Members and Guests

Dear Member,

The Club

We recently installed a new heat pump system, which has been tested for the past few weeks to ensure that it operates as intended. It was a bit of a surprise to see that the overall water temperature reached the desired level, and that most of the showers were fine, except for two or three of them. It was then decided to check each and every shower, as there was clearly a difference between the water flow and temperature. So, this is where it gets interesting …

It’s no secret that one of our biggest challenges is the ageing building, and sometimes we face a problem where we can’t get components anymore for replacement. When Willie and his team did their full pipeline inspection, within the darkest corners of the building, they found a vintage looking, what we believe, is a water flow restrictor to ensure an even flow for all showers. These units are so old that no plumbing supplier recognises these gadgets anymore, let alone being able to replace them. We will be bypassing these units, as a test, to see if they affect the water pressure at all, as it could very well be the cause of the weak pressure of the showers.

I have added the pictures of the unit below, and if anyone knows what this is, please give me a call or send me an email.

Next on the list, is the warm water loop system. We will be installing this system to circulate the warm water continuously, to the furthest ends of the showers. This will eliminate the waiting for showers to get hot. We are in the process of installing this to the plumbing system.

As promised last week, we have included the Member’s Survey Results in the newsletter. It is vitally important that we look at the feedback from members to plan the way forward. This past year has, without a doubt, set us back in terms of our goals, as we focused on navigating the various lockdowns and ongoing uncertainty.

We will be working through the various suggestions, ideas, and areas of improvement in the next few weeks. We will keep members updated on the progress.

Club AGM – 20 September

The General Committee of the Club has decided to postpone the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”), scheduled for Monday, 20th September, by one month. The postponement arises because of the restrictions placed on gatherings of more than 50 people in terms of the Covid-19 regulations, and there is no indication that this will change within the next few weeks. The Club’s constitution does not allow for voting by proxy, and it will be difficult to conduct a proper meeting and voting process through an electronic medium. The Committee is of the view that it is in the interest of the Club, and its members, to have ordinary AGMs, instead of virtual meetings, or to be limited to 50 people. Members will receive a notice for the meeting in accordance with the Club’s constitution. The Club’s Annual Report, including the Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2021, will be published to the members as soon as it is finalised.

Golf Shop Show Floor Extension

As previously communicated, the Golf Shop will be making a few small changes to grow the retail offering. A retail show floor will be built to showcase the latest apparel for members, golf groups and corporates. This new space will be built by converting the old golf reception desk outside the shop. It will add a tremendous amount of value to the shop, and Randpark will once again be a trendsetter by adding this unique section to the shop.

Current Golf Reception Desk outside the Golf Shop

Proposed changes will be starting Monday, 30th August 2021, and will be completed by Friday, 3rd September 2021.

Happy golfing,
Francois

We always encourage communication between our members and the Club. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to either contact our CEO, Francois Swart at ceo@randpark.co.za or our Club Captain, Derek McGowan at captainslog@randpark.co.za.

Fix those divots, repair those pitch marks, drive your cart responsibly! Let’s take care of Randpark
(Written by Randpark Member, Grant Winter)

Play at different golf clubs around Johannesburg and South Africa, and you will realise that, condition-wise, it’s hard – if not impossible – to find courses that can top our own immaculate Firethorn and Bushwillow layouts. Simply put, considering it’s the end of the season, and not easy to maintain a golf course, the fairways and greens are superb. We are privileged to have such a wonderful place to play this great game.

But course care is still a problem. People often don’t fill their divots with sand mix, rake the bunkers, or fix their pitch marks on the green. And carts can be destructive, if not driven with care and consideration. A minute taken to do these small tasks can save many frustrating hours of hard work by the greens staff to patch up the wear and tear and damage.

