spring 2017 - nswgcsa

NSWGCSASPRING 2017

Official Newsletter of the New South Wales Golf Course Superintendents Association

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GROUP 29 FUNGICIDE

CONTENTSNSWGCSA President’s Report 3

AGCSA Director’s Report 5

AGCSA Environmental Award 2017 Winner Muirfield Golf Club 7-9

Royal Canberra Golf Club Interview 10-13

Irrigation Audit Tips 15-19

Featured Club: Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club 20-26

30 Seconds with a Superintendent 27

30 Seconds with an Assistant 27

Walk’n’Talk Roseville Golf Club 29-31

The Australian Golf Club 32-34

Patch disease symptoms in northern couchgrass golf greens 35-38

NSWGCSA Announcement 39

Code of Ethics 39

Around the Traps 41-51

NSWGCSA Contacts 52

NSWGCSA PRESIDENT’S REPORTSTUART GILL

Already the numbers are building for the walk and talk at Strathfield Golf Club where host Paul Keary will be taking us through the major construction works that the club are in the process of undertaking.

Unfortunately the much anticipated amalgamation of industry awards has not quite eventuated in time for 2017. The vision is for the PGA, GMA, GolfNSW, JNJG and NSWGCSA to hold a joint ‘Oscar’ type awards event in early November to kick off the golf calendar in NSW. Although the idea has not been discarded it has been shelved for 2017 with the hope that everyone can get organised for 2018. That being said we will again be holding our own awards evening at the same time as the AGM following the Rube Walkerden Day at Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club in October.

This is a great opportunity then to ask for any late nominations, although the board have received several for each category; which is understandable given the sponsorship support from industry suppliers. For the last couple of years the prizes have developed to the point where the winners of the “Outstanding Achievement Award” and “Excellence in Turf Management Award” will be taken to the U.K. to experience the British Open Championship. The “Apprentice of the Year” will be taken to the GCSAA conference in the U.S. of A.. We would like to thank our major award sponsors, Australian Turf Projects, Living Turf and JT Turf.

It had been our intention to reform the membership payment process with the AGCSA however with the movement in management at head office in Victoria it would seem there is still some work to do. May I please remind everyone that we offer a joint membership

package where you receive a substantial discount in subscription fees when Supers join at the same time as their assistants and/or greenstaff. Unfortunately this discounted package cannot be offered through the AGCSA at this time, therefore if you are looking to take advantage of this package you must contact either Shane Herring, our membership director, Alison Jones on [email protected] or via our website. Anyone who has already paid full fees for their NSWGCSA membership through the AGCSA and would like to add their assistant and/or further employees will be able to receive the discount by contacting our admin department directly.

For any clubs who are still in the process of trying to complete the Landscape Construction Level III apprenticeship certification through RTO McLeod Training, there has been yet another stumbling block. Information I have received from Industry Training NSW is the RTO have entered administration. I have had initial discussions with Industry Training NSW to which they have assured me that they will allocate another RTO to complete any training in order to achieve certification, and that all students will be allowed an extension to their apprenticeship as well as employers being allowed to continue claiming a payroll tax rebate for each student.

If anyone is in this position and is looking to continue with their training I would urge all superintendents to email [email protected] with your student id numbers. The association will contact Industry Training NSW in order to have your apprenticeship term extended and reassign you an RTO.

Stuart Gill NSWGCSA President

The turnout for the walk and talk at Roseville Golf Club was nothing short of outstanding. The Association is there to provide a platform in which our members can network with industry reps and other superintendents and greenstaff in the state so it was pleasing to have 50 people there and I speak on behalf of the board when I thank everyone for their continued support.

3NSWGCSA Newsletter – Spring 2017

“Using the Eclipse®322 has saved us time and money.

We are able to cut our greens for a whole week on

one tank of fuel; it is the most economical machine

that I have ever come across.

I am able to electronically programme the frequency

of cut and mow speed so I know that every hole is

being cut to the same high standards, regardless of

who is sat on the machine. Precision is key in this

industry, and Jacobsen makes this possible.”

Russell Fletcher, Course Superintendent, St. Michael’s Golf Club

FOR THE FINEST FINISH

5 Iraking Avenue, Moorebankwww.jtturf.com.au

Call 1800 465 226

MJ17-050 JRT ads .indd 3 30/05/2017 12:04:43

AGCSA DIRECTOR’S REPORT

A bit of a frustrating past year on the AGCSA front to be honest with some of our plans being disrupted with the CEO situation.

Fortunately, our staff stepped up to the plate as always

and have kept all things AGCSA rolling along, particularly

the Twin Waters conference which was an outstanding

success with both exhibitors and attendees high in

their praise.

Looking forward and the Board are excited to announce

the appointment of Mark Unwin as our new CEO.

Mark comes to us with a very solid background of

business management which is a vital factor in our

operation with a turnover in excess of $2M. We are

confident that Mark has the ability to further strengthen

our relationship with our various stakeholders whilst

moving the association forward. Mark starts his new role

on Monday 25 September.

With Twin Waters

completed, focus has

shifted to the inaugural

Australasian Turfgrass

Conference and Trade Exhibition which will be held in

Wellington, New Zealand from 24-29 June, 2018. AGCSA

President Brett Balloch, myself and AGCSA Events and

Education Manager Simone Staples recently travelled to

New Zealand to visit the conference venue as well as

meet with our colleagues at the New Zealand Golf

Course Superintendents Association. Venues have now

been booked and confirmed and the actual programme

is being developed. It is intended that the initial

document will be available prior to Christmas to allow

for attendees to organise flights and accommodation.

The one thing that has impressed from the word go is

the city of Wellington and its suitability as a conference

location. All of the conference venues are within a

comfortable 5-10 minute walk and there is a huge range

of accommodation options from backpackers to 5-star

within 10 minutes walk.

I can also report that one of our keynote speakers for

the conference will be Scott McElroy from Auburn

University, USA. Scott is one of the younger generation

of US professors and although his knowledge base

is wide, one of his specialities is weed control and

chemical resistance which is very topical throughout

our industry at the moment. I have heard him speak

a number of times and can highly recommend his

presentations which are quite often a conversation with

the audience rather than a lecture.

Scott is definitely one not to be missed, as is the

pre-conference golf tour to Kinloch and Cape Kidnappers

which is also planned as part of our visit to New Zealand.

These two courses are two of the most visually stunning

and beautifully maintained golf courses you are likely

to see, so start planning now for what is going to be a

fantastic conference across ‘the Ditch’!

Peter Lonergan Director, AGCSA Superintendent, Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club

PETER LONERGAN

“Using the Eclipse®322 has saved us time and money.

We are able to cut our greens for a whole week on

one tank of fuel; it is the most economical machine

that I have ever come across.

I am able to electronically programme the frequency

of cut and mow speed so I know that every hole is

being cut to the same high standards, regardless of

who is sat on the machine. Precision is key in this

industry, and Jacobsen makes this possible.”

Russell Fletcher, Course Superintendent, St. Michael’s Golf Club

FOR THE FINEST FINISH

5 Iraking Avenue, Moorebankwww.jtturf.com.au

Call 1800 465 226

MJ17-050 JRT ads .indd 3 30/05/2017 12:04:43


TurfCulture_MonarchA4_FLAT.pdf 1 13/04/17 2:22 PM

AGCSA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD 2017 WINNER MUIRFIELD GOLF CLUB

Congratulations to Muirfield Golf Club’s Course Superintendent Peter Watts for being awarded the esteemed Claude Crockford award for environmental excellence.

Paul Jackson, Peter Watts and Brett Balloch.

This was awarded to Peter at the national AGCSA

conference on the Sunshine Coast in June.

Peter Watts is a long serving superintendent with

17 years service at Terrey Hills Country Club and now

in his 11th year at Muirfield GC. He is known for his

enthusiasm and passion for turf management and his

innovative methods. His vision of beautifying the course

through environmentally sustainable work practices

incorporates all areas of the course including out of play

golf course areas.

The focus of Peter’s bushland restoration program

has been large areas of weed infested degraded

woodlands in out of play areas. Many of these sites

had been contaminated as a result of dumping of fill

and vegetative material from decades of course work.

These out of play areas are often difficult to get funds

allocated for, as they are generally out of play and

become low priority.

During the early stages of the restoration program at

Muirfield, it was identified that significant communities

of endangered species of Ironbarks and Turpentines

were present on the course. This was the catalyst

for the club being successful in applying for state

government funding for the restoration work.

Complimenting government funding has been the well

directed use of enthusiastic greens staff and 40 odd

volunteers from within the club.

Particular focus has been on weed removal, selective

replanting of areas with local endemic species and

aquatic connectivity. One of Peter’s methods to

minimise weeds from invading the site is the use of

heavily decomposed mulch (decomposed mulch

alleviates nitrogen draw down) on the forest floor areas.

This method has been very successful in controlling

weeds, large piles of stored, decomposed mulch input

organic life back into the soil. Another key part of the

restoration works has been to creatively link overland

water flows through these areas by establishing rock

run / dry creek lines which direct water flow and

alleviate erosion of valuable topsoil.

This work at Muirfield has created a more pleasing

aesthetics with unsightly areas of weed infestation now

being beautified areas of natural bushland. Areas of

natural sandstone have been uncovered as well as the

large amounts of introduced sandstone adding to the

appeal of numerous areas.

TurfCulture_MonarchA4_FLAT.pdf 1 13/04/17 2:22 PM


Muirfield Golf Club View towards Rifle Range Creek prior to clearing and regeneration.

Muirfield Greenstaff work on Rifle Range Creek Overflow.

Maintenance sustainability has been one of the

ongoing benefactors of this work, where once hostile,

weed infested mower unfriendly terrain is now low

maintenance forest regeneration.

Whilst most of the large scale regeneration works are

complete, a large number of smaller projects including

sand link remedial work and converting remaining

teeing complexes to Santa Ana will be ongoing for

years to come.

The NSWGCSA congratulate Peter, his staff

and volunteers for his vision, commitment to

environmentally sustainable practices, the results

achieved and for winning the award.

