For the many members of Nudgee Golf Club who have been taking the opportunity to play golf during the past three months, this quarterly report will be largely a summary of what you have seen unfolding before your eyes.
In short, the project is progressing well and with ongoing suitable weather conditions Stage 3 will be nearing completion around Christmas. Already, planning for Stage’s 4 and 5 is well under way. The first part of this combined Stage 4/5 will be tree clearing which will be conducted during December 2020 and January 2021.
Members will see silt fencing and construction zones erected over the next week or two. As ever, please follow the directions to keep out of these areas. It’s for your own safety.
Achievements in stage 3:
- 7 new greens have been built
- 9 bunkers have been constructed
- Over 46,000 square metres (sqm) of turf has been laid
- new waterways have been built and connected to the existing network
- 4,610sqm of Tif Eagle Stolons laid (new greens)
- 45,168 tube stock, water reeds & trees have been planted
- 486sqm of concrete paths have been poured
Construction so far
Our experiences with the new completed holes and the various temporary arrangements with the new greens have drawn many positive comments, mostly around the quality and challenge of the new golf courses. We have now planted over 154,000 plants of various description and type, including plants to the banks of the water bodies and some within the water bodies.
There is now an increasing emphasis on planting trees throughout areas of rough to provide more definition to the course, with 1000 trees to be planted in the near future. Members will see 6ft wooden stakes in place to protect the new trees and the Board would like all members to please be mindful of these new trees when playing. As the course pops through spring and summer, the new plantings, greens, tees and fairways growth will be at a premium, giving us a further feel for how the overall course will look when fully established.
Safety
The Board would like to remind members, as we come back to golf after COVID-19 that the co-operation of members remains vitally important to keep the work site and course safe during construction. We must continue to be diligent about avoiding work zones. The importance of this will increase with the opening of more new holes, but again we ask, please follow the signs and stay out of the construction zones.
Project Schedule
As mentioned earlier, Stage 3 works, the largest stage of the course redevelopment is close to being completed with the focus having been to build greens to capture the most favourable growing conditions in the months ahead. The transition to Stage 4 is planned to commence in December with Tree Protection Zone Planning and civil works to start in the new year.
Stage 3 Complete
Golf Holes
Stage 3 works; 7 Greens complexes are complete West 2nd, 10th, 16th, 17th, East 2nd, 3rd, with work continuing on West 8th, 18th and West 9th along with various tees, fairways and water course realignment.
The West 2nd – Par 3 hole is complete and growing in nicely and will be in play at the end of November 2020.
The West 9th – Par 3 Green is complete with tees complete by end of November and in play by late December.
The West 10th – Par 4 Green and 100m of fairway tees is complete and will be in play mid-December with the remaining fairway and new tees to be built before Christmas.
The West 16th – Par 4 Green and fairway has been grassed with play commencing in late January.
The West 17th – Par 3 is complete and will be in play late January.
The East 2nd – Par 3 is nearing completion with the green to be planted at the beginning of December and in play by late February.
The East 3rd – Par 4 is nearing completion with the green to be planted at the beginning of December and in play by late February.
Irrigation System
The new irrigation pumps and control station have been installed in the new maintenance shed. The irrigation system, when fully operational, will have the capacity to deliver 80ltr of water per second compared to the current system of 8ltr per second.
Tree Protection and Clearing
In compliance with the Brisbane City Council (BCC) Natural Assets Local Law (NALL) requirements, tree protection zone fencing for stage 4/5 will be established through December.
Stage 4/5 Timing
Stage 4/5 (final stage) works (Fig 6) will complete the remaining 2 holes on the west course and 7 holes on the east course. The area includes the North 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 15th, 16th & 17th holes with approximately 30 weeks of work for the two stages. Fig 6 below indicates the size of the next stage with the remaining new greens to be built during this stage.
We are collaborating closely with the civil contractors and our architect, James Wilcher with regards to the next stage and what holes are available for play during this period. This has meant that the configuration of holes to play is changing (sometimes from week to week) to suit the best holes available for play. Whilst this is an exciting period with the opportunity to play new holes as they become ready for golf, it is equally important to ensure all members follow the directional signs.
Members must book into timesheets for either competition or social play and check into the golf shop upon arrival to ensure you play the correct holes. This will be vitally important to managing the safety of all members whilst on site.
