Mens February 2021 Update

Princes Risborough Golf Club

FEBRUARY 2021 UPDATE

STILL IN LOCKDOWN!

As of this writing we are still in lockdown Mark 3 and unable to play any golf at all. Vaccinations are proceeding at pace but it is clear any return to golf is unlikely before the Spring and even then, as before, it is likely to be restricted. Gary will keep us all informed on the process and rules of restart when we are given the nod by England Golf.

COMPETITION ENTRY FEES

Emails have been sent to all those who participated in the two December competitions and those who have still to pay their dues from the Competitions played in September and October and in some cases July and August! Will those in receipt of such an email and who have not yet paid please do so without delay.

COURSE UPDATE

Whilst we are unable to play golf, Mark and the team have been busy on the course and there is one major change we will all see upon our return to the course.

In the Spring we aim to re-open our original 18th tee and yes, I am one of a number of “founders” who played it in 1990, to accommodate White, Yellow, Red and Blue tee blocks. The precise date is weather dependent as we are looking for early spring growth but it is something to look forward to. There will be one oddity still around with regard to the 18th new tee and this is The Overhead Power Lines! In time, UK Power Networks will bury them but not just yet. In the meantime, we have decided to adopt the R&A alleviation rule on this hole so any ball that hits the overhead power lines MUST be declared dead and the shot replayed without penalty. Even if you hit the lines and land in the middle of the fairway, that ball is dead, and the shot MUST be replayed.

In time we will have the course remeasured to reflect all changes.

WORLD HANDICAPPING SYSTEM

As I said last time, what a monster this has turned out to be!! We have had limited experience but have already learnt a lot and have taken the opportunity of the lockdown to write up a “WHS overview” to assist all members with their understanding of how the WHS is applied at PRGC.

This WHS overview document is now on the PRGC web site and I would urge all members to read it and inwardly digest. There will be no excuses for not knowing once we return to golf, be it in competition or recreational!

World Handicapping System - What you need to know? - Princes Risborough Golf Club

CLUB KNOCK OUT AND BOARD COMPETITIONS 2021

Signing up for the summer 2021 Knock Out competitions will be digital as there is no prospect of signing up sheets being allowed in the near future. With the continuing lockdown we now plan to open the events for sign up by early March. All members will receive an email from PRGC with a link to a new web signup form for all the knock out competitions.  Complete the form highlighting the competitions you wish to enter and simply hit the “send to Barry” button at the bottom.

When we can commence competition, golf is not in our hands but we would still like all entries to be submitted by Sunday 28th March.

The various lockdowns have meant that we have not been able to play the usual medal and stableford qualifiers and it is likely a number of members will not have acquired the “minimum” essential for entry to the summer Knock Out competitions. For this year only the committee have decided to set aside the minimum qualifier rules. Thus, all members with a current WHS handicap index (HI) at 28th March 2021 will be eligible to sign up for the summer Knock Out competitions.

CLUB COMPETITIONS AND THE DIARY 2021

We have updated the guide to competition golf to make it PRGC specific and this is now on the website. Please have a read as it will answer all sorts of questions we have had in the past. It is written so that even those new to golf can have an understanding of what our competitions are and how we play them.

The 2021 Club Diary is also on the PRGC web site and will remain as is until we know when we can restart competition golf. It is inevitable there will be changes to dates and these will be notified in due course

Competitions / Handicaps - Princes Risborough Golf Club

CHILTERN BREAKFAST LEAGUE (CBL)

I am delighted to report that Steve Sargeant will take over as the PRGC representative on the Chiltern Breakfast League. We are not yet sure how the league will proceed in 2021, but Steve will be on our case. Mark Stinchcombe will also continue as the CBL League Treasurer so we effectively have two at the table.

PROTOCOL REMINDERS

These are still difficult times and even though we cannot play golf at the moment, I make no apologies for repeating:

  • Play Safe: Stay safe: as before with the added “car park to tee” protocol
  • Card Completion: there is to be no swapping of cards and no self-marking. You make up and mark the card of your partner and vice versa
  • Bunkers: all are in play and relief is to pick, clean and place within 6 inches within the bunker, no nearer the hole. In competition golf, please remember to mark your ball BEFORE you move it
  • Hole and Holed: the ball must be at rest in the hole. Much easier with the new lifting devices
  • Stroke and Distances: in all competition golf our ruling is that any ball lost in play will incur the stroke and distance penalty. Thus, if you fear you have lost a ball after striking it you should declare and play a provisional ball from the same spot. The alternative two shot penalty from the point where the ball is thought to be lost only applies in recreational non-competition golf
  • Winter Rules: mark, pick, clean and place within 6 inches no nearer the hole on the fairway and mown fringes of the green only. Not in the rough!!
  • Brock Badger: he is back and we have several areas of severe damage. If your ball lands in the badger scrapes, you should move your ball sideways to the nearest point of relief and take a drop. There is no penalty incurred
  • Temporary Greens: these will be in use on frosty mornings or where the greenkeeping team believe it is necessary to protect the main greens from damage. Please do NOT badger the staff to reopen the main greens on frosty mornings. Reopening too soon is an invitation to long term damage which we all want to avoid
  • Winter Tees: we are now on winter tees and these may remain in place throughout February and into March depending on the weather
  • Course management: if you observe any members or visitors not abiding by our course protocols, please politely raise it with them and /or inform the Club management as soon as possible so they can deal with the situation quickly and easily

 

Good luck to one and all. STAY SAFE-PLAY SAFE.

Barry Woledge

Competitions Secretary

02 February 2021 (V2)