Pro's Competition
Thanks to all of you who braved the elements on Saturday to play in the Pros Comp.
Steve Harvey came out on top with a great score of 35 points over the 17 holes to pip Nigel Skilling & Aaron Cove who had 34 points. Alan Croston , Ian Newcombe & Ian McCloy all finished with 33 points.
I have given 6 prizes so all listed have had there accounts credited and there were 10 twos worth £4.50 each.
The Ladies Hospice Trophy Greensome
The Ladies Hospice Trophy Greensome on Tuesday was won by Sharon Evans & Jill Holmes with 31 points followed by The Lady Captain Pam Darch & Barbara Henshaw with 30 points.
World Golf Championship
I hope you all enjoyed watching the World Championship golf last weekend. The course grew on me as the week went on however the distance some of them were hitting it I think there playing a different game to the rest of us.
The final was a bit disappointing in the end with Louis Oosthuizen probably having his worst round of the week. Rory unfortunately had a mixed day on the greens when Jason Day beat him but over the week I thought Jason deserved his win.
All very interesting indeed leading up to the Masters.
Come and collect your balls
I have had the first drop of Pro V1's in for those of you who have ordered them on the 4 for 3 deal.
This continues to run. Please click here to get personalising.
Battery Trade In
The Lithium Battery trade in starts next week so please pop in to order one if you need one.
We are offering £25 off a new lithium battery or lithium trolley when you upgrade and trade in your old battery.
The 18 hole Battery comes down to £175 with a limited 5 year guarantee.
I have left my piece relatively short this week as Rod has done a small piece below for you and with the 10th being back in play this weekend there is a note from the Handicap committee regarding drop zones to be used.
This notice is also posted on the tee, the shop and the notice boards. The tee will be well forward so hopefully none of you will miss the green and have to use the drop zones!!!!!
Greens news week commencing - 22/02/2016
Spring is here! It is the same as the last few years - cold and doesn't appear to show any improvement in the near future.
The grass will take a while yet to start growing, but the greens have come through a very wet winter very well.
Alistair Beggs, Head Agronomist from STRI report dated 16th March shows the best ever spring readings for firmness and moisture levels. We did not measure for speed or smoothness as the greens had been hollow-tined a couple of days earlier - Alistair will come back in June to take these readings.
Over all, I am pleased with our progress measured against the STRI guidelines, although there is still much to be done to get the course to where we want it. There was a questions raised at the A G M regarding the "policy" for our course. Whilst we document everything by way of newsletters, minutes and the Club website, we have not recently produced an up-to-date overview of our plans moving forward. I am therefore writing a new policy document, which, following agreement by the Greens Committee will be available to all members. I shall advise you when it is done.
We are finishing off all outstanding jobs as quickly as possible - these are mainly turfing jobs, which were delayed by the dreadful wet winter together with verti-draining the wet areas. The tenth hole will be in play from Saturday 2nd April. Access to the newly turfed areas on this hole is severely restricted. The Golf & Handicaps Committee have posted a ruling for play on the tenth hole and this can be found on the 10th tee the notice boards and IN THE Professional's Shop.
Please check before playing.
I hope we have some good weather soon and we can start to present the course, as it should be.
Finally - at the AGM someone commented that trolleys do not cause damage to the course. I disagreed and I think the photos below, taken today (Wednesday, 30 March), tell the true story.
Two pictures of bunkers - this is really poor from our members - the sand left on the walk in to the bunkers WILL kill the grass, please do not drag sand to the edges and out of of the bunkers. Note the footprints in the second photo - this is just unacceptable.
Local rules and guidance
10th Hole - Ground Under Repair
The area on the slope in front of the Green, and to the right hand side of the green, where marked, is not ready for play. Accordingly it is marked as Ground Under Repair and therefore classified as an Abnormal Ground Condition. The area is marked as Mandatory Ground Under Repair from which PLAY IS PROHIBITED.
If a ball lies in the area marked as Mandatory Ground Under Repair, the player must take relief under Rule 25-1 using either of the following options:
1. The player must lift the ball (See Note below) and drop it, without penalty, within one club length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. Another ball may be substituted
OR
2. The Committee has established 2 Dropping Zones: (A) - At the front of the 10th Teeing Ground, and (B) - At the back right hand side of the green. The player may opt to use a Dropping Zone. Use of Zone (B) is only available if the ball lies in the GUR beyond the GUR marked between the Tee and the Green, otherwise Zone (A) must be used.
The ball may be dropped anywhere within the dropping zone. Another ball may be substituted.
The ball may be retrieved with the scoops provided but otherwise the ball must be abandoned. A lifted ball may be cleaned before being dropped.
Handicaps & Competitions 31 March 2016
As access to the repaired ground is prohibited, in practice it may not be possible to lift the ball, so another ball may be substituted. The Bunker is in play.
The reference point for relief is where the ball lies. If it's location cannot be identified then it is deemed to lie at the position where it last crossed the outermost limit of the area.
