Please refer to the following information
WEST BERKSHIRE GOLF CLUB
RELAXATION OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
You will be aware of the relaxation of Government regulations such that as of the 1st June we will be able to play in 2/3/4 balls.
Given that under the 7 day booking system currently operating, tee times are booked as 2 balls through till Thursday the 4th June. Under these arrangements this will remain in place to avoid the disruption and confusion it would create if we were to change them.
Nonetheless with immediate effect 2/3/4 balls can be booked under the 7 day arrangement with 10 minute intervals.
Members can play unlimited rounds per week
Members can now book up to a maximum of two tee times
RESTARTING COMPETITIONS
Following lengthy discussion between the GC, Bournebridge Golf and Paul Simpson it has been decided that competitive golf can return under the conditions attached. At the moment it is envisaged that this will be for non-qualifiers but the situation regarding qualifying competitions is under continual review. The first men’s competition will be the opportunity to qualify for the Liddiard on Wednesday June 10th, followed by the final round of the winter league to be played on Sunday June 14th. Gale McAulay will be organising the ladies competitions.
Advance notice
Notice of the timing and full details of the competitions will be provided to the pro shop and members at least eight days before the competition date and will be advertised with a notice at the club and/or email and TTNB. There will be some differences to the published dates in the diary, but we will try to follow this as best we can.
As well as the attached guidance, members should be aware at all times of the need to abide by the governments social distancing rules.
The match play competitions,(Dowling, Seniors Knockout, Classic and Walsh) can be recommenced immediately. The draw remains on the wall in the locker room, with amended dates for completion of rounds.
The qualification for the Liddiard will remain 9 holes played on Wednesday. There will be no entry fee to enter a qualifying card and no prize for the best card on any Wednesday. A card can be submitted for the first 9 holes of a full round. The final will be played as normal. The Herbie Sternberg trophy is unchanged.
COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Notice to members re temporary arrangements for competitions.
- Competitions will be advertised at the club house and via Tee Times. Any member not receiving Tee Times should advise either Sandy Miller (sandy.miller@live.co.uk) or Nick Jones (nickjones55@btinternet.com) of their email address so this can be added to our system. The plan is to follow the structure of competitions as per the diary going forward.
- For competitions where a block of tee times has been allocated (usually Sunday for men and Saturday for ladies), booking a tee time would be down to the members to telephone the pro shop. Members, if they wish, can book other named members for the same tee time. For midweek and Saturday competitions, the member will have to book a tee time in the normal way. There will be a sign in sheet in the foyer for the member to sign into the competition if they wish. The foyer will be restricted to one person at a time – one in one out. Card completion is then as below.
- Members would turn up for their tee time, say up to 30 minutes before, to allow time to pay their entry fee (see below) and organise who is marking which card.
- Members can each complete the top part of a card preferably for their playing partner, but it can be for themselves, as fully as possible. This should include the name of the competition, name and handicap of the player and the name of the marker, as a minimum and can be verbally checked by the player whose card it is. Cards are NOT to be exchanged.
- Each player records both his own score and his playing partners score. At the end of the round, each player verbally cross checks the scores recorded by the marker against his own record. The player marking the card signs it.
- The card is placed in the competition box in the lobby of the clubhouse.
- There are no rakes in bunkers: Best endeavours should be made to smooth bunkers using shoes or clubs. If a player suffers a bad lie caused as a result of the lack of rakes, a FREE placement of the ball, can be allowed within 6 inches. No smoothing of the bunker is allowed before the placement or the playing of the shot.
- Putting out is required.
Payment
We continue to investigate the use of electronic systems for booking and paying for competitions. Even if we can get a system which works for most people, it will be some time before it can be operational, so we are continuing with stamps for now. - The entry fee will be demonstrated by a stamp attached to the card.
- Initially there will be some members who have competition credits as a result of stamps put on sheets for competitions which didn’t happen due to the course closure. The pro shop has a list and can advise members if they have a credit. The member should annotate the card accordingly.
- Stamps can be purchased in envelopes of 4, as previously, but this can ONLY be done via contactless card. The pro shop is NOT handling cash.
Members may also use the stamp machine, but they must have the correct change. The Pro Shop will NOT give out change.
COMPETITIONS UPDATE
As we ease out of lockdown, we are constantly reviewing systems and procedures as a result of which please be aware of the following:
1. Competition Bookings
1.1 Competition details will be posted in the glass notice board outside the Pro-shop
1.2 The Pro-shop will have a competition entry sheet and entries can be booked by phone or in the Pro-shop
2. Reminders
2.1 To avoid cards changing hands scorecards are to be completed as if the player(s) is/are the marker whilst also recording the opponents scores and the cards cross checked at the end of the round
2.2 Stamps are to be adhered to the scorecard or credit noted
2.3 Cards are to be placed in the large white plastic container NOT in the competition box in the foyer
2.4 ”No shows” for competitions without notifying your opponent’s/playing partners or the Pro-shop in good time could result in being suspended from further competitions for a period of time.
