MAINTENANCE DURING PLAY – WHY YOU SEE THE CREW OUT THERE
During most rounds, golfers are likely to cross paths with the maintenance team. Sometimes this can be frustrating — for example, when a staff member is using a noisy machine within earshot of your group, or when you have to wait a moment for staff to clear a green before hitting. Golfers often suggest that maintenance should be done and “out of the way” before play begins, or that crews should work backward from the 18th hole in the afternoon so they only encounter each group once.
While our maintenance teams do take every step possible to avoid play, there are important reasons why work continues during the day. Golf course conditioning at Manly Golf Club is a complex balance between weather, play volume, staffing, and fitting it all in amongst Council regulations in a largely residential area.
Manly Golf Club hosts approximately 52,000 rounds of golf per year, creating very limited maintenance windows. Noise restrictions imposed by Northern Beaches Council limit the use of certain machinery in many areas of the course at various times of day, particularly early mornings. These restrictions, while necessary for our residential setting, constrain the hours in which essential work such as mowing and edging can be undertaken.
Compounding this are the additional clean-up demands following high-wind events, which can leave large volumes of debris across the course. These conditions often require the team to return to the course during play to ensure safety and playability are maintained.
Routine maintenance tasks include:
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Mowing and rolling greens (often daily)
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Mowing tees, fairways and rough multiple times each week
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Raking and edging bunkers
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Spraying for pests and disease control
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Divot and ball mark repairs
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Setting tee markers and changing hole locations daily
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Cleaning course accessories, signage, and edging paths
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Debris clearance following wind or storm events
Although much of this work begins well before dawn, the sheer volume and timing of tasks mean that some maintenance must continue during play. As the course fills with golfers throughout the day, avoiding all interaction becomes impossible and we request members remain patient and conscious of the circumstances.
In future, the Club may consider partial access days to allow major maintenance and renovation tasks to be undertaken without disrupting play. This approach is increasingly common among leading private clubs, ensuring long-term turf health and playing quality while minimising disturbance to golfers.
While it can occasionally be inconvenient, maintenance during play is essential to achieving the standard of conditioning expected at Manly Golf Club. We appreciate the patience of members and guests, and encourage golfers to give our team the space and respect to work safely. Every task performed — whether before, during, or after play — contributes directly to the exceptional playing surfaces we all enjoy.
Happy golfing 🙂
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