The City of Brimbank’s Keilor Public Golf course has remained open for 18 holes of golf through the summer. Located in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Keilor, like most courses around the country, needed to address the drought and has done so by totally resurfacing its 18 holes. A cool season grass that was previously laid has now been changed to a warm season grass, conquest couch. Conquest couch requires less water and therefore has water saving benefits for Council.
With Brimbank residents under Stage 3 water restrictions in their homes, Council is working hard to ensure it is saving its share of water. Council anticipates the change of playing surface at the Keilor Golf course will save around 45 mega litres, or 60 per cent of water per year.
Council golf maintenance staff grew the grass on site at Keilor over the past three years. Fourteen hectares of conquest grass has been propagated over that period of time, enough to replace all 18 holes.
The major works at Keilor have also provided Council golf maintenance staff with the opportunity to improve the layout of the course. Nine new bunkers have been added, fairways have new, tougher layouts and over 1,500 trees have been planted.
Brimbank Mayor, Councillor Margaret Giudice, was on hand to score the first par on the resurfaced back nine holes in January.
“With over 300,000 people playing golf in Melbourne last year, providing a continuing opportunity for Brimbank residents to play golf is important to Council,” she said. “We are also pleased that some grass from the on site nursery will be used on local sporting fields next year.”
For further information contact Brimbank’s Property Manager, Chris Karagiannis, on (03) 9249 4910.
