Oatlands Enews – Friday 20th January 2023
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- Volunteers Needed to Join our Monday Volunteer Brigade
- From the Course
- Captain’s Corner – Responsibility of the Player and Marker in Scoring
- Getting Started Programme – Starts February 2023
- Rules of Golf Updates – 1st January 2023
- 2022 QPC&C Tiger Tee Champion of Champions – Grant Lomas
- Join Our Members Only Facebook Group
Volunteers Needed to Join our Monday Volunteer Brigade
Oatlands Golf Club has long been recognised as having one of the strongest volunteer programs in golf. This was formally acknowledged in 2021 when one of our longstanding volunteers was recognised as the Club’s NSW Volunteer of the Year.
The Club would not be what it is today without the tremendous contribution from our volunteers. Volunteering, as part of the weekly program, is not only a great way to contribute to your Club, but it is also a great way to meet new members and benefit from the camaraderie and banter that takes place among the volunteers. Each year, the volunteers also have an Annual Golf Day (scheduled for Wednesday 25th January 2023) and a pre-Christmas lunch, as well as other informal get togethers.
The Monday volunteers have recently re-commenced for 2023 and the Club is calling for additional volunteers to take part in this wonderful initiative for the Club and its members.
The schedule is:
Mondays, 7am – 11am, followed by lunch and drinks provided by the Club.
If you are interested in joining our merry band of volunteers (led by David Gaffaney), please direct your EOI or any questions you might have to the Club’s General Manager, Sam Howe at gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 21.5mm, Rainfall for 2023: 140.5mm Dam: 100% Green Speed: 9.5 feet
A very productive week for the course team this week in some very warm weather conditions early in the week. The rain on Wednesday night and the cool change that has come through with this rain has been very appreciated, not only by the staff but by our playing surfaces as well.
As we were hosting the PGA trainees on Monday, we changed our maintenance schedules around, with all fairways, tees, collars and aprons being mown on Monday. This presented the course well for the many visiting trainees and gave them the opportunity to start the year with a good score.
Tuesday morning, all greens were dusted followed by a mixed application containing a wetting agent which was washed into the soil with irrigation, also washing the dusting sand into the green at the same time. The greens remain in great condition with very little affects of the recent warm weather we have been experiencing. Moisture levels in all greens were thoroughly checked on Wednesday morning, and greens handled the warm day without any stress.
The lining of the RHS 14th bunker was completed on Tuesday, with the reflection coming back from the lining plus the heat of the warm day making it an unpleasant day for all staff involved. We pushed on, and were able to complete the lining and drainage, with sand to be delivered early next week, as our supplier is waiting on the quarry to produce the sand.
Knapsack spraying of herbicide to control kikuyu and winter grass weeds in our couch and zoysia surrounds has been performed this week again, with good results being achieved so far with the kikuyu around the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 13th greens starting to yellow off. Staff do however, need to be precise where this herbicide is applied, as this product moves freely in the soil profile, meaning we can’t spray any areas which slope down to a green (e.g. LHS of the 14th green).
A full cut of the rough will be completed again this week with the rain keeping the growth ticking along in these areas. A growth regulator application to fairways and roughs has begun on Thursday morning and will continue Friday and into next week. This application will keep growth under control as we head into another public holiday interrupted week next week, with the Club hosting Major Pennants on the Sunday as well.
Our volunteers were back in full force on Monday, performing a bunker run in front of the competition, edging paths, trimming fairway sprinkler heads, and installing the fly traps around the course. Welcome back gentlemen and thank you for all your assistance!
Have a great weekend!
The Course Team
Captain’s Corner – Responsibility of the Player and Marker in Scoring
Over the past couple of months, a number of members have approached me in relation to issues that have occurred on the golf course regarding the player who they are scoring, and what is the scorers responsibility.
The Rules of Golf are not definitive in this area, but there are clear rules that need to be followed should there be a question raised by a marker as to the score the player declares on any given hole, (refer Rule 3.3).
It is a markers responsibility during the round of golf to observe the players strokes on each hole, which should be confirmed after holing out to avoid disagreement at a later time.
In the same vein, and although not clearly stated in the rules, it is strongly suggested that any time the player needs to take any form of relief, that the player confers with his/her marker to ensure that the relief being sought is both permissible, and also that relief is taken in the correct manner. Just to confirm, this is not a requirement, but strongly recommended.
It should not be assumed that a player can take relief from a situation based solely on their understanding of the rules. Should the player and the marker disagree on what action can be taken, the marker should not sign off on the card/Mi-score app until the matter has been referred to a Match committee member before the score is entered. Alternatively, if there is disagreement at the time of having the shot, it is suggested that two balls be played so that a decision can be made by the Match committee member as to the action taken. If a marker knowingly enters a wrong score, the marker can also be disqualified.
