CAPTAIN'S BLOG - NEWS

New Temporary Local Rule.
As of 13th June 2019 the following local rule was brought into play. It will be in play until ground conditions improve in the Spring.
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Preferred Lies
“When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:

• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.

• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point:  30 cms from the reference point, but with these limits:

• Limits on Location of Relief Area:

>> Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
>> Must be in the general area.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General PenaltyUnder Rule 14.7a.”
(Reference : R&A and USGA Official Guide to the Rules of Golf Off Jan 2019, Model local rule E-3)

What does the term 'cut to fairway height or less' mean in a practical sense? It means any closely-mown area of the course that is cut to fairway height or less and includes such areas as paths cut through the rough, fairways, tee boxes and the fringe/apron to the green. 

Procedure. The position of the ball must be marked first, then the ball lifted (and cleaned, if desired ). Then the ball must be placed on a spot no closer to the hole, and within 30 cm, of the reference mark ( the diagonal span of the score card , or the grip on most golf clubs are approximately 26cm).
Note. The ball is in play as soon as it's placed on the ground. If the player picks it up again and moves it he/she would incur a penalty stroke for 'moving his/her ball in play'.

Hole in One.
Congratulations to the Woman's Club Captain for achieving a hole in one on the 14th hole last week. Jane Clifford is the first player to achieve this feat for nearly 18 months (over 4 years for any woman player). Something to which all golfers aspire, but few actually realise. Great shot Jane!

Marking the Green
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Would the player, who was responsible for marking the green, the 14th green pro-pin Saturday 15th June, in this fashion ( '>' ) please stop doing so. This is an UNACCEPTABLE practice and they will, in future, find themselves having to explain to the Captain why they should not be disqualified from the day's competition. 
​I will even provide a ball marker to use, if you don't have one spare.

Recent Results

Wednesday 12th June. Another beautiful Highlands Winter day saw 47 players tee up to contest a 3 Person Aggregate Stableford competition. With 103 points, and on a count back, the team of Alan Turpie (21), Peter Stokes (28) and Tony Dick (27) secured the win. Pat Donoghue (22), John McGuire (25) and Peter Leon (15) just being edged out. There are 4 balls staying warm in the Eagle's nest (not won), John Mulholland won the NTP 11th and John Ferguson claimed the pro-pin. The DSR was 70.

Saturday15th June. A trophy event for the H. A. ( Harry ) Murdoch prize. Harry Murdoch is a name associated with a considerable history within the BGC, having held the job of Captain from 1956 - 1959, and again from 1971 - 1973.  Harry also held the positions of President from 1960 - 1962 and Patron from 1978 - 1986. This year, the trophy went to Langdon Emery (16), with a score of 39 points from Peter Dunn (27) on 38 points. The best Stableford score on the day of 41 points came from John Oakes (21) who, as a country member, is ineligible to win the trophy. The balls in the eagle's nest are still there waiting for someone to win them. One of 6 visitors in the competition, Richard Bolton, claimed the NTP 11th and Tom Dunlop the Pro-pin. 68 players in the competition with visitors from Killara, Highlands, Bayview, Qantas Club and Royal Sydney. The DSR was 69.

The Rules Quiz.
Last week's quiz (go and read it now) created quite a conversation at the Saturday presentation. The answers to the two questions are,
1.   The available options are :

• Take 2 club lengths 'lateral relief' from the last point of entry into the penalty area,
• Take 'back on the line relief' from the last point of entry into the penalty area,
• Take 'stroke and distance' relief at point from which the last shot was played, or
• Return to the teeing area and play another tee shot.

2.   The next shot to be played after determining which type of relief to take will be the 4th shot.

How did you go guessing the answer? Please feel free to join the gang at the Saturday afternoon presentation ceremony where the quiz for the week is discussed. There is a prize (which as of yet, has not been won, you could be the first winner!!).

This week's scenario.

The player's ball lies amongst the trees short of and to the right of the 5th green. When playing the next shot, the ball hits a tree and rebounds backwards (further from the green) behind the player, coming to rest against another tree. The player inspects the lie of the ball and determines it to be unplayable.
Questions,

1. What are the available relief options, including club lengths to be applied?
2. What is the applicable penalty?

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Know Your Course

Last week's prize was not won. The photo was of the 150m post and conifer on the 8th fairway. This week's photo is a much easier one, so send in your email guess (no mulligans I'm afraid) and the first correct answer wins the ball marker. 
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​To which green is this seat/bin combo nearest?

A Little Humour

A golfer sliced a ball into a field of chickens, striking one of the hens and killing it instantly. He was understandably upset, and sought out the farmer. 

“I’m so sorry,” he said, “my terrible tee-shot hit one of your hens and killed it. Can I replace the hen?” 

“I don’t know about that,” replied the farmer, mulling it over. “How many eggs a day do you lay?”

​Go Enjoy a Game of Golf.
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A great field of 44 players made up the competition for the annual Queen's Birthday Medley event. This year's event was played as a 4 person Ambrose, and prizes were awarded for the longest drives and nearest the pin (second shot) on the 18th and 12th holes respectively. Paul Carroll, kindly agreed to cover the presentation, and provided the photos of the event. Seems like everyone enjoyed a great day on the course and a warm mug of soup to welcome them back to the clubhouse.
Winning the day's event with a net 36 1/4 were Helen Chadwick, Ash Southon, Jim Phillips and Anne Vitou. Longest drive winners were Sonya Bleakley and Paul Carroll, while Leonie Carroll and Peter Leon won the NTP (second shot) to the 12th. Congratulations to all involved. Here are some photos of the post-game conviviality.

