Thank you to all of our members who took the time to complete our recent survey. We value the time you took to complete the survey and appreciate your honest feedback. We decided to focus this survey on the golf course, competitions and bookings and we will follow up with surveys on other aspects of the Club in the near future to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience for members.
You can see a copy of the results by clicking HERE
The survey highlighted areas of improvement that members would like to see occur on course and in the Clubhouse, fortunately most of these improvements are already underway or due to be completed in the coming years. Please see responses to some of your requests:
Course Improvements
There were lots of positive comments regarding the work that the greens staff have been carrying out over the past few years. We did however receive feedback on a few things on course that members want to see us focus on, and they are as follows.
- Bunkers
- Pruning Trees
- Rebuilding various Greens
- Practice Nets Improvements
- Cart Path Completion
Last month the course capital expenditure plan was recommended from the greens committee to the board and has been approved for the next 5 years and it covers a lot of what members have raised as areas of improvement.
Bunkers
This year the board approved a three-year bunker works program that was to commence in August 2020, aiming to complete 9 holes a year with 19/27 to be refurbished first followed by 10/18 and then 1/9.
With the late announcement of the North Coast Open Professional event that was scheduled for early September, these works were pushed back until the winter of 2021.
The 3-year program will include reshaping bunkers, drainage improvements, removing lips where needed and installation of new sand throughout. These works will stop a lot of the surface water that runs into our bunkers that causes damage during heavy rain and ensure our bunkers are back in play a lot quicker. Members should also notice a big improvement in the consistency of the bunkers.
The board has approved a $120K towards this project to start next July/August with bunkers on holes 19 thru 27 to be completed first.
Tree Pruning
The survey highlighted that members see tree pruning as an issue on course in relation to deadwood and branches encroaching onto the fairways and tees. This year members may have noticed a lot of work occurring in this area with pruning occurring on the 24th fairway and 18th fairway. Works were also carried out to mulch tree debris in our tip area and deadwooding trees on the 23rd and 26th. We also removed 2 dangerous trees that were in the carpark as these trees had massive hollows in them.
The board has committed $12k per year for this type of work that is ongoing in the green’s maintenance budget. The Greens department has achieved a lot in the past 2 years already and this will continue to be a focus for them in the winter months. The budget for this year has been expended however further works will occur each winter.
Green Rebuilds
In our capital expenditure plan, there are 5 of our older greens to be rebuilt over the next 5 years, commencing with our practice putting green to start next year, followed by the 13th, 6th and 8th and the 25th. The practice green was chosen as the first green rebuild due to a lot of the area being unusable due to the slope. The completion of this rebuild will also mean all of our practice facilities have been updated including the new chipping area and driving range.
The other greens identified have been chosen due to several reasons. These include these greens being rebuilt due to the age of the green, not originally being constructed to USGA specification and a lot having common couch in them which is very difficult to remove. When we rebuild these greens, it will allow us to have more pin locations and larger putting surface to increase the playability.
The 18th green seems to be a concern to lot members regarding the playability and our main problem being during our winter months when the greens can be quite speedy. This will be discussed and monitored over the coming years to try and come up with alternative fix, whether it is a rebuild or some modification to the surface.
The cost of these projects over the next 4 years is $260K
Practice Nets
The condition of the practice nets was raised as an issue and as such we will commence work this month to address this. These works will include new Astro turf placed on the floor of the practice nets and new hitting mats installed as well. As for the netting itself, this will be added to our maintenance budget for next year and completed early in 2021. We have installed more netting to the main impact areas of the nets to fix wear that was noticeable and prevent balls going through the nets.
Cart Paths
Our cart path program has only the 23rd tee connection and the 12th tee resurfacing to be completed, we will commence the 12th path once we enlarge the white teeing area on this hole.
Tees
With more golf rounds being played, especially during COVID, our tees are showing signs of wear over our winter period. This has been identified by members as a concern. As part of our capital expenditure program will be to enlarging tee complexes where required, laser leveling tees and changing the grass varieties of couch grass that has a more vigorous rhizome recovery. Increasing the size and changing the grass type will help with distributing the wear more evenly.
One of the specific tees that was raised as a concern was the 21st teeing complex; this is very difficult to get the right balance with removing enough trees to allow sunlight in and not opening it up too much for a wayward approach to the 20th green. So, we are going to install a combination of a driving mat for Winter play and buffalo grass tee for Summer and some Winter play. The driving mat will allow for distributing wear during the cooler months, work will commence this month on that.
The board and management are committing substantial funds to the golf course in the next 5 years to ensure the course is continually improved for the benefit of the members.
Clubhouse Improvements
With the recent refurbishment to the ladies’ lockers, ladies’ toilets and auditorium most of our upstairs Clubhouse is in great condition for members to enjoy.
The board has now committed to obtaining plans for upgrade to the downstairs men’s locker room and ladies toilets as well works to the outside of the Clubhouse to modernize the building. These works don’t involve structural changes rather ensuring we improve the facilities and enhance the look of the Clubhouse. No date for these works to commence has been identified as yet but men’s locker room is a priority for the board to complete next.
Booking your golf
Members will now be aware that the Club has a new app that allows you to easily book your golf (social and competition) as well as booking carts. We encourage all members to download this app if you haven’t already. While members can still book by ringing the Club, with the increased number of rounds being played the Pro shop is often unable to get to the phones.
Thank you,
Coffs Harbour Golf Club