Seeking consensus in a situation is the right approach and should not be looked upon as questioning a player’s action or integrity.
Good Golfing!
Colin McRae
Club Captain
Getting Started Programme – Starts February 2023
Ever wanted to try something new but didn’t know how? Oatlands Golf Club is proud to announce a “Get Started” programme that introduces golf to people who have not yet experienced this challenging and rewarding game. Join in the fun as our team of Teaching Professionals take you through the basic elements including, the correct grip, chipping and putting, to the full swing and on-course play.
When does it start? This programme will run from Tuesday, 21st February or Sunday, 26th February, for 8 weeks with session times from 10am – 11am on Tuesday and 9am – 10am on Sunday. The cost of the 8 week programme is $240 which will be credited off the cost of membership if you decide to join the Club Membership at the end of the programme.
FAQ
What does the programme involve? 8 week programme (8 x 60 minute sessions) that takes you through all aspects of the game. From chipping to driving from putting to bunker play you will learn it all from our resident team of Teaching Professionals.
Do I need clubs & can I bring a friend? We will lend you what you need and we encourage you to bring along as many friends as possible.
Do I get to play the course and what do I wear? The Club is happy to offer you the opportunity to play the course during social times so you can practice what you are learning. As to your attire you need to check out the dress requirements shown on the Club’s website.
What does it cost? The cost of the “Get Started” programme is $240 for the 8 week programme (This is payable up front).
So what are you waiting for? Complete the registration form below for the next Getting Started Programme.
Rules of Golf Updates – 1st January 2023
Many members will be aware that the Rules of Golf get updated every four years. The next scheduled update occurs on 1st January 2023.
The Rules of Golf were significantly simplified in 2019, and the upcoming changes are an extension of the previous round of changes.
Further information on the updates can be sourced from the Golf Australia website, including the following link announcing the changes, click here
To further assist, a chart of changes can be viewed by clicking on the following link – Chart of Main Rules Changes (2023). This is an excellent resource which compares the updated Rules effective 1st January 2023 with the Rules as they currently stand that came into effect 1st January 2019.
One of the main updates is to the penalties that apply to certain situations that arise on course. These penalty changes have been summarised for members below:
|
Rule Number |
Deals with |
Old penalty under 2019 Rules |
New penalty under 2023 Rules |
|
6.3b |
Substitution of another ball, and making a stroke at an incorrectly substituted ball |
2 Strokes (general penalty) |
1 Stroke |
|
14.1c |
Clarification that cleaning a ball that has not been lifted (I.e. cleaned while in place) results in a penalty |
Unclear if there is any penalty |
1 Stroke |
|
22.6 |
New section of Rule 22 which deals with Foursomes events, and prevents partner from standing behind player to gain information on next stroke |
|
Team gets 2 Strokes (general penalty) |
|
23.8 |
New section of Rule 23 which deals with Fourball events, and prevents partner from standing behind player to gain information on next stroke |
|
Partner 2 Strokes (general penalty) |
Thanks has to go to John Bowring and Tony Groth for their assistance in preparing this information.
Good Golfing!
Col McRae
Club Captain
2022 QPC&C Tiger Tee Champion of Champions – Grant Lomas
The Champion of Champions for the 2022 QPC&C Tiger Tee Challenge was held on Friday 13th January 2023 with a field of 150 players competing on the day including almost 20 winners from 2022 who were eligible for the Champion of Champions.
The winner of the day was Grant Lomas with a fabulous return to form and a score of 39 points from his 3 handicap.
Special thanks goes to QPC&C and Tony Sassine for their ongoing support of this very popular event.
Trackman Launch Monitor Demo with David Ecob
In the short video below, PGA Professional, David Ecob, gives a demo of the Club’s Trackman 4 Launch Monitor with a new driver.
To book a lesson with David or any of our PGA Professionals using the Trackman 4, please book through the Member’s website or by contacting the Proshop.
Join Our Members Only Facebook Group
The Club’s members only Facebook Group is a fantastic way for members and staff to engage with each other.
We now have almost 350 members who have joined the group and we would love to see that grow to include all of our members.
Importantly, members are advised that this social media platform will not be used for the Club to communicate critical information, that will remain via the Enews, website and direct email however, it is a place that members and the Club can post interesting Club and golf related items to compliment this Enews.
To join the Members Only Facebook Group please click on the link below and then click on the “JOIN GROUP” button. You will be asked a few questions to verify you are a member and then approved by the group administrator shortly thereafter.
www.facebook.com/groups/870087546972166/
