The Beachport Golf Club has dug deep to cover the costs associated with digging up the seaside town’s golf course.

Earthworks have been taking place to enable a fully automated smart irrigation system to be installed.

Despite an unsuccessful grant application, the Beachport club and community has rallied together to finance the $345,000 project.

Golf club president Lyn White said the latest irrigation technology will help save water, time and money.

“It has been 30 years since the 70-year-old club last had an irrigation upgrade,” she said.

Ms White said the greenskeeper was dedicating up to 45 hours a week in the summer heat to manually move sprinklers and hoses.

Before the renovation, greenskeeper Tim Ellis was hauling these around the course.

Poor coverage left the short 9-hole course with a number of wet and dry spots.

“At present our greenskeeper is required to lay out hoses and attach sprinkler heads manually,” Ms White said.

“The current system does not cover the whole course, leaving a patchy and dry playing surface.”

Ms White said the latest technology will modernise the way the club maintains its course, help alleviate irrigation worries and maximise water conservation while improving efficiency.

“The automated system can be operated from home via a smart phone app and will allow us to water at night and for specified lengths of time,” she said.

This will ensure over-watering and under-watering was avoided, as well as loss of water to evaporation which were also key reasons for the project.

Though considered a small club with less than 100 members, it’s the “let’s get it done” attitude that has seen the project take off and be proudly achieved by the club and the community.

“With guidance from the committee and our committed members, we have fully funded this large community project,” Ms White said.

The project has been purposely carried out during winter.

Work commenced on June 1 and is anticipated to be completed by September with new grass growth emerging during spring.

With plumbing to the old system switched off, the club is relying on mother nature during winter to do the bulk of the watering,

Once complete, the club anticipates the money saved in labour costs will be reinvested in the course, clubhouse improvements and hosting events and development programs.

“It will allow the club to continue to provide MyGolf junior coaching clinics, which encourages youth to become involved in the game of golf and other such initiatives,” Ms White said.

“With guidance from the committee and our committed members, we have fully funded this large community project.

“The work is being completed by local contractors and numerous club volunteers.

“It’s a big task made a lot easier with the community chipping in.

“To be a small club and be able to pull off such a big project is spectacular.

“Beachport is like that, they are community minded.”

Ms White is certain the course will be more attractive to members and visitors.

“The course is a drawcard for keen golfers and those wanting a hit with the family,” she said, adding the new improved grounds could entice even more.

“The golf course attracts more than 2000 green fee and visiting competition players each year.”

Events hosted throughout the year include the Southern Ports Golf Week, veteran’s competitions, New Year’s Day, open days and junior golf programs.

Ms White added the improved visual appeal of the course will help to keep visitors in Beachport.

“This helps our local businesses, who have always supported the club with generous sponsorship and in-kind products,” she said.

Those willing to dig up the dirt, plumbing, electrical, catering for workers, even a retired surveyor offering their expertise to map out the location of the new pipelines, have been priceless contributors.

“Assistance has come from all sorts of avenues.

“Financial assistance from beneficiaries to hands on,” Ms White said.

On behalf of the club Ms White expressed her gratitude to those that have assisted with the project.

This has included volunteers and Robe Bendigo Community Bank, Iberdrola, and the Lions Club of Beachport for financial support.

“We have received a lot of information and helpful advice from Robe Golf Club who had their irrigation system upgraded recently,” Ms White said.

“The work is being completed by local contractors and local volunteers and expertly managed by Spinner MacGregor.

“We are using the same plumbers as they are familiar with the type and scale of the project.”

While earthworks have been under way the club is also taking advantage of the machinery on site to create sand blocks.

In addition, the club is raising money to fund over 200 sprinklers.

At a cost of $100 each, the “buy a sprinkler” campaign has already been a hit with more than $2000 of its $10,000 goal raised.