UNIONDALE NEWS - A BackaBuddy fundraising campaign has been launched to help repair the damage to the Uniondale Golf Course caused by the recent rain and windstorms.
The irrigation pipelines need to be replaced, the lost green rebuilt, and the damaged sections of the course restored.
Club Chairperson Ken Dodds says the landscape of the course has been drastically altered. "Years of work and care invested into the course were undone in a matter of hours as floodwaters tore through fairways, damaged infrastructure and washed away vital irrigation systems. The biggest challenge now lies beneath the surface," he says.
The course's main water pipelines, the 'veins' of the property, were completely washed away during the flooding. Without the irrigation network, there is no reliable way to maintain the grass or sustain the grounds. Replacing the destroyed pipelines has become the club's most urgent priority.
"Entire sections of fairways have also been severely eroded, leaving behind deep gullies, exposed rock and stripped topsoil where playable surfaces once existed.
"While most greens escaped major damage, one fairway and green were almost entirely washed away after water concentrated through a single section of the course. The damaged area now requires a complete rebuild," says Dodds.
Large parts of the course are currently unplayable.
"The recovery effort is not simply about restoring appearances, but about rebuilding the functional heart of the grounds and protecting an important community landmark. Despite already receiving assistance to restore the main entrance, the remaining repairs are far beyond what our small membership base can afford on its own."
Donations will go directly towards the materials and labour needed for the recovery project.
The club is appealing to residents, golfers and supporters of small-town landmarks to help where possible. "Every rand will go directly towards healing the land and restoring a space that means so much to our community."
Find their BackaBuddy account by searching 'Uniondale Golf Club'. Enquiries: Barry Mason at [email protected].
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