CAPTAIN'S BLOG - NEWS

Members Handbook.
The data for the 2020 Members Handbook has now been dispatched to the printers and should be available at the bar in a few weeks. Please note that the online Calendar will ALWAYS be the correct reference for dates and fixture details. As contact details have been added to the online members area (secure via login), everything you need for the year at the club is available online.

Recent Results
Wednesday 11th December. A cool mild day and 56 players contested the 3 person Ambrose event. We welcomed 2 visitors to the club, one from Manly GC and Jack Punch from Bonnie Doon GC who then joined BGC as a full playing member! Warwick Kiernan (33), lead his team of Tony Fitzpatrick (14) and Dick Hiser (14), around the course as he sank long range putts from everywhere. The score of 54 5/6 strokes good enough to win the day by 2 strokes from Kevin Kenny (0), Tony Harmey (24) and Jack Punch (7). The Eagle has set up an impenetrable barrier around her nest and now has 5 balls on offer next week. The NTP 11th went to Phil Jeffrey and the pro pin to Jim Rowe.

Saturday 14th December. A busy day for Nick in the pro shop with 4 competitions to manage. The daily prize went to John Hobbs (19) with a remarkable net 62 and Robert Eriksson carded 66 to be runner-up on a count back. The Eagle is just unbeatable at present, there are 6 balls now in the nest. Glen Welsh won the NTP 11th and Tony Fitzpatrick rounded out a pretty good day with the pro pin.

The Peter Tait Trophy (played over two rounds) this year was won by Tony Fitzpatrick (14) with a total net 138 on a count back from Tony Dick (28).

The Ted Box Trophy, (Medal of Medals) was won by John McGuire (21) with a net 68 on a count back from Tony Fitzpatrick. The club Patron Brian Lamb was the Captain in 1985 when this award was created, and kindly agreed to present the award. My appreciation to John for returning for the presentation to receive the award.
​

The Wright Cavaye Trophy this year has been won by Alec Dietsch with a sum of 559 strokes from Grant Blanchard (26), who's best 8 net rounds totalled 560. Only one stroke the difference after the entire year. Quite amazing.

Christmas Cheer
This year 48 players took to the field to have a little fun whilst playing for their respective Captains' team in the annual Captain (Womens) V's Captain (Mens) competition. The 4BBB competition saw some very fine results, and the top 5 team scores for each gender are added to the Captain's score to determine the winner. This year the men prevailed with 227 points to 210 points. Both Captains would like to thank their teams for putting in a fine performance. Jane Clifford (Women's Captain) says to watch out next year, the new World Handicap System will sort the men out!!
The Ham Award Women's team event was won by Helen Chadwick (26) and Chris Hill (18) with a combined total of 47 points. Ray Clayton (36) and Dick Hiser (14)  collected the Men's Ham award with a score of 52 points. Andrea Tomlin won the Turkey shoot on the 6th and the pro pin went to Sharon Rowe. A special turkey award was presented on the day to the player who represented the best 'Christmas Spirit' with their outfit. This year Carole Byrnes was our 'Best dressed on Course'. Sadly we don't have a photo of her outfit.

The Rules Quiz
Last week I asked a question relating to a player identifying their ball (go and read it now). There were 4 possible answers offered. The correct answer is that the player must announce that they are going to touch the ball in order to identify it, and they must also mark the ball's position. Hence the ruling is a 1 shot penalty.

The question for this week is an interesting one. Look it up and come along to the presentation and try your luck in the competition.
In stroke play, a player swings at and misses a wrong ball. What is the ruling?

1. The player gets a 2 stroke penalty and the stroke at the missed ball is counted.
2. There is no penalty.
3. The player gets a 2 stroke penalty and the stroke at the wrong ball is disregarded.
4. Loss of hole.

"Who am I ?" Competition.
The second week with the new identity and all the guesses have thus far been well off the mark.
The Clue,
"My name appears several times on the honour boards in the Member's lounge".

Email your guess to bgcclubcaptain@gmail.com
(Note, the photo is a logo only)

A Little Humour












Now Go Out and Enjoy a Game of Golf !!
​

The BGC Staff Christmas Party
This year held at the Mittagong Hotel with a Mexican theme, 'Feliz Navidad'. On behalf of all the members of the club, may I extend our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the fabulous staff who make our experience at the club such a joy. Thank you !!

Members Handbook 2020.
In the next few days, the data for the Handbook for 2020, will be sent to the printer. The calendar has been completed for the year, and following the completion of the Trophy events on Saturday, the final trophy holders' names will be added. If you wish to have your personal contact details changed, please advise the office immediately in order for them to be included. The booklets will be available early in the new year. Just a reminder, the online calendar is always the most up to date reference.
Also of note is a new condition of play for our competitions. Players with Virtual golf club memberships are not permitted to enter club competitions. Members of other clubs must have played 5 games at their home club in the past 12 months to be eligible to enter daily competitions. The Captain may make a discretionary call for charity events.  These restrictions are put in place to protect the value of your annual membership.

