Oatlands Enews – Friday 22nd March 2024
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Ladies Grade Win Division 2 Pennant
- From the Course
- Join our Monday Volunteers – Lunch Provided, Laughter Guaranteed!
- Captain’s Corner – Pitchmarks and Yellow Flags
- LIV GOLF Adelaide – Two Tickets Available
- Easter Long Weekend Trading
- The Bettington Restaurant – Wednesday 27th March – Menu Available
- Improve your Short Game and lower your scores with Jeremy Ward’s Short Game Clinic! Limited Space Remaining.
- Titleist Ball Education Day – Saturday 23rd March
- Bar Tab and Visitor Vouchers – Expire 1st April 2024
- Pennant Update
- Upcoming Member Events: March and April
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
- Members Only Facebook Group
Ladies Grade Win Division 2 Pennant
Our Ladies Grade side played the last match of the Division 2 season today needing a victory over Long Reef GC to win the Division 2 Pennant and gain promotion in to Division 1 for 2025. Tensions were high with our side going into the fixture favourites, however our ladies handled the pressure and won the day 3 matches to 2.
- Paula Skelton lost 7/6
- Linda Gyzen lost 3/1
- Penny Deehan won 2/1
- Amy Kim won 4/2
- Jenny Park won 3/2
This is an incredible achievement for our ladies and for the Club. The spirit and camaraderie among the team has been on display all season and particularly in the last few weeks where they played some of their best golf to move from third to first in the division, in the last two rounds.
Well done to all the players, caddies and spectators involved throughout the season, this will go down as one of OGC’s great pennant victories.
A special congratulations to Penny Deehan who went through the season undefeated.
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 23.5mm, Rainfall for 2024: 372.5mm, Dam: 100%, Green Speed: 10.0 feet
All collars were cored (hollow tinted) this week in preparation for the winter months ahead. All collars have been replaced during the summer season with new turf grown on a turf farm at Pitt Town. This turf is grown on a heavy soil type (higher amounts of clay particles compared to sand/loam) so the coring of the collars is to remove this heavy soil and replace it with sand by topdressing. The sand back filled channels through the soil profile which are being created with the coring process, will enable the new turf to send roots down deeper into the soil profile and eventually make these surfaces more resilient during dormancy.
All collars and aprons will be fertilised with a carbon based fertiliser which will assist with the healing process of the coring and the slight yellowing from the recent pre-emergent herbicide application. The collars will be cored at least once more during renovations to send them into the winter months in the best possible condition. Ropes and stakes will remain in front of greens as members behavioural patterns haven’t changed, because as soon as we pulled them down to perform maintenance tasks around the greens, members take the opportunity to walk up and over these areas.
Repair work has been performed to the track mark areas across the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes this week with the marks rotary hoed and levelled out with new soil. The turfing of these areas will be performed during the upcoming greens renovation period.
All fairways have been sprayed with a reduced rate of growth regulator this week with a fungicide for the Helmo disease also added to the tank mix. The application rate of the growth regulator was reduced so that growth isn’t reduced too much but enough so that surface presentation can be at its best. All kikuyu fairway surfaces are struggling across Sydney golf courses at the moment after the continuously high humidity summer that we have just experienced. Fairways surfaces are spongy because of a seasons grass clippings building up as we don’t collect the clippings from fairways like we do on the greens or tees. Ideally, a light scarifying of the fairways would be beneficial like I have trialled on the practice fairway and the top of the 12th fairway. My hesitation at performing this to all fairways is doubt around lack of suitable weather conditions for the recovery before the winter months when growth slows down naturally. The broom attachment on our Ventrac machine may be the better option as it isn’t as invasive as the scarifier that was used on the practice and 12th fairways. All fairways will be verti drained (solid tined) during the course closure for greens renovations. If time permits, the verti draining of fairways will be repeated over the winter months.
A large amount of whipper snipping has been completed throughout the course during the week, tidying up areas around tree bases, distance posts on fairways, and drainage pits that can make the course look a little untidy at times.
Volunteers were on course Monday morning edging pathways, trimming fairway sprinkler heads, checking OOB posts, divotting fairways, and stick picking. Our volunteers play an important role with the weekly preparation of the course for members to play. More volunteers are always welcome, so if you’d like to join this group on a Monday morning for a few hours, they start at 7am meeting up around the 1st tee/18th green area. Thank you to everyone that volunteered this week.
