Magazine - Australia first at Preston Beach Golf Club

By Editor in Golf on 25th Oct 2007 8:00

The Preston Beach Golf Club in Western Australia re-opened its course on Saturday to become the first full size golf course in Australia with synthetic greens. A media release from Ozgolf Technologies and Sports Technology International said: “Apart from improved playability of the world-first putting surfaces, Preston Beach’s new layout has the added benefit of allowing the club to dramatically reduce its annual fresh water consumption.

As a result of unprecedented water savings brought about by the installation of synthetic greens, Preston Beach Golf Club benefits from a grant received under the Australian Government’s $2 billion Australian Water Fund that supports community projects viewed as water-wise.

Preston Beach Golf Club secretary Bill McLellan said the decision was not taken lightly, but after completing due diligence was without doubt the best option.

“We were having great difficulty maintaining our sand greens to a decent level,” Mr McLellan said.

“It was costing us plenty of time and money to keep them in good shape.

“But once we saw the putting products that OzGolf Technologies offered and the installation expertise that Synthetic Turf products provided, the choice was simple.”

The Preston Beach re-development is an opportunity to raise public awareness about recent synthetic grass developments that provide such realistic and ecologically friendly surfaces for sporting and domestic landscaping applications.

OzGolf Technologies is also motoring ahead to complete the first nine holes at Zilzie Bay in Queensland, a world-first par 70 course featuring 18 synthetic greens and surrounding fringes, and a network of synthetic tees. In a side step from the Rules of Golf, to tackle slow play issue head-on, Preston Beach has planned a series of trials where players must putt out without being allowed to mark their ball. It is estimated it will cut down an 18-hole round time for four players by more than 30 minutes.

For more information contact Greg Dowling, PGA of Australia member and Ozgolf Technologies General Manager on 0407 556 755 or Jill Long Sports Technology International Marketing Coordinator 03 8792 8000

Read more articles in Golf, by Editor or from October 2007.