Juniors

All Members 

Below is a summary form the recent 9 July Golf Club Committee meeting:

• CEO Ainslie has confirmed that the Spike Bar is unlike to return to its normal operation for some months yet.
• Course maintenance and associated capital budget – A Discussion Paper on proposed capital projects and the associated expenditure has been prepared and discussed with CEO Ainslie. CEO Ainslie will now discuss this with the AFSC Board at their next Board meeting.  When there is agreement to the ongoing work program a summary will be provided to members.  The paper covered the following proposals for expenditure:
  • The further renovations work required in Spring on the fairways.
  • A number of protective screens for our female golfers on holes  where there are safety concern
  • Stump removal or grinding on stumps from where dead trees have been removed
  • Further improvements to the irrigation system
  • Improvements to the safety for residents and players on the 15^th and 16^th fairways
• Kiosks – The operation of the scoring Kiosks was discussed at the meeting and with the CEO Ainslie with a view to upgrading both the software and hardware. It is recognised that our arrangements are now older technology and there is a need to improve the efficiency and productivity of the Kiosks.  Action to improve this part of the club will be taken over the coming weeks with a likely move to scanning technology. 

• Capeweed on the course – the growth of this weed on the course was discussed with the committee and with the CEO Ainslie. It is planned to spray the course for this weed in the very early Spring.
• Preferred lies – the Committee discussed whether the preferred lies should be extended to all mown surfaces. This was not agreed but preferred lies on the close mown surfaces will remain in place until further notice.
• Pennants proceeding next month, notifications will be posted on Facebook and MiClub closer to date advising members about the games scheduled at our course and therefore the impact on our timesheets.
• Work on the Club’s 25-year History Project is continuing with all components of the ‘story’ currently being written. The lead contact is Norm Loughton who would welcome a call if members think they can assist

• The Website refresh project is progressing with the assistance of our Web expert. An audit of the existing pages has been undertaken and a style guide has been developed for what goes onto in the future.  The aim is to make the information provided better and more readable for the reader. Di Carlos is the lead Committee member for this project.

For your information.

Richard Oliver/President

 

Members

Again, only a couple of issues for this update.

You will have seen some activity in the Spike bar over the last weekend or so. The Club is still requiring all people to enter and leave via the main entrance.  This is to meet the requirements that Government has placed on them to be able to manage numbers and have a register of all people who have entered the premise.  Talking to the CEO Ainslie, we are some way away from completely normalised operations including entry to the Spike Bar from the bottom doors.

As many of you will know our Birthday Bash Lakeball game is scheduled Sunday 28 June.  We have decided that the Birthday Bash this year will be cancelled and that this game will be converted to a normal stableford round.  We are not yet in a position where we can afford to have members playing in close proximity and gathering at the end of the round for a bite to eat and a glass of something.  Next year on 6 July we turn 25 as a club and we will be planning a number of events around this milestone.  Hopefully by then the COVID 19 situation will have normalised and we can celebrate in style.

I also spoke to CEO Ainslie about Mandy, our Coffee gem.  Simon was happy to have Mandy on site until 10.00am on the weekend mornings.  After that the Club’s café opens and he is keen for us to use the Club’s service which is understandable.  Unfortunately, it was not worth Mandy’s time to only come from 6.45 – 10.00am.  She simply doesn’t sell sufficient product to make it economic for her.  Farewell Mandy and thanks for the time you spent with us.     

In closing, please remember to continue to apply all of the COVID 19 restrictions.  It is essential that we all do this if we want to stay open and operating.

Play well….

Richard Oliver/President

 

 

Members

Below is a summary from The Committee meeting on 11 June.

• Reports from Executive members were tabled and issues were discussed, as necessary. From the Captains and the Match Committee:

Timesheets and restrictions

All booking restrictions have now been lifted. This coming weekend 13/06/2020 sees a return to normal two tee starts for Saturday and normal timesheets for Sunday (allowing additional social play bookings) Sunday field numbers are still higher than normal, but that is expected to reduce once normal sporting activities resuming in the near future.

Major Events

Program of major events has been finalised by the Match Committee. They are as follows:

• June – Women’s Matchplay
• July – Yellow course Eclectic round 2 (shortened to two rounds)
• August – Men’s Pennants
• September – Men’s Open Mixed Foursomes
• October – Club Championships
• November – Medal of Medals, Women’s Foursomes and Presentation Day (course renovations)

With a limited amount of time remaining in the year and the “norm” being to only hold one Major event per month (beside Monthly Medals) this covers the most noteworthy events for 2020.

Pennants

GLGC is scheduled to host three remaining pennant matches. These are on the following dates.

Sunday 2^nd August – Juniors 10:52 – 12:20 1^st tee times

Sunday 9^th August – B Grade Scratch 11:16 – 12:20 1^st tee times

Sunday 16^th August – A Grade Div-2 07:24 – 09:16 1^st tee times

This will significantly reduce the available playing spots for members on all three days, but we have an obligation to fulfil our commitment to the DGA for this. We will ensure that members are notified closer to the dates.

