April 2016

Dear Members,
While some grouse about the facilities, golfer-gourmands praise the great restaurant and 18th hole. Not all courses in the country are favoured with as lovely a setting as Chapman. Our course provides a unique golfing experience surrounded by beautiful nature. With the favourable weather conditions this month, the course was easy to negotiate and was in the most outstanding condition ever.
The club is open every day for your services. Join as a corporate member and enjoy the benefits of corporate membership in functions such as corporate golf days, meetings, product launches and cocktails

CLUB SPONSORSHIP
Join us for our Wednesday and Saturday Club Competitions and enjoy the services or rather be part of the sponsors and get a chance to market your product or company to the golfers. Contact golf administrators: Ranga or Douglas to make your tee off reservations and also if you are interested in sponsoring a Wednesday or Saturday competition on golfadministration@chapmangolf.co.zw

GREENS PROJECT

The Board has approved, sanctioned by the last AGM, to undertake a project to see how we can improve our greens.

We have consulted with local “fundies” and had the opinions of The South African Turf School (Jenny Liebenberg) and South African McDonalds Seeds (Chris Blyth). Two varieties of grass, Cynodon Dactylon Bermuda Princess 77 and Creeping Bent Ti, and a method of undertaking the operation has been identified.

We have decided to do a trial on the practice putting green outside the half-way house where the two grasses and two types of sand will be used. This will give us a pretty good idea of all implications including costs. The results will be there for all to see and a final decision will then be made.

Details of the grasses are supplied for your info.

Please contact your G&F Committee with any comments.

T-1 Creeping Bentgrass

T-1 is the first of a new generation of creeping bentgrass, with qualities never before seen in golf turf:

• “Championship greens without the championship maintenance”
• “The Forgiving Bent”
• Ball marks, divots heal rapidly
• Dollar spot resistance equal to the best
• Rich green color
• Makes visible gains on Poa annua each year
• Great on GREENS, TEES and FAIRWAYS!

CHARACTERISTICS:
Tenacious ground coverage – The single biggest factor that sets T-1 apart is ground coverage. T-1 retains ground coverage under some incredibly tough growing conditions.
Aggressive against Poa – At Jacklin Seed, we test every single bent strain in our breeding program against Poa annua. If it can’t hold up against Poa, we pitch it. All of the plants that went into T-1 excelled at keeping Poa at bay. In fact, they made visible gains against Poa every year.

T-1 is the “Forgiving Bent” – Unlike some earlier bents, T-1 was bred and optimized with the mid-budget golf course in mind. T-1 provides tournament-quality golf for every golf course.

Breeding – Half of the breeding lines in T-1 from elite selections in the variety, Putter. The other half of its parent germplasm originated from New England golf course collections. T-1’s breeder block was assembled using clonal rows, similar to how Penncross and Putter were constructed.

Turf growth habit – T-1 sets a new standard for bentgrass tiller density, providing a rich, luxurious putting surface. Yet it is remarkably easy to manage. Ordinary masonry sand can be used in topdressing mixes.

Princess 77 Bermudagrass

 Recommended uses for Princess 77:

• Golf Course Fairways
• Golf Course Tees
• Athletic Fields
• Parks  Home Lawns

Princess 77 Bermudagrass is the first dense, fine textured F1 hybrid bermudagrass variety to be available in seeded form. Princess 77 seed is produced much like hybrid seed corn, but instead of two inbred parent lines, two self-incompatible but cross-fertile parent clones are planted in alternating rows. The specific combining ability of these two elite parent clones is what makes Princess 77 the first seeded bermudagrass that is competitive with the vegetative hybrid bermudagrasses for turfgrass quality, leaf texture, color, and density.

Characteristics of Princess 77:

• High tolerance to sun, drought and traffic
• Outstanding drought tolerance
• Dark green color, medium fine leaf texture
• High leaf density
• Good fall color retention
• Higher overall turf quality than all commercial seeded varieties in U.S. and International tests

Establishing Princess 77

Princess 77 should be planted when soil temperatures are consistently above 65º F (18º C). For best results, take a soil sample and follow fertility recommendations prior to planting. Care must be taken not to cover the seed with too much soil; no more than 1/8 inch (3 mm) covering over the seed is advised.

After seeding, soil moisture in the root zone must be maintained for about 1 to 2 weeks, germination may begin within 7 to 10 days. After the new turf is established, less frequent, deep watering is desirable.

Maintaining Princess 77

No more than 1/3 of the leaf blade should be removed per mowing. Recommended mowing height is 3/16 to 1 inch (5 to 25 mm). Full coverage may be attained in 4 to 6 weeks with proper management. Fertilize with ½ to 1 lb/1,000 sq ft actual N (0.25 to 0.5 kg /100 sq m) per month of growing season for optimum performance, fertilization may be reduced by ½ if clippings are returned.

This is a dense hybrid – verticut at least once per growing season during periods of active growth. Winter overseeding may be done for year round green color, but is generally not recommended on turf less than 6 months old.

Coming Events

The Club is hosting the Nomdas Nationals Tournament from the 1st of May to the 3rd of May 2016. Club Chapionships will be held on the 7th – 8th of May 2016.Chapman will also be having its Annual Fundraising Golf Day on the 25th of June 2016. Your support is greatly needed.

