Vale Mr Peter Soo

It is with deep regret and sadness that I advise of the passing of Mr Peter Soo on Friday, 5 September 2025.

Peter was a longstanding and respected Member of Avondale Golf Club for over 12 years. He was a kind and well-liked Member whose presence will be greatly missed by many within our Club.

On behalf of the Board, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the entire Soo family at this difficult time.

Aaron Vatner
General Manager

Member Information Evening - Avondale Golf Club's Financial Strategy

The Member Information Evening is scheduled for Thursday, the 25^th of September at 6.00pm, with drinks and canapés served from 5.00pm.

At this information evening we will be providing a deeper dive into the financials of the Club, the operation and strategic role of the Corpus and the capital planning required to deliver key future projects. If you are not able to attend, presentations from the evening as always, will be made available to members for reading at their convenience from our website but we do hope that you will be able to join us in person for an informative session. 

If you are planning on attending, please register your intent HERE which will assist with planning and F&B requirements. 

Pymble Ladies College Garden Party | Saturday, 20 September 

Members are advised to allow additional travel time when arriving at Avondale on Saturday, 20 September, as Pymble Ladies' College will be hosting a Community Garden Party from 10:00am to 3:00pm. 

To ensure smooth access, an Avondale staff member will be stationed at the top of our driveway to maintain exclusive entry for Members and their guests to the Club and car park.

KEPA Cup

The KEPA Cup (Killara, Elanora, Pymble, Avondale) is a long-running friendly bridge competition, first played in 1993. Each year, two teams of four from each club compete across the four host clubs, with the beautiful cut-glass bowl and framed trophy awarded to the winner.

This year, after a tremendous all-round effort, Avondale were thrilled to be crowned the 2025 winners – our first win since 2014 (shared with Killara).

Congratulations to our Avondale 2025 team: Ginny Agnew, Marg Betts, Michelle Bloxham, Sarah Brell, Nerissa Carr-Boyd, Sue Carr, Di Dorney, Carol Gilder, Marg Goodrick, Margie Hullah, Sue McCormack, Libby Myles, Helen Stewart, Sharon Thompson, and Barb Wood.

A wonderful achievement for Avondale – well done team! 

Course Report

Another great week, as the team progresses through catch up work from August, as well as working through our Spring maintenance program.

The new turf washouts at the beginning of the 17^th hole have been repaired with new sand profile being laid and the existing turf being reused on top. Other smaller washouts have also been repaired. There are still others that we need to get to which will take place over the coming weeks.

The resurfacing of the cart path behind the 10^th green has continued this week as the team install the plastic Geohex material and then infill with crushed sandstone.

With the rain forecast this week, the team were back yesterday working into the early evening to get various jobs completed after the shotgun start and before the forecasted heavy rain set in. All Fairways, Tees and Green Surrounds were cut and sprayed with an application of wetting agent. This wetting agent will assist in moisture management through the warmer months and was applied in conjunction with the forecast rain to wash the product into the soil profile and before the rain came and made the course too wet again for machinery access. We also used our new Toro Procore machine to core more compacted rough and fairway areas which was great to also get done before the rain came and the wetting agent was applied.

We also made use of the course closure today and completed some necessary tree work on our entrance driveway, opposite the 12^th green. This tree had been assessed by our arborist as a high risk of failure and was recommended to remove all live branches and retain as a habitat stag. The tree presented with numerous hollows through the main trunk which provides important habitat value for native wildlife. As part of the approval process with the state government, we had to keep these hollows intact and retain the high habitat value, while removing the necessary branches to remove the safety risk. To complete this work, we needed to have a large crane onsite which also acted as the saw to do the tree work. It was an impressive job by the contractors as they had the work completed within 4 hours. 

Robert Biddle
Course Superintendent

Legacy Week

Legacy Week is now underway at Avondale, with the main event taking place this Sunday, 14 September.

A reminder that tomorrow’s competition (and Saturday and Sunday) includes:

• Hole in One Prize – 2nd Tee
  $2,000 prize (shared: $1,000 to the winner, $1,000 tax-deductible donation to Legacy).
  Eligible in all four remaining competitions this week. Prize can only be won once.

• Nearest the Pin – 2nd Hole
  $20 entry each day. 90% of the pool to the daily winner.
  The overall closest across the week wins a $500 Avondale Pro Shop voucher.
  (Note: Hole in One winners are not eligible for the voucher.)

• Silent Auction
  Now open in the clubhouse and running through September. Items include:

  • Golf with Harrison Endycott

  • Fourball golf at a variety of clubs

  • A set of Titleist clubs

  • TFE Hotels vouchers

  • A mud crab dinner for 8

Please Click Here to see the full listing of Legacy Silent Auctions.

