RIVERSIDE Golf Club is set for a bumper reopening of its course in just over a week after a faster-than-expected recovery from the summer floods.
From the bulk of the Nichols Point course being under water four months ago, the Riverside layout now has a lovely green, lush look as members prepare for the resumption of play on Saturday, May 20.
Head greenskeeper Tim Peterson and his assistant, Ash Whitehouse, along with a small army of volunteers have worked wonders in getting the course back in good nick after the floodwaters and massive amounts of mud left a big clean-up.
All 18 greens were re-seeded by March 8 and are now flourishing. It’s a similar story with the fairways, where the debris has been removed and returned to a good condition.
Club president Michael Holcroft couldn’t be prouder of Peterson, Whitehouse and the dozens of hard-working volunteers.
“We’ll effectively be back on the greens 10-11 weeks after they were re-seeded, which is a huge effort, especially at this time of year,” Holcroft said.
“We were a little bit lucky that we had mild weather and a little bit of rain (in late March and early April).
“But there was a lot of hard work that went into the greens, along with the fairways where the silt had to be broken up, then cut again and fertilised.”
The big reopening will see one of the new fads in professional golf – a “party hole” – operate on the short par-3 fourth.
“There’ll be music and drinks, and the public are welcome to come along and see how well the course has recovered,” Holcroft said.
It’s unclear if scenes that took place at the recent LIV event in Adelaide, where punters were allowed to throw empties at players as they walked off the tee, will be replicated at Riverside’s reawakening.
But it’s clear the day will be a big celebration of the monumental clean-up job.
There will be catered food and entertainment in the evening for those who want to kick on.
Play will begin at 12.30pm with a shotgun start, with some spots still available to be booked.
Holcroft said club membership levels hadn’t fallen too much during the flood event.
“There was a slight drop-off but the vast major majority of (the 500-plus) members have stuck by us,” Holcroft said.
“Our membership renewals were due by the end of October (last year), and by that time the floods were very much predicted.
“A few didn’t renew, thinking they wouldn’t get their value for money. But the majority have been very supportive.
“There’s even been people renewing after the flood.
“We’re expecting that a lot of people will be very keen to get back on the course on May 20.”
