Australia's peak industry body for Sports Turf Management
Australia's peak industry body for Sports Turf Management
The Australian Golf Club assistant superintendent Marlon Johnston and The Lakes Golf Club assistant Jackson Nicholls continue their 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open course updates as the tournament countdown continues...
In October 2021, The Australian Golf Club saw a change in the course maintenance team with the appointment of course superintendent Daniel Cook. With this appointment, an entirely new management team followed, bringing a fresh set of eyes to assess the property in its entirety. The management team, consisting of Shane George, Marlon Johnston, Josh Presland and Vincent DeMarzo, actioned agronomic changes and cultural practices early in their appointment and then turned their focus to some necessary infrastructure upgrades.
Automation and efficiency of our irrigation system, pump station and bore structure was one of the initial focus points for the team. Paul Delany from Australia Turf Projects was a key part of replacing failed bore and irrigation pumps, upgrading these pumps from DOL to VFD and replacing the entire irrigation control panel.
Ryan Carr of RWC Electrical was engaged to upgrade power supplies to the bore pumps that sat below the flood lines. Ryan also set up platforms to allow access to our irrigation and bore pumps remotely, as well as setting up live feedback from these systems.
Martin O’Malley, irrigation expert and recent recipient of International Sales Achievement Award Best Sales Service from Living Turf, was also a key part of our irrigation performance and efficiency upgrades, supporting myself in the redevelopment of the live mapping and hydraulic tree. Jay Rousell from Triangle Filters installed two ITC direct inject dosing systems.
The Australian Golf Club is built on land that is above the Botany Natural Aquifer. Throughout the La Niña weather event between 2020-2023, ground water within the aquifer was recorded 16 meters above years with average rainfall and the property had several areas where water was daylighting at the RL of 19.5m and below sea. The Australian Golf Club focused on infrastructure upgrades that were necessary if it were to be provisioned to maintain member play through periods of high rainfall. The golf club engaged two hydraulic engineers and drainage experts to identify some areas that needed immediate attention, one of those areas was to renovate all bunkers and install future drainage provisions (see last week’s update for more on this).
Cherio Civil was commissioned to install a macro drainage system on the 1st hole. Cherio Civil also upgraded access pathways at Tunstall Street, the 2nd championship tee and the main pathway that allows access for members, guests and staff to the north and south driving ranges (pictured below). This main cart path sat underwater in all rain events and caused significant access issues in heavy rain events. The macro drainage system installed on the 1st hole runs under this cart path and into the main irrigation lake. This system will allow micro drainage systems to be installed and tapped into it should they be required in the future.
Bob Paddison of Turf Drain Australia was engaged to install a closed drainage system on the 7th fairway landing zone (main picture top and below). This area had water surfacing for nine months during the La Niña event. The drainage system installed was at 2.5m spacings with pipe going to a mainline in one direction and a sand slit crossing going in the other direction forming a drainage grid matrix.
Elsewhere, machinery rollover, replacement and additions have all taken place. The aim of building our fleet has been to ensure we have the correct machinery for the correct application on the property. The Australian Golf Club and The Toro Company strengthened their partnership, signing a preferred supplier’s agreement in 2022. This partnership has been nothing but positive, allowing the machinery rollover process to be seamless and the mechanical support in the field to be second to none.
Another area of our operation that we have applied automation and technology to has been our machinery maintenance using the My Turf software. The process for this involved installing 80 wireless hour meters. All service history, service scheduling, stock orders and stock records are accounted for within this platform. Our turf data collection involves the field scout TDR350 and TruFirm to record, map and monitor and the Spec Connect software report (pictured below) on greens moisture and firmness.
The infrastructure upgrades we have made have allowed us to have a positive impact on all playing surfaces. This is holding us in good stead preparing for our club championships which guides us directly into the Australian Open. In coming editions of The Cut, we will introduce our maintenance team and give insight into our tournament preparation.
Marlon Johnston, assistant superintendent, The Australian GC
It has been another busy week for the maintenance team at The Lakes Golf Club. We started our course renovations last Sunday
afternoon following the conclusion of the club championships and this process is ongoing. We’re less than 40 days away from this year’s edition of the Australian Open. With this in mind, this year’s renovation has only been light. The team has really stepped up this week, completing big hours to ensure all tasks are completed within our planned schedule.
Our renovations have consisted of;
All surfaces will receive fertiliser and amendments over the coming days.
Jackson Nicholls, assistant superintendent The Lakes GC
For more Australian Open updates CLICK HERE.