Oatlands Enews – Friday 11th November 2022
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Director Election – Candidate Profiles
- Men’s Club Champions for 2022
- Ladies Club Champions for 2022
- From the Course
- Course Staff Priority – Early Groups
- School Holiday Clinics with Max Dakic
- Single Use Plastic Bags Banned – Bring your own Cooler Bags for Ice
- Join Our Members Only Facebook Group
- Pennant Update
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Recent Trophy Winners
Director Election – Candidate Profiles
Five nominations for the four Director positions have been received for the 2022-23 election. The following profiles have been provided by the five candidates.
Note, the Club’s By-Laws provide the following direction for Director Profiles, being “only permitted to reference your golfing and professional backgrounds, no other statements are permitted (Word limit is 200)”. Voting will be conducted electronically by Vero Voting with unique voting details sent to eligible voting members on 1st or 2nd November ahead of the vote opening on 2nd November at 6pm and closing 14th November at 6pm. Election results will be announced at the 89th Annual General Meeting of Oatlands Golf Club Ltd on Wednesday 16th November 2022.
Candidates listed in alphabetical order by surname:
Mark Clout
Mark is an accomplished business leader with MBA qualifications and over 25 year’s senior executive and International and Australian Board experience, primarily in the medical device, consumer products and pharmaceuticals industries, including Hologic, Pfizer, Unilever, and Johnson & Johnson. He has an impressive record of successfully transforming businesses into high growth, profitable, customer focused operations. Mark is currently working as Chief Operating Officer for inSynergy, a full-service property investment advisory business located in Manly, offering premium property investment advice and education to Australian property investors. Mark joined Oatlands in 2014 and is a regular Saturday player. He has been a Director on the OGC Board for 2 years.
Debbie Jepson
For those who haven’t met me, I have been a member of Oatlands Golf Club since 1994 and those who have met me would say I’m the happy, loud, sometimes good low marker who is absolutely passionate about her golf. I feel I would be a great attribute to the position of Director as I have, and continue to have, a multitude of jobs that have given me a wealth of knowledge that can be shared. My careers have spanned from running a tennis coaching business, PE teacher, sports mistress, university lecturer, Real estate agent (Residential and over 55’s retirement sales) Drummond Golf employee. Also a volunteer competition secretary and social organiser at Lane Cove Tennis Club, Junior development officer of NSTA and Dept of Ed, Northern Suburbs regional tennis organiser. I have been extremely successful in all my careers as I am very hard working, approachable and hold above everything else being honest and straight forward ( at times probably too much). I believe that the Board should comprise of a cross section of members to ensure that all opinions of its members are heard and that the Club continues to move forward and flourish for all current and future members.
Ben Mees
I am a current Director of Oatlands Golf Club, having accepted the Board’s invitation to fill a casual vacancy in May 2022. I am also General Manager of two building management companies. I am a husband and father with a supporting family of my golfing endeavours. My golfing experience encompasses Oatlands and the Cedar’s Golf Clubs. I play in a number of the competition’s and have the honour of representing Oatlands in the Mixed Pennant Team (current reigning winners). In building management, I encompass roles involving Town Planning, Property Development and Strata currently with over five billion dollars under management. In these roles, I have approximately 100 staff / contractors under my responsibilities.
Peter O’Donnell
Peter has been a Full Playing member of Oatlands Golf Club since 1983.
Peter is an Owner / Director of Krulis Commercial Real Estate for the last 25 years which is based in Bondi Junction and employs 20 people and has over a billion dollars in property under management.
In addition, Peter sits on the Board of Ashfield Baptist Homes which is a 136 bed nursing home in Ashfield, and is Chairperson of their Finance and Investment Committee.
Paula Skelton
Trained Registered Nurse. Owned and managed business (Supermarkets & Hotels). Returning to nursing in later years to Senior Management positions as well as achieving a university master’s degree in Health Science. In 2003, taking a position with a Residential Aged Care Company (Bupa) as a Regional Director with the responsibility of overseeing several aged care facilities nationally. Throughout the 14 years with this company, I was elevated to Operational Director and then Business Development Director, overseeing the expansion of facilities through new developments and acquisitions, from 9 to 110. This enabled me to fulfill my goals and passions, of ensuring the best outcomes for all individuals especially health, care and well-being provided in environments that enabled individuals to retain their dignity and independence.