MEMBER UPDATE
We are pleased to advise following a further relaxation of Government guidelines that the
clubhouse bar facilities will be re-opened on Saturday the 4th July under the following conditions:
1. The clubhouse and patio area will be laid out to accommodate social distancing and table and chairs should not be moved under any circumstances. Also please note that the dining room remains closed until further notice.
2. Payment for drinks should be by contactless card wherever possible.
REMINDERS
1. “Roll-ups” in terms of congregating before and after play are still not permitted and
arrival/departure timings as previously advised should be adhered to as far as possible
2. The 10 minute tee interval time should be fully respected so preventing groups congregating on the first tee and causing congestion on the course.
The owners wish it to be brought to member’s attention that anyone who has not renewed their membership for 2020/2021 are not permitted to use the course.
CARD COMPLETION, SIGNING IN AND KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS
Completion of Scorecards
There appears to have been some confusion regarding completion of cards for competitions. Accordingly, we have decided to have just one way for cards to be completed, until Covid restrictions are eased to allow exchange of cards. For now, each player entering a competition should, before starting the competition, complete the top of his/her own card. The name of the competition, the date, the tee the competition is being played from, the players full name (printed with no nicknames please) as player A and their handicap should all be completed. Please print legibly. In addition, the player should agree with his playing group which other player he will record as marker, and that name goes in the player D line.
During the round the player records his own gross score in column A and the markers score in column D. Ideally each 9 hole score should be totalled with the two halves added together to get a final gross score. The player should sign the card in the players signature area and a stamp should be attached to the card so that it does not obscure any critical information. The bottom right hand corner is suggested. For stableford competitions, the player has the option of putting in the stableford points but the entry of the gross score into the computer will calculate this anyway. To help the competition team, as many players as possible should enter their scores via the Howdidido app/web site (Today’s Golf) before putting their card in the large box, which will be situated usually in the clubhouse foyer or the pro shop. A specimen card is attached.
Signing in Sheet
Because there are no stamp sheets, the competition team are having difficulty reconciling entries to competitions. In addition, signing in will be a feature of future changes to competition procedures, so this is being introduced immediately. A signing in sheet will be posted on the notice board in the foyer for each competition. This may be a few days before the competition but is not to be used until the day of the competition. On the day of the competition, ALL entrants must put their name on the signing in sheet. Please print legibly. This will allow the competition team to reconcile the cards they receive with the entrants. ALL players should submit their cards even if this results in an NR, as all scores affect the standard scratch for the competition. A specimen signing in sheet is attached.
Please note tee booking is NOT affected by this and should be organised in the usual way, separately from signing in.
Knock out competitions
The deadline for completion of the first round of the knockout competitions was June 27th, however in view of the difficulties this year with Covid restrictions, it has been decided that the completion deadline for 1st round matches has been extended to Sunday 12th July. Any match not completed by then will result in both players/teams being disqualified. The current deadline for 2nd round matches is 18/7, but this has been extended to July 26th to allow time for matches to be completed. Once the schedule of dates has been agreed and posted on the sheets in the men’s locker room, it is not expected that further extensions of the dates will be possible.
Reminders
Could members please respect social distancing and that the tables and chairs in the clubhouse and on the patio are not to be moved.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
As you will be aware the good news is that we have had a significant influx of new members and whilst it is good news it is creating pressure on the availability of tee times particularly on Saturday mornings.
It is apparent that tee times are being booked in excess of requirements such as of last Saturday at least 3 tee times which had been booked were not used. This is clearly unfair when some members are unable to book a tee time at all on a Saturday morning.
With effect from this Saturday the 25th July those persons booking a tee time must provide the name of the persons they are playing with which will be noted by the Pro-shop for recording purposes. Please also be aware that there could also be infill where there are groups of less than four players.
REMINDERS
1. SOCIAL DISTANCING
1.1 TEE INTERVALS
To minimise congestion on the course as you will be aware we are currently operating with 10 minute intervals and you are courteously instructed to tee off at your appointed time and not before even if the first fairway is clear to ensure social distancing as far as possible.
1.2 CLUBHOUSE & PATIO
The tables and chairs in the clubhouse and on the patio have been set out on a “socially distanced” basis and members are instructed not to move either.
2. ON THE COURSE
2.1 BUNKERS
As there are no rakes in bunkers a Local Rule is in force where if a player suffers a bad lie caused as a result of the lack of rakes, a FREE placement of the ball is allowed within 6 inches no nearer the hole. No smoothing of the bunker is allowed before the placement or the playing of the shot. Best endeavours should be made to smooth bunkers using shoes or clubs after you have taken your shot.
2.2 LOST BALL
As a result of the rule changes in 2019 the new rule is that players can search for only up to three minutes before their ball is deemed lost.
3. COMPETITION ENTRY
Please remember that it is a requirement that you sign in for a competition on the competition signing in sheet BEFORE you play your round. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
The WBGC Committee 22nd July 2020