Author archives: Stu Campbell

It’s obvious the Fairway is still struggling with the salinity levels and looks a lot worse since the recent flood. We have begun a plan to give the fairway more attention.

You may have noticed some on course Melaleuca trees have been significantly defoliated to the point of looking dead. However, they aren’t dead they were attacked by sawflies or spitfire caterpillars.

The course has coped a drenching in the past month, although, I think the Pro – Am luckily had the best of the conditions.

As the season when they are most active is upon us and it is a reminder that the golf courses provide a perfect habitat, here is the latest info on what to do and don’t do.

The course renovations went great despite the storm that rolled through on Monday afternoon which washed out our fairway coring and rubbing in for the rest of that day. Everything is starting to thrive under the weather conditions since and we are starting to get the course back into a bit of order with regards to bunkers and weeds. The surfaces will be back to what you are used to within a few weeks.

Green Staff had commenced monitoring the number and location of driving range balls coming to rest on the 9th fairway. During the process, Green Staff identified a large gap that is visible from the driving range tee that has no trees. This gap is also where a high percentage of golfers land their drives from the 9th tee which makes this a high risk area.

It’s now spring and as we warm up, the grass starts to come alive again and grow. Here are a couple of things to consider.

Work on the sandy waste is progressing. In time the sand will compact and become firm. I think it is an area that will aesthetically compliment the course once completed. Some of the undulations throughout the area will help catch some stray shots while hopefully giving you some better opportunities to recover.

As you are aware, rakes have been removed from the course. This came into being as a directive from Golf Australia since the Covid pandemic.

It is essential that all players are diligent in their repair of pitch marks on greens. A pitch mark that is repaired correctly and as soon as it happens will recover in 24 hours. A badly repaired or unrepaired one will take several weeks to heal. Unrepaired pitch marks also foster disease and infections in the green and can also create an ideal bed for weed seed.