Drought Conditions
I'm sure every player has noticed the extremely dry conditions on the course. The greens keepers are doing their utmost to protect the course as much as possible. The bore is running 24/7 to replenish the dam, but it still takes 3 days of infill to cater for one full watering cycle. Please be patient if the fairway sprinklers are running, or the staff are hand watering the greens, they are protecting your course. I think that, given the circumstances, our course is in remarkable condition, and I applaud our greens keepers for the job they are doing.

Welcome Back
Thanks to John Mulholland for restoring the old chair from the 4th tee. It is now back on the job!

Coming Events

• Next Saturday is the final day of Trophy play for the men's competition year. The 2nd round of the Peter Tait Trophy awaits, with quite a number of players in good position for the prize. In addition, the Ted Box Trophy (Medal of Medals) trophy will be contested simultaneously. The following players are eligible to contest for the trophy (having won a monthly medal throughout the course of the past year).

Roberto Ratalino, Paul Carroll, Tony Rourke, Grant Blanchard, John Buchanan, Warren Ryan, Martin Flaxman, Tony Hobson, Dick Hiser, John McGuire, Tony Fitzpatrick, Pat Donoghue, Frank Eggert, John Mellen, Norris Dudgeon, Bruce Windybank, Clark Gibbons, Dennis Cooper, Alec Dietsch, Rob Humphreys, David Bickford, Daniel Weekes, Jim Phillips and Russell Bourne. Good luck to all.

• Christmas Cheer and Captain V's Captain. Mark this one in your diary, and book very soon. Shotgun start at 08:30 with a BBQ lunch to follow accompanied by live music on the lanai. Watch out for the strange looking guy in the red and white outfit around the course, he may have a gift for you (naughty or nice??).
• The Clubhouse will be closed for Christmas Day and Boxing day, and (still to be determined) New Year's day. The course will be closed on Christmas Day (so you'll just have to wait till Boxing day to test out the new driver!!). The Blog will not be published on the 30th December to allow the production staff (editors, photographers, printers, typists, compilers etc) to have a holiday. Likewise there will be no formal presentations made between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Recent Results

Wednesday 4th December. Another windy dry day. 56 players ventured onto the course to try their hand. When the dust settled, Peter Shortle (26) held the upper hand with 37 points on a count back from Chris Kunz (18). The Eagle's nest remained untested and now holds 5 balls for next week. John Hopkins won the NTP 11th and Paul Carroll the pro pin. DSR 69.

Saturday 7th December. The December Monthly Medal and the first round of the Peter Tait trophy. A beautiful day for golf, and the course was presented in exceptional nick given the current conditions. With a 68 net score, Jim Phillips (13) won the 'A' grade medal from John Mulholland (10 on 69. In 'B' grade John Buchanan (17) won his second medal of the year with a net 66 from Paul Carroll (17) on 68. Russell Bourne (25) completed the medalists by claiming 'C' grade with a net 66 from Paul Griffin (35). John Mulholland scored the best scratch with 79. Mathew Cleary relieved the Eagle of 4 balls while the NTP 11th was not presented. Dennis Cooper won the largest single pro pin  prize in many years. Visitors from Bonnie Doon and The Lakes GCs joined a field of 85 players, contributing to the largest Saturday field for many years. Well done everyone. 
In the running for the Peter Tait Trophy, there are 18 eligible players currently within 6 shots of the lead.

Sunday 5th December. Again the men are showing the way with the numbers on the day. Ash Southon (15) winning in a small field from Glen Welsh (13) with 37 points on count back. Julie Hayden (18) winning the women's event with 32 points.

The Rules Quiz.
The quiz question from last week raised some good conversation during the presentation. (Go and read the question now.) The answer to when the search time begins was both b and d options. The player or the player's caddie arriving at the search area triggers the timing. 3 minutes now!! Congratulations to the two putt-off contestants, John Mellen and Ash Southon. After 4 puts each Ash Southon finally won the ball marker. Remember, the 'members' lounge green' is very quick and downhill!!

The Quiz for this week.
A player's ball lies half buried in the rough. Without announcing any intention or marking the ball's position, the player rotates the ball and identifies the ball as his/hers. What is the ruling?

1. No Penalty
2. 1 shot penalty
3. 2 shots penalty
4. Loss of Hole

Come along to the presentation next Saturday and try your luck.

"Who Am I ?". 
The mystery identity was finally guessed last Tuesday by Jim Phillips. Ian McKenzie was the correct answer. This week starts a new identity.
The clue:
​"I am easily recognisable on the golf course".

