Course Update – May 2025
The 2024/2025 season has been both busy and highly successful. A particular highlight was hosting the Wallace Development NZ PGA tournament, which provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the course and club in their entirety. The team worked tirelessly alongside a dedicated group of volunteers to deliver an event we can all be truly proud of.
Irrigation
This past summer demonstrated the benefits of our upgraded fairway irrigation system, with a noticeable improvement in fairway surface quality. The addition of irrigation in the rough has introduced an added level of challenge for players who miss the fairway, as this area is now denser and grows more rapidly due to increased moisture.
Importantly, the height of the rough is now back down to our normal maintained height; the difference is a result of enhanced growth conditions. Given current staffing and equipment resources, the rough is mowed once per week, although we try to cut denser areas twice.
Although the major components of the irrigation upgrade are complete, we continue to seek improvements. This winter, we plan to install an additional 70 sprinklers, primarily around the greens. These will allow for separate watering programs for greens and their surrounds, improving moisture control, playability, and overall turf health.
We also intend to remove old irrigation infrastructure from fairways and tees. Irrigation improvements are an ongoing process, and we appreciate your patience during this work. While no holes will be closed, we ask that you exercise caution and alert the team if you see them working - safety is a priority.
Cedar Trees
Regrettably, several cedar trees around the course have shown signs of significant and rapid decline. Some of these trees have struggled for a few years, while others have deteriorated noticeably over recent months.
In response, we sent root and foliage samples for testing, with no conclusive results regarding disease or insect infestation. On-site inspections by arborists and landscaping professionals also yielded no definitive cause.
Chemical damage has been ruled out. We consulted the Hastings District Council, who confirmed they too have experienced cedar tree losses - recently removing 15 dead trees from Mangaroa Cemetery and an additional 7 from nearby areas.
Their investigations indicate that the cause is primarily due to “wet feet” - a condition where roots are exposed to consistently saturated soils, likely resulting from elevated water tables following the summer of 2023 and Cyclone Gabrielle. Cedars are particularly intolerant of such conditions, and prolonged exposure leads to oxygen deprivation in the root zone, resulting in decline or death.
We will continue to monitor the health of the affected trees and are considering replacement planting options, particularly in areas where the trees serve to screen errant shots.
Bunkers
Recent member feedback clearly identified bunkers as the primary area for improvement. We acknowledge this and are committed to allocating more resources to improve their condition, playability, and consistency.
Bunker maintenance is labour-intensive and, unfortunately, often deprioritised due to other course demands. However, renewed focus will be placed on these areas going forward.
New rakes have been distributed, and they are highly effective when used properly. A reminder to all players: please push, rather than pull, the sand when raking. Pulling sand can deplete catchment areas, while pushing redistributes sand appropriately. If you would like guidance on proper raking technique, please don’t hesitate to ask a member of our greenkeeping team.
For Bunker Raking refresher please click here.
Pitch Marks
A simple yet important reminder: please repair your pitch marks. At this time of year, when turf growth and recovery are slower, unrepaired marks may not heal properly, leading to long-term damage.
Refresher for repairing pitch marks click here.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of course maintenance, please feel free to reach out.
Ben Simons
Course Superintendent
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