We are now approaching the end of the 2019-2020 golfing year and it can surely be said that it has been an unprecedented twelve months. The impact of the COVID pandemic cannot be under-estimated but we are proud of the way our club and our lady members have found a way through these difficult circumstances. Just last night we all learnt of plans for Lockdown 2 which will begin on Thursday 5th November. We have adjusted this newsletter, but some of the information remains provisional. The club will be guided by England Golf and once the situation becomes clearer you will be the first to know. Although we face the challenge of the virus as we head into the winter, we are sure that the friendship and support amongst our ladies will continue as we look ahead. Well done girls.

We make no apology for the length of this newsletter! There’s a lot to say about the past twelve months’ golf and there’s even more to say about the coming twelve months. All things that would have been covered during our annual presentation evening if it had not fallen foul of COVID and social distancing.

Do please read to the end – there are some things that require your action.

Let’s start with golfing results for the month of October and for our summer knockout competitions:

• October Stableford – Sue Pomeroy (37 points)
• October Stableford 9 Holes – Valerie Dexter (11 points)
• Autumn Stableford – Chris Stevens (34 points)
• Ladies Singles – Jill Peppett
• Ladies Doubles – Jill Peppett and Rosie Brand

Tuesday 3rd November sees the last day of the 2019-2020 season and this would have been the day for the Members AGM. Clearly it is not appropriate to hold such a meeting this year, but there are a few things to mention related to governance. Firstly, and as we’ve said previously, in the absence of a Lady Captain we will continue to manage the Ladies Section by Committee.

Committee will comprise:

Chairperson Sue D’Arcy
Competition Secretaries Jacqui Taylor / Jill Peppett
Handicap Secretaries Jill Peppett / Sue D’Arcy
Secretary/Treasurer Beryl Austin
Social Secretaries Chris Hallett / Anne Ward

It takes a surprising amount of time to organise any sporting activity and we very much hope that you have been satisfied with the committee’s work this year, but please don’t hesitate to approach any of these ladies if there are any issues you wish to discuss.
We are all hoping that inter-club matches can resume next summer and are delighted to report that Jean Caldicott and Rosie Brand will be organising these activities. Thank you to them both.
We had a full schedule of events planned for November which may be impacted by Lockdown 2. We are, however, taking the opportunity to share the details with you, along with a copy of the 2020-2021 calendar.

If the course is closed due to Lockdown 2 then we will hope to be able to pick up again in December.

Wednesday 4th November – Ladies Informal Morning. We’ll be getting the year started with a Waltz organized by Jacqui, and with the new year we will be re-introducing an entry fee (and a prize!). This may be our last competition for some time so we hope that as many ladies as are able will join us. Look out for information from Jacqui and please pay your entry fee by BACS to the Ladies account – more details from Beryl if needed. STATUS : GOING AHEAD

Saturday 7th/Sunday 8th November – November Weekend Stableford. Please book your own tee times and let Jacqui/Beryl know of your plans. STATUS: PROVISIONAL
Wednesday 11th November – November Midweek Stableford. Again, please book your own tee times and let Jacqui/Beryl know of your plans. STATUS : PROVISONAL
Monday 16th November – Ladies Away Day to Wycombe Heights. Chris H has already heard from Wycombe Heights that this event has to be cancelled. You should expect to hear more about this from her in due course, but rest assured if you have already paid your entry fee then this will be refunded. STATUS : CANCELLED
Wednesday 18th November – Ladies Informal Morning. More details nearer the time. STATUS : PROVISONAL
Monday 23rd November – RAGS Away Day to Temple Golf Club. No news on this event yet, but expect to hear from John Stephenson in due course. STATUS : AWAIT MORE NEWS
Wednesday 25th November – Ladies Informal Morning. More details nearer the time. STATUS : PROVISIONAL

Course Etiquette and Admin

On the course:

• We’re now on winter rules which means that you may lift and clean your ball if it lands on the fairway. You should place your marker in front of the ball and then replace the ball within six inches of that spot, no nearer to the hole.
• In bunkers and under COVID regulations you may continue to mark, lift, clean and replace your ball within six inches, and no nearer to the hole.
• The winter greens are in preparation. Please be careful not to wheel your trolleys over them. If you land on them or would have to stand on them to play your ball, you should move your ball to the nearest place of relief – no nearer to the hole.
• Brock the Badger and his friends are back and there are several areas of severe damage. If your ball lands in the badger scrapes, you should move it sideways to the nearest point of relief and take a drop. No penalty is incurred.

Marking cards...

... has become something of a contention. The practice that we are asking ladies to follow is in line with England Golf advice during COVID and is as follows:

• You are Player A. You mark your own card putting your score in column A and your total in the bottom left hand box.
• You are ‘shadowing’ one of the ladies you are playing with. She will be Player B and her information should be entered in column B.
• There should be no information in the column headed ‘marker’s score’.
• Don’t forget to sign your card!

We are aware that other parts of the club follow different conventions, but please follow this guidance if you are playing in a ladies game and submitting your score for handicap purposes.
And finally on golf, please remember to let Jacqui know if you’d like to play in the Ladies Winter Pairs competition which we hope can be played in the period December to March. The closing date for entries is Monday 9th November. There will be a draw for partners - please do sign up to take part.
Each year the Ladies Section choose a charity to support and for the 2019-2020 year it was Thames Valley Air Ambulance. It hasn’t been easy to organise fundraisers but somehow or another together we have collected a magnificent sum of £1360 for this incredibly worthwhile cause. TVAA are absolutely thrilled with your efforts and have asked for their thanks to be conveyed to each and every one of you.

And we think that a special thank you should go to Lynn for her guess the weight of the cake competition back in March – we wish we’d been able to taste it too though!

For the 2020-2021 season we shall be supporting the Florence Nightingale Hospice. Another local charity which many of you will know. Jacqui will be managing our relationship with FNH and we hope to get our fundraising off to a good start with the sale of Christmas cards. Watch out for news on this from Jacqui.

By the time you read this newsletter golf will have experienced its biggest change in living memory – the World Handicapping System launches on Monday 2nd November. Several bulletins have been issued explaining the new terminology and how we shall all be using it, and those of us who plan to play between now and Wednesday will have a chance to get used to the new procedures. If you’ve got any questions don’t hesitate to speak with either Jill or Sue D.

Thank you for reading to the end of this epistle. There’s so much to say and so few opportunities these days. However, the most important thing is to thank you all for continuing to support our golfing efforts, in whatever way best suits you. Winter golf is so different to the spring and summer game, but we hope that you will all enjoy whatever time we are allowed on the course. And please watch your mailbox for updates over the coming weeks.

PLAY SAFE and STAY SAFE

1st November 2020