The final shaping of the six new greens was completed over the weekend by GolfSpectrum, and they look magnificent albeit challenging. They are ready for turfing and the existing 12 greens are scheduled for renovation. The resulting tifdwarf stolons will then be spread onto the new six greens by staff and an army of volunteers.
Sadly this means there is no golf on either Monday 16th or Tuesday 17th of September 2019 however, MGC will open as normal on Wednesday 18th and the course will be ready to play.
Work to extend our course to 18 holes is on track for early 2020 as planned. Course Superintendent, Mick McCombe, has worked with the course architect, Graham Papworth, the specialist golf course earth movers, our assistant green keepers and a large number of volunteers to draw all of the components together.
The status of the 6 new holes is:
1. fairways cleared and being mown as required
2. installed over 2 kms of irrigation to all greens and tees
3. completed shaping of the tees, greens, bunkers and the approaches to greens
4. installed drainage in all greens
5. completed one revetted bunker (at the 18th), 6 to go
6. built two rock retaining walls and two concrete paths (thanks Rob and Don for outstanding effort)
7. planted grass on almost all tees
8. prepared greens for planting with grass from renovating existing greens in mid September 2019
In early September, 2019 we will appeal to members for assistance in seeding the greens. Please also contact the club if you can help prepare matting for the revetted bunkers on Monday or Wednesday mornings.
Maleny Golf Club is offering a special three-year membership deal to all new members as it prepares to bring the final six holes of the award-winning Sunshine Coast hinterland course into play in early 2020.
Maleny Golf Club, which opened in 2015, is known for its welcoming country hospitality and still has significant growth capacity to accommodate new male, female and junior members interested in playing socially or competitively.
Anyone taking up the $2,244 offer will enjoy full Gold membership from the day they sign up until 31 October 2022 and avoid anticipated annual fee increases in the meantime.
President Dr Max Whitten said the offer represented both good value for money and an opportunity for members and newcomers to help the club fund mowing and maintenance fleet additions to service the expanded 18-hole course.
“We will be bringing the last six of our 18 holes into play early in the New Year and have committed to purchasing and leasing additional equipment so we can continue to deliver our high standard of course presentation,” Dr Whitten said.
The current 12-hole, par 46 course incorporates an environmentally low-impact design by Golf Architect Graham Papworth which preserves and integrates existing wetlands and native flora.
The completed 18-hole course will be comprised of two Par 5s, 10 Par 4s and 6 Par 3s presenting a Par 68 layout featuring unique revetted greenside bunkering, Tiffdwarf Bermuda Grass greens and Kikuyu fairways within a peaceful, scenic hinterland setting.
If you are interested in joining Maleny Golf Club please call the Golf Shop on 07 5499 9960 or email Club Manager Wayne Perske at pro@malenygolfclub.com.au.
AlAugust 8, 2019Comments Off on Maleny develops innovative course safety deviceNews
Maleny Golf Club in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland has developed and installed a state-of-the art, high-tech warning system to enhance player safety on one of its holes featuring a blind tee shot.
Players on the Tee of the Par 4 dog-legged Fourth of the new 18-hole layout are now warned not to hit off while a red traffic light is shining on the fairway to signal that golfers in the group ahead have not yet cleared their landing zone.
President Dr Max Whitten said the warning system was further evidence of the club’s innovative style, following the successful trial and installation of revetted bunkering using artificial turf matting to cut course maintenance costs.
“This clever system uses the combination of a motion-sensing camera, solar power and a bright red light to solve a player safety issue and we now plan to extend it to similarly warn players about to tee off on the adjacent fairway,” he said.
Member and inventor Mike Hallam, who has a background in information technology and security, said he had come up with the idea by combining different technologies to solve the problem.
“We needed something more or less bullet proof and not reliant on user intervention like other things being considered such as ringing bells or pushing buzzer buttons,” Mike explained.
The prototype cost about $4,000 to develop – the main expense being the use of a sophisticated programmable Mobotix camera from Germany. However, the cost is more than competitive compared to erecting unsightly observation towers.
Members now refer to this area of the course as the “red light district”.
Thanks to financial support from the Sunshine Coast Council and the Federal Government, the final six holes of the 18-hole course should be in play early next year.
Maleny Golf Club has appointed highly experienced performance coach and former elite tour player Wayne Perske as the club’s new Golf Club Manager and Professional.
President Dr Max Whitten said Wayne would bring to the club a wealth of experience and knowledge gained over 30 years in the golf industry as a touring professional, performance coach and member liaison manager.
“Wayne understands the growth and prosperity of Maleny Golf Club are our prime focus and he intends working with businesses locally and regionally to expand sponsorship opportunities and do all he can to increase visitation to our Club,” Dr Whitten said.
Wayne will start work at the club on Monday 3 December ahead of the Live Life Group PGA Legends Pro-Am being held at the club on Saturday 15 December when a field of more than 50 professionals will compete for a $15,000 purse.
“I’m very excited to be heading back up the hill to Maleny and looking forward to meeting all the members and visitors at the beautiful Maleny Golf Club,” Wayne told his many Facebook Page followers.
“Maleny is a unique and beautiful place and the Golf Club suits the area perfectly so if you have yet to experience Maleny Golf Club, do yourself a favour and book your round as soon as possible!”
Wayne now a full vocational member of the PGA, was an international tour winner, an Australian Tour winner, an Australian and Queensland representative and three-time Queensland Amateur of the year.
With certification in Advanced Coaching, Wayne is passionate about growing the game of golf especially membership growth, ladies golf and junior development.
Wayne, wife Vanessa and their two children plan to become very invested in the Maleny community. Vanessa, also a keen golfer, is a local artist and business woman.
