Tuross Head Men’s shed have constructed new sand  boxes with recycling receptacles for every tee on the course. Mike Birks designed, Men’s Shed created.

This new feature has along with the new cart paths given the whole course another major lift. Such a bold golf course innovation has created interest from some notable golfing  institutions, in particular Huntingdale in Victoria and of  all places a course in Augusta America that wanted Men’s Shed to manufacture 48   boxes as they have a tournament in April and their present sand  boxes look a bit shabby in comparison.

Anticipating demand Mike Birks has 3 patents pending so anyone wanting to copy will have to pay big time.     Huntingdale are still interested but the club in Augusta Georgia want a   pensioner discount as it states that almost all their members are old blokes and that after they had donated to the Trump campaign they are all a bit short of the readies.

So Men’s Shed Tuross “Take a Bow”. A great job well done.

Tuross Golf are claiming another local golfing hero to stand along side our Brendon Jones and Brad Doolan, Lachlan Nordsvan from Canberra is also a Tuross member.

He has been playing our course every school holiday ever since he was not even knee high to a grass hopper. He was so small that one time when the mower broke down it took father Michael five minuets to find him in the rough.       A valuable lesson as Lachie has never hit a ball into the rough since. With a handicap quickly heading towards zero many members are wanting to play with the Nordsvans. In years to come they want to be able to say that “Yes I used to play with the great Lauchie Nordsvan” and I actually taught him a lot of what he knows today.

Sounds familiar Brendon?

Oh by the way Lauchie is 14 years 9 months of age.

This feature is contributed by Miss Information a roving club  reporter. Miss Information is a new contributor to our media group. Please make her/him welcome. 25121

Lachlan Nordsvan with Tuross Club captain Peter Nikolic.

Tuross Head men’s golf captain Peter Nikolic welcomed Rob Green, the new golf professional at Tuross, and officially opened the Rob Green Pro shop on Saturday October 3.  Rob operates out of the original golf club building where he will be able to supply all  golfing needs and he will be available for individual or group tuition.

Rob grew up and played most of his early golf in Orange NSW.  He has been a member of the PGA since 1993 and for some time played the professional circuit in Australia.

His first move to the South Coast was to be as Assistant Professional to Ken Gaffney in Narooma in 1995.  He still has fond memories of his time with Ken but in 2001 he took the professional position at Armidale where he stayed for ten years with his wife and two boys.

Rob and his family moved back to Dalmeny in 2011 and he started as Assistant Professional at Moruya, and later, when the Head Professional retired, took over as the Club Professional. By 2019 Rob decided it was time for a change and he gave the club four months notice, giving them plenty of time to find a replacement.  He and his wife then bought their caravan and headed off for “The Trip” as many of the more senior among us do.

Coaching of both new players and experienced golfers to improve their technique has always been rewarding to Rob and will be an important offering at the new shop.  With the more relaxed pace he is also looking forward to spending time helping golfers choose the best equipment for them, taking the time to fit and experiment with the different styles available.

The Pro Shop just above the 6^th green will be well stocked with golfing essentials.  Rob expects the shop to initially open four days per week, with more days in the summer and probably less in winter. 51020

Tuross Head men’s golf captain Peter Nikolic and Rob Green.

               Rob Green in new Pro Shop premises.

Copy courtesy: Lance Shadbolt.

Photos: Tony Brown

Tuross Head Country Club has been successful in obtaining a further $65,000 NSW government grant to assist in improving club facilities. This latest money will be used to create shelter around the two bowling greens and to build a pathway from the lower car parking area to the workshop shed.

Some club members and  residents of the community are asking just how did this happen. Well, the hard working people involved have been approached for comment, and the following is a record of their activities. They deserve to be recognised and thanked for their efforts.

Approximately 18 months ago, Andrew Gordon, THCC men’s golf president and Steve Swanbury, golf committee member,  took it upon themselves to investigate the possibility of the THCC accessing external funding through the Grants Process available in NSW.

Following a meeting which included THCC manager Stephen Hodge, Andrew Gordon, men’s golf president and Michael Birks, past THCC president with Andrew Constance, local Member for Bega and his staff on the golf course site, they developed a strategy of trying to identify grants that could be suitable and applicable to the THCC.  Of particular interest was funding that could assist the Club in improving aged and worn infrastructure (both of a sporting and non-sporting nature) knowing full well that internal funding within the Club was extremely tight, and that any project would necessarily be of a small nature.