I have played golf for 35yrs, participating in competitions and representative golf. I joined Oatlands in 2003 and on retirement, I was ready give back to Oatlands members my time to help support and shape golf into the future. I have spent 5 years on the Ladies Committee Lady Vice Captain, and presently Lady Captain. In 2021, I was elected to the Oatlands Board where I have enjoyed my position supporting Oatlands members.
Men’s Club Champions for 2022
The Finals of the 2022 Club Championship Matchplay were played on Saturday, 5th November with the Championship starting the day off at 10am.
Luke Mason finished the first round 2up over Rowan Easterbrook and was able to maintain the same margin through round 2 finishing with a birdie on the 36th hole for a 2up victory.
The Plate Championship saw an amazing comeback from the eventual winner Jimmy Hawach who dug deep to come back from 5 down with 6 to go against Craig Millen, finishing 18-holes all square and requiring 2 extra holes to claim the victory.
The Middle Markers and Long Markers were convincingly won by Christian Fong 8&6 and Jonathan Bell 8&7 respectively and we’re sure both these players will be contesting in different grades come the 2023 Championships.
Click here for a full list of result from the 2022 Men’s Club Championships
Ladies Club Champions for 2022
The ladies Club Championships finals were played on Thursday 10th November.
It was a great day of golf and a large crowd of members were on hand to witness the crowning of the 2022 Ladies Club Champions in three grades.
Congratulations to the three winnners;
Ladies Club Champion – Linda Gyzen
Bronze I Champion – Lexi Grice
Bronze II Champion – Jill Browne
Click here for a full list of result from the 2022 Ladies Club Championships
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 1.0mm, Rainfall for 2022: 1,968.5mm Dam: 100% Green Speed: 10.5 feet
The course has really started to shine over the last few weeks after having a break from the rainfall with staff members being able to bring in most of the ropes and posts from the course that were protecting wet areas from traffic. The growth regulator application to fairways and roughs that was interrupted last week with the strong winds has now been completed, so staff will be able to keep these areas to a consistent presentation standard.
Plenty of positive comments are being received about the condition of the greens at present, with plenty of factors helping to contribute to the firm surfaces. The regular dusting is certainly assisting, and daily temperatures are in the ideal range for growing bent/poa grass, which is what our greens consist of. We are also having some irrigation issues due to the water main replacement work down on Greens Ave (behind the 8th & 9th greens). We currently have a temporary line feeding the course which fills the tank behind the 9th green. The pressure of this temporary line is nowhere near as strong as our usual feed, so the tank isn’t filling up as quick. This is impacting the irrigation at night, with pumps stopping when the water level is too low. It also affects the on-course toilets as all the water that they require to flush toilets etc, is taken to fill the tank up. The benefits are firmer faster greens, the downside is a very stressed Course Superintendent!
The new couch turf on the 11th ladies tee has already taken root, and new turf has been laid on the 10th championship tee pad and front right collar on the 11th green. All tee complexes received a 2nd miticide application this week, with renovations of tee pads to be performed over the next 2 weeks now that the Club Championships have been completed. Once the tees, collars and aprons renovations have been completed, the team will start the lining process of this seasons bunkers.
Our volunteers were on course Monday morning raking bunkers, trimming the hedges at the 6th tee, cleaning and trimming drainage pits, weed spraying in gardens, low limbing trees and edging concrete paths. Thank you gentlemen for all your assistance this week!
Have a great weekend!
The Course Team
Course Staff Priority – Early Groups
Members would be aware that course staff have priority at all times. Despite this, course staff always endeavour to minimise disruption to the play of golf.
With the resurgence of golf in recent years, OGC has seen an increase from approximately 45,000 rounds per annum to close to 60,000. This increase reduces the window of opportunity for course staff to maintain the course without disruption to play.
