Oatlands Enews – Friday 27th October 2023
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- From the Course
- Ladies Club Champions Crowned
- Men’s Club Championship Update
- Ladies Vets Closing Day and Presentation
- Join Our Course Volunteer Group
- Melbourne Cup Luncheon – Tuesday 7th November 2023
- Grooves and Greens – Friday 17th November, Free Outdoor Music Event
- Upcoming Member Events: October and November
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Trophy Events
- Members Only Facebook Group
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 3.3mm, Rainfall for 2023: 701.0mm, Dam: 95% Green Speed: 10 feet
The replacement of the 15th collar was completed on Monday morning with the assistance of our volunteers. As I mentioned last week, we removed a deeper section of the existing turf on this collar to ensure all the rootzone of the kikuyu turf, which had invaded this collar over recent years, was cleared. This meant extra time had to be spent getting the soil base back up to required levels so that the green surrounds surfaces flow naturally into the green putting surface.
The new couch turf is establishing itself very quickly and we should be able to give the 5th collar its first cut by the weekend, and possibly lift the compulsory GUR conditions of play on this collar. Next week we are planning to complete three collars, with the 4th, 10th, and 13th collars to all receive new couch turf around them. We will once again be assisted by the volunteers on the Monday morning and start the removal of all the existing collars and then prepare the sites for turf which will be laid on Tuesday morning. This is a slight change to how we have completed the work over the previous weeks, but we are completing three collars this week as opposed to only one.
All tees have been fertilised with aeration using solid tines to be performed over the next two weeks. Cutting of these surfaces is at once a week now, with this to increase to twice a week following the aeration as growth will increase as a result of the fertiliser application, these aeration practices, and the temperatures starting to increase.
The growth regulator and pre-emergent herbicide application to the front 11 holes continued this week with the 1st, 4th and 6th holes completed. The windy weather on Thursday stopped this work continuing and will now be performed next week, weather permitting.
As mentioned earlier, we had a strong attendance of our volunteers on Monday morning, and they were a great help with the turfing of the 15th collar. More Parramatta grass was also poisoned, and the remaining tagging of the Club’s electrical equipment was completed by Joe. Joe went above and beyond this week by managing to fill the large potholes in the main carpark with some leftover concrete from a local job (thanks also to Villi and Dale). Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for all the work you do each week, and especially to Joe who is always willing to help out at the Club.
Greens will be cut on Saturday, and then cut and rolled on Sunday.
Have a great weekend and happy golfing!
The Course Team.
Ladies Club Champions Crowned
The final round of the Ladies Club Championship was completed yesterday, Thursday 26th October, and saw Linda Gyzen (chasing her 6th championship in a row) start the day 4 shots behind Debbie Jepson who was herself a 3 time champion. On a cool and windy day, the ladies were tested, and while Linda closed the gap throughout the final round, Debbie held her nerve to win her 4th championship and break Linda’s recent grip on the trophy.
The Bronze I Champion for 2023 was Sophia Shin from 2-shots to Chris McRae.
The Bronze II Champion for 2023 was Judith Leeds-Roberts from 2-shots to Jill Browne.
A large group of members were on hand at the close of play to toast our Ladies Champions for 2023.
Men’s Club Championship Update
Men’s Matchplay
The quarter-finals of the Men’s Club Championship Matchplay was played over the 21st and 22nd of October. The 36 Hole Championship matches were well contested but saw the higher seed prevail three of four matches with Will Reece defeating brother Sam 4&3, defending champion Luke Mason going down to Christian Rees 4&3, Grant Lomas playing some of his best golf to defeat past dual champion Brad Hooper 9&8, and Charlie Kim defeating Tom McMurtry 7&6. This sets up for two high quality semi-finals on Sunday 29th October with Wil Reece vs Christian Rees and Grant Lomas vs Charlie Kim commencing at 7am.
The Plate Championship saw Jackson Jones, Jack Chang, David Osborne and Simon Perry progress to the Semi-finals on Saturday 28th October at 8am.
