Dear Burleigh Golf Club Members,
This communication outlines the Board’s plans for a 19th hole on the course including the benefits of this additional hole and the reasoning behind its location and design. It also covers other minor course changes relating to the construction and thereafter the playing of the 19th hole.
Benefits – Having the availability of a good quality and well-constructed spare hole will ensure that members are able to continue to play 18 holes whenever the Club embarks on course improvements that require a golf hole to be closed down for repairs or general course maintenance.
Members will have noticed that repair work is being undertaken on the irrigation system with ever increasing frequency. Like all similar equipment, the irrigation system has a finite life and is in need of replacement to enable us to protect and maintain the condition of the course. As Members will be aware, approval was given at the 2018 AGM for a new irrigation system to be installed. Also, Gold Coast City Council is now implementing a charge for the use of recycled water which is the club’s primary source of irrigation water, so it is therefore important that our irrigation system is as efficient as possible.
Prior to commencing work on the irrigation system, the Board has prioritised the creation of a 19th hole on the course which will permit the following:
- Installation of a new irrigation system one hole at a time by taking one hole out of play and still maintaining 18 holes of play. This will avoid members having to play on holes with irrigation system works occurring and which require the closure of the hole. It will also ensure the safety of workers performing the works;
- Future greens renovation will occur without the need to play on temporary greens. Those members who played on the temporary green when the 7th green and others were renovated will know it is not enjoyable golf.
Location and Design – The chosen location for the 19th hole is one that blends into the current course layout and is a standalone golf hole. There has been input from a golf course architect in relation to both the location and the design.
The plan of the 19th hole is shown in the image below. The tee will be located to the back/left of the current 14th tee and will involve some minor tree clearing/thinning to allow this new tee to be pushed as close as possible to the water. This new tee will be built up to the same height as the current 14th tee. The hole will play approximately 125m long to a green of similar size to our current 4th hole, about 300-350 m2. The green will have no bunkers and will conserve vegetation to the rear of the green to maintain a barrier between it and the 15th green. The vegetation will be selectively cleared on the right side so that a strip of “sandy waste” can wrap along the entire right side of the hole. This effect will provide a nice transition into the bushland while still providing plenty of turf for a wayward shot to the right.
Enough vegetation will be kept on the right side of the 14th tee so that the green is partially hidden from the existing 14th tee. This will assist in preventing confusion with players hitting to this green when the original 14th is in play. There will be ample area on the left of the hole for a wayward shot and as a result the gravel buggy path will be moved a little to the left.
The hole will be a very good short Par 3 and the cost of constructing the 19th hole will be covered by cash generated from the Club’s normal operations, so will not impact on the balance of the Land Lease Funds.
Other Minor Course Changes – As the tee shot on the 19th hole will be played across the current 14th tee when the 19th hole is being played, a modified 14th tee (tee 14B) will be used on these occasions. This will be constructed midway between the 13th green and the 14th tee to the left of the path as you walk to the 14th tee. This teeing area will be constructed from artificial synthetic turf that a tee can be placed into accommodating the selection of a Driver on the hole. Tee 14B will line up over the right side of the current ladies’ tee and will require some minor tree clearing to ensure a view slot to the 14th fairway.
The current Par of the course is 71 and there will be a reduction to this number when hole 19 is used in lieu of a par 4 or par 5 hole. For example, when a Par 4 is taken out of play, then the Par of the course will reduced to 70. To avoid a reduction to a par 69 course when a par 5 is taken out of play we will create an additional tee (tee 2B) on the 2nd hole approximately 60m further back from the current black tee. This will lengthen the hole from a 394m par 4, to about a 454m par 5. The new temporary tee 2B will be built close to the edge of the cart path and about level with the current 18th black tee. This will provide minimum tree removal and maintain the current line of aim down the second fairway.
Overall, the plans outlined above will result in the preservation of the current course layout when there are no major works being undertaken. The proposed changes will however provide significant flexibility for the upcoming installation of a new irrigation system and enable members to play a dedicated par 3 hole when a hole is closed to allow for the installation or when other course works require the closure of a hole in the future. I trust that you see these course changes as being beneficial to the Club and its members and will support the Board in in its plans to implement them.
If you have any questions arising from this information, please take the time to discuss the matter with a Director, the Club’s General Manager, or email the Board via manager@burleighgolfclub.com.au
Peter Evans
President – Burleigh Golf Club