Club News
The month of April was filled with a lot of activities including a number of fundraising golf days, conferences, golf tournaments and also the captain’s dinner.
The Captain’s dinner held on the 1st of April was a great success and we would like to thank everyone who attented this function for the support that you rendered to our Captain, Vinod Solanki. Without you, the event would not have been made possible.
It was a night to remember, a night not to be missed, filled with vibrant guests,lovely setting and top level service, the atmosphere of the place was just superb. With guest speaker Mr Dave Usendorff a Golfer , Sporting Celebrity in South Africa, Proffesional Sports coach and also MC , the night could not get any better. We would like to thank him for his memorable time and inspiring stories that uplifted our guests. Those who were there can confirm that the night was just a wonderfull and enjoyable night.The rest of the evening could never be expressed in words, only images bring the night to life again.

RANGE NEWS.

• The range will be open as usual on the weekend of the Nomads Nationals –Sunday 1st, Monday 2ndand Tue 3rd May. We will also be open for those of you not playing in the Men’s Club Champs on Sat 7th and Sun 8th May.
• OpenairCinema Movie nights have been a big success at the range and we hope to continue with these movie evenings. It is a fun evening for the whole family.
• Range balls!! We apologise for the state of our range balls. We have had major problems with our supplier Srixon! We are expecting new balls any day now; thank you for your patience.
• The range is open to members and non-members. Members using their Chapman swipe card receive 20% discount on ball hire!!

Advertising opportunities for your company or product at the range – contact Cath Riley 0772 204 849 or the range office 0775464666.

PRO-SHOP NEW SPECIALS

3 WHEEL TROLLEYS @ $ 250
2 WHEEL TROLLEYS @ $ 150
20% Discount on selected hybrids

A reminder to our Golfers

A sample regarding sand /divots an area which golfers appear to be having problems with as well as a hazard situation

Touching Growing Grass in a Hazard

There are two types of hazard on a golf course, bunkers and water hazards (which include lateral water hazards) and that strokes (where there must be intent to strike at and move the ball) are different from practice swings. Most golfers know that if their ball lies in a hazard they must not touch the ground in that hazard, or the water if it is a water hazard, with their hand or club. Most golfers also realize that they must not touch or move any loose impediment (e.g. stones, branches and dead leaves) lying in or touching the same hazard, unless it is with the forward movement of their club as they make their stroke.

The Note to Rule 13-4 clarifies;

An increasing number of Golf Committees and golf course owners now request players to carry a bag or bottle of sand/seed mix during their round, for use in repairing divot damage that has been made by them or other players. There is no doubt that in most cases the immediate repair of divot holes by with a sand/seed mix promotes the fastest recovery possible.

CLUB COMPETITIONS

•  Col-Johnson Semi-finals will be played on 30 April 2016.
•  Bain Cup 3rd round will be played on the 14th of May 2016.

Please advise Golf Admin if you will not be available to play on the scheduled day.

APRIL MONTHLY MEDAL SPONSORED BY CBZ BANK

The winners are:
Championship Division 0-6 h/caps
Runner Up: R Mohamed h/c 0 nett 76
Winner: D Amm h/c 0 nett 73

Division B 7-12 h/caps
Runner Up: S. Sibanda h/c 9 also on nett 71
Winner : J Musuka h/c 10 nett 72 c/out

Division C 13-18 h/caps
Runner Up: H Maeresera h/c 18 nett 72 c/out A Toronga
Winner: K Chiketsani h/c 18 nett 71

Division D 19-24 h/caps
Runner Up: G Gondo h/c 24 nett 72 c/out W Mushure
Winner: Mharadze J h/c 24 nett 68

EXTERNAL RESULTS
A League team- Chapman lost 2, Warren 4. Better luck next time.
B League won 6-0. Congratulations and well played.

Next Fixtures
A League Chapman vs. Police at Warren
B League Chapman vs. Brooke at Country Club
Both matches will be played on the 15th of May.

Kindly note, players who wish to represent the Club please contact the following League Captains:
De Oliveira H chips@alpha.co.zw
Chakanyuka E edchak@hotmail.com

Thank you POSB for the Mega Medal Competition Sponsorship

April Mega Medal Results

Winner :Edmore Mushavi h/c 24 nett 70
R/up :Nyasha Chasakara h/c 24 nett 72
3rd :Elliot Shoniwa h/c 20 nett 73 c/out

The Nicoz Diamond Sponsored Monthly Individual Stableford will be played on Saturday 30 April 2016. Book our times with Golf Admin.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES

• Please read attached article on the 10 commandments of Golf Etiquette.
• Please correct Z.G.A. affiliation cards at Golf Admin, available for paid up members only.
• Kindly note that only fully paid up members will be eligible to play in the Club Championships.
• Members are advised to pay all their quarterly subs before 30 April 2016.
• Members are advised to rent a locker for safe keeping of your belongings at the club. Rental fees are only $40 for the whole year, daily rental are $2, please safeguard you valuables and for those who own lockers renew your rental fees. Contact Patience at the Front Office for more details if you require a locker. Please note lockers are club property for rental.
• Members are urged to update their email addresses in order to receive important club updates. We have reserved one telephone number 04 747969 for members incoming calls only and cell phone numbers 078 4014414 for accounts office and for the reception 0718 194 081.
• To keep up with what’s happening at the club, like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chapmangolfclub) and also visit our websit(www.chapmangolf.co.zw).

To make this newsletter more interesting, we will be having a member’s column where you can share short stories and jokes. You can send them on our email (marketing@chapmangolf.co.zw)

Compiled by:
Tabeth Zvidzwa
Sales & Marketing