NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2017
Welcome to the spring issue. And how about the very timely rain we received on Monday?
I hope you enjoy reading about some of what has been happening at your club, and about some behind-the-scenes insights as well.
Please note these forthcoming events
Please see the pro shop to book into these events.
1. The Open to be held over the 3rd,4th and 5th November
2. The Melbourne Cup game and luncheon is on again and Keith Fraser has asked me to include this note in the Newsletter.
On Tuesday 7th November we will again host a Melbourne Cup chicken and champagne luncheon, together with a Calcutta Sweep and Auction of horses. For the golfing enthusiasts, the day’s activities commence with a 7.30am shotgun-start, four-person ambrose event, followed by the luncheon leading up to running of ‘The Cup’.
Keith Fraser, assisted by Tony Cole, Tony Tane and other volunteers will conduct the auction and Team Revie will conduct traditional sweeps. If you missed the 2016 Calcutta Auction action, and the fun and laughter provided by guest auctioneer Gavin McConnell, then don’t worry, because Gavin will be with us again this year. Watch out that you don’t blink because you may end up buying a horse. Last year, Veterans’ Captain Kevin Arnold bought the winning horse and took home over $300 in prize money. A brochure has been sent out to all members with details.
3. The Presentation night-cum-Christmas party will be held on Friday 17th November.
The Annual General Meeting
The AGM took place on Saturday 30th September and your new management committee is:
President Leon Radunz, Vice President Harry Howard, Treasurer/Secretary Merv Tappenden, Captain Maurie Payne, Vice-Captain Paulette Legge and the committee consisting of Kevin Arnold, Roger Wilson, Owen Achterberg and John Young.
Another bout of nostalgia
This was the fairway mower the had club for many years. But if that’s all you have, you make do.
What happens to all the fallen branches that the Thursday morning crew led by Jimmy Dunn picks up? They are burnt in the fire pit with the approval of the fire authorities. Here is Wayne keeping a close eye on proceedings.
What's new about the place? Again, lots!!!
1. The new 5th tee
A hard-working crew led by Jimmy Dunn built the wall and laid the turf which is coming along just fine. It will take a while to settle in and develop a stronger root system and will be perfect for use during the Open in early November.
2. Refurbishment of the locker rooms and the clubhouse changes
This locker room refurbishment is virtually completed now and you would have noticed many changes, and also the changes within the clubhouse by altering the layout of the pro shop which make for efficiencies with Andrew and his crew in providing a better service to members. Many thanks particularly to Kevin Arnold, Jimmy Dunn, Tim Kerr, Owen Achterberg and Kristo Bradley. Have you noticed the big acknowledgement sign? The size is specified by the government.
Grants applied for
We have applied for some more grants and I will let you know if and when we are successful.
News from Andrew in the pro shop
Hard to believe that we are well and truly into the second part of the year and with some recent rain and some warmer weather the course will soon be looking a treat.
Upcoming events
KARAOKE starts Sunday 8th of October from12 to 5pm. So, if you are looking for some laughs and a sing a long come on over and check it out.
PEE WEE PENNANTS competition commences on the Sunday 8th October at which we will have six juniors representing TMGC. The other clubs involved will be Redland Bay GC, The Hills, Windaroo Lakes, Gainsborough Greens and Mt. Warren Park. The event will be run over 6 weeks and TMGC will be hosting the final on Sunday 12th of November.
JUNIOR PENNANTS competition was played at Mt Warren Park on the 27th of September where our older juniors made us proud by winning the teams event.
COMMUNITY GOLF CHALLENGE is being held on the Friday 20th of October and is a 9-hole event where several local businesses have been invited to represent their sponsored continents.
MELBOURNE CUP DAY is being held again this year along with an ambrose event teeing off from 7.15am. For registration, check in at the Pro shop.
THE TAMBORINE OPEN tees off on the 3rd of November. Entry forms are available in the Pro shop
Pro shop news
A big thank you to the club, and in particular Kevin Arnold for his work, in changing the size of the shop in order to create easy access to the bar. This has made our ability to provide quicker service possible. Thanks!
Thank you to all the members who came out to endure the challenge that Kooralbyn provides by taking on what’s known as the “Copperhead Challenge”. Unfortunately, the temperature hit 40 degrees which made the day even tougher. We had a total of 14 players. Keep an eye out for our next trip.
Our Trainee Neville Hogan has also had some great results by recently winning the stroke event of the Pampling Plate with a score of -4. Great score Nev!
I recently attended a 3-day expo (Twin Waters) which gave a great insight into a number of facets of the industry, including discussions with Cameron McCormack (Jorden Speith’s coach) and Michael Breed (The Golf Fix on fox). The expo covered everything from club management, teaching and also what is the latest equipment and technology in the market.
Those of you are interested in what’s happening around the club please like our Web page and you will see what’s going on. It’s a great way to stay in the loop!
