In 2021 the club received a Community Funding Scheme Grant from Macedon Ranges Shire Council to implement the “Woodend Golf Club: A Green Sport Action” project.
The funding has been supported by club member Annabel Sides through her business Green Planet Sport , MRSC and other community organisations include Woodend Landcare , The Woodend Bee Friendly Society and The Woodend Men’s Shed.
Through the project we have
- Expanded our knowledge of club life and the needs of our members through a member survey, generated a committee action plan and written an acknowledgement of country to be used at meetings, on the website and on correspondence.
- Created a 10-year Environment Master Plan with Environmental Golf Solutions. This plan will guide course restoration, regeneration and build climate resiliency to 2032.
- Commenced protection, enhancement, and restoration of native vegetation on course. This rewilding will support the climate resilience of the course, provide a seed bank for further course work and provide habitat for small mammals, birds, reptiles, and pollinators.
- Become a member of Sport Environment Alliance Australia
- Installed interpretive signage, nesting boxes and microbat habitat boxes. Thanks to Macedon Ranges Signs for helping with the signs. Thanks also to the MRSC Environment Team and the Woodend Men’s Shed for the nesting boxes and microbat boxes.
As you move about the course you can regularly see a wide variety of bird life and native vegetation. When you look closely you will be amazed at the depth and diversity of our residential native fauna and flora.
Below are some of what you can expect to see as you play through the greens and fairways, or simply take a stroll walk through the space with your family or friends.
Nesting Boxes
There are 6 nesting boxes located in trees between the 13th tee and green. These boxes have a small hole at the front and are the right size and design to become home to sugar gliders and phascogales. Installed in late 2021, we will monitor the boxes annually to see who our new on course residents are! Stay tuned.
For more information about significant, rare and threatened local animal species in the Macedon Ranges visit https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Environment/Native-Pest-Animals/Animals-of-the-Macedon-Ranges
Please remember that the species that call these nesting boxes home are nocturnal and protected and should not be peeked in on or disturbed unless during arranged monitoring events. These events will be advertised via the clubs socials and to members.
Microbat Boxes
There are microbat boxes located on course in trees along the 15th holes. These boxes will support the many species of bats in the Macedon Ranges. The following information has been adapted from the Upper Campaspe Landcare website.
Microbats play a critical role in ecosystems across Australia as insectivores and as prey species for other animals such as owls and snakes.
Their high position on the food chain, widespread distribution and evolutionary stability make microbats a reliable bioindicator of ecosystem health.
So, if we have microbats on course, we know that Woodend Golf Course is a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem. Microbats play an important role in controlling insect numbers, including a range of pest species and disease carrying mosquitoes, as they eat around 40% of their body weight of insects each night. That is the equivalent of an average human that weighs 70kg eating 117 Big Macs each night!
The installation of pollinator plots, changed mowing practices and wider native grass coverage will increase our insect numbers, providing fast food for microbats who in turn may be prey for owl species.
Please remember that the species that call these microbat boxes and Woodend Golf Course home are nocturnal and protected and should not be peeked in on or disturbed unless during arranged monitoring events. These events will be advertised to members of club.
Birds of the Woodend Golf Course
On course there are a collection of species that you are likely to see enjoying the view as much as you.
These common species include Rosella, Magpie, Kookaburra, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Red-browed Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Galah and the majestic Wedge-tailed Eagle.
You can view more about birds of the Macedon Ranges here https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Environment/Native-Pest-Animals/Birds
Native Vegetation of Woodend Golf Course
Over the years our superintendent has identified patches of native grass interspersed with native flowering lilies, orchids and other small pretties.
In 2021 we commenced a new mowing regime on course. These mow zones will allow seeding of native grasses, add depth and texture to the course outlook and save time and money on the mower, that can be better invested in course facilities and the upkeep of our playing surfaces.
Some of the most significant native meadows can be found on the south side of the 13th fairway, between the end of the 14th fairway and start of the 15th fairway. We will also be regenerating the northern side of the 15th fairway. From October through to March there will be an array of flowering grasses including a number of wallaby grass species, kangaroo grass, weeping grass and wheat grass, in peak flowering time you will see bulbine lilies, chocolate lilies (that actually smell like chocolate!), pink bells, rice flowers, milkmaids, sun orchids, greenhood orchids, billy buttons, daisies and many more.
To protect the driveway from any wayward balls we have installed three mounds on the south side of the driveway on the 1st. In Autumn 2022 these will be populated with wallaby grasses. We are trailing 3 methods of planting including dense planting, interspersed planting and mulching and also direct seeding. In Spring 2022 and following planting seasons we will intersperse the grasses with lilies and other small pretties that have been cultivated from the courses native seed bank.
The club will hold annual ‘walk arounds’ for members and the local Landcare and regeneration communities during peak flowering times to identify, photograph and support future management of these areas.
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has a booklet of native flora that can be accessed here. https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Environment/Weeds-Native-Plants/Native-Plants-of-the-Macedon-Ranges
Frogs
At certain times of the year, the course hosts a cacophony of frog calls. Progressively we will look to improve the habitat for frogs and reptiles around the course. To find out more about the frogs you may hear or see on course visit https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Environment/Macedon-Ranges-Nature-Pod#section-3
Solar panels and batteries.
Part of creating a more climate resilient club is reviewing our energy needs and contributing to transition from fossil fuels. We have installed solar panels and batteries on the Golf Club Shed and hope one day to have more electric machinery and course maintenance equipment to reduce our fuel costs.
Pollinators
Pollinators are an important part of our food system, from bees to butterfly’s, moths and hover flies providing places for them to call home is another goal at the club. All of our regenerative work will support pollinator species and we will be choosing specific sites for pollinator friendly plantings over the coming years.
For more information about local pollinators or to create your own pollinator garden visit the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network.
For more information about our environment program please contact the club.
To access a copy of the Environment Master Plan please click on this link Woodend Golf Club Environment Master Plan