The rains have returned with a passion and the course has been inundated for the third time in a week. What’s worse, the forecast is not promising with further heavy falls expected. We have already recorded 369ml this week.

Clearly no play will be possible for the rest of the week and the C Pennant games set down for play on the course next Sunday are extremely unlikely to be played and will be cancelled.

If the rain stops and we get a series of drying days then I am quite hopeful that things will improve quickly.

We can only hope.

Reporter and Jamberoo local, Bob Anderson, has taken a few more photos today. We were all hopeful of a swift comeback after the drying weather on Saturday. Bob comments,

“Same view different day. Another deluge this morning has undone all the good drying from yesterday. In over 20 years I have never seen the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th fairways in such poor shape for such an extended period.  I think we can forget golf for this week now unless our loyal and highly efficient green staff can perform a miracle. Terribly disappointing for all our members.”

The following was taken about 6.30pm after another serious downpour. It has eased off since as has the water on the 16^th fairway, but the damage still done. When will it end? As Alan Jones has suggested “lockdowns mark 2”.

The course will remain closed until at least next Tuesday due to its sodden state.

Assistant Green-Keeper Brendan Armstrong has inspected the course again and advised that at this stage no play of any kind will be possible until at least next Tuesday, assuming we can get mowers out on Monday. However, with the current poor weather outlook for the weekend it seems unlikely we will even be able to get mowers out next Monday. The soft ground is the main problem for mowing fairways and rough.

It is quite possible that the course will need to remain closed until at least next Wednesday. Hopefully we can run a competition that day.

The perpetual rain has caused massive runoff into both the Minnamurra River and Hyams Creek. Both have overflown their banks and the water is cascading onto the course.

Thanks to the following members who have documented the most serious flood in memory. Looks like we will be out for some time. A working bee will be called when the waters subside to help clean up the mess.

Does anybody have an Ark they can lend me?

Bob Anderson reports, “The river broke its banks around 8.45 am and it has flooded most of the northern part of the course. This photo taken at 9.55 and rain not showing much sign of easing. 15^th green has disappeared.”

The 6th green, 6th fairway, Hyams Creek from 10th bridge this morning.

Liz Armstrong reports, “The river has broken its banks and the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th are now part of its course…can’t see the 11th or others but guessing they are also part of the estuary… The good news is there are no houses or people living on the floodplain.”

Kim Oborn has sent me the following,