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Great to be Back!

After a few weeks away on annual leave, I’m very excited to be back on deck—refreshed, energised, and ready for what promises to be a brilliant lead in to a memorable summer of golf at Blackwood GC. We have many exciting initiatives planned to be rolling over the coming months, building on the great momentum already underway.

A HUGE thank you to our BGC team who did a fantastic job in my absence. We are looking forward to working together, and with you, as we continue to make the Club a place we can all be proud of.

(P.S. Coffee and breakfast rolls are back on from this Saturday morning — perfect before hitting the course!) OK, let's get into the latest update...

Regards, Adam 

Course Update – August 2025

August closed with a very wet final week, recording 72mm of rain and leaving us just shy of the long-term monthly average. Year-to-date rainfall now sits well above average, yet the course has handled the moisture superbly and remains in excellent playing condition. The drier lead-up over the past 18 months has left soils primed to absorb water, setting us up for strong early-season growth and an earlier-than-usual break from dormancy.

Our full greens renovation was successfully completed on Monday and Tuesday this week, despite some interruptions from the inclement weather. Coring, sanding and fertilising were all carried out as planned, and the greens are already showing encouraging signs of recovery. Tees will be completed by early next week – a big thank you once again to our dedicated staff and volunteers who make these major renovation weeks possible.

Improvement works have continued, including shaping and seeding mounds on the 2nd fairway, drainage and dolomite repairs on the 16th path, and preparations to re-shape the 11th bunker and tidy the 11th and 12th approaches. The Air2G2 machine has also been incorporated as a regular part of our aeration program across greens, tees and surrounds, strengthening turf health and playability.

Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed a developing La Niña weather pattern, which typically brings wetter and cooler conditions to eastern and southern Australia. Forecasts suggest we can expect regular rainfall right through until Christmas, similar to what we experienced in 2022. This outlook should keep the course well-watered naturally as we head into spring, reducing irrigation demand and supporting strong growth across fairways and roughs.

Change to Soft Drink Service at Blackwood

Members are advised that from mid September our bar service will no longer be operating with post-mix soft drinks. Instead, the Club will be stocking a full range of packaged soft drink options to ensure quality, consistency, and value.

This shift follows a growing trend across the hospitality industry. Post-mix systems – which rely on large 10-15 litre “bag-in-box” syrup packs and machines that run constantly – come with significant hidden costs. Between the exorbitant price of syrup and the high electricity consumption of the equipment, venues with moderate turnover often face astronomical operating costs that far outweigh the benefits.

By moving to packaged products, Blackwood is not only aligning with best practice in the industry, but also ensuring that members enjoy a fresher, more consistent beverage range without the unnecessary overheads.

We thank all members for their understanding and look forward to providing you with improved high-quality service – now with a broader and more efficient packaged range behind the bar..

Grounded Cru Ambrose – Golf & Dinner

We’re excited to announce that Grounded Cru will once again be supporting a fantastic day of golf and hospitality at Blackwood. On Sunday 19 October we’ll be hosting an Ambrose competition with a 1pm shotgun start, followed by a delicious two-course dinner.

• Members: Golf & Dinner – $50

• Non-members: Golf & Dinner – $95

• Dinner only: $40

This promises to be a great afternoon of fun on the course and a wonderful evening in the clubhouse thanks to the generous support of Geoff and Grounded Cru. Bookings are available now via the members portal – get your team together and secure your spot.

Transition to Golf Australia CONNECT – Important Update

Golf Australia is moving away from the 25-year-old GOLF Link system and introducing a new digital platform called Golf Australia CONNECT. This will bring improved technology and services to golfers and clubs across the country.

Key changes for golfers (from October 2, 2025):

• New GA App: The current GA Handicap App will be replaced by the new Golf Australia Official App (available in the Apple and Google Play stores). It will include your handicap lookup plus new features to enhance your golfing experience.

• Handicap Portal: Your GA Handicap will now be accessible via the new website GOLF.com.au, which goes live October 2.

What you need to do:

• Make sure your details are up to date in your golf.org.au account.

• If you don’t yet have an account, create one at golf.org.au to continue viewing your handicap online and to use the new GA App.

Important dates:

• September 28 – October 2: Handicap services will be offline while the transition takes place. Rounds played during this period cannot be processed until the new system is live.

• October 2 onwards: The new app and GOLF.com.au website will be available. Please note that for clubs using MiClub (including Blackwood), it may take up to two weeks for full integration of the new system.

Support:

• Golf Australia will have Onboarding Champions at clubs and a boosted Helpdesk to assist members during the transition.

• More information, including a Golfer Information Guide, is available here: Golf Australia CONNECT Guide.

We thank members for their patience during this changeover. These upgrades will provide a stronger, more user-friendly digital platform for managing your golf.

Next Weeks Members Draw Menu

Wednesday 10th of September from 5.45pm onwards - Draw at 6.30pm

$1200 Jackpot up for grabs! - 2 bottles of fine Jericho Wines to be won!

Chicken Kiev

Crumbed Chicken Kiev with garlic butter served with chips and salad

Aussie Beef Pie

House made tender beef pie and gravy served with creamy potato bake carrots and peas 

Pumpkin Soup

Oven roasted Pumpkin Soup served with fresh warm roll and butter

Dinner bookings can be made via the Club’s usual timesheet booking system (accessible through the Members Portal), or by calling Reception on 8388 2313

BACK ON THIS SATURDAY

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