NSWGCSA Newsletter – Spring 20178

Muirfield Golf Club View towards Rifle Range Creek after clearing, rock run construction and regenerative planting.


Members of the NSW Superintendents Board took some time out to catch up with Ben Grylewicz, Superintendent, Royal Canberra Golf Club to discuss the changes / challenges Ben has faced since moving to Royal Canberra Golf Club from The Ridge Golf Club some 13 months ago.

10th Hole (RCGC).

ROYAL CANBERRA GOLF CLUB INTERVIEW


BEN HOW HAS THE MOVE TO CANBERRA BEEN FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY?

I grew up in Albury so moving back to a smaller town

was not a problem. In fact, Canberra itself has many

things we enjoy. Restaurants are great, schools are very

good and other than that all we do is chase after kids

and their activities so it has a lot to offer. We were

never really big on the beach so moving away fitted

just fine.

Of course we love Sydney however traffic was a grind at

times. We now consider it a good place to go and visit.

LET’S START OFF WITH THE BIG QUESTION – HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO MAINTAIN A GOLF COURSE WHICH IS BENT GRASS FROM TREE LINE TO TREE LINE?

Obviously it has been a challenge and very different in

many aspect but I have managed to adapt quickly.

The greens at Royal Canberra are Pure Distinction and

the Tees and Fairways are Crystal Blue. The selection of

bent grass has been a little controversial but I believe

they are the right choices.

The weather in Canberra is completely different to

Sydney. In Canberra you can see a swing in temperature

of 50 degrees throughout the year (-8 to 43 degrees).

This year alone we have registered close to 60 frosts.

One positive is that the frost doesn’t impact on Bent

grass as much as it does on Couch. Another helping

factor in maintaining bent grass is that Canberra has

a more dry heat throughout summer compared to

Sydney’s humid heat which helps reduce disease

pressure on the Bent grass.

When I first arrived to Royal Canberra GC, thatch build

up in the bent was a real concern. Minimal dusting was

carried out on all surfaces over the first twelve months

which didn’t help controlling thatch levels.

I carried out infiltration test on the greens which

recorded only 3mm of water draining each hour.

To help assist in controlling this problem I have

implemented the following programs –

• Dusting every two weeks

• Ninja tine regularly

• Solid tine every 6 – 8 weeks

• 8mm hollow tine twice a year

• Air2G2

• Verti cutting regularly

I have also implemented frequent applications of

penetrants to help move water through the soil.

CONTROLLING WINTER GRASS INFESTATION MUST BE A REAL CHALLENGE?

Controlling winter grass is probably the most concerning

not only for me but it’s easy identified by the golfers.

Upon my arrival, many different techniques were

trialled. We found Paclobutrazol and Ethephon were

most effective. These applications provide the least

impact on the Bent grass. We have now adopted a

full program through all shortcut grass to help reduce

this issue.

Pre-emergents are budgeted for however we haven’t

adopted this method yet.

MAINTAINING 27 HOLES AND KEEPING THE COURSE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION MUST REQUIRE A LOT OF STAFF?

Funny enough, I spend more time on recruiting staff

than any other task. When I first took over at Royal

Canberra staff numbers were at 21 in total. I quickly

identified that even with 21 staff the overall staff

structure was in balanced as I had more Apprentices

than Qualified Greenkeepers.

It has taken some time but I have rearranged the Staff

Structure to the following –

• 1 x Superintendent

• 1 x Assistant Superintendent

• 3 x Second Assistants

• 1 x Mechanic

• 1 x Arborist

• 1 x Gardener

• 2 x Irrigation Technicians

• 3 x Qualified Greenkeepers

• 4 x Apprentice Greenkeepers

• 1 x Apprentice Mechanic

• 3 x Groundsman


This summer, I intend on taking staff number up to 33.

I will try to achieve these numbers by using labourers

or recruit International staff.

The table below indicates why so many staff are

required throughout the summer months

Walk mow greens 6 times 2.2ha

Walk mow tees 2 times 1.5ha

Fairways 2 times 27ha

Hand rake bunkers 4 times

Roughs weekly 24ha

Large spray program 4 times

3 nines to get ready daily

Hand watering – greens, tees, and fairways

daily

I NOTE THAT YOU HAVE A FULL TIME ARBORIST ON STAFF.

A Full time Arborist was appointed by the club to

manage the Arboretum and its requirements.

The club has also purchased its own root pruning

equipment, stump grinder and platform. It is an ongoing

maintenance program that we do. If we don’t keep on

top of root pruning fairway edges and roughs these

areas really suffer as keeping water up to these areas

becomes very problematic.

14th Hole (RCGC).

Extensive Tree Line.


HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN FROM THE RIDGE WHERE YOU WERE EMPLOYED BY A CONTRACTOR TO ROYAL CANBERRA WHERE YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY A BOARD?

It’s been a great change. At The Ridge I was answerable

to a Project Manager with little golf experience which

sometimes made it difficult.

The Board at Royal Canberra has been really supportive

so far and I have enjoyed this new challenge. As a matter

of fact my General Manager is an ex Superintendent so

that makes things a little easier as he understands my

intensions and visions.

I still take the same approach whether I am employed

by Contractors or a Board which is to provide the best

possible golf course week in and week out for the

members / golfers.

I have noticed more committee meetings and report

writing is required at Royal Canberra.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IRRIGATION WATER FROM AND WHAT IRRIGATION SYSTEM ARE YOU USING TO DELIVER THIS WATER TO THE COURSE?

We draw water from Lake Burley Griffin. The water is

reasonable in quality with very little bicarbonates and

low in sodium which helps. I am able to draw quite a lot

of water from Lake Burley Griffin throughout the year

but the supply is certainly not unlimited. Our water

window is around 10hrs per night which allows me to

apply close to 1.7 mega litres per night.

Unfortunately, our current Toro Irrigation system is a

retrofit to the old system. This was done as budgets

were not available for a complete upgrade.

Due to the poor design we face endless challenges

throughout summer in areas that poor pressure and lack

of sprinklers don’t reach, this is why we hand water all

surfaces daily.

Ben, I am sure this interview will give our fellow

members a great insight into the change / challenges

you have faced since moving to Royal Canberra.

Thank you for your time and I hope that one day we

can bring a golf day or alike down to this beautiful

Royal Canberra GC.

Lake Burley Griffin.


For more information, call 1800 356 372 or contact your Toro Golf Area Sales Manager.

toro.com.auFor more information, call 1800 356 372 or contact your Toro Golf Area Sales Manager.

toro.com.au

IRRIGATION AUDIT TIPS Who made promises last summer to get around next

winter to check their irrigation system? Who now is

promising to do it next Winter? With Summer only a

few months away and the likelihood of a dry Spring,

making sure that you have a reliable irrigation system

should be priority one. Without it, and going by

“Murphy’s Law-If it can go wrong it will” you probably

will find yourself stuck down a hole covered in mud at

6 o’clock on a Friday night fixing that valve you thought

would be OK.

For most it’s probably too late to think about

undertaking a full audit of your system so I am

suggesting you take a bit of a “Highlights approach” and

check some of the key components. Then maybe you

can plan for next year.

To me the easiest way to audit or inspect a system is

to work from where the water starts to where it ends:

“water source-pumps-pipes-valves-sprinklers-controls”.

And consider the performance of the key components

WATER SOURCE:

• It seems an obvious statement but, you need to know

how much water you have available for the driest

months, how quickly it recovers or refills. Though not

all courses use dams to store their water it is fair to

say the majority do, so for the majority be careful

that you don’t think of the dam size as its available

storage, normally the last metre or so of water in a

dam cannot be used because if your pumps inlet gets

too close to the floor of the dam it can start to drag

muddy water and possibly air into the system.

• As the levels drop and the water temperature rises

the possibility of algae blooms increase so you may

need to consider the installation of some type of

aerator or water movement system.

TIP1:AquickGooglesearchwillgiveyouseveralsitesexplaininghowtocalculatethevolume(e.g.www.agric.wa.gov.au/small-landholders-western-australia/calculating-dam-capacity?page=0%2C1).

PETER BRUECK WATER WISE CONSULTANCY

Tip2:Installa“diptube”(50mmPVCpipeworkswell)

attheedgeofthedamwithmarkingevery200mmthis

wayyoucanmonitorcomparethelevelagainstyour

waterusageandrecover.(Rememberasthedamdrops

thesurfaceareaalsodecreasesbecauseoftheslopeof

thebanks).

PUMPS AND PUMP SHED:

Considering pumps are the most important component

of any system, it is surprising how often they don’t get

checked and only see a service when something has

gone wrong.

Remember only qualified and licenced persons can work

on or access any part of an electrical system that has

voltages greater than 50 VAC. Simply put, anything that

is installed behind the controllers cover plate is not to

be touched by an unqualified person, however there are

still some important tests that can be carried out:

• Check there is a clean path to the door and no slip or

trip hazards, don’t use the pump shed for storage.

• Check you have sufficient lighting in the room to work

safely, things go wrong in the night too.

• Check the control cabinet inner door is closed and

locked in position correctly.

• Carefully close and open any isolation valve don’t use

excessive force if they appeared seized.

• If fitted inspect and clean any filters, remember even

self-cleaning filters need to have their screens cleaned

from time to time.

• If fitted check the pressure in the air tanks

(this should be set at about 15 kPa or 2 PSI below the

cut in pressure).

Start an irrigation cycle so you can monitor:

• Operating pressure - make sure to check the pressure

when stations change over if it drops too low the

pumps could begin to cavitate. If this happens look


at reducing the system flow rate by starting less

valves or reconfigure which valves operate at the

same time. For your pumps to last their expected

life span you want to make sure they operate in or

near the point on their performance curve known as

the “best efficient point”. The manufacture or pump

service company would be able to supply you this

information.

• Listen to the motor, if there is a “grinding or squealing”

noise you most likely need to grease the motor

(something that should be done annually) if the

noise continues it may be time to replace the motor

bearings.

TIP3:Downloada“SoundMeter”appandcheckthe

levelofnoisethepumpmakeswhenoperating,allthe

majorpumpmanufacturerspublishthedBlevelsfor

theirpumps.

