- Latest Update on Coronavirus Management Plan
- New Additions to the Course
- Updated Local Rules
- Coming Events
- Recent Results
- The Rules Quiz (Re-vamped)
- "Who Am I ?" Competition
- A Little Humour (Lord-Knows we need some!!)
Over the weekend the Prime Minister announced the imminent closure of a wide range of businesses across the country. This necessitated a great deal of further investigation by members of the Board, as we were unsure of the exact outcome for BGC. We finally received notice via Golf NSW that the golf course could remain open and golfing activity continue, as it is seen to be a relatively safe activity given its nature. An email was sent to all members detailing the new situation as it now stands. The content of that email is re-produced below.
Good afternoon members,
All Australian States are required to shut down businesses other than those deemed as essential services. This is an attempt to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
As a result, the BGC Clubhouse will close indefinitely from midday today (Monday 23rd March 2020). The office will be monitored remotely and if you need to contact us please email [email protected]
In some positive news, the course can remain open, so it will be golf as normal.
As a result of these changes, we have now moved to a revised stage 4 (as per the BGC Coronavirus Management Plan)
Stage 4 (revised)
“The Clubhouse is closed indefinitely. The golf course and pro shop will remain open as normal and scheduled competitions will continue. The locker rooms/toilets will be open. All transactions are by card only, tap and go or member cards.“
BGC recommends single-player only cart usage.
Only one patron is permitted to be inside the pro shop at any time.
As the water fountains will be closed off, players should bring their own drinks or purchase from the pro shop.
The Management of BGC will advise members of updates as and when further information comes to hand.
The following communication was received from Golf NSW Mon 23rd March.
Overnight, and this morning, a number of updates have been provided by both the Federal and State Governments in relation to the closure of non-essential facilities. Certain facilities will be restricted from opening from midday today, local time 23 March 2020, including Pubs, registered and licensed clubs.
While your clubhouse operations must be closed for normal business, golfing activities can and should continue. Of course, golfers should exhibit a heightened awareness of personal hygiene and adhere to social distancing guidelines, as has been encouraged by state and federal health departments. By its nature, golf promotes a level of social distancing and while it is important that this is adhered to, golf is a lower risk sport than many others.
Course maintenance may also continue, under the same distancing guidelines.
Practices across your facility should display heightened regard for the sanitation of surfaces, of which your cleaning chemical provider will be able to provide guidance on.
Staff and volunteers should exhibit a heightened awareness of personal hygiene has been encouraged by state and federal health departments.
Golf NSW Staff are currently working from home until Friday, April 3rd, and if there is any change to this date, we will advise all clubs and districts as soon as possible.
The team is all still contactable via regular means such as phone and e-mail and our reception phone will be diverted to ensure all incoming calls are answered.
As previously noted, the virus and potential implications are changing constantly and we will continue to monitor accordingly, and provide updates to clubs and facilities as regularly as required, or alternatively when additional Federal Government updates are announced.
For further information from the Federal Government on COVID-19, the Coronavirus Health Information Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 020 080.
For additional information or have questions please do not hesitate to contact me as per the details below.
Yours sincerely,
Stuart Fraser
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
For any enquiries, contact:
Stuart Fraser
Chief Executive Officer
Ph: 9505 9105
E-mail: [email protected]
Those of you who actually look at the flagstick would have noticed that there are new sticks and flags on all the holes. For those with particularly good eyesight they may have noticed that the flag on the 18th green is a different colour. I think it looks quite smart.
Also newly arrived are the revised Scorecards. Each course will have its own scorecard, colour-coded to differentiate. Of note should be the revised hole indexes. There have been changes made to the indexes on most holes on all the courses. So have a look when you are writing down your score, you might get a surprise!! The index adjustments have been done statistically with the guidance and assistance of the club Handicappers Don Barker and Noela McMurray. The cards will come into use just as soon as we can update the computer (hopefully in the next day or so).
My previous Blog listed the 4 newly introduced local rules (go back and read them now), and the reasons for their introduction. I have noticed that a number of players are still handling the flagsticks. If this continues, I will have to introduce a penalty to force players to change their behaviour. As an enhancement to the rules I have included several photographs demonstrating the 'Ball Holed' and the 'Preferred lie in a Bunker' local rules.
- The General Members meeting scheduled for the 26th March has been postponed indefinitely.
- Saturday 28th is the PAR event covering the Jock Rossell and Bill Chrystal Trophies.
- Sunday 29th is the Final of the Club Championships in Men's Foursomes to be contested between the teams of Peter Metcalf/Tony Hobson and Daniel Weekes/Alec Dietsch. Tee times are 08:32 and 12:30. Also the last day for the completion of the 1/4 finals for the Arthur Brassey competition.
- The Summer Eclectic competition closes on the 31st March and the Winter version commences on the 1st April. Sign up sheets are in the pro shop.
- Saturday 4th April is the Monthly Medal and the Austin Richardson Tankard trophy.
- The Jubilee Cup has been re-scheduled to September 27th.
- The Bruce Smith Cup competition against Moss Vale GC has been postponed until further notice.
Wednesday 18th March. Our March Open day competition was a well attended event. The team of Reece Woods (9) and Ash Southon (13) posted an impressive 46 points to win from Peter Gallagher (29) and Paul Barnes (15) on 45. The single stableford winner was Reece Woods with 43 points. Two visitors to the competition one each from Moss Vale and Nambour GCs.
Saturday 21st March. A magnificent day to play golf, new flagsticks and some new local rules. With 41 points, Andrew Tomkins (19) won the competition from David Burgess (14) with 38 points on a count back. 66 players in the field with visitors from Bingara Gorge included.
Sunday 22nd March. Finally the Sunday field is starting to take shape. 20 men and 3 women made up the field and Mathew Steadman (25) emerged with the win with 37 points from Chris Hill (21) with 35 points on a count back. Visitors on the day from Riverside Oaks, Moss Vale and the The Vintage.
As a result of the inability to hold presentation ceremonies due to the Coronavirus situation, I have decided that the quiz will continue, but will carry over two weeks. Players wishing to enter should email their answer to [email protected] and I will draw a name from the entries after the Saturday competition to determine the winner. There will be a new prize awarded for the 'most original' entry returned.
The question from two weeks ago will be the first one in the mix. Go back and read it and send me your answer.
I was in the throws of coming up with the next clue for the current competition when I received a last-minute entry from Robert Eriksson with the correct answer - Paul Carroll. Congratulations.
So we have a new character to guess. Here is the first clue.
"I greatly enjoy improving the ambiance of our club". Who am I?
email your entry to [email protected]
(Note, the photo is a logo only)