Grounds Report – August 2025

July Grounds Report

Mother nature has given us all the rain she has got over the month of August. Currently we have received 403mm from the 31^st July to 22^nd  August. The highest recorded rainfall in Sydney for the month of August is 482mm in 1998. Our yearly rainfall is 1290mm and the Sydney average is around 1200mm.

Greens

• At the start of the month the greens received a 6mm solid tine to the depth of 40mm. This was done to help move the water into the soil profile rather than sitting on the surface with the forecast of rain. After this process we had 105mm of rain and we saw no pooling of water on the surface. The soil profile is well past the saturation point and
• During this rain we have made several applications to protect the surface from diseases with prolonged leaf wetness and low sunlight levels.
• We have continued with our Poa (winter grass) control program. We have walked over every green twice using a dabbing method and made 2 applications over the entire green surface on 2 7 11 18 as these are our worst greens for Poa.
• Green renovations are still planned to go ahead on 8^th and 9^th

Fairways

• Over recent months we have seen a yellowing of selected fairways. I have reached out to an agronomist to identify these issues. This has been identified as Allelopathy. Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon where specific species of turf plants release toxic chemicals (allelochemicals) that vastly affect the germination, growth and immune system of vulnerable host turf plants. Turf sites that pond or pool moisture in allelopathic pathways are affected the greatest. Rye grass is a turf species that is known to release allelochemicals which is what is currently affecting the fairways.
• The only methodology used to eliminate allelopathy from our fairways and rough is to selectively remove the offending allelopathic plants (Rye grass) from the property. Rye grass is an integral part of turf management and should be used with the caveat of its managed removal within 2 years of its propagation.
• When possible, we have applied a broad-spectrum fungicide to help try and control any disease outbreak with the current wet conditions.

Current works

• We have installed agi pipe drainage in the 3^rd Clay tee to help with the pooling of water that we usually see during and after rain events.
• Planned installation of drainage between 11^th green and 12^th tee is planned, we have noticed that the existing drainage system is not draining effectively due to several broken pipes further down the line. These breaks have now been fixed, and the current infrastructure is working more effectively. Once we can get onto the turf again, we will be installing some extra surface drainage around the surface drainage pit.
• A new stormwater pit and pipe drainage has been installed between the Silver and Clay tees on the 6^th. This new installation has help to move water from the concrete pathway and tee drainage away better with the underground pipe network.

Gardens

• In the coming weeks Arbor Pride will be conducting a tree audit in the high traffic areas of the golf course. This will help us to plan our future tree works.
• It has been a wet month for the bush care team. When possible, the group have been extremely productive in the gardens around the 18^th tee, 2^nd tee and Bush Bar.
• The new garden between 10^th tee and 15^th green has now been planted out. We have planted some Common Rush (Juncus effusus) transplanted from around the course, along with some new Banksia (Banksia ericifolia “candle stick”).

Dam wall testing

• VSL completed the testing of five ground anchors in the dam wall. All anchors successfully achieved their lift-off loads; the mechanical condition of the anchor components were all satisfactory with no signs of corrosion or damage.

Course furniture

• During the wet weather the team has been able to move and install some extra course furniture. There is now a ball washer and bin on every hole except for the 3^rd and 7^th, due to the proximity of teeing areas and possible location of ball washer which would be out of play. We have also installed club cleaner on all par 3’s these are located next to the ball washers.

WHS

• Epar is now active for the grounds team. The team is currently working through our new EHS (environment, health and safety) policy and some new SWP’s.

Machinery

• All machine services are up to date and ready for a busy summer.
• Thank you to Graeme Elgie for his time and help working with myself to build a maintenance program for the course machinery.

Mark Ward

(Course Superintendent)