This weekend we will be cutting on both mornings.
Have a great weekend and happy golfing!
The Course Team.
Join our Monday Volunteers – Lunch Provided, Laughter Guaranteed!
Our Monday volunteer brigade are part of the lifeblood of the Club, but more than that, they are a group of dedicated members who have a great time with each other while giving back to the Club they love. If you would like to join this merry group, please email gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au
Captain’s Corner – Pitchmarks and Yellow Flags
Are members aware that the worst holes for unrepaired divot marks are those holes with yellow flags?
Players will generally walk around the side of the green and enter the green at either the side or the back of the green. Unfortunately, it is common that players do not walk to the front of the green to repair their divots. This can also be compounded where ropes are across the front of the green and hence directing members to the side of the green.
I appreciate that I keep labouring the point about divots, but also feel that with a little bit of effort from everyone, this is the last time I need to communicate this matter, I hope.
The video below demonstrates the correct way to repair a divot and the impact this has on recovery time.
Good Golfing,
Colin McRae
Club Captain
LIV GOLF Adelaide – Two Tickets Available
One of our members has purchased two tickets for the upcoming LIV Golf Adelaide event at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide and due to unforeseen circumstances, is now unable to attend.
As such, the two tickets are being made available to any interested OGC member at the normal ticketed price.
The tickets provide access to all 3-days of the tournament and are $220 per ticket.
Interested members should contact General Manager, Sam Howe (gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au) who will put you in touch with the member.
The tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
The 2023 LIV Golf Adelaide event was among the biggest golf events in the world and attracted a quality field not seen in Australia for decades (if ever). The 2024 event promises to be even bigger.
Easter Long Weekend Trading
Members are advised that the Clubhouse, Course, and Pro Shop will operate as normal over the Easter Long Weekend with the following exception:
Reception: Closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday / Open Easter Saturday from 10am – 1pm.
Sandwich Hut: Closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday / Open Easter Saturday.
The Bistro menu will be available over all 4 days of the long weekend as normal, along with pre-packaged sandwiches from the bar on the days the Sandwich Hut is closed.
The Bettington Restaurant – Wednesday 27th March – Menu Available
Members and guests are invited to our a la carte Bettington Restaurant on Wednesday 27th March 2024.
Bookings are available for 2 to 10 diners, with a two course menu for $55 or three course for $69.
Seating times are available at 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm and 7:30pm, so grab some friends and join us for another great night of food and friendship.
Bar account credit (expiring on 1st April) and Birthday vouchers redeemable.
Entrée
- Caramelised onion and Gruyere tart fine, grilled asparagus, witlof and walnuts (v)
- Pan seared scallops, cauliflower cream, heirloom tomato sauce vierge, pancetta crumb and lemon balm (gf)
- Beef tartare, duck fat rosti, salted duck yolk and black caviar (gf)
Main
- Confit duck leg, parsnip puree, roasted Swiss brown mushrooms, braised French cabbage, madeira jus (gf)
- Wagyu Tajima MB6+ skirt cooked medium rare, Ssamjang mayonnaise, grilled baby cos and bulgogi sauce(gf)
- Pan-roasted Kingfish with Lemon, caper and butter sauce, sourdough crouton, pickled onion, and pea tendrils
- Roasted lamb, broad beans, peas and mint, caramelised fennel & celeriac remoulade, turmeric roasted cauliflower, and jus (gf)
Side – $9.00 each
- Crushed fried potatoes, truffle oil, rosemary salt (v, gf)
- Garlic parmesan roasted asparagus (v, gf)
- Heirloom tomato and cucumber salad (v, gf)
Dessert
- Salted caramel tart, chocolate, pistachio nougat, honeycomb ice cream
- Bettington Eton mess, meringue, strawberry compote, vanilla Chantilly, fresh berries and lemon balm (gf)
- Milk ice cream, smoked cucumber jelly, meringue, and sorrel (gf)
Improve your Short Game and lower your scores with Jeremy Ward’s Short Game Clinic! – Limited Space Available
Join Jeremy on either Friday, 29th March or Friday 26th April for a fun 1.5-hour class focusing on chipping, pitching, and bunker play.
