Oatlands Enews – Friday 11th August 2023

Published on 11th August 2023 in E-News, Guests

Content

This week’s Enews covers the following topics:

  • Office Holder Nominations 2023-24
  • From the Course
  • Club Closure for Course Renovations – Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive
  • Mixed PGA Scramble – Friday 15th September
  • Ladies Hole Indexing Update – Effective 24th August 2023
  • New Cart Fleet with GPS and Change to Medical Cart Policy
  • Upcoming Member Events:  August – September
  • Pennant Update
  • Recent Trophy Event Winners
  • Upcoming Trophy Events
  • Family Membership Incentive – 50% Joining Fee Reduction for Immediate Family
  • Members Only Facebook Group

Office Holder Nominations 2023-24

Please click on the link below for the Notice to Members for nominations for the election of all Office Holders on the Board of Oatlands Golf Club Ltd for 2023-24.

Click here for the Nomination Notice

From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 6.5mm,  Rainfall for 2023: 575.5mm, Dam: 100%   Green Speed: 10.0 feet

The team has installed an additional sprinkler head on the right hand side of the 7th green to ensure that this area receives adequate irrigation. This whole area has been rotary hoed this week and material from the 8th flyover area has been transported across and spread to create an improved soil profile for turf to grow in. The team has also prepared additional sites on the 7th hole, with the path entry point on the left side of the fairway and the area next to the right fairway bunker both being rotary hoed and new soil spread across them. Final shaping of these areas will continue until we are satisfied with how they look, with new turf to be laid during the course closure period for Spring greens renovations.

All bunker surrounds and couch green surrounds have been fertilised this week with a pigment also applied to these surfaces. The fertiliser is an iron based product that darkens the leaf with the aid of the sun, and the pigment helps with this process as it attracts heat from the sun.

Low limbing of trees continued between the 13th and 17th fairways to open up the tree canopy and allow more sunlight onto playing surfaces. Broadleaf weed control on all playing surfaces was started this week and will be completed next week. This is a painstaking task, as the operator is required to travel over all surfaces to spot any weeds. Our pre-emergent herbicide program has reduced the incidence of these weed populations, but they are more noticeable in shaded/ low light areas of the course where the kikuyu and couch struggle at this time of the year. The thin open coverage of the turf in these areas provides an opportunity for these weeds to invade and grow. The herbicide that we are using will take 2 weeks to start showing the results of these applications, without any side effects to the kikuyu or couch.

We are just over 2 weeks away from green and fairway renovations, with the aerification works on greens changing. Instead of removing a large core from the greens twice a year with a lengthy recovery time afterwards, for this renovation we will be pulling smaller cores from the greens this coming Monday/Tuesday before and after members play. These smaller cores (ninja tines) are small enough that the course staff will blow them off the putting surfaces with backpack blowers. We will then roll each green immediately with no impact to the putting surface. The removal of cores from our putting surfaces is essential to control organic matter build up in the soil profiles. Because we are pulling smaller cores, we will perform this procedure several times throughout the year so that we are removing the same amount of organic matter from the surfaces as we would with the bi-annual large core removal, with far less impact on the condition of the putting surfaces and play.

On the Monday that the course is closed for renovations, we will top-dress all greens with a USGA specified sand and then aerate surfaces with 12mm solid tines. With the sand already on the surface, the tines will punch the sand into the holes at the same time, and we will also sweep the sand into the open holes with our sweep-n-fill machine. All greens will then be fertilised to promote growth and recovery. Fairways are also aerated during these renovations with cores removed and topdressing performed.  

Our volunteers were on course Monday morning performing a bunker run before the ladies shotgun start, practice nets were cleaned and checked for damage, assistance with tidying up tree low limbing, Parramatta grass control, and clubhouse maintenance work. Thank you gentlemen for your assistance once again this week, we truly appreciate your contribution every week!

Greens will be cut on Saturday with only the dew removed from them on Sunday.

Have a great weekend and happy golfing!

The Course Team.

Club Closure for Course Renovations – Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive

Members are advised that the Club’s bi-annual Course Renovation is scheduled for Monday 21st August – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive.

This renovation is, to a degree, reliant on suitable weather conditions, and as such there is a possibility the intended schedule may be extended at short notice to ensure a full renovation is possible. Given the stress the golf course has been under due to a high volume of traffic, it is vitally important the upcoming renovation is completed in full.

All Club facilities (including Clubhouse, Admin, Pro Shop, Practice Facilities) will be closed during the renovation.

