due to the amount of moisture on the course, but Dom has been prepared to open the course if at all possible. This was evident last Wednesday for the first round of the Mid-Week Club Championships, where the vast majority of the field took in access of five hours for the round, mainly due to lost/plugged balls, heavy conditions and the extra time that preferred lies can take for each shot.
This will be reviewed and discussed as to whether the deferment of trophy events can be undertaken to ensure the course can be better presented, available to all members and the ability to complete a round within a reasonable timeframe.
We ask that members understand the difficult times we are experiencing with this rain, and be assured that we will get you out on the course as often as conditions allow.
Colin McRae – Captain
Getting Started Programme – A Great Way to Introduce New Members
As members of Oatlands Golf Club, we all know the joys (and occasional frustration) of a game of golf. Being outdoors with friends, hitting a well-timed shot, sinking a long putt, breaking your handicap, and then going home to regale every shot to anyone who will listen, are all parts of this great game that we have in common.
For people new to golf, or thinking about giving it a try, the pathway to these experiences begins with learning to hit the golf ball, and at the beginning, that process and the journey to getting onto the golf course, can be quite intimidating.
The Club’s Getting Started Programme is perfect for these people to start their golfing journey and the gentle guidance of our experienced PGA Professionals.
Details of our next Getting Started Programme is outlined below;
Click here to Register a friend or family member for the upcoming Getting Started Programme
FAQ
What does the programme involve? 8 week programme (8 x 60 minute sessions) that takes you through all aspects of the game. From chipping to driving from putting to bunker play you will learn it all from our resident team of Teaching Professionals.
Do I need clubs & can I bring a friend? We will lend you what you need and we encourage you to bring along as many friends as possible.
Do I get to play the course and what do I wear? The Club is happy to offer you the opportunity to play the course during social times so you can practice what you are learning. As to your attire you need to check out the dress requirements shown on the Club’s website.
What does it cost? The cost of the “Get Started” programme is $240 for the 8 week programme (This is payable up front).
So what are you waiting for? Complete the registration form below for the next Getting Started Programme.
Winter Shotgun Starts on Saturday’s to commence Saturday 4th June
Most members would be aware that Saturday’s at OGC during Winter switch to an Am and PM shotgun start format.
This is to ensure that all golfers wanting to play throughout the shortest days of the year are provided that opportunity and can finish before the sun sets.
This will be particularly relevant with the heavy course conditions and subsequent slower pace of play that we are experiencing.
Shotgun starts will run every Saturday from Saturday 4th June to Saturday 23rd July inclusive.
Caption Competition – The Winner Is!
In last week’s Enews we poked fun at popular member David Gaffaney (with David’s permission) for a little MGI Buggy mishap during Major Pennant on Sunday 15th May, by calling for captions to the photos below:
The shortlist of best captions has been provided to David for his judgement (questionable at best) and he has chosen the winner from the following list;
- WINNER: That’s 3 minutes boys, times up, we’ve got the bag and buggy, have to declare Gaffaney lost!
- Star Wars latest: C-3PO looking for R2-D2
- Hey Gaff, I think you’ve given me the wrong yardage to the water!
- Drive it like you stole it!
- So glad I invested in that new waterproof bag!
Congratulations to Matt Hartland for the winning entry!
While we are still trying to locate the written off buggy for the winning entry, we have credited Matt’s ball prize account with an acknowledgement of his witty caption.
Ladies Volunteer Gardening – Tuesday 7th June
Our Lady Members are encouraged to join our band of enthusiastic gardening volunteers on Tuesday 7th June from 8am – 10am.
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.
Pennant Update
Interclub Challenge
The Interclub team travelled to Bonnie Doon GC for the daunting task of taking on Bonnie Doon at home and needing a win to stay alive in the competition. The Bonnie Doon team has never been beaten at home so it was a great challenge and one the team were up for.
Mark Robinson with some exceptional iron play and myself both won at number 8 & 7 to get us off on the right foot. Luke Mason hammered his opponent with some exceptional golf and Budd Frome kept his unbeaten season going.
Unfortunately, we were not able to get another match or half in the bag to secure a win but it was an almighty effort from the team.
Individual results were as follows
- Nathan Wareham – Lost 2&1
- Grant Lomas – Lost 3 & 2
- Luke Mason – Won 6 & 5
- Ian Priest – Lost 5 & 4
- Budd Frome – Won 2 & 1
- Christian O’Reilly – Lost 6 & 4
- Blair McDonald- Won 3 & 2
- Mark Robinson – Won 3 & 2
Blair McDonald
Team Captain / Manager
Masters Pennant
The first two weeks of Masters Pennant (Sunday 15th & 22nd May) have been cancelled due to wet weather.
Our Masters Pennant team are scheduled to play Carnarvon GC at Carnarvon GC on Sunday 29th May at 11am.
Updating Golfing Programme
A revised golfing programme covering the postponed events of recent months for men’s, ladies and mixed trophy events will be published next week.
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 28th May – Doug Spurway Trophy
- Thurs 2nd June – Club Medal
- Friday 3rd June – OGC Senior Cup
- Sat 4th June – NB Charlton Qualifying
- Sat 11th June – Club Medal / Southpaw Cup
Ladies
- Ladies Foursomes Championship – To be played later in the year, date TBA
- Thursday 2nd June: Stroke Medal Rnd 4, Oatlands Cup & Long Markers Qualifying (Red Course)
Mixed
- The annual Husband & Wife trophy has been re-scheduled for Sunday 29th May.
Recent Trophy Winners
No Trophy events have been decided in the last week.