Bunkers
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The bunkers, of which there are only 9, located around the course are maintained in such a way that when a ball enters, the ball should travel to the bottom. The raked sand in the base of the bunker should provide a player a reasonable chance of playing a recovery shot. It's most important that players are aware of the correct method of raking the bunker following its use, and where to position the rake afterwards. The rake should be returned to the base of the bunker, in the direction of play, after use. The following photos show a correctly raked bunker (and a couple not correctly raked). Would all players please  make an effort to leave the bunker in a better state then when they entered it. I'm sure you'll greatly appreciate it when you next find yourself 'on the beach'.

Know your Course

Last week I introduced this new segment to the weekly Blog. Unfortunately the prize (a club ball marker) was not won. The correct location, the 7th green, was identified by several members, but none emailed me their response. This week a new photo with the same competition prize. The first member to email me with the correct answer wins the marker. Give it a go.

The Rules Quiz
In my previous Blog, I raised the question as to whether a player in a 4BBB competition was able to use a club from either his/her partner (or anyone else on the course), and if in doing so, a penalty should be applied.
The answer is that the player may use another player's club, but at a penalty of 2 strokes. If the player uses the club again a further 2 stoke penalty is applied. A maximum total of 4 strokes in penalty across the entire round. The prize was not won at this week's presentation unfortunately.

The scenario for this week.
A player plays a poor tee shot from the 15th tee box (located behind the 14th green). The ball rolls past the last pole (which supports the protective netting) and into the penalty area (Lake Katekar, Red Stakes). The accompanying players walk towards the ladies/visitor's tee and wait as the player plays their next shot. As the ball lays clear of the water,  the player decides to play from where the ball lays. Unfortunately it's not their day, and it is hooked to the left and the ball hits one of the accompanying player's buggies and ricochets back into the lake and underwater. The ball is now unplayable and the player wishes to take relief.

The Questions.

1. How many Options of relief are available to the player?
2. Having taken relief, which number shot will next be played?

A Little Humour
Police are called to an apartment one day, and when they arrive they find a woman, holding a bloody 3 iron,  standing over the body of a lifeless man.
The detective asks her "Ma'am is that your husband?"
"Yes" replies the woman.
"And did you hit him with that golf club?".
"Yes, yes I did", she replies as she begins to sob, drops the club and puts her face in her hands.
"How many times did you hit him?" the detective continues.
"I'm not sure" she replies, "better put me down for a 5..........."


Go out and Enjoy a fun game of golf.

Winter weather has arrived, and with it the strong (to gale force at times) winds. It's not uncommon to have a windchill of minus 4 or 5 degrees on the course. So take sensible precautions when you go out to play in these conditions. Remember to dress for the conditions, rehydrate regularly, and keep an eye out for tree branches or birds nests falling from above. "Swing easy when it's breezy".

Saturday 1st June.
A cold and frosty morning, but without the winds of the previous week, meant the course was considerably more manageable. 78 players made up the field, including four regular visitors from Port Kembla. Tony Fitzpatrick (14) won the 'A' Grade medal on a count-back from Michael Ljubic (8) with a net 69. 'B' grade went to Patrick Donoghue (22) with a net 67 from Noah Roet (16) on 68. 'C' grade was won by John McGuire (25) with a net 69 from Alex Mitkovski (25) with a net 70. Congratulations to all the medalists on some good golf!! The scratch winner on the day was Michael Ljubic with a score of 77, and the best Stableford score was 38 points from Patrick Donoghue. David Spies won the NTP 11th, and young Robert Eriksson the pro-pin. DSR 69.

Foursomes Club Championships.
The quarter finals have now been completed and the teams of John Mellen & John Ferguson, Peter Dunn & Ken Dobie, Dave Burgess & Brian Hanrahan and Phil Jeffery & Craig Houden have progressed to the semi final round, to be completed by the 16th June.

First member to email me with the correct location wins a club ball marker.

Computer Issues.
Hopefully the issues we have been experiencing are now behind us. However, it is important for everyone to ensure that any bookings already made for a time in the future  are checked. Some bookings were lost in the data migration process.

Rules Quiz.
Last week's question related to the correct process and penalties appropriate to cover a situation where you accidentally caused your ball to move by removing some loose impediments. The question related to a match play scenario.

The required procedure is to return the ball to its original position. You are penalised one stroke for causing the ball to move. If you do not replace the ball, and instead play it from its new position, in match play you have just lost the hole (2 stroke penalty in addition to the one stroke, if playing a stroke event). There were no winners of the quiz at the Saturday presentation this week.

This week's question.

In the process of looking for your ball, you find another ball (which is the same brand of ball you are already playing). You locate your correct ball and pocket the ball you found. You complete the hole with a score of 5, but, on removing your ball from the hole you realise that the ball you putted was not the ball you started the hole with, but was in fact the ball you found along the way. You made 1 putt after reaching the green. What is your correct score for that hole now?

A little Humour.

​Two friends were playing golf one day. They decided that they would adhere strictly to the rules with no improving their lie. 
After a few holes, one guy's ball landed on a cart path. As he reached down to pick up his ball to get relief, his friend said, "We agreed that we would not improve our lie." 
No matter how much the first fellow tried to explain that he was entitled to this relief, the second fellow would not allow it. So the man went to the cart to get a club. 
As he stood over the ball he took a few practice swings, each time scraping the club on the pavement, taking out big chunks of blacktop and sending out lots of sparks! 
Finally, after several practice swings he took his shot. The ball took off and landed on the green about 2 metres from the pin. 
"Great shot!" his friend exclaimed. "What club did you use?" 
"YOUR 7-iron!" he replied!

​Now go borrow a friend's clubs if you need, but get out there and enjoy a round on our beautiful course.