Mixed PGA Scramble – Friday 15th September

Oatlands will be running a Mixed PGA (formerly Holden / VW) Scramble on Friday 15th September, 8am shotgun start.

The event will be open to male and female, members and guests, and requires a minimum of one member per team to qualify in the 4 person ambrose format.

The cost is $75 for members and guests (the majority of the fee going to the PGA).

All participants will receive a bacon & roll on arrival and a Callaway gift pack.

Registration for the OGC Mixed PGA Scramble is done though the PGA event portal which is accessible by clicking here.

Subject to the number of entries received, it is hoped that OGC will qualify two teams for the Regional Final where the qualifiers will be joined by one of the Club’s PGA Professionals.

Click here for event terms and  conditions.

 

Ladies Hole Indexing Update – Effective 24th August 2023

The Match & Greens Committee recently undertook a Hole Index Rating review for both Men’s and Women’s courses to ascertain the accuracy of hole indexes based on the way the course is played.

The data collection period was from 1/4/2022 to 31/3/2023.

The data collection looks at all competition rounds across all grades. Using the data, the results indicated index changes to several holes across all Ladies Divisions. No changes were warranted to the Men’s indexes. It is believed that this is due to the change to the 11th tee location for ladies since the indexes were last reviewed.

The Ladies Committee supported a change to all holes as reflected in the data. This will come into effect from Thursday 24th August 2023.

A copy of the index changes for the Ladies is outlined in the tables below.

New Cart Fleet with GPS and Change to Medical Cart Policy

We are excited to announce that our new cart fleet, with state-of-the-art in-built GPS technology, have arrived.

GPS-Equipped Golf Carts:

The arrival of these new golf carts with GPS marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve our Club’s facilities and offer you the best possible golfing experience. The GPS technology integrated into the carts will provide several benefits to enhance the user experience and provide protection for the golf course:

  1. Geo-Fencing Protection: The GPS system comes with advanced geo-fencing technology, which ensures protection for our golf course. The system will create virtual boundaries, or “Action Zones,” around sensitive parts of the course. This means that the golf carts will be guided and restricted from entering these areas, ensuring the preservation of these critical sections and maintaining the course’s integrity.
  2. Improved Course Navigation: The in-built GPS will provide detailed course maps, precise yardages, and valuable tips to help you make well-informed decisions on each hole. This feature will undoubtedly add a new level of convenience and precision to your game, allowing you to focus on your performance and enjoy the course to the fullest.
  3. Wet Weather Course Access: With the geo-fencing technology, we will be able to grant more access to the golf course during wet weather conditions. The GPS-equipped carts will be able to navigate designated paths and areas that are less susceptible to damage in inclement weather. This means you will have more opportunities to play even when the weather is less favourable.

Changes to Medical Cart Provision and Pricing:

As we introduce these new GPS-equipped golf carts, we have carefully considered the existing medical cart provision. After extensive consideration, we have decided to make some adjustments to the medical cart policy in place.

Starting from Thursday 24th August, the GPS Action Zones will be activated, and the current provision of a “Medical Cart Only” restriction will cease to be an option for protecting the course. Instead, golf carts will either be:

  • Allowed on the course unrestricted; or
  • Allowed with access restricted to sensitive parts of the golf course through the geo-fence “action zones”; or
  • Carts off

Hence, carts will effectively be ON, or carts will be OFF. 

This means that when wet conditions allow carts on the golf course, all cart users will still be able to enjoy the benefits of the GPS-equipped carts, however will be guided away from designated sensitive areas. 

Our primary goal in making these changes is to strike a balance between providing course access to all members while ensuring the preservation of our beloved golf course.

Medical Cart Pricing:

The Club currently operates a two-tiered medical cart pricing:

  • Casual Medical Cart Hire Rate – $30 / 18-holes
  • Annual Medical Cart Hire Rate – $1,845 per annum

In-conjunction with the implementation of the GPS and Action Zones (24th August 2023), the Casual Medical Cart option will be removed.

Members who utilise a golf cart regularly on medical grounds will have the option of the Annual Medical Cart Hire, which for members who play an average of 1.5 times a week, works out to be just under $24 / 18-holes.

The standard rate for cart hire will remain at $37.50 / 18-holes.

The Board and Match Committee appreciate your understanding of the changes to the medical cart policy in-conjunction with the arrival of the new cart fleet and believe that these changes strike a suitable balance between the needs of the membership and the demands of cart usage on the golf course and will produce a positive outcome for all members going forward.

If you have any questions relating to the new cart fleet, changes to medical cart policy, or wish to apply for an annual Medical Cart, please contact General Manager, Sam Howe for more information.