Members are also encouraged to support Legacy with a tax-deductible donation. Every $100 donated enters you into the draw for golf and lunch at The Australian Golf Club on Tuesday, 30 September 2025.

Donation details:
Account Name: Legacy Club Services
BSB: 032000
Acct Number: 883364
(Include your name + “AGC” in the reference, and “DRAW” if you wish to enter.)

Alternatively, you can complete the donation form by Clicking Here and deliver it to Reception at the club or scan and email it directly to reception@avondalegolfclub.com.au

Thank you for your continued support of Legacy.

Peter Collins
President,  Avondale Ex-Services Assoc.

Golf Operations Report

Men’s Club Championships
Members are advised that the Men’s Club Championship entry sheets are now live for registrations. Each entry sheet will close on Wednesday the 17th of September at 12pm. A Members GA handicap at the time of entries closing will dictate what grade they compete in. Please see below for each Grade’s GA bracket and a link to each entry sheet: 

Temporary Local Rules – QR Code
Members are advised that the temporary local rules on the first tee box, is now accessible via QR code. To view the temporary local rules, scan the QR code on your phone or mobile device.

TAA QR Code – Volunteer Expression Of Interest + Entries Open
Expressions of interest are now open for volunteers at the Avondale Amateur in 2026. Note that the method of expressing interest has changed this year. Volunteers will be required to scan a QR code and complete a short 1 minute survey. QR codes can be found in Members locker rooms, noticeboard or Pro Shop. Alternatively, please Click Here. 

September Medal & McIlrath Cups
Please see below for each grade winner, following the September Medal and final round of the McIlrath Cups held at the Club on Saturday 6^th September:

Grade Winners: 
·         A Grade Tie – Tom Brown & Rob Huang (Nett 68)
·         B Grade Winner – Russell Crofts (Nett 70)
·         C Grade Winner – Peter McLean (Nett 69)

Second & Final Round McIlrath Cups
A total of 58 players took part in the 2025 McIlrath Cups which are two-round Aggregate Strokeplay Nett Events, held in conjunction with monthly Medals. The competition was divided into two grades:

A Grade (Handicap less than or equal to 17)

• Winner: John Cordingley – Rounds of 66 and 74 for a total of 140
• Runner-up: Scott Gresham – 70 and 71 for a total of 141, narrowly missing the top spot

B Grade (Handicap greater than or equal to 18)

• Winner: Steven Hou – 69 and 77 for a total of 146
• Runner-up: Michael Grosbard – 74 and 76 for a total of 150

Upcoming Fixtures:

Thursday 11^th September – Men’s Individual Stableford & 2 Ball Team 
·         Roll Up From 6:30am
·         1^st Tee Reserved 9-10am For 13^th Tee Crossover
·         White/Yellow/Gold Markers
·         Optional 12 Hole Stableford and Social Play From 1pm

Saturday 13^th September – Father & Son Trophy & Full 5 Stableford 
·         Timesheet – Opened 8^th September
·         Father Son Trophy – 2BBB (White Markers)
·         White/Red/Yellow/Gold Markers
·         Optional 12 Hole Stableford and Social Play From 1pm

Sunday 14^th September – Medley Individual Stableford & 2 Ball Team (Legacy Day) 
·         Roll Up From 6:30am
·         Medley Individual Stableford & 2 Ball Team
·         White/Red/Yellow/Gold Markers
·         Optional 12 Hole Stableford and Social Play From 1pm

2025 Putting Championship - Open to all members!

Bryce Pickin NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship Winner
Congratulations to Avondale Member Bryce Pickin who won the NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach. Bryce defeated Avondale Member Will Bayliss in a playoff after they both finished at -1 (291) forcing a playoff to decide the Championship.

Bryce eagled the first playoff hole to claim the title! 

Golf Operations Team
David Balcomb & Ben Hearsch

Women's Committee Report

The weather was kind to us yesterday as we finally caught up on our rain-delayed schedule. We successfully held four different events in one round: the Captain's Trophy, our final Medal and Button rounds, and the Vets Championship qualifying round.

What an exciting finish we had to the Captain's Trophy! Congratulations to Vanessa Denny and Jill Gates, who both finished with an outstanding score of 66. This led to a playoff on the 12th hole, where Vanessa secured the win for the trophy. A huge congratulations to both players on a superb performance!

We'd also like to congratulate all of our other winners from yesterday's round.

