Members may have noticed their drives gaining impressive distance lately, a welcome perk of the dry season. With firmer fairways and sunnier skies, the course plays shorter. While golfers enjoy the added roll, do take this into account and ensure the flight in front is well out of range before hitting your shots. Meanwhile, our field staff continues working diligently behind the scenes to keep the turn healthy through this dry stretch.
Unlike the wet season, which challenges our drainage capacity, the dry season presents the opposite challenge: maintaining adequate moisture levels. Although the Club’s irrigation system is well designed, it depends heavily on two irrigation lakes, one on the 18th hole of the New Course and another on the 18th of the Old Course. These used to rely on rainfall and nearby drainage lines to stay full, but in recent years, several tubewells have been constructed to supplement the lakes, drawing water from underground sources
Although automated, the irrigation system is constrained by pipe capacity, so watering is primarily scheduled overnight. Greens and tees which are sandcapped for drainage dry out faster, so you may see the irrigation system also in operation during the day, supplemented by handwatering when necessary. Shrubs and trees also require care, and the landscaping team continues their maintenance work throughout the season.
To put it into perspective, when the soil is well saturated, greens can go two to three days without watering. In dry conditions, however, daily irrigation is essential to keep them healthy and playable. Tee boxes typically require watering every one to two days.
Bunker improvement is also underway this season. Field staff have been excavating low drainage points and topping up bunkers with fresh sand, a labor-intensive but much-needed process. We ask that members do their part by raking bunkers properly after use. This small courtesy goes a long way in maintaining playability for others.
In addition to turf and bunkers, tree maintenance is a significant component of dry-season work. The Club is home to over 8,000 trees, with about 1,500 classified as large and requiring safety inspections. Every year, an independent arborist is appointed to conduct a Tree Risk Assessment across half of the property. This rotating schedule ensures the entire Club is covered every two years. The most recent assessment, done in November 2024, flagged 64 trees for removal or trimming. These works are best undertaken during the dry season when the ground can support heavy machinery and ensure safety.
One persistent issue remains at the 15th hole pond on the Old Course. While the pond’s condition has improved, green aquatic weeds continue to thrive. This appears to be a localised issue, likely due to the pond’s shallow depth, high nutrient content, and ample sunlight, which encourage weed proliferation. The weeds can clog irrigation systems and restrict water flow. Field staff have invested considerable time clearing them, and various solutions are being explored. These include introducing grass carp to consume submerged weeds, increasing aeration, planting wetland vegetation to absorb nutrients, and potentially deepening the pond. Some measures are already underway while others require more time and planning.
As we move through this dry spell, we hope members continue to enjoy their rounds and stay hydrated. Just as the course requires continued care and water during the dry season, so do we. A little water goes a long way.
David Mah
Vice Captain