The Middle Markers Championship saw Ben Mees, Christian Nielson, Danny Zaouk and Curtis McNamara progress to the Semi-finals on Saturday 28th October at 8:07am.
The Long Markers Championship saw Max Wahbe, Mark Gade, Leo Nelson and Rob Bechara progress to the Semi-finals on Saturday 28th October at 8:14am.
Members are encouraged to get along to watch these matches and support your fellow members in their pursuit of the Club’s most prestigious trophies.
Ladies Vets Closing Day and Presentation
Monday 23 October was the Veterans Closing Day competition & Veterans trophy / medal presentation.
Around 80 ladies came together after golf to enjoy lunch and each others company and celebrate the years trophy winners.
- Kate Crawford – Grace Norris Trophy
- Eileen Stratford – 2023 Super Vet Medal Round Winner
- Jenny Doherty – Div 1 winner 2023 Challenge Brooch
- Louise Badaoui – Div 3 2023 Challenge Brooch
- Kate Crawford – Super Vet 2023 Challenge Brooch
- Competition of the Day, Irish 4BBB Winners – Linda Bestford, Linda Gyzen, Nicole Whittaker, Vanessa Chivers
Join Our Course Volunteer Group
Our band of merry volunteers are looking for new recruits.
The volunteers meet every Monday morning and assist the Course Staff with various duties that are vital to the ongoing maintenance of the course.
This working group contributes an enormous amount to the Club and its members but is also a tremendous “men’s shed” activity with lots of fun and friendships formed both on the course and in the Clubhouse.
Lunch is provided after each session.
For more information, please contact Club General Manager, Sam Howe, gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au, or simply turn up on Monday mornings at 7am.
Melbourne Cup Luncheon – Tuesday 7th November 2023
Members and guests are invited to enjoy the ‘Race that Stops a Nation’, the iconic Melbourne Cup at OGC with a Chef’s Buffet Luncheon on Tuesday 7th November. This is a great day to get into your finest spring carnival attire and join friends for an afternoon of excitement, camaraderie and hopefully, to pick a winner in the great race.
Bookings essential and can be made via the Club website or by phoning Reception.
Grooves and Greens – Friday 17th November, Free Outdoor Music Event
We are pleased to announce the next iteration of our Grooves and Greens event on Friday 17th November. This free event for members and guests will run from 6pm – 10pm and will include:
- Live Music adjacent to the 18th green from 7pm.
- Outdoor BBQ and Bar available (BYO food and non-alcoholic beverage permitted, alcoholic beverages to be purchased from the Club due to license restrictions).
- Par 3 shootout competitions on the 18th hole
This event is limited to 150 members and guests, so jump onto the Club website and book yourself in for this popular OGC event.
Upcoming Member Events: November
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 October:
- Saturday 4th November, Annual Presentation Night, 6pm – Booking required
- Saturday 11th November, Diggers Day
- Tuesday 7th November, 12:00pm, Melbourne Cup – Booking required
- Friday 17th November, 6:00pm, Grooves and Greens
- Thursday 23rd November, 6:00pm, Ladies Presentation Dinner – Booking required
- Saturday 25th November, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, The Bettington – Booking required
- Wednesday 29th November, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, The Bettington – Booking required
Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Ladies Club Champion – Debbie Jepson
- Ladies Bronze I Champion – Sophia Shin
- Ladies Bronze II Champion – Judith Leeds-Roberts
- Ladies Club Nett Champion – Debbie Jepson
- Ladies Bronze I Nett Champion – Sophia Shin
- Ladies Bronze II Nett Champion – Judith Leeds-Roberts
- Joy Perry Plate – Dahee Lee
Upcoming Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 28th October – Medal
- Saturday 28th October – Club Championship Matchplay SF (Plate, Middle Markers, Long Markers)
- Sunday 29th October – Club Championship Matchplay SF (Open)
- Saturday 4th November – Club Championship Matchplay Finals (All Grades)
- Saturday 18th November – Oatlands Cup and Club Medal
Ladies
- Thursday 2nd November – OLGA Final
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 inter-generational 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/