Upcoming Member Events: August – September

The Club has lots of fantastic events coming up for members and guests and we encourage members to take part in the Club’s diverse offering.

Following the recent member survey regarding event ideas, we will be adding to the list of event types below as the year progresses, however for the time being, please see the upcoming events for August and September:

  • Friday 11th August, Winter Eats & Beats, from 5pm – Bookings not required
  • Saturday 19th August, The Bettington, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm – Booking required
  • Friday 25th August, 500 Social Cards Evening, 6:30pm – 9:30pm – Booking Required
  • Wednesday 30th August, The Bettington, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm – Booking required
  • Sunday 3rd September, Father’s Day Lunch, 1pm – Booking required
  • Friday 8th September, Winter Eats & Beats, from 4pm – Bookings not required
  • Friday 15th September, PGA Scramble, Booking required
  • Saturday 16th September, The Bettington, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm – Booking required
  • Friday 22nd September, Karahoke, – Booking required
  • Wednesday 27th September, The Bettington, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm – Booking required

Pennant Update

Eric Apperly Shield

The Oatlands GC Eric Apperly Shield (21 years and under) side played their fifth and final match of the season on Sunday (6th August) against division favourites Avondale GC at Avondale GC.

Unfortunately, Avondale were just too strong and our side went 6 matches to nil. While this was a disappointing finish for our side, the exposure to players at the next level will be extremely beneficial. Despite an unlucky draw this season which saw us play the two strongest teams on their home course, our side finished with 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw.

Congratulations go to the whole squad that represented the Club throughout the season, and a special thanks to Head PGA Professional, Jeremy Ward, who volunteered his time to manage the side each Sunday. There aren’t many Club Professionals who would take on this role and it is a credit to Jeremy and the Club that he has such dedication to the development of our young golfers.

Recent Trophy Event Winners

Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup was played on Saturday 5th August with Salim Rahmati winning the trophy with 43 points.

Mixed Foursomes Championship

Congratulations to the winners of the Mixed Foursomes Championship played on Sunday 6th August, Janaka Wimalaratne and Debbie Jepson, with a 36-hole scratch score of 168 to win by 3-shots from Stephen and Jenny Doherty.

The nett winners were Jun Lee and May Kim with a score of 149.

Click here for full field Mixed Foursomes Championships_Results 2023

Upcoming Trophy Events

Men’s

  • Saturday 12th August – HP Evans Knockout Qualifying
  • Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive – Renovations: Course and Club Closed
  • Saturday 2nd September – HP Evans Knockout QF
  • Saturday 9th September – HP Evans Knockout SF 
  • Saturday 16th September – HP Evans Knockout Final
  • Saturday 23rd September – Club Championship Medal Rnd 1 of 2

Ladies

  • Thursday 17th August – Club Medal
  • Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive – Renovations: Course and Club Closed
  • Thursday 31st August – Captain’s Cup Rd1
  • Thursday 7th September – Captain’s Cup Rd2
  • Thursday 14th September – Captain’s Cup Rd3
  • Thursday 21st September – Captain’s Cup Final
  • Thursday 28th September  Medal

Mixed

  • Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd August inclusive – Renovations: Course and Club Closed

Family Membership Incentive – 50% Joining Fee Reduction for Immediate Family

The Board and Membership Committee of Oatlands Golf Club are pleased to announce a new membership initiative designed to encourage immediate family of our existing membership to join our wonderful Club.

Starting 1st July, all immediate family of an existing member in any of the Club’s playing membership categories, will be eligible for a 50% reduction to the joining fee of the respective category in which they join.

Eligibility criteria are listed below:

  • Must be in one of the following relationships with a current Playing Member of the Club.
  • Spouse including defacto*
  • Children including in-law relationships*
  • Parents including in-law relationships*
  • Siblings

* Defacto and in-law relationships require verification via a shared address on a photo ID or marriage certificate.

This is an exciting opportunity for existing members of the Club and one that we hope will continue to build the strong family and intergenerational culture that is one of the hallmarks of OGC.

For further information on this incentive or to make an application, please contact Kathy Bright via email: administration@oatlandsgolf.com.au or by phoning the Club Reception.

Members Only Facebook Group

The engagement among the membership on our Members Only Facebook group has continued to grow in recent months with posts from members and staff happening daily. 

So if you aren’t already part of our Members Only Facebook Group, join up now and join in the fun banter.

We now have over 380 members who have joined the group and hope to see this get closer to 700 in the next 12-months.

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/

 

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