Many fallen trees are now covering the closed Queens Park golf course.
Queens Park Golf Club board chair Peter Flannery is hopeful club members might be back playing on their home course before Christmas, but it might be touch-and-go.
The entire Queens Park – including the golf course – is currently closed to the public with multiple trees down at Queens Park, and safety concerns around some of the trees still standing.
The trees came down in 137km winds in Invercargill on October 23.
It’s been suggested that up to 80 trees alone could be down at the golf course. Flannery was not certain of the figure but acknowledged it was a significant amount.
The Invercargill City Council has brought in a specialist tree care company to help sort the massive clean-up job.
The first priority is expected to be clearing tracks for them to get around the park, improve safety, and clear high-use public areas.
“They then will turn their attention to the golf course,” Flannery said.
“What they have told us is it is probably three to four weeks before they start on the golf course, and it will take about three weeks to clear. So that’s what we’ve been told,” Flannery said.
“We are hopeful we will be back before Christmas, but, yes, it is going to be a period of time.”
There will be a financial cost to the golf club with the course out of action.
“We will take a hit from green fees, and the profit over the bar and raffles from competitions, all that sort of stuff.”
Flannery said the one positive is the club will not have to foot the bill for the tree cleanup. That will be sorted by the council, which owns the course land.
The club has reached out to other golf clubs throughout Southland, and Flannery said most have offered them full reciprocal rights to play at their courses.
“A lot of us went to Riverton to play on Saturday, and we will pick a country course each week and, as long as they have got nothing on, we will go and play there.
“The members are pretty positive, but there will be a financial hit; there is no doubt about that.
“We will survive. It is a big inconvenience, but the members have been very supportive and so have the country clubs, in particular.”
The club had closed the course soon before the strong winds hit on October 23 for safety reasons, and Flannery was thankful no one was injured, or worse, killed, given the number of trees that came down.
Two greenkeepers had been out on the course mowing fairways, but when the wind started to pick up, they headed to the greenkeepers shed to clean up.
“By the time they had left, the damage had been done.”
The club has had to cancel its prestigious and historic annual Stead Cup women’s tournament, which was supposed to be played this month.
They have postponed other tournaments, including their major event, Golf in the Park, which will now be played in February, and their annual club championships.
Flannery said the focus at the moment was on keeping the club spirit alive, which included travelling as a group to play at different country courses.
“The course is closed, but we are trying to keep the club spirits up, and that is what is really important to us at the moment.”
The club will host a Quiz Night on Thursday, November 13, which will bring club members together, but importantly also raise funds for the club.
