November Newsletter

Men’s Captain Report

Course renovations have been completed and the club Championships for men and women have been completed. Congratulations to all our club champions. The only other major event on our golf calendar is the Naggers Cup. Nominations are open and names can be put on the nomination sheet at the Pro Shop.

As this year draws to a close we are currently preparing the calendar for next year. If any member has any suggestions regarding the events we play or wish to propose a new event please do not hesitate to contact me.

With the start of the new year so begins the mens and women’s representative season. To assist me with the men and Juniors, Bob Thomas and Mick Wilson have volunteered their time to assist me with the teams. Thank you to Bob and Mick.

On the course there is still concern regarding slow play and the need to have more rangering duties on desired days. As you will appreciate there are only so many hours in the day when I can devote my time as course ranger. If any member has any spare time and would like to donate their time as a course ranger please do not hesitate to contact me.

I still have concern over the care of bunkers. Members are still leaving the bunker rakes on the edges of bunkers. Please place them in the middle of the bunkers. I have also been advised by the greens staff that new sand will be placed in the bunkers soon. Another issue has arisen in that on some holes (ie 8th and 18th) the matting has come through the surface. At a recent match committee meeting it has been agreed to make these areas “No Play Zones” and as such members are entitled to free relief outside the bunker without penalty.

Members will have noted the plastic matting installed on the pathway to the 18th hole. This matting is deemed an “Abnormal Ground Condition” and members are entitled to free relief.

In January 2020 another dramatic change is being implemented by Golf Australia which is the Universal Course rating. This basically means that course ratings will be gender neutral and all members can play off any marker in the daily competition. The course will be rated for men and women off each of the markers. In conjunction with this change we will be implementing new slope, par, and scratch ratings as well as new hole ratings. As time gets closer I will inform all members of the exact specifications. It is anticipated that the information night will be held in December.

When on the course members are reminded of the following:

All Social play is off the yellow markers. Members please do not practice off the plates or the blue, white or red teeing areas. When practising, please remember to take a bucket and fill your divots.
Please repair all divots on the greens
Please take a sand bucket
Please rake the bunkers and leave the rakes in the middle of the bunkers
Please keep up with the group in front
Please stick to the ready golf principles
Please do not drive carts in areas where they are prohibited. Please stay on the designated paths and outside the blue lines.

Graham Chee
Mens Captain

Ladies Captain Report

The Annual Ladies AGM was held on the 22nd October and the committee was re-elected unopposed. Our President Marianne Lanham decided to step down for personal reasons and Liz Robinson will take up that role. Marianne performed her duties with dedication and commitment and we owe her a huge vote of thanks for her wonderful contribution to the Ladies Committee and the club. We welcome Geraldine Turner to the committee for 2020.

The office bearers for 2020 are:

President: Liz Robinson
Captain: Sheena Asken
Secretary: Sharon Anderson
Treasurer: Sally Hopkins
General Committee: Helen Potter, Di Beechey and Geraldine Turner
Vets Delegate: Sally Hopkins

Championships were played in October. Congratulations to all the winners.

Scratch Winners:

Division I – Helen Potter

Division II – Lynn Puiatti

Division III – Helen Smith

Nett Winners:

Division I – -Anne Burke

Division II – Kath Payn

Division III – Geraldine Turner

The Top Ten Shootout was played on Tuesday 22nd of October prior to the AGM. Well done to all the qualifiers and a vote of thanks to the caddies, spectators and committee for their help and support, it was a happy and successful day. Remember to enter this competition next year, the prize money is good and you have 10 chances over the year to post a qualifying score.

The results were as follows:

First: Rosalie Dyer

Second: Liz Robinson

Third: Leonie Kelly

The CCWGA Champion of Champion of Champions Day was held at Everglades on Monday 28th October. Karen Myles from Everglades won Division I with a score of 78, Kim Burke was runner-up with 79. For the record this event also includes the Vets Champions in each division as well as the NSW Medal winners and Veterans Brooch winners in divisions I,II and III. There is always some confusion as to how one qualifies for this event.

The last few events for 2019 are as follows:

The CCWGA Tournament is on the 11th & 12th of November at Magenta & Toukley.
Greenkeepers Revenge is on Tuesday the 26th November
Closing Days are on Tuesday 3rd of December and Thursday the 5th of December respectively.
Our Christmas Party and Presentation on Tuesday 10th of December completes the year.

Sheena Asken

Ladies Captain

Superintendent’s Report

October brought with it 42mm of rain, over 4 days.

October 2018 – 149mm
Rainfall (Average 48mm).
November 2018 -127mm
Rainfall (Average 99mm).

Our dam water supply is full and clear of salt.

The average night time temperature for October was 13.6 degrees.

The average day time temperature for October was 21.7 degrees.

The greens have had their spring renovations done. We punched in 5/8 holes, scarified and top-dressed the greens with approximately 50 tonnes of sand.

The greens soil tests have returned much the same as last year, with no real surprises. Once again, the only concern is the very high amounts of Chloride that is found in the soil of some greens. The common denominator is wet, lower quality soil greens. The 1st green is relatively new (20 years old) and has the best results when it comes to Chloride, because the green drains and is not classed as a wet green same as the 7th. Whilst the 3rd,9th,11th and 15th are wet greens, and their levels are extreme.

The exit on the pathway of the 10th fairway has had new soil added and new turf as been laid. Irrigation has also been added to that area. The green matting has been purchased and will be installed once we feel that area will stand up to heavy foot traffic.

Over the next few weeks we will concentrate on the bunkers. The plan is to add sand where needed and to move sand from the edges to the hitting zones if possible.

The average bunker when empty takes about 15 tonne or $1000 of sand which is a massive cost to the club.

David Nicholls
Course Superintendent

News from the Pro Shop

We have several coaching commitments this month which we are excited about!

Tom is halfway through his Seniors Get into Golf Program through Golf NSW which started 28th October.
Tom is starting the next Ladies Rookies Program on 7th November
Michelle will be starting her MyGolf program at Gosford High through Golf Australia on 18th November

If you’re planning on buying new clubs soon, try some of the demo clubs that we have available. We have Wilson, Ping, Callaway & Titleist all available fo

We have received all the latest stock from FJ as you can see from the replenished wall of shoes on display.

There are more Gosford Golf Club logo Men’s shirts, this time from PING. We are selling them individually for $59 or 2 for $100. Grab them for yourself, or do some Christmas shopping! There are also non-logo PING shirts available.