Message from the Club Captain
I would like to begin by thanking the membership for their support, tolerance and understanding during the last 3 months. Many changes have been introduced by the management, in consultation with the Board, to maximize the ability for individual members to get the opportunity to play in desired competitions.
Although light is decreasing until the winter solstice on June 21st, we are starting to see more light at the end of the tunnel in relation to Covid 19 restrictions.
Playing in 4’s, two tee starts, locker room access and the wider use of the bunker bar mark progress toward a return to normal.
1) Course care update:
Sam Neylon and the team are doing a superb job and are under a lot of pressure to maintain the course condition with reduced man hours. Currently fairway spiking is nearing completion. This aerates the damp soil, improves course ability to cope with rain in winter and encourages healthy root growth coming warmer months. Preferred lies on the mown portion will therefore continue.
You can assist the greens staff individually by attending to the following;
- Repair of pitch marks is vital on the softer greens currently. Feel free to repair others as needed.
- Divots on the fairway should be sanded. Also, if you are practicing on the fairway out of competition, please repair divot damage you cause. It is not difficult and it shows consideration of your fellow members.
- Green surrounds are showing wear with damp cold and shade changes at this time of year. Where possible avoid warn areas on these surrounds and adjacent to bunkers, use paths and alternate routes to the next Tee
- Bunkers currently are raked less frequently to save man hours. Although preferred lies are available in the bunker, you can assist by smoothing your footprints made taking your stance and moving about in the bunker.
- Golf cart usage over the winter months, cart golf will always be interrupted. Wet weather and minimal growth means additional wear. Sam and his team will always make every attempt to have carts on the course. Please follow ropes and directional signs to ensure the carts drive in the correct place. The GPS systems have been adjusted to re-direct cart traffic. If the cart slows in speed, please observe the message on the screen. Stay on concrete pathways where possible.
2) Match issues:
- Mona Vale Golf Club does not do Gimmies. We have noticed this practice increasing in competition. It is requested this practice stop. Should you not finish out a hole then no score should be recorded on your card/MiScore App for that hole. Continuance of the Gimmies practice risks disqualification from the competition.
- Lost balls and penalty areas: See rule 17.1c
After playing a shot which may have entered a penalty area, if it is known or virtually certain it came to rest in the penalty area you are entitled to a penalty relief. You or another player must have seen the ball land in the penalty area or are 95% sure it landed in the penalty area.
If these conditions are not fulfilled, the correct procedure is to play a provisional ball.
If you find the original ball, play that ball. If you do not find the original ball, play the provisional ball under penalty of stroke and distance. This problem is encountered often on the 7th Hole. Not observing this rule is very poor form.
Notification of a wayward ball with shouting “Fore”
Due to a recent incident, we would just like to remind members of the protocol regarding warning players who may be in danger of getting hit by a ball. If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he/she should immediately shout a warning of ‘Fore’. This will give others a better chance at taking cover and reduce the potential risk of bodily harm.
3) Fixture book changes:
The Match Committee has reviewed the Fixture Book for June and July. Each month requires review going forward to comply with the NSW Department of Health guidelines around Covid 19.
The following changes have been made due to the restrictions in place regarding Covid 19 and the potential for cross infection and lack of social distancing.
Please click here to view Ladies Keeping in Touch for June 11th
Thank you for your patience and happy golfing. |
