Horsham Golf Club in Bushfire

[Mike_Clayton]

Today was Melbourne's hottest ever day at 46 (118) degrees. The hot winds were wicked and bushfires swept across much of the state of Victoria
Neil Crafter is the architect at Horsham Golf Club which is the best inland, country golf course in the state.

There are news reports that a bushfire has gone through the golf course.

Neil,

Any news?

[Matthew Rose]

This is from the Melbourne Age today...

"Strong winds have fanned flames across the state and at least 14 homes, a golf club and a fire truck have been destroyed."

Then further down..

"Three houses, the Horsham Golf Club, the Dimboola Fire Brigade unit and several sheds have all been destroyed in a fire which has burnt 1800 hectares near Horsham, in the state's west."

Doesn't look good.

I've never felt anything like what I felt today... it was like somebody had a hairdryer pointed right at my face constantly.

[Mike_Clayton]

Matt,

It was a horrendous day. We played 9 holes at 8.00 and it was ok for an hour and a half but the hot wind came and that was it.
I can't imagine anyone played golf in Melbourne this afternoon.

[Chris Kane]

It was a horrendous day. We played 9 holes at 8.00 and it was ok for an hour and a half but the hot wind came and that was it.

200 bottles of water on the way round?

[Andrew Bertram]

latest news suggest course, clubhouse and groundstaff sheds all burned.

100 plus houses burned at this stage around victoria, in excess of 30 seperate blazes today. Horsham blaze in excess of 2500 hectares and still going strong.

Sadly some of these fires were deliberately lit

[Neil_Crafter]

This is the first I have heard of this, very sad news if all this damage is confirmed.
I will call the superintendent Tim Warren and report in later.
We have not yet started our masterplanning process and expect this will be indefinitely postponed now.

[Kevin Pallier]

Neil Crafter is the architect at Horsham Golf Club which is the best inland, country golf course in the state.

Mike

Horsham is among the best inland country courses in the country let alone Vic and it's a sad day in the clubs history if all reports of it to date are true.

The club was suffering somewhat of an "over abundance" of trees last time I was there a few years ago now - but the layout itself was very strong. Hope to get back there someday and support the club again.

[Neil_Crafter]

Kevin
I think the over abundance of trees will be a thing of the past if all the reports are correct.
Neil

[Matthew Delahunty]

It is a tragedy if, in fact, the course and clubhouse have gone under.

But far worse is the fact that so far 14 people have lost their lives around the state and that seems sure to rise. Hundreds of people will have lost their homes and thousands of livestock and native animals will have perished.

That sort of put the damage to the golf course in perspective.

[Neil_Crafter]

An update after speaking to Tim Warren this morning.

No-one injured or killed, clubhouse was successfully evacuated.
Clubhouse and pro shop totally destroyed.
One machinery shed destroyed.
Other machinery shed with Tim's office and computer OK.
Pump station OK, no power though.
All vegetation between fairways destroyed. Burnt trees adjacent to tees etc a danger
Fairways and greens OK but singed in places.
Board meeting this morning.

I suspect no golf there until they can make the place safe.

[Mike_Clayton]

Kevin,

You are right - it is the best inland course in the country that I have seen - Elleston aside but that does not count given no one plays there!

Neil,
So long as the fairways and greens are ok it should be fine.
Would you think a revised vegetation scheme could be a good for the course in the long term?

[Neil_Crafter]

Mike
Provided the club is adequately insured and can survive this blow, then yes, it would not necessarily be a bad thing and has certainly gotten rid of the radiata pines that's for sure.

[Mike_Clayton]

No bad thing there with the pines  - it will save you the arguments!

[Neil_Crafter]

Mike
We had not started the masterplan process yet as the club was waiting until the new financial year. I'm certain that will not happen now and the focus of course will be on getting everything re-established. A start on the masterplan could be years away. Their pines were not looking so good before the fire and now are looking even worse! So yes, it will save that argument for sure.

[Chris Kane]

I heard reports yesterday that Drouin Golf Club was gone - but haven't heard anything since.

76 confirmed dead already, and 700 homes lost.  Its hard to be too worried about a golf course among such devastation.

[Danny Goss]

I heard reports yesterday that Drouin Golf Club was gone - but haven't heard anything since.

76 confirmed dead already, and 700 homes lost.  Its hard to be too worried about a golf course among such devastation.

Chris,

I also heard the Drouin Golf Club story yesterday. I am only a few kilometers from there but heard today that it got to the edge of the course but hasnt done any great damage. But like all these stories at present it needs to be confirmed.  I know plenty of people here who have lost livestock etc ( which is a massive blow) but only one home so far. Still not sure why we were so lucky and others were obviously not.

[Neil_Crafter]

Glad to hear you are OK Danny.

The members of Horsham will feel devastated I am sure Chris but will thank their lucky stars that no-one was killed or injured.

[Stephen Britton]

These photos of Horsham Golf Club were on this mornings Herald Sun website.

[Jason Hines]

Danny, Stephen,

I lost my home to a house fire in 2001, fortunately everyone was safe including the dog.  In the end, everything that was destroyed was just “stuff”, including golf courses.

Please be safe and take care of your loved ones.
 
Jason Hines
Olathe, Kansas

[JohnV]

Best wishes to all you down under.  I am shocked that so many people have died in these fires.  It is very rare for anyone to die in the brush fires in California.  To hear of approximately 100 people dieing speaks of the speed that these fires must have spread.

[Neil_Crafter]

Stephen
Appreciate you posting these photos.
Neil

[Matthew Mollica]

From local newspapers this morning -

"There are still 31 active fires across the state as of 5.30am (AEDT) today, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said.

More than 100 have been confirmed dead, and at least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than 330,000 hectares burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.

The death toll surpasses that from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia, and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71."

MM

[Stephen Britton]

I played the course about 10 years ago. They used to have a really good annual amateur tournament there, I can’t remember if it was a VGA event or if it was run by the club?

From what I can remember of the course there wasn’t a lot of “heath” but there were a lot of native grasses especially the “black boy grass” or Xanthorrhoe. Obviously the trees are in trouble although the native grasses and other shrubs will benefit from the fire and re-populate fairly quickly.

Let’s just hope the fire moved through quick enough as to not hurt the tees, fairways or greens..

[Mike_Clayton]

Steve,

Interestingly one of the best pieces of heath at Peninsula came when all the pine and tea-tree was removed from the back of the 12th green (North) and burnt.

[Stephen Britton]

Mike,

I remember the area behind #12N, all of the heath that was exposed looks fantastic. I didn't know you guys burnt it also.

It's a great practice for guys who have heath areas that look a little beat up or worn down that need rejuvenating. We used to burn heath at Royal Melbourne all the time, the heath came back thicker and thicker each year.