• If you hear what sounds like gravel in the pump,

in most cases this indicates the pump is cavitating,

which means bubbles are being created in the

water which are then imploding, if left unchecked

it will destroy the pump. A simple test to see if it is

cavitation is to slowly shut the discharge valve to a

point to see if the noise stops. For systems that are

not constantly pressurised it is not a bad practice to

leave the discharge valve set slightly closed to create

back pressure at start up and reduce the likelihood

of cavitation.

TIP4:Fornon-pressurisedsystems,makesureyoudon’t

tryandhaveyoursystemstartatfullcapacity,the

trickistotryandkeepthemainlinepressureascloseto

normalandthenbringstationsonslowlytoreducehigh

velocitiesandwaterhammerbothofwhichcancause

blowouts.

• If you have a self-cleaning filter try manually flushing

it at the same time as the irrigation is running at full

load, this will show you if the pumps have sufficient

capacity needed when the filter is flushing.

(If you have troubles with your system going out on

low pressure this might be the cause).


• Tested to make sure they are operating correctly,

be especially careful with any type of plastic isolation

valves as the handles can be easily broken if too much

force is used.

• Clean out all soil and rubbish from around the valves

so it is easy to service if the need arises.

TIP6:Useashoveltoliftthevalveboxlidoffasspiders

andsnakesliketomakethemhome.

• Inspect the wire for damage and make sure that water

cannot contact the copper in the cable.

• Test the valve manually by using the bleed screw.

TIP7:Neverturntheflowcontrolonasolenoidvalve

fullyup,thebestistoturnitfullyopenthenturnit

downbytwofullrevolutions.Ifthevalveseemsslow

toclose,manuallystartthevalveletitruntillthe

sprinklersareoperatingcorrectlythenturnoffandturn

theflowcontroldownslowlyuntilyouhearthevalve

startingtoclose.

SPRINKLERS

Regardless of the type of system you have, block or

valve-in-head there are a few key things that you need

to check;

• Generally, it is best that the sprinklers are set at grade

or no more than 20 -30 mm below the surrounding

grass level, this prevents the soils around the sprinkler

being washed away when they start up while also

preventing dirty water laying on the sprinkler which

can prevent them from popping down properly.

• Check how the pumps react when they shut down,

allow the irrigation to stop normally and observe if

there are any pressure spikes or issues like non-return

valves slamming shut.

PIPES

Most Superintendents I have met have a fair

understanding of what state the system is in and many

are reluctant to “push their luck” with pressure testing

just for the sake of it.

VALVES

Inevitably something will go wrong, and that is when

you need to be able to access the isolation or solenoid

valves, having to rely on turning the pumps off should

only be a short term solution:

• Locate and trim the grass around the box.

TIP5:Ifyoucannotlocateasolenoidvalveyoucan

purchasearelativelyinexpensivedeviceknownasa

“SolenoidValveChatterer”thisdevicerapidlyturns

thevalveonandoffandindoingsomakestheplunger

jumpupanddownorchatter,theonlythingyouneed

toknowisthatthevalvemustbeworkingcorrectly

anditisnotrecommendedtousethemformorethan

15minutesatatimeonthesamevalve.


Over time nozzles wear which means you are putting

out more water than you think, and in some systems,

it has been seen to be higher than 20% of the expected

flow, which can greatly affect how well a system

actually performs. The most accurate and relatively

straightforward way to work out the application rate

of your system is to do a catch can test, rather than

worrying about spacings, output and pressure the

results you get from the can test already takes these

into account as we are measuring the actual amount of

water that has landed.

Catch can test

• If possible do the test during your normal irrigation

cycle (sorry but someone will need to do a bit of

overtime) this way you get a truer result as it allows

for the effects of other stations which are operating

at the same time.

• Set out the cans (middy glasses are a great substitute)

in between the sprinklers remembering the more cans

the more accurate the results, but a 3 m x 3 m pattern

is all that is needed.

• Record the results by measuring the depth of water

in the can, not the volume, we are interested in

application not volume.

• Calculate the average application rate;

o Step one - Add up all the results and divide by the

number of cans giving you the average application rate.

o Step two - divide the result by how many minutes

you operated the system and then multiply by 60

to give you your application rate in millimetres per

hour, this now can be used as an average for all

stations that are set up in the same way, remember

though if you have stations with the same nozzles

but are set to half circle you must double the

application rate and four times if it’s quarters.


CONTROLS

For those of you who have a central control,

• Once a month shut down the computer, but before you

do make two backups of the database, one to default

location in the software and a second to a USB stick.

TIP8:Tomakeiteasytoretrievedatabasesitisbestto

namethefileusingYearMonthDay(170904).

TIP9:Don’tdecidetodothisonaFridayafternoonor

onthehottestdayoftheweek.

• While shutdown give all the computer parts a clean and

dust, make sure the vents on the computer are clean

and not pushed up against a wall or other structure

that will prevent the fans from working properly.

• Restart the computer and check the latest version of

the database is the one selected.

• If your system has the capability run the diagnostics

to identify if any changes exist in the system.

SATELLITES OR FIELD CONTROLLERS

If you have a system with satellites, they need to be

regular cleaned and checked:

• Open the satellites wiring section.

• Check that you cannot see any exposed or damage

240-volt cables (if you do you need to have an

electrician carry out repairs before you do any more).

• Shut down the power and wait 30 seconds.

• Using a soft cloth and spray cleaner wipe off and dirt

from the control board and touch pad.

• With a soft clean paint brush and if available a small

cordless vacuum carefully clean way any cobwebs,

etc. for the circuit boards, terminals and bottom of

the satellite.

• Tighten all terminals and check any ribbon cables.

• If your system has a diagnostic feature that can

measure the resistance of the coils restart the satellite

and run the test, if not with a multi meter set to ohms

place the black lead on the common and then one

by one on each station terminal. A standard solenoid

coil will give you a reading of between 30 to 75 ohms

depending on its age, type and the length and size of

the wire it is connected to.

TIP10:Whendoingthetestdon’tletyourfingerscome

intocontactwiththeendoftheleadsasyoucangeta

falsereadingfromyourbodycreatingacircuit.

TIP11:Don’tuseanytypeofantridorpowderonthe

circuitboards,itcaninareasofhighhumiditycausea

shortacrosstheboard.Thebestwayofkeepingantsand

spidersoutofanycabinet(andpossumsoutofceilings)

istoputa“urinalcake”inthebottomofthesatellite.

Given the importance of using water effectively it

is a must that systems be routinely inspected and

maintained. A well-planned maintenance schedule is

neither costly or overly time consuming but can greatly

benefit a course by extending the life expectancy of a

system at minimal cost. When you consider the cost of

maintaining a new fleet of machinery as a percentage

of the capital cost and then use that same percentage

against a new irrigation system you will realise that an

irrigation system is far less costly to maintain.

Peter Brueck Water Wise Consultancy


On 19 August 1930, the Ryde Golf Club Limited was

incorporated and in 1932 the course was extended to

18 holes.

In 1934, following the closure of the Parramatta Golf

Club, members of that Club became members of Ryde

Golf Club, and at an extraordinary general meeting held

in January 1935, the name of the Company was changed

to Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club Limited.

In November 1945, an agreement was reached with

City Mutual Life Assurance to purchase the land for

19,500 pounds ($39,000). Therefore, unlike many clubs

which are located on land leased from local councils

or semi-government organisations like Sydney Water,

security of tenure is assured.

HISTORY

Ryde–Parramatta Golf Club started life in 1926 as Ryde Golf Club, a nine-hole golf course, by the then owners, the City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited.

RYDE–PARRAMATTA GOLF CLUB

FEATURED CLUB

“ THE INITIAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO REPLACE ALL GREENS TO USGA SPECIFICATIONS… ”

REDEVELOPMENT

In February 1997, the Board of Directors resolved to

initiate a course redevelopment. The first step was

to engage a golf course architect. Interviews were

conducted and in May 1997 Ross Watson was appointed

as the course architect.

The initial objective was to replace all greens to USGA

specifications and, to more or less, retain the existing

layout with minor tweaking of green and tee locations.

After an initial course tour Ross had serious safety

concerns with several holes on our boundaries.

Ross was also of the opinion that to design a nice green

the overall strategy of the hole commencing at the tee


• Reconstructing all tee complexes (except the 4th).

The tee tops were constructed using Benedict’s 90/10

US mix to a depth of 150mm – 200mm. Originally

turfed with Windsor Green Couch.

• Reconstructing all bunkers. Formed in clay and

drained similarly to tees. They were filled with

Benedict’s “washed” white sand.

• Replace the entire irrigation system Toro Sitepro LTC,

15 field satellites, Toro valve in head sprinklers;

670 heads covering 90 acres, Drywell pump

shed housing 6 x 11 Kilowatt Grundfos variable

speed turbine pumps putting out 52lt / sec and

polyurethane piping throughout.

must first be considered. With these issues taken into

consideration it was agreed that the Master Plan should

be developed with an open mind with no restrictions on

the golf course architect.

The scope of the works involved:

• Reversing holes 10 ,11 and 18 and altering the front

9 order of play.

• Reconstructing all greens (except the 3rd and 4th)

which were replaced in the early 90’s. The greens were

constructed to USGA specifications using “Hexxon”

sand to a depth of 300mm amended with dynamic

lifter and starter fertilisers. They were oversewn using

a blend of 10-19, 10-20 and Crenshaw creeping bent.


PRESENT

All tee tops and surrounds have been re–turfed with

Santa Ana Couch as the Windsor Green proved to

be unsuccessful due to shade, high traffic and being

relatively small in size, measuring anywhere from 250m2

up to 550m2.

A bunker renovation program is in place as the existing

bunkers do not drain efficiently and some not at all.

This involves shelling out, remodelling the drainage lines

and installing a lining system. Currently, we are using

Capillary Concrete as our lining system and Vermont

Course White Bunker as our chosen bunker sand.

