Victoria Golf Club to undergo a $3.3million green and irrigation replacement

By Mathilda Andersson

THE renowned Victoria Golf Club on the Melbourne Sandbelt has recently announced major green and irrigation restorations for the second half of this year, which will see the course closed for two full months.

The club, recently ranked 92 in Golf Digest’s Complete 200 Greatest International Golf Courses listing, decided mid last year to have the predominantly Poa annua greens replaced with pure bent surfaces in order to maintain pristine course conditions as a trademark of the premier club.

The planned rejuvenation will see the original greens, which date back to the 1920’s, have the top ten centimetres of the profile removed and replaced and then seeded with Pure Distinction bentgrass.

According to the club, the existing two-species surfaces are incredibly demanding in respect to maintenance, with different leaf structures and growth rates  causing an uneven putting green. The new turf is expected to not only improve growth factors and labour requirements, but the overall playability of the course.

The turf replacement stage is set to commence on July 30 this year and will cause the course to close for two months as the heavy construction works are undertaken.

“The replacement of the greens will be a very challenging and disruptive project which will certainly impact on member enjoyment in the short term,” said Club Captain Tony Killen.

“[But] the replacement of the greens will deliver an exceptional outcome and members are encouraged to inspect the new short game practice and the spare hole greens which are pure bentgrass and compare the surfaces to the course greens,”

In preparation for the turf replacement project the clubs out-dated irrigation system will also be replaced. Currently liaising with industry-leading consultants, the club will ensure that the new system will be significantly cheaper to operate, more reliable and contribute to the presentation of improved playing surfaces.

Irrigation work is set to commence in early June this year.

“It is common sense to replace the irrigation system at the same time as the greens are being replaced to minimise the level of disruption,” General Manager Peter Stackpole explained.

“To facilitate an effective and efficient program the course will close entirely for the months of August and September. The course will re-open in October with temporary greens in play until the new greens establish.”

According to Stackpole, the club will also compensate all fee-paying members with playing rights for the period of construction with a credit amount, allowing for alternative playing arrangements.

“Club members will receive a ‘rebate’ on their annual subscription with Full members receiving over $800,” he added.

“The club is also arranging a wide variety of alternative golfing options on which to spend this compensation.”

The restoration will be largely funded by debt and a $440 levy on members. The levy is, in combination with the club’s annual cash generation from normal activities, expected to clear the debt within the next four years.

According to the board, the levy will be in place for a period of ten years with a review after five years.

Club Captain Killen said the board had been very aware of the support that the membership has provided, and hoped all members would see that short-term sacrifice and personal inconvenience was warranted.

“The club now has 115 years of history and over that time many generations of members have had to endure inconvenience and disruption to an otherwise wonderful golfing life,” he said.

“This project…is essential to ensure the ongoing success and hence the future of the club as one of the premier private golf clubs in the country.”

The club has reportedly explored a lease at Kingswood Golf Club as an alternative venue for play, but without success.

The course is predicted to re-open on October 1, 2018 and a course using temporary greens will be in play until mid-February 2019.