Golf Course Construction activities for 2017.

Much was achieved both on and off the course during 2016 which proved to be a year of consolidation for the golf club following completion of Stage 1. The club’s fleet of equipment was significantly expanded and the rhythm of course maintenance established.

However, there is much more to be done and the club is planning a number of construction activities for 2017. These include:

• Construction of a modern maintenance facility (behind the old dairy) that will serve the full 18 hole course for many years to come;
• Detailed design and construction of first 3 holes of Stage 2 to be located in the former Unity Water effluent disposal area – assisted with a $100,000 grant from the Queensland Government and continuing financial support from the Sunshine Coast Council;
• Installation of a solar battery power system to charge the EZGO cart fleet using a $15,000 Commonwealth Government grant; and
• Continued improvements to the first nine holes, including a championship tee for the existing first hole and the addition of protective bunkers at the front of the 3^rd

Our course architect Graham Papworth will visit later this month to start detailed design for the next three holes. Also in January, soil sampling will be completed prior to securing Council consent to construct the maintenance facility.

At its February meeting, Council will consider amendments requested by the Club to the lease boundaries to optimise land for the 18-hole course layout. Council will also consider at this meeting, ways to integrate the southern wetland with the surrounding golf course.

Trading Update and Golf shop

The club traded strongly over the holiday period during which a new daily turnover record was set. In fact December sales revenue (excluding membership fees) was up almost 58% on the previous December – thanks to strong growth in visitor rounds and cart hire and an influx of more than 50 new active members.

Members keen to help the club maintain this momentum can best do so by encouraging golfing friends, acquaintances and visitors to play the course. Another way to provide valuable assistance is by becoming a golf shop volunteer.

There are still a number of vacant shifts on the golf shop roster each week and there is always someone away on holidays or indisposed for one reason or another creating a vacancy. So if you have some spare time available and want to lend a hand, why not consider volunteering to work in the golf shop?

Taking on a shift need not be a commitment of more than a couple of hours plus some initial training.  If interested in getting involved please get in touch with Richard Owen by phoning 5499 9960 or emailing shop@malenygolfclub.com.au.

“So ask not what your golf club can do for you, but what can you do for your golf club.”

Members seeking to purchase bigger ticket items such a motorised pull buggies should also feel welcome to ask the club through Richard to provide a quote on sourcing a particular model as we are able to buy at wholesale prices.

Competition Golf – Maleny Property Rentals Monthly Medal & Medal of Medals

It’s always a stern test of golf off the blue markers and despite some spirited assaults by a number of A Graders, Sean Daines’ course record of 72 did not fall when Blake Wellington’s putt for par on the 18th did not find the hole.

Congratulations to our three divisional winners Gary Dallyn (A Grade), Dave Nielsen (B Grade) and Graham Shoebridge (C Grade) and to John Hay who got nearest the pin on the 3rd and also became the first recipient of the new Maleny Mug. Rob Bailo got the pin on the 5th.

High handicap players 70 years of age (or at the Match Committee’s discretion) who elect to play off the white markers on all holes can compete for this lovely ergonomically crafted mug on Monthly Medal days. The winner is then entitled to ask anyone in the clubhouse to fill the mug for them once during the month they hold it. However, ask the same person twice and the Mug holder will have to shout them instead!

The full match report can be accessed by clicking HERE.

This was the last Men’s Monthly Medal event to be sponsored by Maleny Property Rentals which is planning to continue sponsoring the Ladies Monthly Medal events in 2017. There was no Ladies Monthly Medal event in December. Many thanks to Karen and Isabel at Maleny Property Rentals for their support.

Other News

A band of committed amateur star gazers converged on the golf club carpark one Saturday night last month and set up a very large telescope to view the passage of the Hubble Space Telescope overhead – conditions permitting.

Much to their delight, the clouds parted sufficiently at the appointed time for those assembled to catch a glimpse of the orbiting observatory as it hurtled across the night sky – visible to the naked eye.

The group led by Ken Wishaw, is assessing, with Council and MGC, potential for establishing an outdoor night star gazing park at the precinct and possibly sharing a Club House with MGC.

For those interested, the group is looking to meet in the carpark again on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the last two weekends in January. Pictured Ken Wishaw (right) with President Max Whitten.

Captain’s Corner with Robin Hay

The Match Committee wishes everyone a very happy, healthy, prosperous and great golfing 2017. The year has begun with a little rain but that was desperately needed for the welfare of our course. Instead of complaining about the hardness on the fairways now we will be complaining of no run! All in all, the course is in great shape thanks to the super course team.

This year be on the lookout for clinics for ladies and juniors and men that will be opened up. The next ladies free clinic will be held on Friday 3 February at 10am followed by four weekly lessons.

If you have a request or idea for a clinic please make contact with the office. This will bring more golfers into the fold and subsequently into our competitions as full members.

The 3rd Tuesday of the month Veterans Competitions seem to be working well with many visitors, but please be aware that the carts book out early so book yourselves in ASAP with a cart if needed.

If there any suggestions for this year please put it in writing and pass it along to a Match Committee member and we will always get back to you.

Happy Golfing, Robin Hay

Course Update – Superintendent Mick McCombe

We’ve had a great start to 2017 with a good drop of rain – almost 100ml over the past few weeks – which has greened up the course nicely. Members need to be aware that we are planning to renovate the greens during the week commencing Monday 6 February.

Soil tests have just been completed to assist with application of the correct amendments and the recent rains should aid recovery of the greens. The diameter of the core holes will be enlarged slightly for this renovation so the greens may be a little bumpier initially but this will be for the longer term benefit of the course.