Collars have been an ongoing problem over the years

with Ryegrass initially used to a width of 1.5m. The biggest

concern with the rye collars was the water requirements

needed to keep them pristine in the summer months.

The club made the decision of trialling Sea Isle Paspalum

and progressed to having 7 collars completed with this

grass. I recommended that we stop this conversion

program as it was not working due to high traffic areas

and in the winter months the turf was not able to

withstand these pressures. The club has now reverted

back to Ryegrass collars that are 500mm wide and they

are progressing nicely. Being only 500mm wide the need

to water has been reduced while the barrier between the

greens and Kikuyu surrounds has not been compromised.

As mentioned earlier, the course architect had several

issues with holes along our boundaries which were

rectified as best as possible. The 5th hole was still

an ongoing concern with errant balls going into

neighbouring properties. A decision was made to install

netting 160 metres long and 25 metres high along

the fifth hole. This has reduced the problem but at

$440,000 it was not a cheap fix.

In 2005, the board approved the notion of upgrading

all cart paths from a mixture of road base and mulch

to terracotta coloured concrete. At the present time,

some 2km of concrete paths has been laid with plans to

continue these paths and improve entry and exit points.


In 2009, the existing clubhouse was renovated.

The renovation involved a new porte-cochère featuring

Himalayan sandstone. The roof was replaced and the

entire building was rendered creating a clean modern

feel. The rear balcony was refurbished offering golfers

and guests an open dining area with views of the course.

The halfway house was added providing golfers with

an alfresco dining area to enjoy their mid-round food

and refreshment. Finally, gardens where established to

compliment the clubhouses new aesthetics.

From 2011, waterway stabilisation / improvement works

took place. The dam on the 6th hole was the first to

receive attention with 5 metres of silt being removed,

waterfall created and all Weeping Willows removed.

Banks were shaped and turfed in the process. Other

waterway banks where stabilised with sandstone bolder

walls. Finally, several of the club’s waterfalls were

concrete gap filled to improve the structural integrity.


THE FUTURE

The Club’s Mission statement is to:

“Deliveranexceptionalgolfingenvironmentand

hospitalityservicetoourmembersandclients

throughacommitmenttopresentation,quality,

valueandperpetualimprovement.”

The Board and Management have developed business

plans to ensure the Club’s mission remains at the

forefront of any major decisions or projects around the

Club and on the course.

The Club has developed a tree management program

where it has identified trees which require pruning or

removal due to poor health, impact on turf quality and

playability. Due to budget constraints this program is

also being spread over a number of years.


8th green Nursery from Telstra Tower.

15th green to 16th green.


Many of the surrounding water catchments feed and

converge into Ryde-Parramatta’s course. The stormwater

which surges through our creeks are scouring the banks

in many locations and requires immediate and ongoing

management. Evidence of this can be seen through

the sandstone boulders which armour the bank within

the creek on the 11th hole. The Club is working with

council to reduce the pollutant and velocity issues of

stormwater entering the property.

The Club will continue relining the bunkers with

capillary concrete, opting to complete 6 per year over

the next 5 years.

Other smaller short-term projects include laser-levelling

of tees at the 7th and 15th holes and increasing the size

of other tees which struggle throughout the cooler

months and upgrade of the Club’s irrigation system,

notably the pump station and field control systems

taking priority.

RPGC KEY STATS

• Staff - 12 full time, includes 1 mechanic and

1 horticulturist

• Greens - 10-19 / 10-20, Crenshaw, Poa annua 1ha

• Tees & Tee Surrounds - Santa Ana Couch 2ha

• Fairways - Kikuyu 15ha

• Bunkers - 66 plus 5 practice

• Irrigation - Toro Sitepro with LTC satellites

running Toro valve-in head sprinklers

• Machinery - Toro mowers greens, aprons,

tees surrounds

- Toro spray unit

- John Deere Gator utility vehicles

- Baroness Fairway mowers

- Iseki Rough mowers with articulator decks

- Lastec Rough mower

- Bobcat skid steer

- Kubota excavator

- John Deere and Kubota Tractors

Shaun Probert Course Superintendent

A PROUD AUSTRALIAN FAMILY OWNED AND MANAGED COMPANY

Precision Grinding that’s second to none

Jason Stig

0419 432 699

Craig Wright

0409 074 799

Adama Alternate Growing Solutions

Bayer Campbells Chemicals

Cylinder GrindingFountain Linemarking

Natrakelp Soil ConditionersPGG Wrightson SeedsSoil & Water Testing

Syngenta Turf Culture


CURRENT JOB POSITION: Ryde-Parramatta Golf Course Superintendent

MARITAL STATUS: Married. Two daughters.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: The Lakes Golf Club 1988 - 1999 Camden Lakeside Country Club 1999 - 2005 Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club 2005 - present

YEARS IN THE TURF INDUSTRY: 29 years

EDUCATION HISTORY: Greenkeeping Trade Certificate Landscape Trade Certificate Master of Agriculture (Turf Management)

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORK: Seeing end results of projects with favourable comments from members. Looking at the course on a Friday arvo freshly cut. Seeing staff that have grown in their time working under you and move on to greater successes.

PRODUCT/MACHINE YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Spray Unit

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR CAREER: Peter Brown and David Scaife

BEER/WINE OR SPIRITS: Beer

FAVOURITE FOOD: Any Schnitzel and Pork Ribs

FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE: Pine Valley

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Thailand at the moment

HOBBIES: Golf, Cricket and doing nothing

CURRENT JOB POSITION: Assistant SuperintendentMARITAL STATUS: Married with three childrenEMPLOYMENT HISTORY: - The Lakes GC (apprentice) - Nicklaus North GC (Canada) - Eastlake GC - Canadian PGA Tour (Pro Golfer) - Wakehurst Golf & Recreational Club - Eastlake GC (3ic – Assistant Superintendent) - Ryde-Parramatta GC (Assistant Superintendent) YEARS IN THE TURF INDUSTRY: 23 yearsEDUCATION HISTORY: Greenkeeping trade Ryde TAFE Graduated Jacobsen’s “Young Turf Managers Initiative” Program 2016 Working and learning on the job with some of the strongest Superintendents in the industry for 23 yearsWHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORK: Being able to see the results of your work. Various construction works.PRODUCT/MACHINE YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Wetting agents. Hand watering hosesINFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR CAREER: Peter Brown, Shaun Probert and Ryan FuryBEER/WINE OR SPIRITS: AllFAVOURITE FOOD: Homemade pizzaFAVOURITE GOLF COURSE: Any course that looks as though it has evolved from its environmentFAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: VancouverHOBBIES: Ice Hockey

30 SECONDS WITH A SUPERINTENDENTSHAUN PROBERT JARROD ARPS

30 SECONDS WITH AN ASSISTANT


2017 NSWGCSA Rube WAlkeRdeN

GOlF dAYVenue : Ryde Parramatta GC

date : 12th October 2017Golf : 11.00am – 4.30pm

AGM : 5pm – 6pmdinner : 6.30pm

This year’s guest speaker and entertainment will be funny man

and cricketing iconMr kerry O’keeffe

entry forms and further details on the day will be emailed to all members shortly

The tour started with a walk down the 1st fairway to

the 1st green. Mark discussed the maintenance of the

1st fairway with shade issues he experiences this time

of year in high traffic areas and the flag system for golf

carts during wet weather which enables longer use of

carts for members during wet weather. Mark then spoke

about the cultural practises to the greens that involved

Verti draining to varying depths of 50mm to 200mm,

dusting of greens monthly during winter months moving

to fortnightly during summer. These practices are

combined with Spring and Autumn renovation coring

using 5/8 hollow tines. Roseville Golf Club also operates

with a GDD calendar for applications of Turf Growth

Regulators to control growth and seed head suppression

in the Poa greens. Mark went into detail discussing his

trimming program on green edges with an Atom edger

to help control Kikuyu and Couch encroachment along

with 2 applications of Tupersan per year. The edging

also gives a good green to collar definition.

The group made their way around Roseville Golf Club

as Mark discussed the upgrading of the bunkers around

the course. During the Walk’n’Talk attendees inspected

various bunkers that have been reconstructed using

different bunker liner technology. Roseville has used

Capillary Concrete and Custom Bind and are very

happy with both systems. Reconstruction has been

carried out by different companies including Links

Golf Construction, Golf Shapes and Global Turf, they

are also intending to trial Matrix in another bunker.

Different types of sand have been trialled, from a locally

sourced Aussie White to a coarse sand from Cowra.

The major issue with the coarser sand is it tends to

fly further because of the particle size. Mark has also

installed a new system in one of Roseville’s bunkers

called Bunker Dry. It enables the bunker to drain quicker

after heavy rain without a total reconstruction and sand

replacement.

‘WALK’N’TALK’ ROSEVILLE GOLF CLUB HOST SUPERINTENDENT - MARK O’SULLIVAN

On Wednesday 19th July, Mark O’Sullivan from Roseville Golf Club hosted a Walk’n’Talk of his course. With over 50 attendees the morning started with a warm welcome of beautifully cooked bacon and egg rolls by the Globe Australia team. Thank you very much for a job well done Kevin, Chris and Scott from Globe.

NATHAN BRADBURY NSWGCSA DIRECTOR

MARK O’SULLIVAN COURSE SUPERINTENDENT ROSEVILLE GOLF CLUB


“ THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS THEY ALL NEEDED STORAGE, ALONG WITH KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL WHOM HAVE A SPORTING FIELD NEXT TO THE GOLF COURSE WHICH ALSO NEEDED A WATER SUPPLY. ”

The Walk’n’Talk then moved onto Roseville Golf Club’s

greens nursery where Jordan from Equipment Solutions

gave a demonstration of the new Dakota Pedestrian Top-

Dresser. This piece of equipment was heavily discussed

between everyone with some very positive comments.

The group then inspected the storm water harvesting

system in Moore’s Creek. Roseville Golf Club investigated

numerous water saving technologies when Sydney Water

introduced water restrictions in the early 2000’s.

The biggest issue was they all needed storage, along with

Ku-ring-gai Council whom have a sporting field next to

the golf course which also needed a water supply.

