WOODLANDS GOLF CLUB COURSE PHILOSOPHY (APPENDIX 2015-2016) (TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WOODLANDS COURSE PHILOSOPHY) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The course philosophy of Woodlands Golf Club is: That Woodlands is to remain a classic sand belt golf course with its current character of small greens, predominance of indigenous vegetation and upkeep to be of the highest possible standard. COURSE PHILOSOPHY (APPENDIX 2015-2016) The objective of this document is to expand on the Woodlands Course Philosophy and present more detail pertaining to the Golf Course as it currently stands. It is envisaged that the Woodlands Course Philosophy will remain unchanged as time progresses, but that this Appendix to the Woodlands Course Philosophy will provide detail that may change from one year to the next. This document will also provide information on major works planned for the coming year. The Woodlands Course Philosophy document paints the big picture approach to the Golf Course where this Appendix is designed to outline how the Woodlands Course Philosophy will be applied to specific works planned for the coming year. GENERAL COMMENT The Woodlands Course Philosophy sets out the general principles which are to be followed for all course maintenance and development. The course is to be presented in the best possible condition for main competition days, taking into account the vagaries of seasons and weather, and respecting the need for operational course maintenance to occur. The set-up of the course is to provide adequate challenge to golfers of all standards. It should also be able to challenge the professional and elite amateur golfer under tournament conditions. In recent years the Club has commissioned several major reports relating to golf course management and design, vegetation and environmental issues. These reports include: ArborCo Tree Inventory & Tree Management Program, 1998 Tree Logic Vegetation Management Plan, 2005 and updated in 2010 RMCG Investigations into Impact of Proposed Developments, 2006 Practical Ecology Indigenous Flora and Fauna Management Plan, 2004 and updated in 2011 Practical Ecology Advice on Installation of Wetland Features in the Golf Course Environs, 2005 Turf Grass Consultations, John Sloan - Golf Course Management Plan 2010 Renaissance Golf Design Course Improvement/Design notes 2012 Glen. Waters Arboriculture (Consultant formerly of Tree Logic) 2014 Review and Update of 2010 Plan Woodlands Golf Club Draft Course Master Plan 2004 Course inspection report-by John Neylan (AGCSATech) 7th October 2011 Course inspection report-by John Neylan (AGCSATech) 21st October 2010 Course inspection report-by John Neylan (AGCSATech) 12th January 2009 It is important that any works planned for the coming year (and beyond) in regards to course development take into account the recommendations set out in these reports, or any subsequent course related reports which have been accepted by the Board. DETAILED PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS Detailed principles and standards for all areas of the golf course are set out below. These principles and standards expand on the points covered in the Woodlands Course Philosophy. The 19 th Hole In consultation with the General Manager the Superintendent may bring the 19 th hole into play as and when he sees the need. Such occasions could include, but not be limited to, major works being carried out on one of the regular holes on the Golf Course, or the need to allow a green to be rested from play.
