July and August at Northbridge Golf Club

Recent prolonged wet weather has had a major effect on maintenance programs and what we have been capable of accomplishing. We have had over 400mm since the 6th of May, which is more than enough to fill the dam from empty, which it well and truly is not.

Luckily, the last month has seen some dry conditions come our way, meaning we can get all the mowers back out on the course and begin with our next projects.



We have been concentrating on drainage project, particularly an area between the 13th green and 14th tee, at the top of the new granite path. We cut quite a deep drain and connected it to existing drainage to solve issues that have left the area soaked in the past. We have seen good results so far.

While doing the drainage trenching, we reshaped around the 13th green to make it mower and play friendly, meaning that we can accomplish a better quality surrounds.



When we completed that drain, we cut a series of fairway and rough drains on 2nd. We constructed an extensive network of drains to fix up a prolific wet area formed by runoff and seepage from the bushland banks above the second green and 3rd back tee

As per standard construction, the drains are constructed by digging a trench with a trenching machine with a fall of 1m per 100m. The trencher then has to be followed along and all the soil taken away. This is possibly the most labour intensive part of the project, since this has to be done by hand. We then place 50mm of fine gravel in the base of the trench, followed by ag-pipe, and then the pipe is surrounded and covered by gravel to another 50mm of depth. The rest of the trench is then filled completely with sand.


This creates a path of least resistance for the water to follow and promotes the water following the pipe, instead of travelling through the thicker and heavier soil around itself.

We have been continuing the path program, repairing and replacing some older damaged paths. We have been trailing different rates of granite, concrete and bonding agents to try and accomplish the best quality possible. Granite alone wears down over time and pure concrete is too expensive to be practical. We have set up some trial sites to test different rates, combinations and thicknesses to find the most resilient and cost effective combination. We will continue to monitor the results over the next 12 months and then when we are satisfied with the long term results, we will resurface existing paths to create a superior finish.

The bushland regeneration project for the left side of 10th fairway has been approved by council, meaning that we shall start work in the next month or two, depending on the availability of crushed sandstone that we can bring into the area, since we will need a lot for the project of the size we wish to accomplish. This project will completely eradicate the weeds in the area and create another pocket of native vegetation in the area, which not only provides a beautiful setting for our course, but allows native wildlife, such as birds and lizards, to begin repopulating the area.

New turf coming into summer

It has been 12 months since we received the soil from Northbridge oval and the soil levy work started. Combined with the fairway irrigation and water availability from the dam, we have been able to push Northbridge GC in the direction that we all know it should go.

The 12^th fairway is a perfect example of this. It is amazing how much the new works have improved the fairway. The rough beneath the 13^th tee’s used to be a thin, bare area where no grass would grow, but now we have thick kikuyu growing strongly. What would have used to be considered a bad lie for a ball is now perfectly playable. It also makes the hole play longer as balls hitting the rough are stopped quickly by the thick grass. It now requires a more accurate shot on the fairway.

Still on the 12^th fairway, the removal of the temporary green has added a smoother area of turf cut at fairway height meaning that less balls will roll down the bank into the rough, or if unlucky, into the gully.

While possibly the most evidently different, we cannot forget about other works that have occurred around the course. At the 7^th, bare patches on the left of the fairway and below the 8^th tee banks have been fixed and are now well growing rough.

The removal of the ridge in front of the 9^th tee has also made an impressive difference, removing the rocky, dirt covered mounds and not only providing a better playing surface, but also allowing a view down the fairway from the tee.

Work has been completed on the right side of the 8^th fairway, green end of the 9^th, reshaping around the dam on the 13^th fairway and 11^th green and small patches throughout all the fairways having almost seamlessly blended in now

Earlier this month, we completed shaping and turfing the area on the left of the 14^th fairway, just below the 18^th green and the path down from the 18^th tee to fairway. On top of being aesthetically better, the new turf on the path will provide a much smoother ride on the golf carts. With the completion of these two sites, we have moved almost 3,500 cubic meters (roughly 5000 tonnes) of soil over the last 12 months.

There is no doubt, the soil from Northbridge Oval has been a blessing and the Soil levy projects a great success. We continue to see the course improving, making it a better place for members and social golfers to visit.

On behalf of myself, Brendan, Lance, and all the greens we would like to wish all members a great Christmas and New Year.

Malcolm Harris.