Report Three – 4 October 2024
As the weather keeps getting warmer the completion of the 5B temporary hole is beginning to take shape. A number of contractors have taken part in construction effort, including MD Construction, D&A Irrigation, Golf by Design, Dad & Daves turf, Elite Sand and Soil to name a few.
The final levels of the green, tee and surrounds have taken shape over the past week. Once this was completed the full installation of the irrigation took place, including 13 new sprinkler heads.
On Tuesday 1st the greens team started the major task of harvesting the 17th and 18th greens from New South Wales Golf Club. The team then laid this turf on our new green. This task took almost 4 days. The results are extremely pleasing although the boys might have some sore backs as a reminder of their good work.
The next stage of the bunker construction has also taken place with the Lok-sand being Integrated into the sand directly around the bunkers. This will help the shape and face of the bunker hold in the correctly. The next stage for the bunkers is the gravel layer that is then glued down with a polymer then fresh white sand will be added.
The new tee has also been completed as well as the drainage in the green surrounds.
Please feel free to take a moment to have a look when you walk past. The results so far are very impressive and I’m sure the hole will be an impressive addition to the club.
Jake Smith
Assistant Superintendent
Report Two – 12 September 2024
As we move into spring the construction on the new temporary hole has continued to take shape. Almost 100 loads of clay material were transported from the back of the green shed to the site. This material was used to help shape and the green and the bunkers and allow them to drain correctly. The herringbone drainage lines have also been installed in green. This patten ensures that the green catches the water in the correct spots and allows the green to grow evenly.
As a part of the new bunker design, every bunker has its own drainage system. This will allow bunkers to freely drain during a large rain event. Meaning that the days of pumping bunkers out maybe coming to an end for the green staff. Once the bunkers have been shaped the Clingstone technology will then be put in place with fresh white bunker sand to follow.
In the coming weeks the irrigation system will be installed. A huge amount of 90/10 sand will be taken out to the site and the entire hole will begin to take shape. As per the specification a 300mm layer of sand will be placed evenly across the green. The tee will also be capped with a 300mm layer of 90/10.
Again, please be mindful of trucks and other large equipment moving around the club house, on the 3rd and 5th holes. The 5th hole is still being played as a short hole during the week.
As always feel free to ask myself or the the green staff any question.
Assistant Superintendent
Jake Smith
Report One – 23 August 2024
The start of August saw commencement of the new temporary green construction on left hand side of the 5th hole. The Club is excited to get started, however like the rest of the course, the weather has played its part. With Spring just around the corner, we hope to have seen the last of the heavy rain.
5A will consist of a 500m2 green, similar in size to the 4th green. The hole will have two new bunkers completed with the new drainage technology. These bunkers will act as greenside bunkers when 5A is in play and as fairway bunkers when the spare hole is not in use. A new fully grassed tee will also be constructed to play the existing 5th hole as a Par 3 (5B).
In week 1, we saw the area sprayed out by the green staff and temporary fencing erected by MD Construction. Some may remember MD from the 9th green construction several years ago. The irrigation was removed, and the turf was striped back and the soil works began.
We ask that if you land in the construction zone, to please NOT enter the area to retrieve your ball as this may put you in danger around the machines.
Once all the turf had been striped and the soil exposed, work of shaping the new green and tee could take place. The areas were marked out as per the green specifications and a large amount of soil need to be transported from the back compound to the construction site for the green.
As you can see from the air things begin to take shape very quickly. These 2 pictures were taken a week apart.
Once the green is shaped, the bunkers will be constructed using “Klingstone” technology allowing the bunkers to drain quickly and with little to no washouts in major rain events. Following this trial, we hope to install Klingstone on all the bunkers in the coming years. The benefit being bunkers that are back in play quicker after large rain events and a lot less raking and rebuilding washout for the green staff.
The 5th hole will continue to be played as a shorter length during the week and as regular Par 4 on the weekends. The 3rd hole currently has GUR area running across the access point, with some large wheel marks from heavy machinery. Please take care when in these areas as things may be a little different than normal. The Club thanks you for your patience during this time.
If you have any questions about the construction, please feel free to ask myself or any of the staff and we would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Jake Smith
Assistant Superintendent