Greens A firm and true ball roll is to be maintained where possible given the weather patterns and resources. In keeping with the Strategic Plan for 2014-2017 a key initiative is that the Board should continue the greens replacement program, taking into account financial constraints. The selection of which green or greens to be replaced will be determined by the Course Superintendent and approved by the Board. The chosen green/s will be replaced by removing the top 60mm to 100mm of thatch which will expose the native sand on which the greens were originally constructed. The existing contour of the green will not be altered, however existing organic matter that has built up over the years as well as the cumulative effects of top dressing, other regular maintenance practices and bunker sand splash will be removed. The green will then be sewn with Mackenzie bent grass. The Greens are to consist predominantly of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis spp.) with Mackenzie being the preferred variety. Management and/or elimination of winter grass (Poa annua) must always be a priority in the new Mackenzie greens. Where herbicides and growth regulators are necessary, they must only be used in accordance with current legislation. As we move through the replacement program it is important to continue to provide an environment that favors bent grass on the old Penncross greens, whilst also providing an environment for Poa annua which is as inhospitable as possible. Turf must be resilient enough to keep ball marking to a minimum albeit with the limitations of the thatch levels in the old Penncross greens and the appreciation that new greens take time to become resilient. Pull buggies are not to be allowed over greens or between bunker edges and greens. Green Surrounds A shaped approach, approximately 10 metres in front with the sides and back shape governed by various design features are considered as green surrounds. Approach and General Surrounds The turf in front and around the green should be as firm as that on the green as to provide good shot making. Fine leaf fescue grasses will provide the desired surface; as it matures this will also allow winter grass (Poa annua) and couchgrass to be well managed in these areas. Tees Wherever practicable, the tees are to be incorporated into the natural surroundings but are to have no detrimental effect on the surrounding vegetation. Careful control of tee watering is required to avoid overthrow onto vegetation. (Note that many of the existing tees suffer from poor irrigation design.) Flat, well-grassed surfaces are to be provided. Turf is not to be thatchy but firm and tight. Grass types are to be determined by available sunlight. Where possible, Santa ana over sewn with fine leaf fescue is the preferred option. Due to the significant number of rounds played at Woodlands wear and tear in heavily trafficked areas can result in the need to construct and maintain paths. Where access pathways are required they must be well constructed and presented and avoidance of the paths coming into play should be paramount. Careful thought needs to be given to the location of paths so as to not detract from the overall appearance of the hole. Surrounds are to consist of the same turf as on the tee top and to be closely mown where appropriate. Tee surrounds may not be preferred where adjoining native vegetation. Fairways The fairways must be firm with an avoidance of thatch being paramount. A program of scarifying of the fairways may be required to maintain this firmness and minimise disease and water management issues as well as to encourage vigorous growth. Santa ana couch grass is to be promoted to become the dominant grass. Its vigorous growth habits, drought tolerance and fine leaf are regarded as being ideal. Although colour will alter from season to season, the surface is to be the measure of quality. When funding is available some low lying areas require drainage.
Bunkers and Surrounds Bunker maintenance should be based on the premise that a bunker is a hazard and an obstacle to be avoided. As an often stated reality it should not be misconstrued as to suggest that bunkers should not be well maintained and presented. Well designed and maintained bunkers when combined with firm greens and tight lies within the surrounds have the ability to protect the strategic merit of the course. Understanding that the Brighton/Baxter group of sands are mostly alluvial has led to proponents of the Melbourne sand belt respecting and appreciating that the localised alluvial sands within the bunkers will differ in consistency from one area of the course to another. That fact in itself is regarded as one of the features of the sand belt that is regarded so highly throughout the world. It is the foundation of the regard by the proponents of sand belt bunkering that the differing sands throughout the courses require the golfer to adapt to the playing characteristics of each bunker. Contrived bunkering that often incorporates the importing of white sand is not regarded as being characteristic of the sand belt courses. By using historical data the maintenance and restoration work of all bunkers should then take into account the original design features and their intent. Bunkers The judicious use of sound maintenance practices should ensure that minimal impact on the original design and intent of the bunkers occurs over time. Bunker sand should be local to the Golf Course (mined from within the Golf Course), or be of a consistency very similar to that of the existing sand. Subsurface drainage is to be installed where necessary and subsequently maintained and replaced as part of an ongoing program. A bunker renovation program has been instigated in order to improve the playability of some bunkers on the Golf Course. This program should be ongoing and include (as and when necessary) redistributing sand from bunkers with an overabundance of sand to bunkers lacking in sand, and also improving the faces, backs and walk ins of the bunkers. This program should form a part of the yearly maintenance plans for the Golf Course, but will generally be carried out during Winter when the primary grasses are in dormancy. Walk ins of all bunkers should be continually monitored to ensure that players and staff can easily and safely enter and leave. Bunker Surrounds Mowing of bunker surrounds is to be undertaken subject to the individual characteristics of each hole. In some cases closely mown surrounds will be desirable as it often provides a more challenging shot than rough and in others the native grasses, particularly on the rough side of the bunker, will be desirable. Walkways and tongues require a mix of fine fescue and couch grasses to be used in all traffic areas and/or adjacent to greens and fairways. Dwarf heathland plants and native grasses should be promoted and established around bunkers in other than those surrounds that are closely mown. In select areas, particularly where irrigation of the bunkers surrounds is not present or desirable sandy heathland style presentation will be characteristic. Rough The mown areas of the rough may differ in dimension as the tree line and fairway shapes dictate. In certain cases it may be desirable for fairways to link and in such areas there will not be any rough. As the rough is not irrigated, with the exception of some of the transition areas, the grasses in the rough may differ in look and playing characteristics depending on the seasons and weather conditions. This is particularly so in drought conditions when the rough may become sparse and sandy lies that are typical of the sand belt may dominate. Primary Rough The primary rough is to be predominantly indigenous grasses where practicable, with fine leaf fescue turf species in certain locations. The program instigated to eradicate Parramatta grass is to be encouraged principally from areas adjacent to fairways. The judicious use of chemicals within the rough is paramount to avoid further loss of indigenous plants. Mechanical removal and or controlled burns should be the preferred method of weed management.