The golf course is the last catchment area before water

enters Middle Harbour and with over 2sq kilometres of

hard surface catchment it was an obvious place to install

a Gross Pollutant Trap and a Wet Well to pump water to

a dam. The dam, GPT and Wet Well were all installed in

2009/10. Since installation the club has been able

to pump over 450meg litres of storm water to the

dam to water both the golf course and adjoining oval.

This has saved the club over of $800k because they

were using Sydney Water town supply before the dam

was constructed.


On conclusion of the walk we inspected the dam and

newly constructed pump shed.

Roseville Golf Club has just completed a $1.1million

upgrade of their irrigation system designed by Water

Wise with installation carried out by Think Water

Peats Ridge, Hydro Technics and Australian Turf Projects.

The project was carried out over 4 stages, Construction

of a pump station; Installation of Toro VP Satellite

Control System and dividing the pipe work and

sprinklers into 2 separate stages. This helped to spread

the costing over 4 years.

On behalf of NSWGCSA and all attendees I would like

to thank the Team from Globe Australia for sponsoring

the Walk’n’Talk, and cooking breakfast for everyone.

I would also like to thank Mark O’Sullivan - Winner of

the NSWGCSA Turf Excellence Award for giving a very in

depth and informative presentation of his Golf Course.

Nathan Bradbury NSWGCSA Director

Mark O’Sullivan Course Superintendent Roseville Golf Club

Call us on 02 9827 1311, or Stan Wells 0428 263 516, Jordan Tishler 0419 493 164, Brian Taylor 0439 808 840

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With the Australian Open fast approaching, tournament

preparations have already begun and we get an insight

to some practices that take place when preparing for

such a large tournament.

Tournament preparation revolves around 3 key areas –

Stage 1. Throughout the winter months the focus is on

weed control, bunker renovation and mulching.

Stage 2. In September renovations will take place on

greens, tees, fairways and approaches.

Stage 3. In October and November we will be putting

the finishing touches on the golf course including

striping fairways, approaches and tees and continuing to

work the sand in the bunkers ensuring sand placement

and bunker levels are correct.

Stage 1. Weed control during the winter months is hand

weeding Poa in the greens and collars, plugging couch

from collars and using roundup dabbers to control Poa

and Kikuyu in all other areas. There will also be a wall

to wall application (excluding greens) of a broadleaf

herbicide to control bindii, flatweed, creeping oxalis etc.

Bunker renovation includes topping up bunkers with

new sand and scalping bunker banks.

Throughout the year it is surprising how much bunker

sand disappears from bunkers through a combination

of golf, sand being blown out during windy weather

and dirty sand being removed by Course Staff after

heavy rain events. Bunkers will be topped up with new

sand and faces will be reshaped and compacted to help

prevent plugging of golf balls on bunker faces.

November 23rd to 26th 2017 will see the Emirates Australian Open be held at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney under the watchful eyes of Course Superintendent Phil Beal and Assistant Superintendent Dave Smith. 2017 will be the 3rd Australian Open (2014 & 2015) the club has hosted since reopening on March 9th 2013 after the Jack Nicklaus redesign.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLF CLUBDAVE SMITH ASSISTANT COURSE SUPERINTENDENT


The process of bunker bank scalping involves using a

whipper snipper to cut the grass short to remove all

the ‘puffy’ grass and finish off with a flymo to even out

the surface.

Mulching will take place on path edges mainly for

aesthetic purposes and on turf edges to minimise

playability issues during the tournament.

Stage 2. In September renovation work will take place

on greens, tees, fairways and approaches. Greens will

be cored with ½ inch tines, amendments applied and

broomed into core holes before a heavy top-dress.

Tees and fairways will be lightly scarified and top-

dressed. Approaches will be scalped down with the

approach mower to 8mm and top-dressed.


Stage 3. After tees have been renovated and are ready

for cutting we will use walk behind mowers all the

way through until the completion of the tournament.

Tees will be striped up approximately 4 weeks before

the start of the tournament and mowing height will

be 8mm. Tees will be dusted every 2 weeks after their

initial top-dress to ensure a firm surface.

Fairways will also be striped up approximately 4 weeks

out and the approach mower will be used to mow

fairway perimeters to produce a more accurate perimeter.

After approaches have been scalped down and top-

dressed the height will be raised to 10mm which is the

same height as the fairways.

Throughout the year greens are cut at 3mm with walk

behind mowers and will be reduced to 2.8mm or

possibly 2.5mm for tournament week depending on

desired green speed which is typically between 11 and

12 feet depending on weather conditions.

Dave Smith Assistant Course Superintendent


PATCH DISEASE SYMPTOMS

The patch disease symptoms in question observed on

affected Tifdwarf and Tifgreen golf greens comprise

either roughly-circular, irregularly-sized straw-coloured

patches or annulus-rings. The straw-coloured, blighted

patches (Figure One) may range from 15-30cm diameter

typically randomly scattered throughout the affected

putting green even in the aprons. Some areas of a green

and apron remain unaffected.

The annulus-ring symptom is most distinct. The observed

late-stage symptom (Figure Two) comprises roughly-circular rings varying from 10-40cm diameter or more.

PATCH DISEASE SYMPTOMS IN NORTHERN COUCHGRASS GOLF GREENSGARY W. BEEHAG (SYDNEY)

Patch diseases of couchgrass (Cynodon spp.) golf greens

in coastal northern NSW caused by known species

of soil-borne fungi are Spring dead patch and Take-all

patch. Their respective causal agents are members of the

genera Ophiosphaerella (formerly Leptosphaeria) and

Gaeumannomyces. Fortunately, much is known of their

biology and predisposing factors of these pathogens,

particularly Gaeumannomyces. Furthermore, fungicides

are registered for turfgrass application against both

diseases.

However, a recent sojourn in July to the coastal regions

of northern NSW and south east Queensland highlighted

the widespread occurrence and continual persistence of

certain, distinctive patch disease symptoms on Tifdwarf

and Tifgreen (328) golf as well as Tifdwarf bowling greens.

The observed disease symptoms ranged from slight to

most obvious despite the green’s partial dormancy. These

disease symptoms are not new having been known to

greenkeepers and superintendents as early as the 1980’s

in the northern regions. Clearly, the patch diseases are

symptomatic of one or more soil-borne fungi or possibly

a turfgrass root-disease complex.

The underlying issue for course superintendents and

bowling greenkeepers alike is the inability to predict and

effectively manage these patch diseases without knowing

the true causal agent(s) nor their precise, predisposing

environmental factors.

This purpose of this article is to clarify the symptoms

in question, outline results of limited pathological

isolations and identifications and finally, discuss

suggested management options. It must be emphasised

the number of diseased samples of Tifdwarf and

Tifgreen collected from greens displaying the

symptoms in question in the northern regions to verify

by reproducible, pathological methodologies of the

causal agent remains limited. Thus, only suggestions not

recommendations can be made at this time.

Figure One: Blighted patch symptoms on a Tifgreen golf green.

(Image courtesy Gary Beehag).


Typically, some annulus-rings coalesce partially joining having unaffected centres. The annulus-rings may randomly occur in groups across the affected green even along the higher-mown aprons.

Observations by superintendents on affected putting greens indicates the described symptoms initially appear in autumn coinciding with falling temperatures and commencement of partial dormancy. The symptoms through autumn and winter remain visible depending on geographic location and seasonal conditions.

In late spring/early summer the symptoms typically become problematic resulting in partial loss of putting surface, again depending on location and conditions. The diseased patches may re-occur each year in the same areas of affected greens. On other greens, the prominence of the symptom may also decline over time.

SOIL-BORNE FUNGI ON COUCHGRASS ROOTS

Like all plant roots, couchgrass cultivars develop complex, microbial associations. These root-microbial associations range from beneficial (e.g. Pseudomonas bacteria, Trichoderma fungi) through to pathogenic (e.g. Gaeumannomyces, Ophiosphaerella) species. Turfgrass soil biology is complex being far from understood by soil microbiologists or plant pathologists. The species diversity of soil-borne fungi colonising couchgrass roots and stems remains unclear.

The key issue for experienced laboratory diagnosticians and plant pathologists attempting to isolate and potentially identify soil-borne pathogens is firstly to look in the right place (ie. stems and roots). Accurate identification of the primary (not secondary) pathogen requires time-consuming laboratory techniques. Methodologies include sectioning of affected root and stem tissues, culturing isolated fungi in nutrient agar (Figure Three) and even employing complex DNA techniques.

Regrettably over the years, misdiagnosis and incorrect reporting of the probable, primary causal agent(s) has resulted in the current state of confusion about the true causal agent(s) of these patch-type diseases.

As already stated, the symptoms in question are consistent with one or more soil-borne fungi or possibly a fungal, root disease complex. The symptoms observed and described above are not singly those of Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia spp.) nor Spring Dead Patch. Several Rhizoctonia-like fungi have been isolated in NSW from diseased couchgrass. The causal agent of Spring Dead Patch on couchgrass (Ophiosphaerella spp.) in Australia was first identified by Dr. Alan Smith in the early 1960’s.

In 1999 Dr. Percy Wong confirmed Gaeumannomycesgraminis var. avenae, the Take-all Patch fungus, being the causal agent of similar ring-type patches long observed to occur on Tifdwarf golf greens at Ocean Shores in northern NSW. This confirmation was highly significant from a turfgrass pathological perspective as being the first time this take-all fungal variety had been isolated from damaged couchgrass in Australia. Further work on couchgrass root-infecting fungi was initiated in 2000 by Drs. Marcelle and Graham Stirling.

Since then, Dr Percy Wong, a Senior Research Fellow from the University of Sydney, has worked on the identification of several of these ERI fungal diseases (refer to references). In 2002, he proved that the cause of a patch disease in buffalo and couchgrass called Wongoonoo Patch was caused by a new species of Gaeumannomyces, which he named Gaeumannomyceswongoonoo (“wongoonoo” is an Aboriginal word for “grass”). In 2012, he found the cause of Summer Decline to be a new species of fungus, which he named Magnaporthegriffinii and the cause of Adelaide Patch to be another

Figure Two: Annulus-ring symptoms on a Tifdwarf golf green.

