March 28 2024

Environmental Vandalism

We are very disappointed to come to the realisation that someone has sprayed various areas around the course and killed the coastal sword sedge and a few bearded heath This act was done without approval from the course superintendent or management The areas include the left hand side of the 5th, Left hand side of the 16th towards the green side bunker, 13th Tee (again), between 12th and 13th and behind the 13th green

The coastal sedge was really starting to grow well and turn these areas into nice features on these holes. The coastal sedge grows well in these baron sand dunes They help prevent damage from erosion and wind. If these plants weren’t there it would also encourage weeds and other unwanted species to grow on these sand dunes.

Main Image : 5th hole Sword Sedge Poisoned

Right: Healthy Sword Sedge

Environmental Vandalism continued.....

This is not the first time someone has taken matters into their own hands with poison The bearded heaths in front of the 13th tee were poisoned this time last year The person responsible for this should be absolutely ashamed as these beautiful indigenous plants are yet to fully recover from this disgusting act. The bearded heaths are a protected tree and we are lucky enough to have very old ones throughout the island These plants were re generating new growth but now have been poisoned once again..

No one has any right to take matters into their own hands I hope that any future issues with plants be discussed with the course staff or management before action is taken place I find it so hard to imagine why anyone would want to ruin our beautiful and unique environment on our course.

Further investigations are underway.

Rob Aulich - General Manager & Jake Sizer - Golf Course Superintendent

Images above and below showing 13th Tee, regrowth on bearded heath sprayed again

Bearded heath between 12th and 13th Undergrowth dying (in blue) perfect sign of poisoning as well as the leaves on the plant dying (in red)

From the Clubhouse

This Sunday marks the end of Daylight Savings, so remember to turn your clocks an hour forwards so that you’ll be on time for UnderCover, this years Easter Sunday Band!

With lead vocalist, Glenn Braithwaite, former lead singer of the very popular CoolChange, these guys are going to put on an amazing show Make sure to bring the little ones along for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

For the second week in a row both QGC pennant teams had wins - congratulations and we wish you well for the upcoming matches

This weeks Golf Competitions

Saturday 30 March - Stableford

Wednesday 3 April - Stableford

Thursday 4 April - Women’s Stableford

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Easter!

Pennant Team Update

Week 2 Results

Week two was another successful week with both teams managing a win The Division Four team travelled to Winchelsea which as you can imagine was a bit dry and a challenge around the greens Josh Mastin struggled with his short game early on but with dad Peter on his bag pulled back from being three down with six to go to halve his match. A great effort The team went on to beat East Geelong 5 1/2 to 1 1/2. The Handicap team travelled to Geelong to take on Clifton Springs with the match being evenly poised after nine holes. Paul O’Donoghue in his second game for the club managed a great 4/2 win after being square after 11 holes I caddied for Paul and witnessed two great birdies on holes 4 and 5. It was a pleasure to watch. Marty Christensen also followed up with another great win in the number one position. After week two Queenscliiff is on top of the Division Four ladder and second on the Handicap East ladder. The individual results were as follows:

Division Four - 5 1/2 to 1 1/2 win against East Geelong

Mike McSween Lost to Charlie Merryfull 6/5

Mick Havelberg Def Matthew Gough 6/5

Bernie Crane Def Nathan Maxwell 7/5

Darren Shapter Def Brendan Brown 2/1

Dave Thomas Def Ned Foley 7/6

Murray Warren Def Abel Foley 4/2

Josh Mastin halved with Jake Mongolian

Handicap East 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 win against Clifton Springs

Marty Christensen Def Mark Manson 5/4

Warren Fenton lost to Rod Buchmasser 2 Down

Steve White Def Brent Wiltshire 8/6

Brian Shiell halved with Damien Priddle

Paul O’Donoghue Def Harry Percan 4/2

We have a break for Easter with round Three being played on 7 April The Division Four team will travel to Colac and play against Torquay while the Handicap East team will play against St Leonard’s at Lonsdale Links. The Week Three teams will be in next week’s newsletter

The Course Report.....

As everyone is well aware by now, our golf course is shared with a lot of wildlife While this makes our island special it can also be a challenge for us to manage our turf. Our greens recently are getting nibbled up by the possums and our surrounds are getting pulled apart by the kangaroos Because everywhere is dry these animals are searching for anywhere that has moisture and healthy turf (food) Which happens to be our greens and surrounds On the greens these bite marks start off looking like small slicing in the greens but after a few days they turn yellow which makes the greens look patchy or have disease This will eventually go away once we get some rain and the course becomes full of moisture, so then these animals wont be forced to eat around the greens area Here are some photos to make it clear to notice the damage

Quick shoutout to our 1st year apprentice Ryan (pictured) who is now trained up on the roller He has taken on any job I have given to him with ease He is following in great footsteps as all our staff is trained up to complete any job on any machine It is important in a small crew to have everyone capable of completing all greens keeping tasks.

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Easter Make time to get out on the course and enjoy with friends or family.

Jake

Images

1 - Fresh possum chew marks

2 - Old possum chew marks going yellow

3 - Possum damage 13th green

4 - Kangaroo pull marks

Bottom Right - Congratulations Ryan! 1 2 3

Queenscliff Champion Wins International Event in Vietnam!

James Lavender is a former Queenscliff Golf Club Champion (August 1982), he was known as Jamie way back then.

Playing in the Asia-Pacific Cup in Hoi An, Vietnam (Coincidence that majority of this years Pennant players just returned from Hoi An ?!! ) Ex Member James (or Jamie) took a clean sweep of all four titles We congratulate him on a fantastic win!

Easter egg hunt for the little ones (or not so little!). Crayfish Raffle, Cheese Platters and Food available. Sunday

Newly formed 'UnderCover' has been making waves at Geelong's iconic 'Elephant & Castle' and we cannot wait to see what they bring to Swan Island! A collection of past Members of popular covers band CoolChange, including Lead singer, Glenn Braithwaite. Excited? We are!

Would you like some more information? Send us an email: nicci@queenscliffgolfclub.com.au