Below are notes from the Board Meeting held on 18 December 2025 RED TEE MARKERS 4TH TEE REINSTATEMENT TO CHUTE Following consultation with course designer Craig Parry, the Women’s Committee, and feedback received from Members, the Golf Committee has undertaken a review of the current location of the 4th hole red tee. The purpose of this review was to assess the strategic design, playability, and safety of the 4th hole, while also seeking to enhance the playing experience for a broader range of Members. The consultation and review of the 4th tee confirmed that the original tee position within the chute provides a better angle of play from the tee, a fairer landing area, and the opportunity for risk and reward shots. Restoring the red tee to its original location reinstates the intended playing design of the 4th hole and ensures it continues to present as a fair and strategically challenging hole. While the red tee returns to the chute, the current white tee in the chute will be relocated to the top tee, providing an elevated “elite” option that will appeal to some players. This change aligns with the Club’s Optional Tees initiative, which allows Members the flexibility to select their preferred playing tees on any club competition day. The proposed change to the red tee locations will be implemented on Women’s Open Day, 29 January 2026. BOARDWALK REPLACEMENT – 17TH TEE The Boardwalk is now operational, with the final stainless-steel railing to be installed in mid-late January to complete the project. Following the opening of the Boardwalk, the Club has raised concerns with Northern Beaches Council regarding increased pedestrian exposure from the 17th tee. The Board asks all Members to report any shot that leaves the course boundary by using the Stray Ball Report in the LRGC App or the QR codes located on the Course. WATER IRRIGATION UPDATE The prolonged dry conditions continue to place significant pressure on the Course, with Long Reef more affected than many neighbouring clubs due to our exposed coastal location. Persistent winds rapidly strip moisture from the soil and frequently make irrigation ineffective, resulting in very limited watering windows. The Club remains committed to responsible and sustainable course management. Water usage decisions are based on necessity and effectiveness, not cost avoidance or the funding of other projects. The last time town water was used in any meaningful volume was in early 2017 before the additional wetlands was built. Irrigating greens and tees alone requires approximately 600,000 litres per night, with town water costs exceeding $2,000 per day. Town water enters the irrigation system via the dam between the fifth and sixth holes, however filling dams this way is inefficient and running water directly through the system is constrained by low flow rates. For these reasons, town water is only used when dam levels are critically low and no rain is forecast. | Current usable dam levels are estimated at 15–20%, with both bores dry. While broad fairway irrigation is not currently possible, the Course Team continues to water selected fairway areas to ensure turf survival, particularly in high-traffic and high-risk zones, using portable irrigators. With forecast heat and ongoing dry winds, some turf dormancy is expected. These areas will recover with rainfall and improved conditions. In the interim, measures such as preferred lies remain necessary. It is likely town water will be required in the near future. CLUBHOUSE MASTERPLAN UPDATE Since our last update on the status of the DA to the Membership, there isn’t too much to report back to the Membership. The Building Committee have met with the various Council departments that requested further information (RFI) on aspects of the Development Application and are now working with the relevant consultants to address these RFI’s. Following this, Council will undertake its final assessment of the of the DA and refer the application to the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel for determination. We anticipate a final determination by March. Once the DA has been assessed, the Board will return to the Membership for further update and consultation on the project and future stages. 16TH HOLE – WHAT'S CHANGING AND WHY Work has commenced on the 16th hole, with the design led by Craig Parry. The project is about making the hole safer, improving playability, providing a superior playing surface and reducing mound severity on both the left and right sides of the hole. The fairway is being widened and subtly shifted away from the boundary, giving players more room where it matters and reducing the likelihood of balls finishing near or beyond the Course boundary. This change alone will have a positive impact on safety for pedestrians using the adjacent public path. The proposed bunkers main role is to reinforce the right to left shape of the hole and encourage tee shots to be played back into the Golf Course rather than pushed towards the boundary. The carry distances (approximately 256m and 263m) mean only a small number of players will be able to challenge these hazards, even in calm conditions. For most Members, the bunkers act as a visual and strategic guide rather than a penal feature. Repositioning of tees currently right of the path support this outcome by better aligning tee shots with the redesigned fairway and directing play away from the boundary edge. Overall, the changes improve safety, retain the character of the 16th hole, and provide a wider, more forgiving landing area. Keith Warren | President Note: This document is not intended to be a minute of the relevant Board meeting but is intended to provide members with a summary of the significant decisions made or issues discussed by the Board at its most recent meeting. Certain matters may be commercially sensitive, subject to privacy considerations or otherwise confidential and will not be included in this summary document. |
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