Adding to this, when the early groups in the field race around in under 3 hours, it further decreases the opportunity for course maintenance and preparation.
As such, effective immediately, course staff have been directed by the Greens Committee to leave flags out of greens until the hole is ready for play, and members are asked to not play to a green until the flag is in.
Course staff will continue to work as efficiently as possible ahead of play, however will be working on the starting groups playing no quicker than 3 hours and 45 minutes for 18-holes.
This policy is for the betterment of the course and all club members and we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
School Holiday Clinics with Max Dakic
Max Dakic will be running a School Holiday Clinic for our Junior Members and friends (you don’t have to be a member to join the class).
Dates are as follows:
- Tuesday 10th January – 10:00 am to 11:30 am (Full Swing)
- Wednesday 11th January – 10:00 am to 11:30 am (Short Game)
- Thursday 12th January – 10:00 am to 11:30 am (Putting)
Food & Drink will be provided after each clinic.
The total cost will be $90 for each participant for all three clinics.
Bookings can be made through the Members website or by contacting the Proshop.
Single Use Plastic Bags Banned – Bring your own Cooler Bag for Ice
Members are advised, that as of 1st November, Single-use plastic items are now banned in NSW, with environmental campaigners welcoming the move as a major win for birds and marine life. Once commonplace items including plastic straws, plates, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, cups and personal care products with microbeads are now outlawed in NSW.
As a result of this, members wishing to get ice from the Club to take out onto the golf course, will need to bring their own re-usable bags or Eskies.
Join Our Members Only Facebook Group
The Club’s members only Facebook Group is a fantastic way for members and staff to engage with each other.
We now have almost 350 members who have joined the group and we would love to see that grow to include all of our members.
Importantly, members are advised that this social media platform will not be used for the Club to communicate critical information, that will remain via the Enews, website and direct email however, it is a place that members and the Club can post interesting Club and golf related items to compliment this Enews.
To join the Members Only Facebook Group please click on the link below and then click on the “JOIN GROUP” button. You will be asked a few questions to verify you are a member and then approved by the group administrator shortly thereafter.
www.facebook.com/groups/870087546972166/
Pennant Update
Encourage Shield
Congratulations to our Encourage Shield Team who are undefeated in their division and will now play in the Semi Final on Sunday 27th November.
Oatlands will verse Moore Park GC. A venue has yet to be confirmed but we will let the membership know as soon as we do.
I’d like to congratulate our team on the way they have handled themselves on and off the golf course.
We have a tight knit group of players who enjoy representing Oatlands and giving it their all.
Team List below:
- Christian Fong
- Ricky Fang
- Jerry Qin
- Alicia Luo
- Jeremy Liew
- Donovan O’Connor
- Jonathan Le
Well done team and good luck in the Semi- Final😊.
Jeremy Ward
Golf Operations Manager and Head Teaching Professional
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men
October
November
- Sat 12th Nov – Diggers Day
- Sat 26th Nov – Oatlands Cup Vardon
- Wed 30th Nov – Christmas Cheer
December
- Sat 3rd Dec – Club Medal and Medal of Medals
- Sat 10th Dec – Presidents vs Captains
Ladies
November
- Thurs 17th Nov – Ladies AGM after Golf
- Mon 21st Nov – Ladies Summer Foursomes Rd1
- Mon 28th Nov – Ladies Summer Foursomes Rd2
December
- Thurs 1st Dec – Christmas Cheer
- Mon 5th Dec – Ladies Summer Foursomes Rd3
- Mon 12th Dec – Ladies Summer Foursomes Final
Mixed
- Wed 16th Nov – 89th Annual General Meeting
- Sun 4th Dec – Christmas Cheer
Recent Trophy Winners
Mens Club Championship
- Club Champion: Luke Mason
- Plate Champion: Jimmy Hawach
- Middle Markers Champion: Christian Fong
- Long Markers Champion: Jonathan Bell
Ladies Club Championship
- Club Champion: Linda Gyzen
- Bronze I Champion: Lexi Grice
- Bronze II Champion: Jill Browne
Congratulations to all the 2022 Club Champions!
