IRENE COUNTRY CLUB

With the new club-house project a bit delayed the Board has decided that the time has come to give the Shop a bit of a make-over. Idea is to make the retail area smaller, install air-conditioning and dolly-up the interior. It will also be stocked properly. The work must be complete before the official launch. The club-house is also under renewed scrutiny.

Hole 4: (WELL...SORT OF)

Layout: The 4th is such a long par 3 that it now has its own fairway. It is guarded by out of bounds right, a bunker in front of the green and a desert to the left.

Way to play it: The tee shot: Hit it hard and straight with as much as you have and hope for the best. Take an extra ball to the tee because it is quite a climb to get up there and you know all about that OB right. Anywhere on the 30 meter green will do but expect the worst - take your bogey and run. Nice positive last swing thought is essential – maybe of Lorna smiling sweetly when receiving your 2007 subscription

The project is behind schedule in terms of the original planning but we are positive that it will still be delivered on time after some restructuring of the final phases. The clean-up and final finishing which forms part of the construction phase should have been finished by now i.e. before the grow-in phase started, but will now have to run in parallel with the grow-in. A plan has been devised in this regard but the process is complicated by the fact that the construction and grow-in phases are financed from separate budgets but is undertaken by the same contractor who also happens to be the maintenance contractor. In terms of the current plan the holes are to be finished and signed-off one by one.

The greens

All of the greens have been seeded and germination is excellent as can be seen. The green surrounds which will be a major feature of the course thanks to elaborate and irrigated green complexes, have been seeded with Kikuyu grass but the germination coverage and success rate is still unclear because the process is slower than with the Bent grass. Part of the finishing process is to identify unseeded or poor germination areas early and reseed where necessary.

The fairways

Most of the fairways has been unaffected by the project other than having to accommodate the new irrigation piping. Filling-up the sagging of the irrigation trenches across and along the fairways is another finishing task that is in progress. The walkways to the fairways have been fitted with irrigation and still have to be grassed properly. With the irrigation being fitted on both sides of each fairway we will in future be able to irrigate up to 15 meters into the rough which will allow for improved shaping potential of the fairways and rough. Another new feature in terms of the fairways is that some of the shorter holes e.g. 4 and 13 has also been grassed and fitted with irrigation and will therefore also have fairways.

Irrigation system

A lot of finishing still has to be done on the irrigation system. The focus to date has been on function rather than aesthetics but this has all changed now and the work on finishing has started. Some problems and pressure bursts have been experienced to date but those who know say that it is functioning at very satisfactory levels.

Drinking-water points

These should have been in place already and is almost there. The new pipes have been laid and will be connected soon.

The reconstructed bridge between the 2nd & 3rd.

The bridge is complete but work is on-going on filling the down-stream side of the bridge with boulders to prevent erosion of the riverbed when flooding water runs over the bridge. Similar work is on-going to strengthen the side of the bridge where concrete meets earth to prevent erosion during flooding.

Tees

All the new tees have been built and seeded.

Greens and Grounds

* The measurement of the new course has been broken into two phases. Phase 1 must be completed before the members opening on Feb 10th so that GNGU can give us a new course rating. In Phase 1 tee to green will be measured and also the distance from the current sleeper markers on the fairways to the greens. The distances will be painted onto the sleepers. Phase 2 will be complete before the official opening. In Phase 2 proper 100/150/200 meter markers will replace the sleepers which are considered too bold, hazardous and often interferes with play. Distances from sprinklers will also be measured in Phase 2.

* Our request for the rain to give us a break has been granted and it resulted in a week of strong growing. This also means that the bunker sand can now go in which should have a significant visual impact on the new course. The sand has tested successfully this week for compliance with specification.

Entrance fees:

All fees and prices are available on request and are subject to change.

BOWLS

The “Ray Blake” clubhouse hosts two bowling greens. Games are played on Wednesday & Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings and public holidays.

Coaching clinics are also offered for those wishing to improve on their game.

Social, internal and external competitions as well as fun days with other clubs are held on a regular basis.

Contact Details:

Club President
Claude Ulyate
082 255 0844

Irene Country Club :
Directions From Jhb

Ben Schoeman take Pietersburg, pass John Vorster and Makro, take Botha
Turn Right - straight till Stop Street (Nelmapius Drive)
Cross over stop Street, BP on your left. +- 500 m Entrance on right

OR

Take Old JHB Rd towards Pretoria - Nelmapius Rd turn Right
Straight on - pass over 3 way stop to Centurion
Pass Irene Country Lodge on your left, Irene Dairy on your right
Main Stop Street - Rail way Bridge in front of you, BP in front to the right.
Turn Right, then +- 500 m = Irene Country Club Entrance on your right

OR

R 21 (Airport to Pretoria road)
Pass Ultra City and Olifantsfontein Turn OFF - take Irene/Nelmapius/Rietvlei Dam Turnoff
- Turn Left Under Bridge, Stop street turn Left (BP on your left)
+- 500 m Entrance on Right
From Pretoria

As per above, just change directions for turn-offs

Contact Details:

Physical Address:
Irene Country Club
1 Main Road
Irene
0062

Tel: +27 (0)12 667 1081/2
FAX: +27 (0)12 667-2832