Your update on what's happening at Cooroy Golf club
JULY 2022 Newsletter
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MEN’S GOLF
Congratulation to Men's Captain, Matt Saunders, the Men’s match committee, staff and volunteers for a very successful 2022 Cooroy Men's Open.
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Local lad, Lee Grainger, won the event in a field of 100 - congratulations Lee.
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WOMEN'S GOLF
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Congratulations to the Ladies Pennants team (Kate Sawrey (captain),
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Tina Thomas, Chris Michael, Wendy O'Hare, Juliet Hall, Kym Gladman) on winning the recent Sapphire A Division Competition. Well done ladies.
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The 2022 Cooroy Women's Open Day will be held on Friday, 22nd July.
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MEMBERSHIP FEES 2022 to 2023
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There is still time to renew your membership and retain the benefits of being a member of the golf club. You can pay at the bar (preferred) or by direct deposit to our bank account.
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The rising cost of living is seeing an increasing focus on prioritising personal spend making flexibility to spread membership costs across the year important. Half yearly installments and direct debit are proving popular alternatives to annual payment.
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Some 80% of our membership fall into the over 50 demographic with many being active retirees with family and interests other than golf. If you are prioritising spending and playing less golf we recommend you consider our Play-as-you-Play as a practical option for renewal. It allows you to manage the cost.
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If you need more information to make a decision on renewal speak to Wayne or any of our management committee.
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If you have not renewed your membership by 14th July 2022 you will not be able to book competitions online or use club facilities and services at member prices.
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MEMBER HOUSE ACCOUNT
You can use credits in your House Account to:
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- Purchase food and beverage from the bar
- Purchase golf equipment and accessories from our Pro-Shop. Special discounts may apply to purchases using House Account credits.
- Pay for a round of social golf but not competitions.
- Hire a motorised hire cart
- Hire golf equipment - e.g. golf clubs, pull buggy
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You can view the value of credits in your House Account via the Member Portal and assist the club Profit and Loss by spending the money in your House Account.
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MEET THE GROUND STAFF
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We have revived the popular meet the staff articles. In this edition you get to learn a bit more about Course Superintendent, Warren Smith.
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What year were you born? 1976 in Longreach QLD
Where did you grow up? Longreach, Alpha and Chinchilla
Martial status? Married to Penny Smith
Kids? Jaxon 13 and Caylee 11
Dog or Cat person? Dog – I love boxers
Hobbies? All sport except for soccer (I hate soccer). Coaching Junior and
Senior Sport (Cricket and Golf). Low and slow BBQ.
Do you play golf? Yes, but there is not enough time in the week
How many years green-keeping? Since I was 18 (currently 45)
Why green-keeping? Was a golf nufty so becoming a green-keeper made understanding playing easier
Favourite food? Chicken Alfredo pasta
Favourite saying? Lets get it done
Most hated saying? It is what it is
If I wasn’t a green-keeper, what would I be? A school teacher
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What I like most? Seeing my kids succeed in whatever they choose to do
Origin – QLD or NSW? QLD of course. There should be a wall put up on the boarder to stop New South Welshmen from coming
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FROM THE SHED by Warren Smith
Hello again from the shed. As I am writing this, we can all see the rains have returned, but hopefully not for long.
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The course has slowly returned to its wonderful self after previous weather events and was starting to play very well. This was evident with the success of the recent Cooroy Men’s Open.
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Congratulations to all involved in the running of this event. Special mention to Captain Matt Saunders for his tireless efforts to see this event through, with COVID knocking over helpers left, right and center. I must also congratulate my staff members Nathan Richards, Doug McNamara and Dale Scanlan (who finished employment with us but volunteered his time in the lead up to the open). Nathan and Doug put in a tireless effort with myself on the sidelines, to present the course as magnificent as it was. An effort I was enormously proud of.
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Congratulations to Local Lad Lee Grainger on his win in this event.
