Dear Members,
Over the past few years we have been improving the way we care for the course as players. This includes repairing divots and pitch marks, raking bunkers diligently, and being careful to keep carts and buggies away from green surrounds and muddy or worn areas. This is particularly important during the cooler wet months.
With the grass going dormant, both wheel and foot traffic will cause significant wear if players traverse the same areas regularly. All golfers impact the condition of the course, both members and non-members. The club’s carts have signs in them directing players not to drive too close to greens. In addition, the course staff will use signage, hoops and ropes to direct traffic away from areas at risk of damage.
Over 80% of our winter rounds are played by members. Ensuring we, the members, adhere to the winter course protection policy will result in the course being presented in the best possible condition throughout the winter period, and of course, this is totally within our control.
There is the obvious common sense to ensue you avoid wet or worn areas and we request you to do this, but we ask you to adhere to the following:
- You may not take pull buggies within 3m of a green. The fringes are high traffic and delicate areas. Please protect them.
- All cart signs, ropes or blue lines must be adhered to.
- Carts may not be driven within 7m of a green and never between a greenside bunker and green.
- No more than two member owned carts per group. Please share carts to ensure we reduce the amount of traffic on the course over the winter period.
These rules will be in effect from the 1st June 2024 until after the WA open. We have an opportunity to showcase our course, and taking additional care over this winter will be a great help.
Please also ensure that general course care etiquette’s are followed. With dormant grass, pitch marks and divots will take longer to recover and therefore, it is imperative these are repaired. If we want the course in fantastic condition please also repair any other pitch marks and divots you see on the course.
If there is any member where these regulations impact their ability to play (e.g. blue lines are too far away from the green making access difficult), then please make an appointment with our General Manager Grant to discuss so we can consider potential exemptions. Without an exemption we expect all members to adhere to the above regulations.
With all courtesies, it is in the best interest of all members if we also remind our playing partners to do the same.
Regards
John Benbow
Course Committee Chair
2nd May 2024