“Players should aim to leave the course after their rounds in as good a shape as they found it when they first teed off, or even better,” says Head Greenkeeper, Roger Innes. “Please fix those divots, on the green please repair your pitch mark and at least one other, and if you are worried about touching the bunker rakes because of Covid, then get one of those little ones that snugly fit into your golf bag for your personal use. If all this is done, we will have a more pleasing situation for players and course staff alike. Finding your golf ball in a divot or footprint in a bunker is no fun at all."

”I do think the majority of our members are responsible and practice course etiquette, so thanks to them. But problem areas can be laziness, junior competitions, corporate golf days when participants may not adhere to proper course care, alcohol, and players coming down to the club for a quick nine late afternoon and, thinking that because it’s the end of the day, they don’t have to worry too much about doing little repairs, fail to do so.”

Roger says Randpark is looking at doing about 100,000 rounds this year (approximately 50,000 on each course), so popular has golf become as an activity that can take place in lockdown – especially at a quality venue like ours. “This huge footprint adds to the work and time needed to maintain the course. About 90,000 rounds would be ideal. But we’ve got 100,000 and we have to work with this number. So, we need all of us to play our part when it comes to course care.”

Roger also points that, according to research, a golf cart causes 17 times more wear and tear than one player’s footprint. “This means if you get four carts moving along a hole, it’s the same as 68 players. Therefore, it’s really important to drive carts carefully, and not to park them too close to the greens and more sensitive areas where they can cause damage.”

Roger has been at the club for 18 years, and between him and his dedicated staff, they have ensured that, condition-wise, we have two splendid courses on which to make our birdies and bogeys. Let’s keep it this way!

Please take note that the water will be switched off tomorrow from 6 am - 8 am to allow the Maintenance team to repair the broken water pipe.

Our friends at SuperSport captured the exciting renovations project at the Driving Range. The video is currently live on DStv CatchUp, and will be flighted on DStv as per the below schedule:

Vaccinations

A nurse visited Randpark Club again this morning, as we continue with our ongoing vaccination drive. Another 65 registered staff and caddies were vaccinated!

Membership Cards

We would like to remind all members that the Randpark staff may not access your membership account without swiping your membership card. The reception team will be able to assist, should you need a temporary membership card for whatever reason.

Make the most of your Randpark Membership with Adventour

Adventour has specifically designed golf tours at very special prices, with you, our members in mind. Click here to browse the amazing 4-day packages that stretch from Cape Town in the South to the Kruger in the North.

For more information, please contact Brendan Mills: 082 849 5372 or David Meiring: 071 137 0092 | sales@africanadventour.com.

World Golf Awards

We are proud to have once again been nominated for SA’s Best Golf Course 2021 in the World Golf Awards! World Golf Awards™ serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses, and golf destinations. Please click here to vote for your Club.

Congratulations to Gugu, Nokuthula and Simphiwe, who completed a Receptionist Course hosted by GolfRSA.

Congratulations & Good Luck

Congratulations to Stefan Jacobs, who went wire-to-wire in the Nomads North & South Junior Championship to triumph by 1-shot on 6-under-par 210!

Congratulations to Marc Kruger and Wayne Pienaar, who qualified for the Windhoek Lager International Pairs Finals, taking place at Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate from the 21st to 23rd of September 2021. Good-luck, you are 1 step away from possibly going to the World Finals.

Don’t forget to hand in your scorecards on Saturday and stand a chance of winning a bottle of Johnny Walker Black!

We will be doing Member Attendance Lucky Draws during the morning and afternoon prize-giving.
You must be present during prize-giving to be eligible.

Sponsored by Ubuntu Resource Management and CTL Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd

It’s great to see our courses so busy during the week, and the ongoing support from all our members and guests. What is great, is the return of golf groups playing at Randpark who are enjoying our facilities, before, during and after their round. With the number of rounds currently reported, and the courses being so busy, it is still each player’s responsibility to ensure we adhere to the rules at all times. Players are reminded:
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your tee-off time on your tee box.
• Please adhere to the dress code at all times. Our starters are under strict instruction not to allow any golfer to play if they are not dressed accordingly.
• Please repair your pitch marks, fill up your divots, and rake the bunkers with the rakes on the courses.
• Keep up with the fourball ahead of you, and if you lose time, it’s your responsibility to make up the lost time.
• Members are reminded to please have their membership cards on them at all times. Our starters will from time-to-time request that you present your membership card when arriving at the start before you tee off.

