There has been plenty happening around The Grange as we prepare for the months ahead. Renovations, vegetation management, and course improvements are all part of keeping the Club in top shape, and we can’t wait for you to enjoy the results this summer.
On the East Course, you may have noticed the recent removal of four large pine trees on the inside corner of the 17th fairway. While we all appreciate the character our trees bring, the pines across both courses have caused significant tree root invasion into our turf areas. The view from the 17th tee is now beautifully framed by a magnificent native gum tree, and future works to remove additional pines in this area will further enhance the natural aesthetic while helping to minimise root-related issues.
Over the past five years, we’ve removed around 1,000 non-native trees and replaced them with nearly 10,000 native trees, shrubs, and grasses which demonstrates our strong commitment to ecological regeneration, climate adaptation, and creating an enduring landscape for current and future members.
We’ve also commenced our greens renovations, involving hollow coring and topdressing. While this process isn’t always the prettiest, it plays a vital role in maintaining top-quality putting surfaces year-round. This year, we’ve used smaller tine sizes and wider tine spacings, which are already contributing to a faster recovery, and we’re really pleased with how the greens are coming back. Despite some challenging weather during the renovation period, our course staff managed to push through short delays and get the surfaces ready for reopening. A big thank you to our members for your patience.
Away from the fairways, the team has also undertaken ecological burns in selected vegetation areas. These controlled burns are an important part of our environmental management program, promoting native plant regeneration, improving the health of natural areas, and helping reduce fire risk.
The most recent burn took place adjacent to the 3rd West red tee, an area home to some of our most vulnerable plant species, including:
- Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata)
- Muntries (Kunzea pomifera)
- Paper Flower (Thomasia petalocalyx)
- Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata)
These species are endemic to our coastal site and form part of the remnant vegetation of the western suburbs. Preserving and enhancing these areas is a key priority for the Club, and we look forward to building on this work in future projects.