Clinics

Clinics for our women golfers are re-commencing this week.  Organisers are dividing the clinics into two to keep with the maximum numbers allowed in each class.  They are being held 4pm over the next 2 Thursday’s and 10.00am over the next  two Saturdays.  The last clinic will be on the course for a few holes on a Sunday afternoon, date to be confirmed.  Fiona Wicks is the contact point.

There were a number of papers presented and discussed, as follows:

• Committee recommencing closeout duties and moving the fee for club competitions to $12.

Outcome – It was agreed that the Committee will recommence doing closeouts from the first weekend post the Spike Bar returning to normal operations.  The Committee competition fee will move to $12 ($10 for the Competition fee and $2 for the Course maintenance levy) when this occurs.

• Use of Golf Carts by more than one person.

Outcome – The Committee agreed that this was a decision for Murray and the CEO Ainslie.  A majority of Committee members were supportive of the current arrangement of one to a cart remaining in place for the next week or do but, agreed that this was a decision for Murray, as he owned the carts and would manage/accept the risk of two in a cart.  Richard to speak with Murray about the Committee’s view on this matter.

• A range of papers from the Greens Committee, as follows:
  • Protective Screens for our female players on holes 2,9 and 13
  • Irrigation Improvements
  • Spring Fairway renovations
  • Improvements for holes 15 and 16 to improve the level of safety for other players in the vicinity.

These papers were all considered separately and there was general agreement to issues raised in each.  All of these required expenditures either in the coming months or over the coming years, in the case of the improvements listed for holes 15 and 16.

Outcome – Richard to lead the drafting of a discussion paper for the consideration of the CEO Ainslie.  The paper would aim to ‘flag’ the issues raised in various papers all of which need consideration and action in relation to the repair and conditioning of the Course and an agreed funding source for implementation.  It was agreed that the discussion paper should be ready for submission to CEO Ainslie by the next Committee meeting (9 July) following consultation with the Committee and the Course Superintendent.

• The performance of the Club’s Kiosks and the MiClub Booking System.

Outcome – The Golf Manager to investigate (consult with Club’s IT provider and MiClub) about what is required to ensure that the MiClub booking system is working effectively and that both Kiosk terminals are fully functional.  I

• The surveying of members regarding the 2021 Program of Events

Outcome – The Committee agreed that we would survey members in relation to the 2021 Program of Honour Board events in advance of the commence of the Program. The Committee also agreed that the survey would be conducted electronically.

 

Richard Oliver/President

All Members 

This afternoon our District Golf Association participated in a web meeting with ACT Sport & Recreation following announcements by the Chief Minister and Minister for Sport that a gradual easing of restrictions to allow for the phased resumption of sport within the ACT have been approved.

The easing restrictions in the ACT comes into effect as at midnight on Friday 15 May 2020.

For golf within the ACT, this means that clubs may return to four-person golf once they are be satisfied that they have put in place arrangements to ensure their compliance with the ACT Government’s requirements.

The following are key principles that underpin the easing of restrictions:

• The continuing need for all participants to adhere to social/physical distancing requirements remains paramount.
• The current guidance in accordance with the AIS guidance is Get In-Train/Play-Get Out.  In other words, attend in time to play-play-do not linger at the venue.
• The 10-person maximum gathering restriction is a strict requirement and does not extend to social gatherings after play.
• There is to be no physical contact between participants (no handshakes, continue to mark your own cards to avoid contact and use the hand sanitisers as provided etc)
• Persons who are unwell must not attend or participate in the sport.
• The ACT Government expects that clubs develop and implement a “Return to Play in a COVID-safe Environment” framework that is consistent with ACT Government guidelines, Public Health Directions and considers the recommendations outlined in the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment. This framework will guide the “operational” delivery of social sport and how participants, staff, volunteers and spectators all engage within this.  This framework should be publicly available to members and staff, and should be regularly reviewed by club management.
• Clubs are responsible to ensure they comply with extant directions.

The ACT Government Fact Sheet concerning the return to social sport and recreation is available here:  https://www.sport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1547273/Sport-and-Rec-Return-FAQ-13-May-2020.pdf

The temporary rule changes approved by Golf Australia, including other measures associated with marking of cards, flag sticks, rakes etc remain in place until changed by Golf Australia.

This is welcome and good news for golfers in the ACT.

The key message the ACT Government has stressed is we all need to do this right to ensure we protect our members and our community.

What does this mean for us?

Saturdays and Sundays time-sheets have been modified to allow for groups of four.

Due to the changes we have had to delete all members bookings to allow for the modification of the time-sheets. The new time-sheets will open at 7pm Thursday night for this Saturday 16 May) and time-sheets will open at 7pm Friday for this Sunday (17 May).

All members booked for these days should receive an email notifying them of the changes.  It is important that these folks note, they will need to rebook their times.

We will be running a one-tee start for this weekend. Next weekend we are hoping to revert to normal bookings of a two-tee start on Saturdays and one tee start on Sundays.  Please note that this need to be confirmed with the CEO Ainslie and the Course Superintendent, as there are staffing implications in these changes. I do not expect there to be any issues on the part of the Ainslie Group.

For mid-week games, booking arrangements will revert to normal including four-person tee-offs.

All booking restrictions will now be lifted.

Your Committee thanks all members for their patience during these tough and changing times.

Let’s go golfing….

Richard Oliver/President