Course Superintendents Report November 2025

Dear Members

Please see the below summary of Rob’s November Greens Report.

During November 2025, course presentation and performance were prioritised in preparation for the Club Championships, amid increasingly dry and windy conditions. Greens were deliberately “pushed” to enhance speed, firmness, and overall performance, utilising a combination of rolling, grooming, controlled nutrition, sand dusting, and precise water management. While these practices delivered high-quality putting surfaces aligned with championship expectations, they were carefully managed to mitigate risks to turf health. Targeted applications of wetting agents, fertilisers, fungicides, growth regulators, and insecticides supported turf resilience and recovery.

Tee renovations commenced in late November, following a structured program of scarification, coring, shaving, and topdressing. These works aim to improve turf health, reduce compaction and thatch, and deliver smoother, more consistent tee surfaces moving into the summer period. Initial treatments focused on moisture management to support recovery and establishment.

Fairway conditions remained strong despite minimal rainfall and water limitations. With no unlimited water source available, irrigation was carefully prioritised using a data-driven approach, placing greens and tees ahead of fairways and roughs. Growth regulators and regular mowing continued to play a key role in maintaining dense, resilient kikuyu fairways under heat and drought stress. Roughs experienced reduced growth and density due to dry weather and strong winds, while bunker maintenance was scaled back during a busy period of championships and shotgun starts, with comprehensive bunker works scheduled for December

Water management remained a critical issue. Total water usage for November was 11.5 megalitres, reducing storage levels to approximately 60 percent, comparable to summer 2017 levels. Rainfall for the month was 53.5 mm across nine days, following an extended period of above-average rainfall earlier in the year, then markedly dry conditions in October and November. As a result, reduced watering practices are expected to continue into December without significant rainfall 

Dainage upgrade works have been deferred to 2026, with further details to be communicated via the Club website. Horticultural works progressed across the course, including weed control, increased mulching, and improvements to the 18th tee gardens. There were no occupational health and safety or environmental incidents reported for the month, and several new standard operating procedures were completed. The green staff team managed a demanding workload throughout November, balancing championship preparation, event scheduling, storm repairs, and challenging weather conditions, while maintaining safe and high-quality playing surfaces across the course

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