Here are the details:
- Date: Friday, March 29th (2-spots available) or Friday 26th April (Full Booked)
- Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
- Cost: $70 per person
- Spots: Limited to just 8 participants
- Focus: Improve your chipping, pitching, and bunker play skills
This clinic is perfect for golfers of all skill levels looking to enhance their short game technique under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
To secure your spot:
- Use the “Jeremy Ward Lesson” booking sheet through the members website
- Email Jeremy at golfoperations@oatlandsgolf.com.au
- Contact Jeremy directly at 0434 574 660
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your short game to the next level. Book your spot now and start shaving strokes off your game!
Titleist Ball Education Day – Saturday 23rd March
We are excited to announce that Titleist will be hosting a ball education day at Oatlands Golf Club on the 23rd of March. This presents a fantastic opportunity for our members to gain valuable insights into selecting the right golf ball for their game. Additionally, there’s a chance to receive a complimentary ball or two!
Titleist will also be showcasing their latest SM10 wedges for members to demo during the event. This is an excellent chance to try out cutting-edge equipment and improve your game.
The event will run from 7am to midday to ensure that everyone has ample time to participate. We encourage all members to take advantage of this opportunity and join us for what promises to be an informative and enjoyable day.
Best regards,
Jeremy Ward
OGC Head Professional
Bar Tab and Visitor Vouchers – Expire 1st April 2024
Members are reminded that their annual Bar Tab credit, and Visitor Vouchers (Visitor Vouchers allocated to Full Playing and 6-Day members only) will expire on 1st April 2024, at the commencement of the 2024-25 Membership year.
Bar Credit can be used for clubhouse and takeaway food and beverage purchases, along with attendance at Club dining events such as “The Bettington” nights.
Visitor Vouchers can be used to bring non-member guests during competition or social play with no green fee payable.
Members are encouraged to visit the “MEMBERS ACCOUNT” section of the Club website to confirm the status of your Bar Tab and Visitor Voucher accounts for 2023-24, and utilise the remaining credit on or before 31st March 2024.
Pennant Update
Men’s Major Pennant
Team Manager
Blair McDonald
Ladies Grade Pennant
See lead article of this Enews.
Ladies Bronze II
Our Ladies Bronze II side won their third round match of the pennant today defeating Concord GC at Bayview GC 4.5 matches to 0.5.
The Ladies have now started the seaon undefeated with two wins and a bye.
The next match for our side will be Friday 5th April against Avondale GC at Concord GC from 7:30am.
Upcoming Member Events: March and April
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 event offering over the coming months:
- Wednesday 27th March, The Bettington Restaurant
- Saturday 13th April, The Bettington Restaurant
- Monday 15th April, US Masters Breakfast and Golf
- Friday 19th April, OGC Trivia Night
- Wednesday 24th April, The Bettington Restaurant
Note: Bar Account Credit and Birthday vouchers can be used for all of these events.
Recent Trophy Event Winners
The Men’s Oatlands Memorial Bowl was played on Saturday 16th March with Peter Skinner winning the trophy with a great score of 41pts on his 13 handicap. Well done Peter!
There were no other trophy events decided in the last week, however the Men’s NB Charlton Knockout will commence tomorrow, Saturday 23rd March, and the semi-final of the Ladies Grace Norris Trophy was also completed on Thursday 21st March (draw available below).
Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 23rd March – NB Charlton 2BBB Matchplay Round 1
- Friday 29th March – Good Friday
- Saturday 30th March – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday
- Monday 1st April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 6th April – Club Medal / NB Charlton Quarter Final
- Mon 8th – Wed 10th Apr – Course Renovation Closure
- Saturday 27th April – NB Charlton Semi-final
Ladies
- Thursday 28th March – Grace Norris Final
- Friday 29th March – Good Friday
- Saturday 30th March – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday
- Monday 1st April – Easter Monday
- Thursday 4th April – Fourball Par, team aggregate handicap between 40-80
- Mon 8th – Wed 10th Apr – Course Renovation Closure
- Thursday 11th April – Team Ambrose
- Mon 15th Apr – US Masters Brekky & Golf
- Sun 21st April – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Qualifying
- Monday 22nd April – Visitors Day
- Sunday 28th April – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Quarter-final
Mixed
- Sunday 24th March – Husband & Wife Trophy
- Friday 29th March – Good Friday
- Saturday 30th March – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday
- Monday 1st April – Easter Monday
Members Only Facebook Group
If you aren’t already part of our Members Only Facebook Group, join up now and join in the conversation.
We now have over 400 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, which 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/