Email your guess to bgcclubcaptain@gmail.com

(Remember, the photo is a logo only)

A Little Humour






​Now Go Out and Enjoy a Game of Golf !
​

Recent Results

Wednesday 27th November. 61 players in the field for a warm and windy single Stableford event. Dennis Neale (20) topped the winners' table with 39 points on a count back from Daniel Weekes (13). The Eagle's nest was not troubled, John Buchanan won the NTP 11th and a new member, Peter Chen won the pro pin. Frank Bryant from Royal Perth was a welcome visitor to the club. DSR 69.

Saturday 30th November. St Andrew's Day !! A huge 'Thank You' to Ian McKenzie, Bob Young, Alan Lindsay and Alan Turpie for donating the Whisky for the major prizes, and to Ken Dobie for donating the Whisky for the nearest second shot to the 13th. 
70 players joined up to contest the annual 4 person aggregate Stableford teams event. A single Stableford event was run in conjunction (for another bottle of Whisky!).
With a combined total of 136 points, the team of David McGinnes (20), Paul McPettiford (13), John Mulholland (10) and Ken Dobie (18) took home a bottle of Whisky each. Second by only one shot was the team of Tony Fitzpatrick (15), Phil Jeffery (10), Jim Phillips (13) and Russell Bourne (25). Paul Pettiford continued a fine day by winning the single Stableford event with 40 points from David McGinnes with 39 points on a three way count back. As there was no winner of the NTP Eagle's nest, the prize now stands at 5 balls. Chris Kunz and Ash Southon each received a ball for the NTP 11th after someone forgot to replace the marker and Paul Pettiford completed his day by winning the pro pin.
My apologies for the current state of the 'Results' page on the computer. There is an issue with the set up for the competition which prevented the system from adding the team results. Instead only one of each team's result is displayed. The individual results are correctly displayed. We are working on correcting the issue to avoid any further complications.

Honour Boards.
In case you have not noticed the changes, next time you visit the clubhouse take a look around. Last week John Mulholland kindly donated his time and expertise to re-hang the Honour boards and Plaques around the walls. A little paintwork is still required to complete the job, but I'm sure you will all agree the results are very pleasing to the eye. Of note is the fact that all the women's Honour boards are now finally located in the Members' room alongside the men's boards.

The Rules Quiz.
In keeping with the general theme of St Andrew's Day, the quiz last week (go and read it now) related to the very first set of rules which were tabled in 1744. There were 13 rules in total, and the individual responsible for them was the then Captain of Leith Links, John Rattray. Congratulations to Daniel Weekes for doing his research and having the answer at the ready for the presentation. Daniel is setting a very high standard with his rules knowledge, being among the winners on quite a number of occasions, congratulations!.

The Question for this week relates to one of the new (introduced in 2019) Rules. In January of this year the time allowed to search for a lost ball was reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. How well do you comply with the new time limit?
So, the Question.... What will trigger the start of the 3 minute search time?

1. The Player's partner in a team event beginning to search?
2. The Player's Caddie beginning to search?
3. A member of the Player's Group beginning to search?
4. The Player beginning to search?

​Do your research and come to the presentation and try your luck.

"Who Am I ?" Competition.
Lots of responses over the past week attempting to identify the mystery member, but he remains unidentified. The clue for this week.

"I am featured in at least one of the photographs in this week's Blog".
Email your guess to bgcclubcaptain@gmail.com

(Note, the photo is a logo only)

2019 Club Championships.
The final rounds of the Match Play to determine the Club Champions were played last Sunday the 24th November. The contestants were treated to some very mild conditions, which made the going considerably easier than might have been the case. All the players who have contested the knockout finals series are to be congratulated on their achievements.

 The Club Championship.
The two finalists for the 2019 BGC Club Championships were Phil Jeffery and John Mulholland. During the knockout phase of the finals, Phil accounted for Jim Phillips 2/1, and Clark Gibbons 2/1. John accounted for Brian Hanrahan 7/6, and John Mellen 1up, so the final was going to be very evenly balanced, and as anyone who has played a match over 36 holes can attest, anything can happen.
After the first 18 holes, and with each holding the lead at some point in the match, John Mulholland led by 1 hole.
​Following the break, John chipped in with his 3rd shot to win the first hole.  He would extend this lead over the next 11 holes as Phil found the re-start difficult after the break. Although winning one hole after the break, Phil found the relentless pressure applied by John to be too great to overcome. Despite fighting hard the match ended after 30 holes with the score 7/6 in favour of John Mulholland. Congratulations to both players, a worthy champion and an equally worthy runner-up.