As we mentioned in Monday’s newsletter, all the permanent bollards have been removed from the courses. Members driving golf carts are reminded to please keep a distance of 15 m (where possible) from greens and tee boxes. The GPS units were also updated with a new “Action Zone” to direct carts to the nearest cart path, and away from areas where carts are not allowed to drive. Please adhere to the pop-up notifications on the GPS units, and proceed to the nearest cart path.

What a Day on Bushwillow Yesterday!

Marlene van der Nest holed out for 2 on the 9th Bushwillow in the morning – easy little 2 club for 5 points.

A few minutes later as Marlene finished, her husband Jurie van der Nest came running after her informing her that he just made a hole-in-one on the 15th Bushwillow. Only his 10th in 43 years playing golf.

Wim Hancke started his round off with an unbelievable albatross on the 1st Bushwillow.

We have reached maximum capacity (120 players) for the Senior Club Championships. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact Leanne on clubevents@randpark.co.za or 011 215 8600.

The draw will be done on the 7th of September.

Entry Fee: R200 (incl. hospitality stations at registration, comp fee, gift and warm-up buckets at the Range)
Tee Times: Sat, 11 Sept, Bushwillow PM Field 11h14 – 13h06 off both tees;
Sun, 12 Sept, Firethorn AM Field 06h30 – 08h30 off both tees
Halfway House: Grab & Go – players own account
Sunday Prize-giving Lunch: optional at an additional cost of R150 pp

DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, WE HAVE OPENED BUSHWILLOW AS FIRETHORN IS NOW FULLY BOOKED!

We are busy with our preparations for the summer season. We have top-dressed, and scarified the tees on Firethorn. They are responding quickly, but there is still some sand on the surface. This should have disappeared by next week.

We have also started the low cut on the fairways. We set the mowers to 6 mm, which is 4 mm lower than our normal 10 mm cutting height. This helps to remove the dead material, and encourage new growth. A heavy scarify is not an option, as the risk of not getting good early rains is too great, especially with our heavy traffic.

Some golfers have also commented on the small mounds of sand pushed up on the fairways. These are earthworms that are becoming active because of the irrigating we are applying. It is a sign of healthy soils, and a result of using more organic type fertilisers with lower salt content. We also apply no pesticides to the fairways, which could also damage the worm population. The earthworms feed on dead organic matter, and improve the soil structure with their excrement.

Bruce Fordyce

Join Run Zone AC this evening for the Book Sale and Talk with the #9TimesComrades "Champion and Legend", Bruce Fordyce.
• Book Cost: R200.00
• Date: 26th August
• Where: Randpark Club, Baobab Lounge
• Time: 18h00 (Sales and Mingle with the Champ from 17h00)
It’s going to be an exciting evening!

Thursday’s Curry Night Specials

Sit down or take-away from 5 pm to 8 pm. Take-away must be ordered with your service host.

Chilli Beef & Tomato Curry R110
Served with fragrant rice
Thai Green Chicken Curry R90
With fresh coriander leaves, coconut milk, served with fragrant rice
Vegetable & Potato Curry R65
Mild and spicy, served with Basmati rice
Tamarind Sauce Fish Curry R90
Tangy and sweet curried fish, served with fragrant rice
All curries served with sambals, chutney, sliced banana and mango achaar.

You can also order your Club-favourites for take-away collection Monday to Saturday between 11 am and 7 pm and Sunday between 11 am and 4 pm. Click here to view our take-away menu. Contact 011 215 8600 to place your order (Mon-Sat 11am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm).

Click here to book your table and click here to view the menu.

Have a great weekend
Stay Safe, Healthy & Happy!
The Randpark Team