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Onto the course now… We have continued our regular spiking/aerating of the greens. This will continue on a monthly basis, having very little effect on play. This process is critical to improve our root structure and density and to tighten up our playing surface. This process allows oxygen and moisture to penetrate further into the soil profile, a necessity during these cooler months. During these cooler months it is imperative our cultural practices (especially mowing) are amended to alleviate stress on our turf grasses. You will notice us out with the dew broom on regular occasions to remove the dew and allow the leaf to dry quicker.
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The tees have been over sowed with a rye grass blend to help with coverage. This process has happened twice since the last “From the Shed” article. This will also continue during the cooler months. Rye grass seed has also been blended with our topdressing sand to improve our divot recovery. The tees also had a granular fertilizer application and gypsum application on Thursday, 30 June 2022 prior to this rainfall.
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The fairways and surrounds had started to dry out nicely and play firmly again. Liquid fertilizer applications have been applied to both and will continue to be applied. It is also in my plans to turf the bare areas on the fairways in the next few weeks, a process in conjunction with volunteers that will take us a few weeks. The fairways will also be aerated this month in readiness for Ladies Cooroy Open.
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Bunkers suffered severe damage during the floods with sand scoured from every bunker. The long term objective is to redesign and upgrade bunkers but timing will depend on success with Grant applications. In the meantime, the back bunker on 18, the left hand bunker on 16 and the bunker on 10 will be filled in and replaced with hybrid couch. This will relieve a lot of maintenance headaches and also add to the playability of each of these holes. This process will be done as soon as course conditions allow us to get machinery around. Watch this space as we will be calling for volunteers to help with the turfing of these areas.
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We will also be rejuvenating the other bunkers by putting an average of 100 mm of new sand in them. Again, this process will happen as soon as course conditions allow us to move machinery effectively and will be looking for volunteers to assist in this process.
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As you might be aware, the new bridge for the 6th fairway has arrived. Footings are to be dug this Friday, 18 July but of course, this is pending the current weather. A new concrete bridge on 18 has been boxed and is ready for concrete. A massive thank you to Grant Smallacombe, Peter Piggott and Bob Read for making this happen. When the weather allows the footings on 6 and bridge on 18 will be poured, both of these will need 2-3 weeks to cure. After this curing period, the bridge on 6 will be fitted and connecting concrete paths poured on both. I thank all members for their patience during this period.
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Traffic control throughout the course is essential this time of year to aid with the wear and tear on our course. I would like to ask everyone to adhere to these guides as it makes our job easier. There has been evidence of ropes being untied and pegs pulled out. Please, if you see anyone doing this, pull them up and state that they are there for a reason. This includes driving motorised carts on tees and green surrounds. Thank you for understanding.
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Since the last article, our apprentice green-keeper Dale Scanlan successfully finished his apprenticeship. Congratulations mate. Unfortunately, Dale has moved on to the next chapter of his life, setting himself up with his fiancé Sarah in the SW QLD town of Surat. Good luck to your both.
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It is also with great sadness that I have to report our Groundsman Nathan Richards has also decided to move on and set his family up for the future. Nathan is an infectious, likeable man with a great work ethic and was an invaluable member of my team. Thanks for your efforts mate.
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We are in the process of hiring a new Groundsman to join our team. So if you have an hour or so to spare during any day of the week, I would be glad to have you help out.
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Until next time, thank you and happy golfing.
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QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE GROVE
We have received a Grant for $3,080 to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the creation of a grove of trees designed as a nesting and feeding habitat for small native birds - "The Platinum Jubilee Grove".
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The new habitat will be sited along the fence on 11th fairway starting at the drain under the rail line. Volunteers will mulch the area before planting of suitable native species in collaboration with Noosa and District Landcare.
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The course has many large trees which bigger birds dominate so, smaller trees and bushes will help protect smaller birds and provide food and nesting opportunities.
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These small trees and shrubs will be planted about 16,437 km from the first Jubilee tree planted on the grounds of Windsor Castle in March to mark the launch of the Queen's Green Canopy in the United Kingdom.
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