(Image courtesy Gary Beehag).

Figure Three: Fungal pathogen growing out of diseased root pieces on an agar plate.

(Image courtesy Dr. Percy Wong).


Identification of the causal agent(s) of diseased turfgrass is only possible with correct sampling, appropriate preservation and rapid dispatch of samples. Unfortunately, improper sampling together with lack of sample preservation has probably further resulted in not obtaining the true identity of the causal agent(s) of the disease symptoms in question.

WHAT OF BIOLOGICAL, CULTURAL EVEN CHEMICAL OPTIONS?

As previously stated, turfgrass soil biology is complex. Most plant pathologists take the view it is impossible to physiologically separate plants (hosts) from certain pathogens (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, virus) in the long term. This is particularly true for pathogens that possess an inherent ability to partly penetrate and inhabit turfgrass root and stem tissues. After all, plant root disease is the interaction of a susceptible host plant with its pathogen(s) in a common soil environment.

This is where the distinction must be made between the words “management” and “control” applicable to these fungal root diseases. Populations of soil-borne, pathogenic fungi may be managed using appropriate cultural practices (e.g. soil aeration and thatch minimisation) but never eliminated (ie. controlled) in the

new species, Magnaporthegarrettii. However, fungal taxonomists have now renamed these fungi as Wongiagriffinii and Wongiagarrettii respectively (Khemmuk et al. 2016). More recently, he described another new fungus, Phialocephalabamuru, which is the cause of a serious disease on golf fairways called Fairway Patch. Therefore, it is highly likely that there are more new diseases and pathogens of turfgrasses including couchgrass cultivars to be identified in the future. Unfortunately, the reasons underlying the emergence of these fungal pathogens will probably never be truly known.

So the fundamental question remains – what is the causal agent(s) responsible for these blighted patch and annulus-ring-type disease patches in question. Could it be another ascomycete possibly in the genus Gaeumannomyces, Magnaporthiopsis, Phialocephala or another undescribed fungal species?

In an attempt to answer these questions, methodical and time-consuming, laboratory techniques of fungal isolation, culturing, microscopic identification and even DNA techniques have to be undertaken by experienced and qualified persons in plant pathology. Herein lies one of the problems for golf superintendents anxious for a definitive diagnosis.

For more information ask your Syngenta Agent or go to www.greencast.com.au Syngenta Australia Pty Limited, Level 1, 2-4 Lyonpark Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113. ABN 33 002 933 717. ® Registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company. ™ Trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All products written in uppercase are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2017 Syngenta. AD 17-346

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long term. Turfgrass pathogens thus disease do re-occur which indicates their population has only been managed in the short term. Only an integrated, ecological approach using appropriate biological, cultural and chemical technologies will come close to long-term management of these soil-borne, couchgrass diseases.

BIOLOGICAL OPTIONS

A biological approach to the management of soil-borne diseases utilises known antagonistic microflora (e.g. certain bacteria and fungi). Microbial antagonists may be introduced in the form of composts (e.g. fowl manure) or commercially-available products that contain beneficial bacteria (e.g. Bacillus, Pseudomonas or Streptomyces) or fungal (e.g. Gliocladium and Trichoderma) species. Whilst correct utilisation of proven microbial antagonists is to be encouraged, their long-term effectiveness in the turfgrass soil environment against many recognised soil-borne fungi remains unclear. Further, the efficacy of soil-applied products that release isothiocynates into the soil against these diseases in question has yet to be demonstrated.

CULTURAL OPTIONS

One of the common denominators recently observed on affected golf as well as bowling greens during the trip was the degree of thatch accumulation. In general, the presence of the patch disease symptoms in question was more common and pronounced on greens observed to have a greater accumulation of thatch, as judged when walking across or touching the surface.

Excessive thatch accumulation has long been demonstrated to act as an absorbent of applied pesticides including fungicides. Thus it would be reasonable to suggest that thatch minimisation (ie. scarification, tyning, etc) practices would aid management of these patch diseases. On aged greens, characterised by excessive thatch accumulation, complete physical removal followed by vegetative re-establishment of the putting surface may be the most appropriate practice over the long-term.

FUNGICIDE OPTIONS

In the absence of not knowing the true causal agent(s) of the disease symptoms in question, suggestions only can be made as to fungicide application. In NSW at this time, several active ingredients have registration as fungicides against so-called ERI (ectotrophic root-infecting) diseases for turfgrass application. Active ingredients currently registered against certain ERI fungi include triademenol, tebuconazole plus trifloxystrobin and azoxystrobin plus triticonazole. Always consult labels for specific details.

However, superintendents are reminded that potential long-term management of soil-borne turfgrass diseases in particular may only be realised through an integrated approach using proven biological, appropriate cultural

and registered fungicides against known pathogens. The overall goal in attempting to manage soil-borne, turfgrass pathogens must be to encourage and maintain an extensive and healthy, functioning root system.

What of resistance couchgrass cultivars? It is plausible to suggest the morphological variation long observed to occur in Tifdwarf and Tifgreen may partly account for the presence of the patch diseases in question within individual and between certain greens. Certain Tifdwarf and Tifgreen variants and other couchgrass cultivars (e.g. Champion and TifEagle) may possess a degree of less susceptibility (more tolerant) to these patch diseases in question. A most worthwhile investigation but one which requires considerable funding, time and patience.

Finally, interested course superintendents are encouraged to contact the author through their state associations should they wish to pursue fungal isolations in order to accurately identify the causal agent(s). They may also contact Dr Percy Wong directly by email or phone: [email protected] or 0416 853 996. Perhaps if enough diseased Tifdwarf or Tifgreen samples are collected from a range of geographic locations from the northern rivers region and conclusive identifications are made, agro-chemical companies may be encouraged to conduct efficacy and phytotoxicity trials for pesticide registration purposes against the patch diseases in question.

REFERENCES

Beehag GW, PTW Wong and MK Tan (1999) Take-All on Tifdwarf. Australian Turfgrass Management. Vol. 1.3. p. 32-33.

Wong PTW, Tan MK and GW Beehag (2000) Confirmation of take-all patch disease in Tifdwarf hybrid couchgrass (bermudagrass) by morphological and DNA methods. Australasian Plant Pathology. 29: 19-23.

Wong PTW (2002) Gaeumannomyceswongoonoo sp. nov., the cause of a patch disease of buffalo grass (St. Augustine) grass). Mycological Research. 106: 857-862.

Wong PTW, C Dong, AM Stirling and ML Dickinson (2012) Two new Magnaporthe species pathogenic to warm-season turfgrasses in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 41, 321-329.

Wong PTW, C. Dong, PM Martin and PJ Sharp (2015) Fairway patch – a serious emerging disease of couch (syn. bermudagrass), (Cynodondactylon) and kikuyu (Pennisetumclandestinum) turf in Australia caused by Phialocephalabamuru PTW Wong & C. Dong. sp. nov. Australasian Plant Pathology 41: 321-329. (DOI 10.1007/s13313-015-0369-0).

Wong PTW (2015) Beware the BF1. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal. Vol. 17.2, March-April. p. 36-38.

Khemmuk W, Geering ADW, Shivas RG (2016) Wongia gen. nov. (Papulosaceae, Sordariomycetes), a new generic name for two root-infecting fungi from Australia. IMA Fungus 7: 247-252.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank Dr Percy Wong for the photograph in Figure Three and his critical comments on the article.


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WALK’N’TALK TOUR

Tuesday 19th September

STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB

RUBE WALKERDEN GOLF DAY

Thursday 12th October

(With Guest Speaker Kerry O’Keeffe)

RYDE-PARRAMATTA GOLF CLUB

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATION THAT SUPPORTS YOU!

The association has sample templates, documents and forms available in the members area of the website for your

daily, monthly and annual requirements for golf course management. Please feel free to let us know if you suggest or

need any others. Go to the members area of www.nswgcsa.com.au website to find all the documents available.

CODE OF ETHICS Each member shall uphold the standards of this Association by observing the following code of ethics:

1. Acting and speaking in a manner which will not cause discredit to our profession and fellow superintendents.

2. Before applying for a position ensure that the position is vacant and where possible confer with the superintendent who is being succeeded.

3. Avoid dissemination of any malicious information concerning other golf courses and/or other golf course superintendents.

4. Extend technical assistance to any golf clubs when called upon by the superintendent.

5. Negotiate salary and conditions in accordance with standards expected of the position for which application is being made.


BANKSTOWN GOLF CLUBDAVID SOMERVILLE

Our major course renovations are scheduled to

commence Sunday 20th August and will take two to

three weeks to complete.

I anticipate completing the Greens renovations by

Tuesday 22nd which will give ample time to complete

extensive renovations to the Fairways, Tees, Surrounds

and other selective areas throughout the course. Keeping

to this timeframe will allow the course to be in good

shape for the Club’s Championships.

This year our major renovations will consist of using

hollow core 16mm tines (pro core) followed by 12mm

deep solid tines (verti drain)

In Spring, I have planned to scarify all of these areas.

Scheduled trade days, golf tournaments and budgets may

determine whether this is achievable.

The club has just engaged the services of Richard

Chamberlain (Golf Course Architect) to produce a Master

Plan for our Golf Course. Richard’s brief is to create

changes to our present layout for more golfer excitement

with subtle changes so our golfers will enjoy their golf

more without making the golf course too difficult to play.

BEVERLEY PARK GOLF CLUBDANIEL METCALFE

I thought winters were supposed to be a chance to

catch your breath especially after our summer from hell.

Since our course has been back to a full length 18 holes,

the course has been well patronaged meaning that our

Club is starting to pay down some debt and also opening

the cheque book somewhat.

We have been fortunate to have a member drop off

many loads of sandstone and we have utilised these to

complete the sandstone path and garden edging (some

160m) around our 16th Tee complex.