'B' Grade Club Championships.
Craig Houden and Tony Rourke contested the finals for the 'B' Grade club Championships. Craig had beaten Alec Dietsch 3/2 and Ash Southon 3/1 on his way to the final, while Tony had accounted for John Ferguson 5/4 and Jim Larkin 4/2. Tony gave nothing away as he started quickly and was always in control of the match. Craig gave a good account of himself, but was unable to make any inroads, Tony Rourke winning 8/6 after 12 holes. Congratulations to both players for a well played match and final series.

'C' Grade Club Championships
Ken Dobie and Roberto Ratalino faced off over 18 holes of match play for the championship. Ken had won through with success over Norris Dudgeon 2/1 and Piero Dal Bianco 1up, while Roberto reached the final with wins over Alan Lindsay 2up, and Alan Turpie 1up. After the dust had settled, Ken Dobie overcame Roberto on the 14th hole with the score at 5/4. Another great competition, and both players should be rightly proud of their effort. Congratulations to both players for a fine match.

Recent Results

Wednesday 20th November. An excellent day for a game of golf, and 67 players joined the field for our usual Single Stableford event. Paul Pettiford (13) put together an excellent round to post 42 points to win from James Rowe (16) with 40. The Eagle is doing a marvellous job protecting her nest lately and again there was no winner on this hole. The NTP 11th went to Ash Southon and the pro-pin to David Bickford. We welcomed a visitor from Warringah GC to the club and the DSR was 69.

Saturday 23rd November. Otherwise known as the 'Patron' day as it appears that Brian Lamb (20) had a blinder to post 44 points (and he missed a couple of short putts!!) and win the competition from Col Weatherby (32) with 42 points. The Eagle now has 4 balls in the nest awaiting a good shot. The NTP 11th went to Ash Southon and Tony Rourke won the pro-pin. 74 players in the field with 11 visitors!! We welcomed players from Gosford, Wisemans, Sandhurst, Pennant Hills, Balgowlah, Strathfield and The Ridge GC's. It was a pleasure to have 4 of the visitors stay for the presentation. The DSR was 69.

Sunday 24th November. A very small field for the competition (perhaps due to the crowd following the players competing for the Club Championships). The Men's winner was Nik Potter (27) with 38 points, and the Women's winner was Diana Lindsay (28) with 34 points.

The Mentor Program.
Last week I advertised for players to act as Mentors to assist new members into golf, and to assist current (but not playing) back into the game. I received quite a response.  Thank you to the following members: Bob Young, Rob Bearup, Chris Barry, Carol Turpie, Peter Metcalf, Simon Kemp, Pat Donoghue, Tony Dick, Paul Carroll, John Buchanan, Peter Cottee, Alec Dietsch, John Mellen and Martin Flaxman. Over the next few days I will complete an introduction letter to each of the Mentors which will provide you with an  idea of the role ahead. If anyone wishes to join the program, either as a Mentor or as a player in need of a Mentor, just drop me an email at bgcclubcaptain@gmail.com

The Rules Quiz.
As a result of the Legacy Day competition not providing an opportunity to run the quiz, there were two rules questions asked at last week's presentation. Go back and read the questions now.
The answers are, there is no penalty for signing in the wrong box on a scorecard, and a player may not have two caddies working for them at any one time.
Alec Dietsch and Daniel Weekes again fought out a putt-off, and again Daniel made good with the putter to win. I think he may just have the 'wood' on Alec now. Just saying!!

This week a question with a difference. As the Saturday competition is the St Andrews Day affair, I thought I'd ask a question with a definite Scottish flavour.

Question. In 1744 the first Rules of golf were published. They were produced to provide 'The Gentlemen Golfers Of Edinburgh' ( later to become 'The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers') with a set of rules to be used for the first 'Open'  competition which would be played at Leith GC.

• How many rules were introduced in that list?
• Who was responsible for their composition?

"Who Am I?". Competition.
Still no correct answer to this competition, now in it's 4th week. The clue for this week.

"I am known for my special ability to put people to sleep".

​Email your guess to bgcclubcaptain@gmail.com
(note: the photo is a logo only)

A Little Humour
​John and Bob were two of the bitterest rivals at the club.  Neither man trusted the other's arithmetic.

One day they were playing a heated match and watching each other like hawks.  After holing out on the fourth green and marking his six on the scorecard John asked 
Bob, "What'd you have?"

Bob went through the motions of mentally counting up.  "Six!" he said and then hastily corrected himself, "No, no...a five."

Calmly John marked the scorecard, saying out loud "Eight!"  "Eight?" Bob said, 
"I couldn't have had eight."
​
John said, "Nope, you claimed six then changed it to five, but actually you had seven."  "Then why did you mark down eight?" asked Bob.

John told him, "One stroke penalty, for improving your lie."

Now Go Out and Enjoy A Game of Golf !!