Course Articles

Dear Member
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​Members will be noticing that the course is drier than it was through summer and may be questioning why we are not watering as much as we have been.  There is a good reason for this and it will benefit the course condition through winter.
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As we move out of summer into autumn a decision has to be made regarding when we should reduce the amount of water that is put on the fairways to make sure that we don’t over water them going into winter.  The level of the water table is critical in late autumn / early winter as we want to make sure the course is drier for longer going into winter.  
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​The condition of the turf is still excellent even though the colour has changed in areas. We have also had a warm spell of weather which is unseasonable and we have started watering a bit more this last week. It is a bit of a balancing act and there is no exact science to it. 
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​Members have enjoyed an excellent conditioned course through summer and it is important that they realise why the course is drier than we would like through autumn.   The benefits of this will be seen through early winter.
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​A couple of years ago we were watering a lot through autumn and then following the first heavy winter rains the course got extremely wet very quickly and this was due to the higher than normal water table in autumn.
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​I hope this explanation will help members understand why the course is looking a bit drier and what our autumn watering process is.
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​If any members have any questions regarding this please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Craig Murdoch
GENERAL MANAGER

Dear Members

The Board recently approved the implementation of a Heat Policy at MGC.

Please click HERE to view the MGC Heat Policy and what it could potentially mean for the playing of major events if the the temperature is forecast to to get to a specific number. 

Please click HERE to familiarise yourself with the MGC Extreme Weather Policy that the Board adopted a number of years ago.

If any member has any questions regarding these policies please let me know.

Craig Murdoch
GENERAL MANAGER 

Repairing pitch marks on our greens is vital to the health and condition of the turf and to ensure the best possible putting surface for all golfers.

During winter our greens are more susceptible to pitch marks as they are softer so we tend to see more and deeper pitch marks appearing on our greens. 

It is very important that all members play their part in making sure they repair their own pitch mark and any others that have been left unrepaired.

A two minute clip showing the best technique for repairing pitch marks can be seen below.

If we all work together we can make our golf course better.

Glenn Holbrook
CAPTAIN 

A vitally important aspect of caring for your golf course is ensuring that you always rake the bunker correctly after playing your shot.

Failure to rake a bunker after use is very poor etiquette and is unfair on fellow golfers who may end up having to play their shot from a bad lie.

Please take the time to watch the above video on the correct way to rake a bunker.

Golfers at MGC should note that when finished raking the bunker, the rake must be left in the bunker in the direction of play.

Craig Murdoch
GENERAL MANAGER

Repairing pitch marks on the greens is very important to maintain the health of the greens and to ensure a smooth putting surface. 

There is a wrong way and a right way to repair pitch marks.  

Please review the short video above to find out the correct method for repairing a pitch mark. 

Remember, always repair more than one pitch mark on every green.

Craig Murdoch
GENERAL MANAGER