AROUND THE TRAPSNSW GOLF COURSE REPORTS

Due to the favourable comments the BOD have

requested that this work be continued at other Tee areas,

with the 12th Tee garden being completed prior to this

going to publication. It has been nearly 12 months since

the opening of the double Green and we can now clearly

see the wear track Golfers have made from Green to next

Tee. The Club also approved the installation of an 80m

concrete path to assist in improving this area.


These works are not big news to some courses but for

Beverley Park who haven’t really been able to do anything

except maintenance for a number of years this is major

investment for us. Our 4th Hole was fast tracked to

have a path installed but due to possible future works,

a permanent concrete path was not advised. I utilised

the Geohex gridlock product and back filled with a blue

metal dust and the Membership and BOD are extremely

happy with the end result. This 75m path, 2m wide was

laid, back filled and edges turfed all up inside 2 days using

three staff. I am now looking to use this at the start and

end of our paths that get worn or have wash outs.

Our Club was the successful recipient of a local

government grant from Georges River Council to the

value of $50 000. This is to be directed to dead tree

removal and so far we have removed 72 dead trees and 42

stumps that had accumulated over the years. Half of the

grant has been spent with the balance to be targeting the

Poplar trees on the boundary which are well past their

used by date.

Somewhere in there we completed 4 days of branch

under pruning and this only saw half of the course

completed. All these works would not have been

possible without the array of volunteers that help out

each and every week. A total of 7 guys that total 46hrs

of assistance that these members provide doing simple

menial tasks right up to and including mowing rough and

tees. All contributions that have been invaluable meaning

that I can concentrate my staff on these other jobs

ensuring that they get done in a small amount of time.

CLUB TAREEMARK SPRAGGS

I start things off by saying how nice has it been to recover

from the heat and rain that punished a lot of our state for

the first half of the year, happy for the weather to stay

like this year round however long range forecasts again

predict that my guys will have calluses on their hands

from the constant hand watering.

That being said over the past year we have done a

lot of work to get our irrigation system to a position

where reliability, uniformity, power consumption

and productivity is now at a position that we can be

comfortable with our water management practises.

We have gone from an existing Rain Master EDMI

Satellite system where support was minimal to none to

now having the Toro Lynx system installed with 24 hour

NSN support. On top of this and with the lack of funds

available at the time to replace our 3 Grundfos pumps

which had no staging capabilities we have installed

a variable speed drive unit with Grundfos Remote

Management which allows us to eliminate all water

hammer from the pumps firing on all cylinders right off

the start to building up pressure and the pumps running

only what’s needed which has seen us save on repairs and

maintenance as well as power costs despite using more


CONCORD GOLF CLUBMARK PARKER

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS

Concord is about to be revamped with all 18 greens due

for reconstruction commencing Monday 18th September.

The project includes all bunkers and landing zone, along

with reconfiguring of 3 holes. Renaissance Golf Design

are the architects and lead shapers, with work expected

to take 6 months (weather permitting!).

We are using A1 / A4 blend on the greens given the

fantastic history over last twenty years. I would have

loved a few years of testing both the ‘Pure Distinction’

and ‘T1’ new varieties as they appear to have some

beneficial characteristics, however, without seeing them

under local conditions for a few years I was not willing to

take the risk!

Various other exciting components will come with the

construction, not least the new bunker liner and sand.

We have chosen the Matrix liner and look forward to

not suffering the continual erosion and contamination

problems that the unfortunate staff have had to endure

working countless hours on over the years.

170 trees are earmarked for removal, creating visual low

cut corridors through the course and providing extra

width on various holes. This will improve the strategic

options for golfers as well as improving the aesthetics of

the course.

Most exciting will be the new design, with many details

still to be decided on the ground with the architects.

Brian Slawnik will be lead designer and on-site through

the entire project. We are taking 9 holes out of play on

day one, with 9 green bases bulk shaped for Tom Doak

to then arrive and finalise details over a one week period.

Once all the back 9 greens are back, we repeat the

process on the front 9 holes. Members will play a loop

of the 9 holes untouched, which results in no temporary

greens, and providing maximum space and time to work

on the other 9 holes.

I am fortunate to have a great team leading into

the project, with some of Sydney’s leading turf and

construction personnel, and other Clubs assisting which

will hopefully deliver the project on time!

water this quarter vs the same quarter last year and with

the power costs only expected to go through the roof

the next few years we find this project which has taken a

bit of time and disrupted our members as a benefit in the

long run ROI wise.

Looking to the future apart from keeping on top of

insects, disease, loss of turf and plant and soil nutrition

we have just purchased 5ha of land on the southern

boundary of our property for a relocation of golf to

better growing conditions allowing the club which is

on the eastern side of the course to look at alternate

revenue opportunities. All pending DA approval and DPI

approval we will look to use this land to create another

water holding dam which we will use to transfer to our

main irrigation dam if/when it gets low in summer to

eliminate town water costs. In the new plans 3-4 new golf

holes will be designed here with current holes on the

eastern side of the property sitting on a rock shelf with

very little topsoil on the fairways to be removed. We are

only in the initial stages at this present moment however

there is some fun to be had here in the next few years

with these works ahead.

To everyone, hope spring and summer treat you kindly.


CROMER GOLF CLUBDAVID HURST

The winter months have been very kind to us this year,

with the nice weather enabling us to undertake a few

projects without the hassle of wet conditions.

We recently completed our spring renovations, they went

very well and this allowing for a quick recovery. This is the

first time in many years where we haven’t a had big deluge

of rain in the middle of the renovations, we were starting

to believe that we were cursed.

Also on course we have recently removed dangerous trees

around our teeing grounds and uplifting low-lying branches.

Rock work was completed along the 18th creek that was

re-shaped earlier in the year.

Our Maintenance Facility has seen some good

improvements with some rearrangement being made to

create more space for our machinery. The biggest gain

from this has seen a dedicated work area set up for the

mechanic, the floors have been painted with Amerlock 2K

a 2-part polyurethane paint.

New benches will be installed along with new shelving to

help keep the space clutter free.

EASTLAKE GOLF CLUBNATHAN BRADBURY

Winter has been a busy one for us here at Eastlake,

8 more bunkers have now been reconstructed in-house;

a large bunker behind our 2nd green has been converted

to a grass bunker as it was heavily impacted by the south-

south westerly winds creating undermining issues on the

bunker edges. An additional 15 sprinkler heads have been

installed in the rough in areas we have had to run knocker

sprinklers and hoses during dry spells, when the irrigation

upgrade was completed 3 years ago we planned areas in

the future that we may want to irrigate so the extra wires

were installed from the satellite boxes and looped up in

the closest valve boxes at that time, this means all we need

to do is run the pipe and sprinklers in the ground and wire

from the new heads to the closest valve box and we have

central controlled heads. This will cut down our man hours

in spring and summer moving hoses and knocker sprinklers

around in rough areas. The creek system on the south side

of the property has been dredged and the creek edges

re-shaped to allow excess water to flow into the creek

system that runs off site to the botany wetlands. The dry

winter has allowed us to implement an intensive Ethaphon

and Trinexapac program for seed head suppression, the

results have been great with little damage to the kikuyu

collars. Course renovations are scheduled to start on

September 18th, greens will be hollow cored with 5/8

tines, fairways/tees and approaches will be scarified,

scalped, cored and fertilised hopefully ready for a less

intense summer than last year. Look forward to catching up

with everyone at the Rube Walkerden Golf Day.


LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUBMARK SCHRODER

We have certainly experienced ‘mother nature’ at its very

best with a pattern of a heap of rain at once followed

by months of dry weather. It is anyone’s guess what this

coming summer will produce, hopefully not the extreme

high temperatures of the previous season.

Projects completed during winter included a hole by hole

bunker assessment/audit. From this the required practical

restoration works were established and undertaken

including consistent sand depth at the flat base, facial

and re-shaping/re-instating eroded edges in some cases

with chief goal being to gain some continuity from both a

practical playability and enhanced aesthetic value.

Other course works was the establishment of a bent/

poa nursery using cores from recent renovations in view

of retaining consistent grass mix/type in times when

needed to plug greens after bird damage, vandalism etc.

The other half of the nursery was seeded with Penn A-4.

Other winter projects included fairway drainage works

at several low-lying areas of the golf course contouring

into collection stormwater pits. Also completed was the

mulching of course gardens and conversion of 14th Par 3

back right greenside bunker into a grass swale type hazard.

Again, as one of the Field Day Board Members I encourage

everyone to consider attending our last two events of the

year including our very popular Walk & Talk golf course

tour at Strathfield Golf Club on Tuesday 19 September

hosted by Course Superintendent Paul Keary highlighting

and viewing the major course development works and

complete course redesign. Certainly one not to be missed.

These days are certainly hitting the mark in view of

information sharing and peer networking.

Secondly, the AGM/Rube Walkerden Trophy Golf Event

which is very conveniently centrally positioned this year

at the very picturesque Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club on

Thursday 12 October hosted by the very likeable Golf

Course Superintendent Shaun Probert. I’m certain Shaun

and his crew will have the course in top shape for this event.

We will not be entertained by our host Superintendent

Shaun at dinner this time as was the case at The Vintage

(I know some of you will be disappointed), but by none-

other than Kerry O’Keeffe who I believe may be playing

golf with us as well. We will hear his distinctive laugh all

over the golf course!!! Put this date in your diary now.

Looking forward to catching-up with you all at these events.


OATLANDS GOLF CLUBDOMINIC YATES

WINTER 2017

It’s been a very productive period for staff members at Oatlands Golf over the past few months, and very frustrating at the same time.

The club was fortunate enough to obtain a local government grant to improve access to the course for members during wet weather periods. This money was put towards the purchase of a trenching attachment for our Ventrac machine. Since purchasing the attachment, we have installed over 400m of drainage on known wet areas throughout the course that would normally restrict the use of golf carts during wet weather. Even though not a lot of rain has fallen since being installed (0mm for July), we’re confident that this work will be beneficial.

