Our new Grounds Superintendent is Neil Jones from the Joondalup Country Club, who was chosen as the most suitable candidate from 17 other applicants. Neil brings with him a wealth of experience having spent 15 years in the horticultural industry, the last 11 of which were completed at Joondalup, where he has attained the rank of Assistant Superintendent. Neil will commence on Monday 15th March.
Our 50th Anniversary Cocktail Party was held on Sunday 28th February and was attended by 110 dignitaries, special guests and members. Thanks go to the more than 70 members who supported the event, and helped to make the evening a success. Special thanks also to our MC Kevin Reed, and our speakers John Francks and Leonie Kirke, who, ably assisted by the Federal Member for Curtin, Julie Bishop and the Premier Colin Barnett, gave a fitting summary of our history, our past and present members, and the potential of what lies ahead for our club.
The excavation and re-shaping work on the renovation of the 9/18 green has now largely been completed. The next steps in the process are to take turf from parts of other fairways where growth can be expected to regenerate quickly, and to lay that turf around the fringes of the green and bunkers.
This event was played on Sunday 14th February, with more than 70 juniors competing. It turned out to be a long day for some, with a play-off required to determine the overall champion. The event was won by Lewis Wegner of the Gosnells Golf Club from George Lawther of the Wanneroo Golf Club. Thanks are extended to John Barrymore for his continued sponsorship of the event, Doug Stokes for all his hard work during the day and Tony Howell for making the presentations.
With the approach of the summer months, and the increased daylight hours, the bar opening hours for Sundays have been shifted back an hour. The bar will now open at 4.00pm and close at 7.00pm.
The Club will phase out the use of sand, due to the damage caused to mowers and the inhibition of growth around divots, to repairs divots. Players are asked to ‘chop in’ the sides of divots, using an iron and then flatten out the surface. The change to the local rule has with a target date for implementation of 1 July. Sand will continue to be available on the par 3 tees, the driving range and the practice tee on the 4th fairway. This change is in line with other clubs.
Saturday 6th June, 2009, the Club did some test burning of grass trees on the course. Grass trees is the correct name for those plants we used to call Black Boys. The Grass trees in their natural enviroment have always been subject to bushfires and this has been a necessity to the good health of the trees. Thanks to the work of Dr Tim Meagher, a club member and expert in the field, the club was able to get permission from Mosman Park Council to do some test burniing. 26 trees were successfully fired and Dr Meagher and his team will monitor the health of the grass trees before deciding on what further action to take.
Soon after the fire began, the resin began seeping out of the trunks well below where the fire started. This suggests a physiological response to the fire. Recovery will be slow over winter, a spring burn will produce a faster recovery. Dr Meagher was assisted by George Klug and Michael Clune and the club thanks all three gentlemen.