Secondary Rough In out of play areas, other appropriate indigenous species will be encouraged. The transition areas or carriageways between the tees and the fairways have been developed using indigenous dwarf plants, depending on location and soil type. This practice can result in aesthetically pleasing outcomes and is in keeping with the look of the course as against a parkland style that becomes evident when fairways are extended back to tees. Importantly, from an economical aspect, in time, native areas require very little maintenance or input. It is imperative that in developing such areas that the carry to the fairway is not made too heroic by its length or the height of the vegetation. Well maintained paths from tees to fairway that are designed to meander through the vegetated areas should also be away from the line of play where possible. Tree and Plant Communities Woodlands is unique as it exists within a densely populated urban area and that it has a substantial portion of bushland. In some cases this bushland contains remnant communities of plants though sadly much of that has been lost or has declined over the past generation. Woodlands has an opportunity, some may say obligation, to preserve and enhance their remnant plant communities and ecosystems. The Ecological Reports and in particular the report of Practical Ecology (2011) suggest specifically that there are a number of native plant communities located within the Course environs.- These vegetation communities have been renamed under the newly introduced Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) areas with Plains Grassy Woodland with River Red Gum the dominant species, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (previously Coastal Grassy Woodland) with Gippsland Manna Gum the dominant species and the Plains Grassy Wetland (previously Herb-rich Plains Grassy Wetland) with River Red Gum and Swamp Paperbark the dominant trees The preference is for the protection of the indigenous vegetation communities where it is obvious that the current population of plants is mainly indigenous. This encompasses the majority of the plantation areas of the course. The two predominant tree species are the River Red Gum Eucalyptus Camaldulensis, found in the lower lying areas, and the Coastal or Gippsland Manna Gum Eucalyptus Pryoriana in the higher dune areas. Over the years many weed species such as Southern Mahogany (Eucalyptus botryoides), Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata), Pinus Radiata, Melaleuca Paperbark (Melaleuca styhelioides, Melaleuca linariifolia & Melaleuca armillaris), Coastal Tea-Tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) and Monterey Cypress (Cypressus macrocarpa) were planted and in some cases in areas, particularly close to greens and tees where they have become problematic for course maintenance and playability. Where these trees are competing against indigenous species, are of poor condition and or affecting playability, they should be removed and replaced with local indigenous species where appropriate. Coastal tea-tree should be properly managed with continual pruning and uplift where possible to prolong longevity. Trees deemed to be significant on the Golf Course should be identified and, where necessary and possible, redundancy planned for. This will involve the planting of similar (or more appropriate) trees nearby so that good growth in the replacements is achieved prior to the removal or end of life of the said significant tree. A tree could be deemed as significant for aesthetic, location or hole playability reasons. In many secondary rough areas of the course, non-indigenous Coastal Tea-Tree planted during the 1940 s has proven problematic causing high levels of maintenance to keep upstanding. Over the years fallen and decaying specimens have been removed through ecological burns along with mechanical removal; this management should continue where necessary, preceding revegetation with indigenous species such as Prickly Tea-Tree (Leptospermum continentale) and Burgan (Kunzea ericoides). The Treelogic and Practical Ecology reports provide a sound basis for management and sustainable development of our tree and plant communities, including planting lists of recommended species for the various vegetation EVC s. Dead trees adjacent to playing areas require removal, unless they have a demonstrable habitat value. In such cases they must be maintained to ensure they do not present a safety hazard. The RMCG report provides information on drainage, irrigation and subsurface water management and their relationship with vegetation health. Funding of vegetation management must be regarded as part of proper governance of a major asset of the club.