Finally, thank you to all the members who have been supporting me by taking lessons. Please feel free to keep me updated with your progress.
Good golfing
Andrew
The annual nett event captain’s cup - best 6 rounds
The latest position for the top 10 is:
Name / Best 6 / Rd 1 / Rd2 / Rd 3 / Rd 4 / Rd 5 / Rd 6 / Rd 7 / Rd 8 / Rd 9 / Rd 10
1 / Trevor Ridge / 421 / 72 / - / 73 / 67 / 67 / 68 / 74 / 72 / - / -
2 / Todd Blocksidge / 422 / 76 / - / 67 / - / 69 / - / 72 / 69 / 69 / 76
3 / Bruce Brown / 423 / 68 / - / 73 / 71 / 66 / 70 / 75 / - / - / 68
4 / Martin Grealish / 423 / 72 / 68 / 72 / 72 / 72 / - / - / 67 / - / 72
5 / Tony Tane / 427 / 70 / 73 / 68 / 72 / 74 / - / 70 / - / 70 / -
6 / Maurie Payne / 427 / 71 / - / 72 / 71 / - / 68 / 74 / 71 / 71 / -
7 / Di Lilley / 427 / 74 / - / - / 74 / 74 / 65 / 74 / 66 / - / 74
8 / Owen Achterberg / 428 / 70 / 73 / 74 / - / 67 / 72 / 72 / - / - / 70
9 / Warren Castledine / 430 / 75 / - / 71 / 74 / 71 / - / - / 73 / 66 / 75
10 / Darren McLarnon / 431 / 74 / 74 / - / 72 / - / 64 / - / 75 / 72 / 74
For the full results, visit the Club’s website.
Local rules update
Maurie and Paulette are updating the local rules and these will be available soon.
Greens renovation took place on Tuesday 29th August
The recovery has been rapid and they are playing just great. Visitors from other clubs told me at the Vet’s Shield day last week that our greens are better than any of the greens they play on down the coast. Nice to hear such positive feedback.
But why do we chop up our greens in April and August when, many would argue, they are at their best? Simple. The question should be turned around to what would happen if we don’t. They would be fine for a few months, but then they would decline over summer and autumn to be in a much poorer state. Simple as that. But more importantly, they would then be very difficult to bring back to a good playing condition.
What do we mean by greens renovation?
TMGC greens consist of creeping bent grass which grows best during the cooler seasons of autumn and spring. Bent grass is characterized by very thin blades that grow densely and can be very closely mown, producing a felt-like smoothness to the putting surface.
Bent grasses are tolerant of cold, but suffer under the summer heat. Whilst Southern Queensland has a sub-tropical climate, the elevation of Tamborine Mountain provides a somewhat milder climate which allows bent grass to thrive and provide an excellent putting surface. Mind you, the hot and dry westerlies cause Wayne some nervous times. We have seen patches turn purplish before our eyes and they then brown off overnight. A very sad sight for all to see next day.
Despite the milder climate the root system deteriorates because of the intense management (regular watering, fertilizer applications and low cutting heights, along with wear and compaction) and needs refreshing – akin to repotting plants that are pot bound. The soil compacts, thus reducing the available pore spaces between the soil particles which are available to hold air and water
Moreover, dead organic matter accumulates to form a "thatch" layer. A certain amount of thatch is desirable as it provides a barrier between the root zone and the playing surface but over months the thatch thickens which reduces the infiltration of water and promotes disease pathogens.
Improving the soil's physical condition by renovation promotes new root and shoot growth so the grass is more able to withstand extreme temperatures through summer as the grass struggles to take in the water required for transpiration. We also remove some of the dead compacted thatch material by either scarifying (sometimes double or cross scarifying) using rotating tynes.
Here is our greenkeeper Wayne cross scarifying using the specialist machine, the Ryan Dethatcher, on the third green.
The loosened material is removed from the green by the Litamina brush sweeper which has replaced a cadre of old vets who are probably well past their physical working prime now. Sand is then distributed evenly by a sand spreader and brushed in to fill the holes. Add some fertilizer and water and, hey presto, you have lush new green grass within a few weeks.
Sometimes for a more severe renovation, we use this corer to remove cores to several inches.
Highlights of the proposed new Rules of Golf
The 24 new Rules, reduced from the current 34, are being written in a more user-friendly style with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, bulleted lists and explanatory headings. The initiative also focuses on assessing the overall consistency, simplicity and fairness of the Rules for play. The speed of play will also increase as this criticism of it just takes too long has been levelled at the game of golf which in this time-poor world makes it less attractive to newer players. More on these closer to Jan 2019 the proposed release date.
Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.
Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.
Relaxed rules for “penalty areas” (currently called “water hazards”): Red and yellow-marked penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; expanded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.
Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
Relying on player integrity: A player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong; and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is damaged.