Division I  
Winner –  Michelle Bloxham - 67 | Runner Up – Judy Stephen - 68

Division 2
Winner – Jill Gates 66 c/b | Runner Up – Vanessa Denny 66

Division 3
Winner – Sue Byrne - 69 | Runner Up – Chaylee Kaleski – 73c/b

Scratch Winner: June Song 72 | Captains Trophy:  Vanessa Denny

Competitions Winners for the week

Congratulations to all prize winners

Friday 5th September – Individual Stableford 
18 Hole Stableford 
Winner: Carolyn Cochrane – 39 pts (C/B) | Runner Up: Alison Thompson – 39 pts (C/B)

12 Hole Stableford
Winner: Vanessa Culbert – 25 pts | Runner Up: Jane Heap – 23 pts

Monday 8th September – Individual Stableford
18 Hole Stableford
Winner: Maggie Zhang – 34 pts | Runner Up: Jane Heap – 33 pts

12 Hole Stableford
Winner: Mandy Whelan – 26 pts | Runner Up: Anne Rayner – 25 pts (C/B)

Grandmothers’ Day – 5^th September
Last Friday, we had a fantastic turnout of 56 players competing for the popular Grandmother’s Trophy. A huge congratulations to our individual winner, Sue Holmes, who won the trophy with a fantastic score of 38 pts.  Congratulations also go to our Runner-Up, Geraldine Piper, who finished with an excellent score of 37 pts. 

Congratulations also go to the winning team of Margaret Lloyd, Janine Roberts, Gillian Angus, and Prattie Patel with a fantastic score of 91 points and to Margaret Worthington.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Foursomes Championships 
Our Foursomes finals are scheduled for this Tuesday, September 16th, with the first tee at 8:00 AM.

Please note that there will be tee times available from 7:00 AM to 7:48 AM before the championship begins. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. We especially appreciate everyone who organized their semi-final matches to be completed by the playoff deadline.

Congratulations to our finalists: 
Kerry Skellern/Jo McCamley vs Marg Betts/Yvonne Cheung
Kris Leamon/Sam Hogan vs Vicky Wu/Anna Kim
Jennie Jones/Kate Druce vs Leesa Stanwell/Trica Perl

We'd love for you to come out and support our finalists!

It's a wonderful tradition for our members to follow the finals, so after your round, please join us on the course to cheer on the ladies and watch some great golf. Following the matches, we invite you to a special presentation in the Trophy Room at approximately 2:30 PM, where we will celebrate and congratulate our winners with a glass of champagne.

Caddy's Day: Friday, September 19th
Individual Stableford: Tuesday, September 23rd
Suellen Barker Trophy/Women’s AGM: Tuesday, October 7th. This will be a par round, followed by the Women's AGM.
Club Championship 1st Qualifying Round: Tuesday, October 14th. The entry sheet opens on Tuesday, September 23rd.
Mother/Daughter Trophy: Sunday, October 26th. The entry sheet is now open. This year's format is 4BBB, and the Terms and Conditions are attached to the booking sheet for your reference.

Melbourne Cup
The online timesheet for our Melbourne Cup Day will open this Saturday, 13 September at 6 pm – so don’t miss out!  Organise your team for what is always a fun day.  This event is open to members and guests with all funds raised on the day going directly to our 2025 Charity – Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter. 

You and your guest will receive a three-course lunch with bubbles on arrival: 
$100 Member and Guest (lunch only)
$110 Member Golf/Lunch
$150 Guest Golf/Lunch
$10 of each ticket price with be donated to our charity! 

Vets and Super Vets Matchplay
Congratulation to all who qualified in the Supervets and Vets Championship The draw is now posted online. All matches must be played by October 5th.

Pennant Hills Interclub
Our annual Pennant Hills Interclub is on Friday, October 3rd, and will be held here at Avondale.

The sign-up sheet is now in the locker room for anyone interested in playing. The matches will be followed by lunch in the Founders Room.

Kind regards,

The Women's Committee

Proshop Report

Accessories Of The Week
Discover a curated selection of innovative golf accessories designed to make every round more enjoyable, convenient, and stylish.

KumiGolf H3 Water Brush
Keep your clubs in top condition with ease. With the push of a button, a fine spray of water helps clean away dirt, dust, and grass from your clubheads. Say goodbye to messy cloths — this sleek, practical tool is the reliable companion for beautiful play.

Desert Fox Phone Caddy
Never lose sight of your phone on the course. This fully adjustable, high-impact phone holder secures to any golf cart and keeps your phone safe, accessible, and protected. Fits smartphones from 4"–7" and includes a microfiber bag with drawstring. Quick, convenient, and designed specifically for golfers.

Sun Mountain Umbrellas
Play in comfort, rain or shine. Featuring automatic operation and a durable double-canopy design, these umbrellas provide excellent protection from the elements. Choose from a full-colour model with a 30+ UV rating or a sleek silver with a 60+ UV rating. Each comes with a slip-resistant, rubber-covered handle that fits perfectly in Sun Mountain cart holders.

Please see any member of the Proshop team for more information! 

The Proshop Team
Ben, Mark, Nelson, Gus, Will & Linus