16th March 2021
The Course has received a further 20mm overnight, while the course is still open it is extremely wet underfoot. Motorised carts will be permitted but must remain on cart paths only
All bunkers are optional GUR.
12th March 2021
While weather conditions have again interrupted plans this week, the impact was less than the devastation of the previous week. We were able to groom and dust the greens on 1-9 on Monday and do the same to 10-18 on Tuesday afternoon. The first pour of the new cart path on the 22nd hole was completed with additional pours scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week.
An inch of rain on Tuesday morning impacted the course condition for the second round of the Ladies Championship, playing preferred lie, in less than ideal conditions. My team has had to reprioritise our preparations over the past two days with an emphasis on bunkers, ensuring as many bunkers as possible are drained and in play for the weekend. Today (Friday) the focus is on mowing and general course preparations, in and around the Met-North Schools Championship, which we have hosted for many years.
Next week course access is limited due to a shotgun start on Monday and a Corporate Day on Thursday. The greens maintenance program will focus on general maintenance plus Fertiliser and Fungicide applications on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
22nd-23rd Hole Championship Play: This week we again planned to have the 22nd hole play as a par 3 to the green proper, with the 23rd hole to revert to its true length as a par 5. Unlike last week, conditions have been more favourable, and we have had time to install a temporary artificial tee and mark numerous drop zones to allow this hole to be played from 120m out from the green. This will be for Championship Play only. All other play will be to the temporary green, with 23rd hole to remain as a par 4.
Good luck to all Members playing over the next week, particularly those in the Ladies and Gents Championships.
7th March 2021
To view the details of the Brisbane Junior Amateur Championships held on July 8th & 9th, please click here
5th March 2021
My sincere thanks to the 40+ members who volunteered their time on Thursday morning. Their efforts have made an immeasurable difference to the way the course will be presented for the first round of the Gents Championships, as well as weekend play in general. The clean-up work performed on Thursday has allowed my staff to concentrate on reinstatement works and enabled a full day of mowing today, on fairways now devoid of storm debris.
While the course is not quite in the condition I would have hoped for the first round of the Championship, a vast majority of the play areas are in good shape. There are several bunkers that will be staked, and some areas of rough that will unfortunately remain uncut. A large amount of time has been invested this afternoon to blow the significant amount of grass clippings and remaining leaf matter away from the play areas, reducing the chances of multiple lost balls.
Next week, as always – weather permitting, we will be dusting the greens in line with the current green’s management program. Given a full week of mowing and if sunny conditions prevail the course should be in the condition, we would have all liked it to be in this weekend.
Good luck to all Members playing over the next week, particularly those in the Ladies and Gents Championships.
Keith Johnson
Course Superintendent
4th March 2021
22nd Hole
The work on the 22nd hole is taking shape, albeit after a few weather setbacks. There was a further delay this week with concrete trucks having to be cancelled, as the course was too wet to start the first pour of the cart path. The project will soon see the cart path extended down the left-hand side of the fairway, looping around the back of the green and joining the existing concrete path at the rear of the 23rd tee.
Works completed to date:
Up-coming works:
Bunkers: existing bunkers will be renovated while the front right-side bunker will be reduced in size. Solid turfing around this area will also occur.
Green Conditions
Following the renovation in early February, where a less invasive renovation was adopted, the playability of the greens returned to an acceptable standard within two weeks. More traditional renovations, using hollow cores, will take typically 5-6 weeks which is frowned upon by the golfer (not unique to Keperra). There has however been some subsequent issues with thatch (organic matter) which has caused areas within some greens to become “puffed up” where organic matter build up is higher. In these areas the mowing has caused scalping (leaf removal) to occur in some of the greens on holes 1-18 (known as grass variety 328). The ‘Tiff Dwarf’ grass on holes 19-27 reacts differently to the same environmental conditions (rain, high humidity, and reduced light on overcast days), with the scalping being limited to some holes on 1-18.
On a positive note, the turf is showing signs of recovery now with several amendments to the program being implemented to accelerate recovery. Increased dusting is taking place when course access allows, to continue to manage the puffiness of the 328 and provide a firmer even surface. Plant health is good with strong white roots seen in test plug observations in late February.
A management plan is in place to reduce the thatch and has been formulated with the assistance of an industry consultant. Further inputs are being made in the coming week/s to deliver a firm even putting surface for Club Championships and thereafter.
The greens will be dusted on Monday and Tuesday of next week, weather permitting as part of the greens management program.