“We will pretty much evacuate the whole
shed, which includes moving all of the
machinery out. We also have some
demountable buildings, which we would
transport out as well.
“Now we have a solid path from the shed
to the clubhouse whereas 12 months
ago we didn’t, which meant the bigger
machinery couldn’t get up the hill and
went under.”
Last month the golf club had the chance
to test its evacuation plan when heavy
rain and a 2.5m high tide triggered flood
evacuation procedures. The new pump
system and machinery was moved to
higher ground when water levels got to
within a metre of the pump shed.
Ipswich Golf Club manager Brett
Holdway said the golf course, which
suffered more than $650,000 worth of
damage, was almost back to the condition
it was in before the flood put 17 greens
under water.
Only the 18th green survived and
the clubhouse became an emergency
evacuation centre for flood-affected
residents.
“The golf course was closed for about four
weeks, but it’s now looking the best it’s
looked prior to the floods,” Holdway said.
“The fairways copped a hammering and
the greens had a lot of silt over them.
“We lost our major pump shed when it
floated down the river. The club managed
to secure a grant to get the pump back in
operation.
“Apart from the odd couple of bunkers
that are still out of play on the fourth hole
and the 14th you wouldn’t realise a flood
had even hit the place.”
Jindalee Golf Club in Brisbane’s western
suburbs is almost back to full strength
following last year’s big wet.
At the time, the clubhouse and pro
shop had more than one metre of water
through it and the nine-hole course and
carts’ shed was completely submerged.
Golf Industry Central Autumn 2012
13