Horsham Golf Club in Bushfire

[James Bennett]

The Age provides a reasonable summary of what is and isn't at Horsham.

Note that Horsham is several hundreds of kilometres from the areas where many of the other fires are in Victoria - it is not the fire in Victoria.

I note that they hope to have 9 holes open soon!


http://www.theage.com.au/national/molly-flees-the-scene-of-61-good-years-in-a-cab-20090208-8117.html


PS  I recall playing Peninsula N#12 and feeling that the rhs looked 'different'.  That was some 3 years ago - I expect the recovery of the vegetation is quite significant now.  I didn't realise that the area was being renewed, but am delighted to hear that it was.

James B

[Richard Chamberlain]

Here are a few photos I took of the place last year.

[RJ_Daley]

One shutters to imagine those numerous and mature trees subjected to the days of dry extreme heat and wind, and how they must explode into flame in such a widesweeping fire storm. 

Thanks for the before and after pics to demonstrate the damage, Stephen, and Richard... (Not Father Ralph are you?  )

[Brad Klein]

Stephen Britton,

which day's issue of the Herald Sun were those photos? Can you name the article and page?

Thanks.

BSK

[Richard Chamberlain]

Thanks for the before and after pics to demonstrate the damage, Stephen, and Richard... (Not Father Ralph are you?  )

No my son...but I suspect my mum has a crush for that doc from the 60's.

[Neil_Crafter]

Brad
I think Stephen said he got them from the Herald Sun website, not the paper itself.

Richard
More like Father Ted I'd say!

[Stephen Britton]

Stephen Britton,

which day's issue of the Herald Sun were those photos? Can you name the article and page?

Thanks.

BSK

They were on the Herald Sun website. There is a link for readers to post photos of the fire on the front page.

Here is the link:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/gallery/0,22010,5037340-5006020-44,00.html

[Stephen Britton]

I saw this on You Tube today, I didn't know Cranbourne Golf Club was burnt also?

Was it actually Cranbourne Golf Club or another course in Cranbourne?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9wr8SSuXTQ

[James Bennett]

Stephen

I read on TGF (Australian web site) that the entrance to Cranbourne was burnt - the grand cypress boulevard.  However, others commented that no burning was visible from the road near the 4th.

There were houses nearby that were burnt.  Note that this is a comptely different fire to the other more infamous fires.  I will check the youtube tonight when I get home.

Cranbourne is a wonderful club that does so many things well, with great constraint on spending and great planning.  There might be a few pines that I would not miss (#13 lhs I think) but otherwise I hope any damage is minimal.

James B

Edit - Stephen

the youtube shows the entrance road to Cranbourne, and the Cypress boulevard has gone.  It was an empty paddock on one side (as shown) and dense housing on the other.  The voice over said some houses went.  I can believe that given the proximity to the Cypresses.

I don't see anything at this stage to say that Cranbourne has been seriously affected.  I hope this is right.

James B

[Jim McCann]

Just over a year after the terrible destruction at Horsham and elsewhere
Down Under, can anybody post an update on the current state of play
(if any) at the club?

I'm adding the course to the www.top100golfcourses.co.uk website as it
expands Australian coverage from a Top 50  to a Top 100 and would
be grateful if any Antipodean correspondent could provide relevant
information.

Thanks. 

[Neil_Crafter]

Jim
The course was back in play around 2 months or so after the fire. Lots of hard work from lots of people to get it back. The course is now looking the best its ever looked from a playing surfaces perspective, especially given that over 90% of the trees have been lost (dead ones cut down) and there is significantly less competition for water and nutrients, less shade etc.

My firm Crafter + Mogford have just finished our new master plan for the club and I'm just back from a trip to Horsham on Tues and wed of this week to attend a members presentation evening and present the new plan to the members - which was well received.

Looking over a few holes quickly on Wed morning the course is looking excellent and lots of regrowth coming on too. All positive news and they have lots of grant applications out there and a law suit against the power company that started the fire.