Notice to Members

Posted on: 28 May

NOTICE RE: MEMBERS INFORMATION SESSION SUNDAY 26TH MAY 2019

The information session held in the club lounge on Sunday was very well attended. The purpose of the meeting was to advise the membership of a revised strategy for the construction of Stage 2 of the golf course, following a recommendation from OCCM and Project Management to both the Executive Committee and the New Course Sub-Committee. This proposal recommended the closure of the complete golf course to allow the Stage 1 fairways and greens to achieve a higher level of maturity before being opened for play. Following two meetings of the Executive Committee and the New Course Sub-Committee with Project Management and OCCM at which the proposal was well considered, the Executive Committee approved the recommendation and agreed the course would be closed effective the 1st August 2019 for a period of between 8 to 16 weeks.

The members information session was informed of the sequence of influencing events including statutory planning approval delays between June and December 2018, together with delays from Cultural Heritage. These were central to the recommendation.

These delays meant that no major course construction, including vegetation removal, could be undertaken through that 6 month period while awaiting approvals. This resulted in a very late planting of fairways and greens with a subsequent restricted grow-in time once that planting took place.

Three issues drove the recommendation:

  1. The investment in the Stage 1 course works must be protected by not allowing the holes to be open for play before they had adequately grown-in
  2. Regain as much lost time as possible to keep the overall Project on time and budget
  3. Undertake Stage 2 works as efficiently as possible with due consideration to all OH&S matters for players and construction workers

The revised plans now become:

  1. Complete the Stage 1 course works through May-June 2019
  2. Close the course from 1st August and commence Stage 2 essential works from that date
  3. The Course architects, OCCM and their Agronomist, John Neylan monitor Stage 1 growth outcomes at the end of September and each subsequent month until they advise the Executive Committee and the New Course Sub-Committee they believe the course is suitable for play

As part of their review process they will monitor the current quality of growth and benchmark that against growth outcomes through the winter months ahead, which will dictate the suitability of the course for play. Particular attention will be paid to the 7th and 12th holes which are only now (May) being constructed as a consequence of the delays caused by the late approvals from Cultural Heritage. Other matters which will influence their recommendation include the fact that the 9 hole layout is a repeating layout which doubles the course usage and will continue to do so through the busy summer months from December 2019 – March 2020.

The meeting was further informed that the planned Clubhouse construction date of August is on target and the relationship of early works for this part of the project and Stage 2 works will benefit from the new revised plans following the course closure in August.

It was explained to the meeting that other options were reviewed to retain a playing 9 holes but none provided a suitable and continuous playing route and any option included 2-3 of the new holes already considered as doubtful due to lost growing time. Equally the Stage 2 course works were adversely affected by alternative playing routes which created inefficient and costly work outcomes with OH&S issues also being at risk.

Ashley Mead (OCCM) talked through the forward works plan for both Stage 1 completion and Stage 2 now due to commence in August. This included the significant vegetation removal program across Stage 2 as well as the movement of soil/fill from the dam site to the lower lake holes which will require heavy duty trucks on site for at least a 3 week period.

Members were advised that alternative playing facilities will be available at Queenscliff Golf Club, a matter agreed in principle but not detailed at this time. Now that the decision to close the course is available to members, the details between LGC and Queenscliff can be developed between our clubs. Whatever the outcome of these discussions, any and all costs will be borne by the club and not the LGC members.

Questions followed the completion of the review with members endorsing the program moving forward including the course closure.
 
John Christophersen
President

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