A huge week of work on the Course Improvement Plan (CIP) saw bunkers on West holes 5, 7, 16 and River 14, 15 and 16 filled in or reduced in size and some drainage added or replaced.  member feedback continues to be favourable and one of the main ideas is that once the areas are grassed and back in play you wouldn't know there was ever a bunker there.  A big thank you to the Members and guests for their understanding and patience in playing shortened holes when it is necessary to protect staff and contractors engaged in the works.  This is a great time saver as we can all concentrate on the job at hand rather than be on a constant look out for golf balls.

Next week will see CIP works continue on 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 River.  The greenside bunkers on 2 and 3 will require some modification and so the holes will be closed to play after the Members competition on Monday and the Ladies on Tuesday.  As mentioned last week, works will be suspended after next week to allow for the completion of the Ladies Championships and the Senior Matchplay event.

Elsewhere on the courses the Bentgrass nursery has had a very good and even covered germination and is enjoying the "balmy" May weather we are having as are the rest of the Couchgrass playing surfaces.  17 West green continues to improve and is still getting some sand applied to the surface to help even it up.  The green is only 17 weeks old so it is in very good condition and withstanding the player numbers comfortably.

Drainage replaced in 15R fairway bunker

I really couldn't be happier with the condition of the courses at the moment  especially considering the resources available.  I especially enjoyed reading the following quotes from one of the online golf forums;

•  Great courses in great condition, the sand belt of the Gold Coast, good value
•  Course in excellent condition, a credit to the superintendent. Very good value  for golf visitors to the gold coast, recommended
•  The course is in really good condition and is very well maintained by the greens staff.

 And no I didn't write them!!

Next week works continue on the CIP as outlined above and the West greens will be sanded on Tuesday to even the surface up, especially the myriad of unrepaired pitch marks.