COURSE CLOSURES – WEATHER & GROUND CONDITIONS

 

Dear Members,

From time to time, our course may be closed due to adverse weather or ground conditions. Ideally we would love the course open all the time and in use, but unfortunately due to a number of reasons this can’t always be the case. 

It’s not uncommon for our Golf Shop and Course team to field a large number of queries relating to course open or closures, including the decision making process. These can range from “are we open?” , “are Carts on?”, “it’s hasn’t rained for a few hours why isn’t the course open?” “another local course is open, why aren’t we?”. The decision to close the course is made with careful consideration involving several important factors:

Preservation of the Course:
Allowing play during periods of saturation can cause lasting damage to fairways, greens, and high-traffic areas. Recovery times vary by season, and in cooler months, damage can persist well beyond the immediate weather event. Protecting these surfaces ensures long-term playability for all and allows us to continue to maintain our course to the standard we expect.

Data:
Rainfall (mm), ground moisture levels, evaporation rates, growing day period, rolling average temperature (ground/soil and air), days since last open – are all considered factors in access decisions.

Member and Staff Safety:
Surface water, unstable ground, and slippery conditions increase the risk of falls or injury. These conditions also make the use of heavy equipment (blowers, mowers etc) more susceptible to slips on sloping areas. The wet conditions also increase the risk of tree failures and prior to play commencing the Course team need to have a level of confidence the course is safe for play. Furthermore, saturated areas prevent emergency vehicles from reaching someone quickly in the event of an on-course incident, NSW Ambulance regularly communicate to Clubs the growing likelihood of not entering areas where their equipment may become bogged and unable to attend other emergencies.

Drainage and Environmental Challenges:
Our course lies close to sea level and is directly affected by tidal movements, prolonged rainfall, and rising water tables. These conditions can overwhelm drainage systems, leading to surface pooling—particularly on greens and short-cut areas.

Insufficient Relief Options:
In heavy rain, large areas of the course can be affected by casual water, leaving players with limited or no practical options for relief under the Rules of Golf. This compromises both the fairness of play and the enjoyment of the round.

Decision Timing:
Closure decisions are typically made between 5:00am and 5:30am each day, allowing time for inspection and member notification. Where conditions allow, we will provide more advanced notice to assist with planning.

 

We thank you for your understanding when closures are necessary and would invite you to enjoy a lunch or perhaps a game of snooker or darts whenever the above factors have necessitated a course closure.

Sincerely

APPENDIX 1: Yearly Rainfall Overview

  • Average MGC Rainfall Historical (5yr): 4.2mm p/day / 1533mm per annum.
  • Maximum: Year (past 5): Year 2022, 2505mm.
  • Minimum Year (past 5): Year 2023, 997mm.
  • Current Year: 1100m as at August 15, 2025 (226 days, 4.86mm p/day, current year to date =15% above avg.
  • Prior Year: 1303mm to August 15, 2024 (current year to date=15% below prior year.)