Course Chair Update

I trust you find this update informative as I provide you with a summary of recent months Course conditions, current and upcoming projects, strategic planning initiatives and highlight several other key Course matters

Course Conditions

As we are now into Spring, the slightly warmer days in recent weeks have seen an increase in both the soil temperatures and growth rates of grass throughout the Course. Amongst a wide range of ongoing Course maintenance activities, investigation and testing, David Mason’s key focus is on strategies to control and remediate off-type grasses throughout the playing surfaces.

Greens and their surrounds have been maintained tightly and have played well through the Winter period and Pennants season. With the growing season now here, the increased growth rates and more rigorous maintenance regimes will enable good recovery and a marked improvement in playability, appearance, and presentation.

Greens renovation is scheduled for the Tuesday, 4, 5 and 6 October 2022 (noting that if we lose these days to bad weather we will use the immediate days following). The Clubhouse, Course and Practice Facilities will all be closed to Members during these days whilst renovation occurs. The renovation will be to a “medium” level with an expected full recovery time of approx. 6-8 weeks. David Mason will send out a video communication prior with more detail.

To assess and monitor the condition of the Tees through Winter they were not overseeded this year to enable the formulation of future strategies. They have held up quite well in both playability and appearance. There will be a renovation of tees immediately after the completion of the Greens renovation.

Re-levelling of tees generally is of high priority and will be carried out progressively where scheduling permits.

Fairways have remained in good condition throughout winter, and growth rates and mowing frequency have now increased. An assertive action plan has now commenced to address the off-type/weed species grasses throughout the fairways with a program of intensive applications of selective herbicide and fertiliser. We have started already on Hole 19 and Hole 20 and the ongoing process to complete all holes on course should take approx. 3 months to complete the herbicide treatment and the process to grow in the Wintergreen Couch through the remainder of the growing season. There will be no scarifying renovation done this year, however use of the Air2g2 machine and the vertidrain will continue. What we will be seeing on fairways is the browning of patches as the off-type grasses die-back, before the Wintergreen Couch recovers and grows back in place. It is expected that playability will not be affected despite the appearance. Signage about the treatment for Members and Guests information will be placed on the tees on Hole 1 and Hole 10. A video communication with more detail from David Mason will also be prepared.

Bunkers were affected badly by the floods and have since then been getting a high level of attention to get them back to as good condition as they reasonably can be. Exposed matting is being progressively removed to ensure it doesn’t interfere with play. Several of the worst effected bunkers; on Hole 1, Hole 6, and Hole 16 are all on the high priority list for repair, with an ongoing remediation program to continue beyond that. Also of note is that our previous sand supplier is no longer in operation, and David Mason is in the process of investigating and testing a range of options to ensure best playability, composition, colour/appearance, cost and future sustainable supply.

David Mason will soon be preparing and sending out several videos as an update on a range of key matters of interest for Members information.

The complete suite of new course furnishings and signage are now almost all installed in place, with only the new ball washer posts to be done in the coming weeks.

Current Course Project Works 

The cart hardstand is approaching completion. The concrete is finished and the electrical fit-off and landscape works to soften and enhance the surrounds will be happening over the coming few weeks.

Works on the turf nursery on the right side of Hole 8 are progressing well with substantial clean-up of the area now complete and the preparation of an expanded nursery for both greens and fairways turf to ensure adequate supplies are readily available for future works. Soil fill is currently being taken from the right side of Hole 3 for re-purposing and use in the mounding being formed along the right side of the Hole 8.

Works on the Hole 5 precinct enhancements have commenced with the first phase being to clear vegetation that was encroaching into the line of play and opening of views through removal of trees and shrubs that were either in poor condition or substantially impacted by the floods. The works are being done in consultation with our Course Architect and will be continuing over the next few months with completion target of late November or early December. Feedback has been very positive in general however it is acknowledged there have been a few concerns raised about this small amount of habitat loss. I can assure Members that moving forward the continuation of revegetation and natural area creation is an integral and important part of the total Course Enhancement Plan intent and vision. We have over the last 10 years revegetated approx. 5 ha and planted close to 20,000 predominantly local native species, which is a significant contribution to the local wildlife network. The Landscape Masterplan includes a further 6ha area of proposed revegetation and new habitat creation and the program will continue well into the future.

Practice facility upgrades have commenced with the levelling of the range surface to improve appearance, playability and ball collection, and the cleaning up of the mounding at the southern end. We thank Members for their patience last week during the range closure. The new coaching and fitting shed to be located on the forward professionals tee area will be arriving late September and we anticipate should be constructed and fitted out ready for use in November

Hole 13 tee upgrades including the completion of the low stone wall and expansion and levelling of the Women’s tee should be completed in October 2022.

Upcoming Course Projects

We are committed to the ongoing future improvements of the overall Course and surrounds, and are in the process of firming up our strategy for the coming years works.

It was pleasing to see the Member Survey responses reinforce the main areas of the highest priority requiring attention, and these are all being considered and included:

• The Hole 3 flood management solution
• The total Practice and Driving Range Facilities
• Bunkers
• Paths and all-weather access

Course Enhancement Plan

The Club’s Course Architect, Paul Mogford of Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies is currently working closely with David Mason and the Club with both the design and delivery of the current priority project works, including the Practice Facilities and Hole 3 flood management solution, and Hole 5 tee precinct enhancement works. Paul has also been undertaking extensive detailed site analysis and assessment of opportunities as part of his process of developing future strategies to improve our current layout through the preparation of a Course Enhancement Plan. This is in line with our commitment to have a sound and comprehensive strategy in place to achieve the ongoing improvements. We believe that with now having Paul Mogford and David Mason working closely together, we have the best expert team in place to ensure the elevation of our course layout and its presentation to be the best it can possibly be well into the future.

Volunteers

The schedule of monthly works by our tremendous team of Volunteers is ongoing under the direction of David Mason and expert co-ordination of Lloyd Cotterill. While the Vollies’ energy and attention was diverted post flood to the enormous clean up and recovery effort for a number of months earlier in the year, the program is now getting back on track with a weed management focus, as well as assisting to deliver some of the planned Landscape Masterplan works that have been allocated for completion this year. Members will have noticed the weed removal and much cleaner appearance along Hole 5 lake edge adjacent to Hole 3 and Hole 4, and the improved water views that have been revealed.

Volunteers working sessions are generally held at 7.30am on the first Monday morning of each month, and we would encourage and welcome any Members who are interested in joining and bolstering the team in the greatly valued work being done.

General Course Matters

Members, please note that the out of bounds line along the right side of Hole 9 with the Practice Range has been moved in slightly and more white stakes have been installed to enable better visual delineation. This will also improve the access for the Pro-Shop team to collect balls along the tree-line.

David Mason is planning a series of ongoing course tours where groups of up to 24 Members will be shown around, hear explanations and have discussions about the latest Course maintenance activities and upcoming project works initiatives. These are planned to be held quarterly, with the first Tour tentatively scheduled for Sunday, 23 October 2022 at 3pm. More information and booking details will be posted shortly.

Lastly, we would like to thank and acknowledge Assistant Course Superintendent, Peter McNamara for his considerable and much appreciated efforts during his time at BGC. Peter has resigned his position with the Club and we wish him well with his next endeavours.

Please direct any questions or comments to our CEO, Geoff Kuehner via geoff@brisbanegolfclub.com.au.

Kind regards

Richard Garnham, Course Chair