Once various funding organisations within, and associated with the State Government of NSW had been identified, they proceeded with applying for a range of grants available. Over that time a number of applications were lodged – some unsuccessful. However, the club enjoyed success with a $46,000 grant from the “My Community Project Grant” which resulted in the recent resurfacing and line marking of the THCC Carpark. Many will remember the pot-holed and dilapidated nature of the carpark and the money required to ameliorate this was significant. The support from both club members, along with many from the local community was tremendous. Who can forget the incredibly difficult voting process?  Thankfully this type of grant process is unlikely to be repeated.

Once a number of further applications had been lodged, a fairly solid platform had been established which could be used to target various types of grants.  Feedback was always sought from any unsuccessful application, and this allowed future applications to be modified.

Tuross Head Country Club lost no time in arranging for Downer EDI Mogo to lay 30mm hot mix over the damaged surface car park.

Colin Fletcher from the bowlers was consulted about improving the bowling facilities, as they form an integral part of the overall sporting infrastructure of the THCC along with the golf course. Colin was able to identify various aspects of the bowling facilities that required updating or replacement, and worked hard in obtaining quotes for various works.

In March of this year it was learnt that they had been successful in attaining $65,000 through the “Building Community Partnerships Grant Round.” This application was lodged by Mike Birks, now THCC 2019  past club president, in September last year. The money is for new shade infrastructure for both bowling greens and will provide an access pathway across the 6th Fairway from the lower carpark to the machinery shed.   In the current COVID-19 environment, it is both gratifying and pleasing to know that external government agencies believe  there is a strong future for the THCC by investing in their future.

The money for the shade infrastructure should arrive in the next couple of weeks and work is expected to commence in removing the aged and rusted existing structure immediately.  The building of the access pathway should commence soon after under the supervision of the Course Superintendent, Tim Watson.

Men’s golf president Andrew Gordon reports “Prior to the two government grants, we were successful (on behalf of the Golf Sub-clubs) in attaining a $3,000 grant from Golf NSW which has been used to improve drainage on the 8th fairway. This project is part-way complete through the great work of Tim Watson and his course maintenance team and should be completed shortly.

As part of the process, an officer from Golf NSW attended to assess our application first-hand. He wrote highly of the THCC Golf Course and the work that the ground-staff had achieved since his previous visit some three years before, and he had no hesitation in supporting our application for funding.”

Along the way the management and the board  purchased the now familiar Ventrac Tractor Mower and men’s golf purchased outright a new Kubota Rough Mower – a total of $73,000 of new equipment. 20520

The Tuross Head crew (from left) Tyson Hastie, assistant Ben Hewison, superintendent Tim Watson, Terry Beales and Richard Kelly.

This has enabled the ground-staff to work more efficiently and achieve the incredible results that we now see in the improved playing surface of the golf course.

Mention must be made of the fabulous work of our men and women volunteers who tend and maintain gardens, assist in laying concrete paths and the various working bees that are arranged to maintain and improve our sporting facilities.
It has been a lot of work, but extremely satisfying when you see the changes around the club in the past couple of years.

One of the many works carried out by club volunteers.

STOP PRESS: May 26 2020

The first instalment of the Building Community Partnerships Grant has been received by the THCC.

Work is underway to achieve the maximum benefit with the money and it is expected that demolition of the old shade structure will occur in the coming months along with construction of the new structure.

Once this has been done, the final monetary instalment will be sought to complete the access pathways.

Tuross Head Country Club course superintendent Tim Watson  and his hard working ground staff have attracted the attention of one of Australia’s foremost magazines.
The Australian Turfgrass Management Journal, the flagship of the turf industry has published a major feature showcasing  the work and improvements at the Tuross Head golf course in their latest issue.
This journal, first published in 1999, aims to support turfgrass management professionals by providing technical information, industry news and events, profiles, critical appraisals of new products and services, and general information to help staff improve their professional recognition and employment.
Brett Robinson, Editor of Turfgrass when commenting on the material and photos supplied to them says ‘Well done Tim – it’s all good – the kudos is all yours”.
On the local level, THCC veteran golfers president Ian Manton, states “The bonus of this magazine article is that we get a broad picture of Tim and his perspectives. I already know of his great nature and friendliness.
Now I have more personal and professional awareness and am even more appreciative of his value to us as a community. 30519

Link: THCC Golf Course Features in National Magazine