PLANNED COURSE WORKS 2015-2016 1. GREENS As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: All greens should be bent grass and provide a firm and true ball roll. Refer also to Appendix 2015-2016 Greens Replacement of 7 th & 13 th Greens (Sept 2015) If growing time and funds allow it is also planned to replace another green possibly the 17 th or 11 th. This project would take place only after the satisfactory completion of the project involving the 7 th & 13 th greens and exactly the same guidelines will be followed should an additional green be replaced. 2. GREEN SURROUNDS As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: The turf in front of and around the greens should be as firm as that on the green so as to provide and require good shot making. This turf should be kept and presented in a manner that allows a variety of shots to be played. Refer also to Appendix 2015-2016 Green Surrounds Replacement of 7 th & 13 th Greens surrounds (Sept 2015) 3. TEES As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: All tees should be flat and well grassed. Refer also to Appendix 2015-2016 Tees Works planned on 7 th tee to be carried out during replacement of 7 th green (Sept 2015) 1000 square metres of Santa Ana grass is available. It is planned to replace the turf on the 7 th teeing ground with this turf. This work is to be carried out and completed whilst the 7 th hole is closed for the replacement of the 7 th green. At the same time the pathway leading from the teeing ground to the fairway will be renovated and the carry between the Men s and Women s tees will be refurbished. 4. BUNKERS As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: It is important to understand that the nature of sandbelt bunkers, being cut from localised alluvial sands, will differ in consistency from one area of the golf course to another. Bunker works planned for 2015 to 2016 Refer also to Appendix 2015-2016 Bunkers 5. COMPLETION OF 2 nd HOLE PROJECT A project started a few years ago on the 2 nd hole to minimise the chance of golf balls escaping the property onto White St. requires completion. Trees on the left side of the fairway (near the old maintenance facility) have been removed and the fairway widened to allow tee shots to be aimed further left. It is planned to alter the layout of of the fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway to further encourage tee shots to be aimed away from the boundary. If growing time and funds allow it is planned to carry out this work in the early part of 2016, at which time the green would also be replaced and the teeing grounds, pathways and carries would also be assessed for works as deemed required. As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: The integrity of the design philosophy that is the essence of Woodlands must be protected against any non-characteristic changes. Any proposed Golf Course alterations, other than minor renovations, should be referred to the appointed Course Architect for opinion and if redesign as against remedial work is required then the appointed Course Architect
should be engaged. Alterations deemed to be major in scope and/or cost are to be communicated to the Members. When assessing the desirability of proposed changes, then the changes should meet the following criteria: That the alterations are consistent with the characteristics and design integrity of the Golf Course. That the aesthetics are in sympathy with the Golf Course. That the benefits clearly outweigh any consequential disadvantages. That the alterations provide the appropriate level of challenge to all levels of golfer. In planning this project, particularly the alteration/expansion of the fairway bunker complex it is vital for us to keep in mind that the prime objective of this project is to encourage tee shots to be hit away from the boundary. As such we must ensure that any new bunkers cut into the existing fairway are close enough to the tee to encourage all players to take a line off the tee that will minimise the risk of golf balls leaving the property. It is planned to maintain the 2 nd hole as a par 5, so the appointed Course Architect will be consulted to ensure the design takes in to account all relevant factors, including player safety and public safety. 6. TREE PLANTING & TREE REMOVAL (AS PER TREE LOGIC REPORT) Refer to Tree management Plan 2015 as communicated to Members As per the Woodlands Course Philosophy: The preference is for indigenous vegetation where possible. Vegetation transitions over time. It should be ensured that the planting of vegetation maintains Woodlands reputation for filtered views between fairways, protected boundaries and zoned indigenous planting as per the Vegetation Plan of the day. Refer also to Appendix 2015-2016 Tree and Plant Communities.