Thank you for taking the time to read this important communication on course care.

We know that all members want the course to be in outstanding playing condition all year round, however this requires your assist to keep it that way!

Course Care

During the winter months the need to look after our course is more important than ever.  If we all have the mindset to leave the course in better shape than we found it then everyone benefits.

Some simple guidelines that we should all carry out during play include:

• Carrying and using a sand bucket at all times to fill all divots. This includes on the fairway, in the rough and on the tees.
• Repairing pitch marks on the greens; not just your own.  Remember when repairing pitch marks use a specifically designed pitch mark repairer and:

o    Commence at the back of the ball mark

o    Gently push the turf inward

o    Continue around sides

o    Complete around the entire mark

o    Tap down with putter to smooth surface

• Enter and leave bunkers at the lowest access point leaving the rake in the low point of the bunker with the handle being parallel to the direction of the hole you are on.
• Rake out all footprints in bunkers which includes raking footprints at entry and exit points by pushing the sand with the back of the rake into the centre of the bunker.
• Obey directional signs, ropes and hoops. Remember these are immovable obstructions.
• Take the path least travelled!  As you move around the course make every effort to avoid well-worn areas or paths.  Heavy traffic in the winter months will only lead to muddy and bare areas on the course.  And remember during non daylight-saving months you can, and in fact we encourage you to, walk your buggies across the greens – while being mindful to avoid going across the line of your playing partners.

Course works

Over the next few months our Course Superintendent Clint Raven and his team will be working on some of our greenside bunkers to steepen the face and level the bases. By steepening the face, we can build up the bases and make them larger and make the face firmer to help stop balls plugging.

Renaissance Golf Design will be returning in late August/early September to continue the restoration works on our golf course. In accordance with our Architectural Master Plan we have six greens that still need to be lifted and de-thatched, with lips of some greenside bunkers reduced due to sand splash built up over the years.  Not only will this help support the health of our greens but enable more pin positions to be available.  We plan to work on the 17^th and 18^th greens over this period, with the 19^th hole coming into play and the 18th hole having a temporary green during this period.

Vegetation Master Plan

Harley Kruse of Kruse Golf will be presenting his draft Vegetation Master Plan to the Golf Committee and the Board over the next few weeks with full details of the plan being made available to members at a Member Information Evening scheduled in late August.  Planting and hydroseeding wallaby grasses should commence in early spring in areas of priority including on the boundary of the old South Oakleigh Club, behind the 5th green and left of 16th hole.

Members will be advised once the date of the Member Information Evening has been confirmed.

Happy Golfing!

David Meagher | Captain

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