The trencher was put to good use before we started the drainage work, root pruning fairways that struggled in the dry conditions last summer. We started trenching these lines to a depth of 800mm, but have since reduced them to around the 400 to 500mm mark. This allowed us to increase the speed at which we can trench and made the backfilling task a lot quicker and easier. We’ve also

found that the majority of the problem causing roots are

usually cut through in this 400 to 500mm zone. We have

had a few washouts of these trenching lines on downhill

fairways, which hasn’t been a pleasant job having to

scrape wet clay out of existing turf.

The frustrating part of this winter period has been

around the playing surfaces of some of our fairways.

I applied a pre-emergent herbicide in May which would

provide protection from Poa on surfaces for Winter and

into Spring. This product affected our Kikuyu, severely

affecting growth and surface coverage. In shaded areas

on fairways, the surfaces have become just dead thatch

areas. Areas that receive a good amount of sunlight have

recovered, but at this time of year the recovery process

has been slow and painful.

Greens renovations are planned for the 28th and 29th

August, hollow tyning greens with 18mm tines to a

depth of 100-125mm. These tines will allow our root

systems to lengthen heading into the Spring period,

in preparation for the approaching Summer. Once the

greens renovations have been completed, we will start

coring fairways with the same size tines, hoping to

improve fairway surfaces before Club Championships

start in October.

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PAMBULA-MERIMBULA GOLF CLUBPAT WILSON

Pambula-Merimbula GC is in the final stages of our new

irrigation system upgrade. The project has consisted of a

complete new irrigation and pumping system.

Replacing what was a 40-year-old hydraulic controlled

TORO system, which had a lot of issues and ongoing

running cost. The old system was well overdue for

replacement and the club has always talked about not

being able to afford to replace it, where it was actually

at the point that the club couldn’t afford NOT to replace

the ageing system.

A TORO Decoder system with Lynx software has been

successfully installed on our 27hole complex to a

VERY high standard by WATERLAND IRRIGATION, also

Waterland Irrigation installed our 4 New WILO pumps

and control panel. This new system is going to make the

world of difference to how we maintain our course with

limited resources on the Far South Coast of NSW.

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I look forward to the season ahead, with our main plan

and objectives being, plant health and consistent surfaces!!

We will take advantage of some warmer weather to

re-establish grass cover over trenches and turfed areas.

Also keep promoting Bent grass in our Poa/Bent greens with

Paclobutrazol and culture practices being our main tool.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my staff,

course volunteers and Waterland irrigation on what has

been a very smooth and successful irrigation install.

RICHMOND GOLF CLUBMARK WILLIAMS

After a very wet Autumn we have had very little rainfall

over the winter months which means quite a few frosts

with our coolest morning this winter -2.1. The staff have

taken full advantage of the winter months taking quite

a bit of annual leave, resting up in readiness for the

upcoming growing season (I hope it’s not as bad as last

year). In saying that, Winter has been very busy for the

staff not on annual leave with the construction of a new

18th tee complex (layed Winter Green Couch on the tee)

with a 32 metre long safety screen installed by Country

Club International as part of the new tee complex

which is the first stage of the 18th fairway make over.

We started last winter planting 200 plus trees up the left

hand side of the fairway inside a woodchip area moving

irrigation etc. this was the first stage of turning the 18th

fairway into a dogleg to stop golf balls from leaving the

property. All in all the course has held up very well over

winter considering the amount of frosts we have had.

All going well the new tee complex will be open in the

first week of October. I hope everyone is well rested up

for the upcoming growing season and hope that it’s not

like last years.

During the past 12 months PMGC have installed several

Diamond Grid pathways. This product has saved us an

incredible amount of man-hours after rain events.

Also producing a superior surface for both the golfer

and greenkeeper.

Diamond Grid.

Diamond Grid.

Trenching.


SPRINGWOOD COUNTRY CLUBNATHAN BALL

Here at Springwood Country Club, the winter period

has allowed us to do some winter jobs such as stump

grinding, root pruning and some much needed drainage

work around a couple of our green surrounds.

Our 2nd and 5th green surrounds have now been

completed with new drainage and I look forward to some

great results come the spring. In the next month we will

start our concrete path project which will continue to

improve our course. So it has been a busy Winter period

and with green renovations in late August, our Senior

Pro-Am in early October we still have a busy period

ahead. Our course over the last few months hasn't seen

much rain but the course is holding its colour through the

last few months and I'm excited heading into the warmer

months on how good our course will look.

ST MICHAELS GOLF CLUBRUSSELL FLETCHER

In May this year, the club opened for play the new 16th

green and 17th tee surrounds complex. The members

appreciated the new design and especially playing

on a pure Bent surface which was a change. The Pure

Distinction Bent variety was a hit amongst members.

By the look and hearsay, it should come through this

Summer more easily than the old Poa greens that we

have. As with all golf clubs that go through the motion of

opening a new green, when will it be ready is the normal.

Once the members were on the new 16th green and

playing on a surface that differed considerable from what

they were used to, talk started as to what they needed to

do next in the way of new greens.

It was decided to do two more greens either after the

coming Summer or start in the first week in August this

year. The decision was to start now (Thank Christ) as we

didn’t want the task of growing in greens in the middle of

Summer over again.

As I write the article, staff are helping move 700 tonne of

material to the two green sites that are underway. It was

decided early in the year that we have Golf Shapes design

the 1st and 4th green complexes after designing the

chipping green and then the 16th greens recently. The 1st

green was the worst on the course being some 40 years

old with no drainage and growing Poa in a hydroponic

fashion. The green suffered from disease especially in

summer. The 4th green was chosen due to the proximity

of the 1st green and 100mtres apart, and this was a good

decision. The 4th green was unusable in the front and the

shape of the surrounds was very ordinary to say the least.


Apart from the construction going on, staff have tinkered

with a lot of smaller landscape projects this winter to

keep everyone active and members pleased.

All the best for the coming summer which we all hope is

a lot kinder to us than last year!!!

TERREY HILLS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUBSTUART GILL

The winter months have been pretty busy at Terrey Hills.

The new owner is beginning to put his mark on the place

with the Clubhouse interior being gutted and refurbished,

this is expected to open on Saturday 2nd September.

From the maintenance department’s point of view; there

has been the inclusion of two new fairway bunkers on the

18th hole and one new fairway bunker on the second hole.

However the pièce de résistance is the redevelopment

of the our par 3 12th hole. Originally second easiest hole

index on the course I reckon that’ll change to the second

hardest. The dam which originally hugged the right hand

side of the hole has been extended to cover the area in

front of the green all the way to the tee decks giving it

a 130 metre carry from the ladies markers. The “bail out”

area to the left of the green has been peppered with

three bunkers with another bunker on the back right

for good measure. The dam wall, which was originally

timber, has been formed with 2metre x 500mm x 500mm

sandstone blocks which is mainly 3 blocks high except in

front of the green where it goes to 4. The green which

already measured, 700+m² has been extended by 300m²

so that it now runs down to the sandstone edge.

The material excavated from the dam at the 12th has been

dumped on our nearby driving range which will be shaped

into four target greens complete with bunkers.

The surrounds to the 4th green was one of the worst

drained areas on the course and water seeping constantly

though the subsurface. At the moment the location on

doing two greens near each other is working well, as

the contractor could move from one to the other with

machinery without causing too much mayhem. It was

lucky that we have a good stock pile of 300cb mtrs of

sand fill on the course from excavation sites in the local

area, and this was handy in building up the surrounds

on the 1st, due to the sub-surface water issues and

elevating the area. The 4th green surrounds needed major

rebuilding in the way of major seepage issues in the way

of rock shelfs close to the surface. A network of drainage

pipes and pits where installed to try and overcome the

normally wet areas. A source of sand was found at the

end of the fairway and this was used to shape and lift

up the surrounds. Soil was brought from another area to

back fill the hole used as the sand excavation site. All up

about 350 tonnes of sand was excavated from the 4th

rough that we pinpointed as a sand deposit. This may

become useful for other projects down the line for the

purposes for future works if the club is embarking on

doing other greens, which I think it may well be the case.


Thankfully the days of carrying out this work in-house

look to be fading with McMahons coming in to carry

out the bulk works, with our staff still doing the finishing

touches such as extending the green, installing the

irrigation, matrixing bunkers and adding bunker sand.

Otherwise, it’s spring renovations this month and

hopefully that’ll lead into an easier summer than last year!

12th hole and plugging poa.

18th fairway bunkers.

Target greens on driving range.

• Turf Washing Facility• Line Planting• StaLok Reinforcing & Instant Play Turf• Transformer Stabilised Sportsturf• Topmaking• Turf Laying

259 Pitt Town Bottoms Road Pitt Town NSW 2756Josh: 0418 617 203David: 0418 261 484Fax: 02 4572 3933Email: [email protected]

BUFFALO, KIKUYU AND COUCH PBR VARIETIES AVAILABLE


PRESIDENT Stuart Gill Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club

Mobile 0417 445 888

Email [email protected]

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/FIELD DAYS Steven Harris The Vintage Golf Club

Mobile 0409 740 818


SECRETARY/TREASURER Russell Fletcher St Michael’s Golf Club

Mobile 0419 267 622


FIELD DAYS Mark Schroder Liverpool Golf Club

Mobile 0401 095 083


EDUCATION PORTFOLIO Malcolm Harris Northbridge Golf Club

Mobile 0411 841 605


DIRECTORS CONTACT DETAILS

MAGAZINE/SOCIAL MEDIA Nathan Bradbury Eastlake Golf Club

Mobile 0418 215 407


David Somerville Bankstown Golf Club

Mobile 0404 039 077


ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIP Leon Hennessy Cromer Golf Club

Mobile 0422 699 717


MEMBERSHIP Shane Herring Camden Golf Club

Mobile 0408 682 068


ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION OFFICER Alison Jones PO Box 595, Matraville NSW 2036

Mobile 0412 516 428


NSWGCSA ABN 63 365 403 933 PO Box 595, Matraville NSW 2036 Australia Email [email protected]

@NSWGCSA1 facebook.com/NSWGCSA/

www.nswgcsa.com.au

NSWGCSA Editor’s Disclaimer: The opinions expresses editorially and the contents of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the policy or view of the NSWGCSA

spring 2017 - nswgcsa

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