Princes Risborough Golf Club
JULY UPDATE
OUT OF LOCKDOWN!
Our golf continues apace albeit still under the Play Safe: Stay Safe mantra. We may exit the restrictions in late July and will be guided by England Golf. Until then it is the golf we have become used to since the pandemic hit.
COURSE UPDATE
Chris, Oliver and Leo have now joined the team and we can all see the improvements to the course. The bunker re-developments are coming on really well and all the sand is now back in play. The newly laid turf will remain GUR for some time yet so please treat it with respect.
Mark Tubb wants and welcomes feedback on anything related to the golf course so please feel free to forward your constructive thoughts to him directly by email, WhatsApp, phone call or face to face.
CLUB KNOCK OUT COMPETITIONS 2021
These are all up and running and plenty of matches have been played. There have been some matches that have been delayed beyond what we consider a reasonable extension and this has caused disruption to the programme and other members. Players MUST aim to get these matches played on time.
The progress of the various competitions cannot be posted on the notice boards yet but they are available via HDIDo. For those of you with access please sign in to HDIDo, click on the more icon on the top bar and then click on Knockouts. Here you will find all the competitions fully updated with the latest match results.
THE SPRING STABLEFORD
We got there in the end and the winner and best performer over the various playing days was Mark Stinchcombe on 40 points. Well played Mark
THE CHILTERN BREAKFAST LEAGUE
Our team, ably led by Steve Sargeant, continues with its gang busting performances this year. Our halved match away at Richings Park has been followed by two stonking 5:1 wins at home against Richings Park and Stocks. Our next two matches are away at Aldwickbury Park and Stocks and the team are certainly fired up as these two matches will determine who wins our division of the league. At this half way point in the season we lead our division so more of the same will see us into the play offs.
SENIORS MATCHES
We started our belated senior match season with an excellent win at home against Huntswood 4.5: 1.5. It was great to be back playing friendly but competitive senior matches and all 24 players clearly enjoyed the golf, the course and our hospitality. Our next match is away at Weston Turville on 15th July so let’s hope the good form continues. Seniors Captain Doug Taylor is the man to contact if you would like to join the playing pool.
CLUB COMPETITIONS JULY 2021
Friday 02 Club Stableford
Saturday 03
Sunday 04
Tuesday 06 Seniors Medal
Friday 09 The Fowler Bowl: a mixed stableford event open to all
Saturday 10 lady and gentlemen members with a handicap index of 19 or higher.
Sunday 11 CBL Match Aldwickbury Park AWAY
Thursday 15 Seniors Match: Weston Turville AWAY
Sunday 18 Mixed Match: Ivinghoe AWAY
Friday 23 Club Medal
Saturday 24
Sunday 25
Saturday 31 Men’s Captains Day
THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: THE BARCILON CUP
This, the premier 36-hole competitive medal golf event of the year was played over the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June. A total of 27 men and 9 ladies competed over the two days and much credit to them all for their endurance particularly on day two when the weather was a little “dreek” to say the least!!
- The Men’s Scratch Championship: The Barcilon Cup: we have a new name on the Champions board as our Champion Golfer 2021 is none other than our Club Captain Craig Whitworth with a 36-hole gross score of 159. Craig just pipped a former Champion, Luke Tubb, by one shot so a tight finish at the top of the scratch leader board
- The Men’s Handicap Championship: we have another new name on the winners’ board as our handicap champion is Daniel Anstee who came in with a startling net score of 127 making him the winner by 9 shots from his grandad Pete Smith!! Daniel is our overall Handicap Champion and also won division 2 although his gross 85 on day two means that he probably will not be in that division for much longer!
- The men’s Division 1 handicap winner: this went to another former Club Champion, Alan Jackson, who was a little startled to find he had won something!!
- The Ladies Scratch Championship: The Barcilon Cup: another tight contest eventually won by Bex Lowry with a gross 186, followed home closely by Jill Peppett with a gross 190.
- The Ladies Handicap Championship: this was won by Jill Peppett with a net score of 152 over the 36 holes
- The Dexter Goblets: these divisional trophies were shared out as follows: Handicap Index (HI) 0-22: Polly Allen: HI 23-30: Rosie Brand: HI 31-36: Valerie Dexter and HI 37-54: Arlinda Chaplin
The course was set up brilliantly by John and his team being both tough and fair. Sarah and the House team provided excellent support over the two days and Trisha delivered a superb post-match BBQ on the Sunday which was thoroughly enjoyed by 36 ravenous golfers. Well done to all those who participated and supported the two days.
BARCILON CUP CHARITY FUND RAISING
For the first time our Vice Captain Al Bowyer ran a “book” on the result of the Men’s Handicap Championship to raise funds for the Captains Charity.
Tragically neither Daniel nor his grandad nor anybody else placed a bet on either of them so the winnings will go to those who bet on Alan Jackson, being the best net score who was actually backed! It goes to show that anybody can win the handicap championship so next year I am sure all players will at least back themselves!!
One lucky participant has scooped £40 and £60 has been raised for Craigs Charity, Bucks Young Carers. Many thanks to all who participated in this new venture.
REGULAR SOCIAL GOLF AT PRGC
Every Tuesday Morning: TOFFS (Tuesday Over Fifty Fours)
Every Wednesday Afternoon: WAGS (Wednesday Afternoon Golfing Society)
Every Friday Morning: Mixed Singles Stableford (ladies and gentlemen)
THE WORLD HANDICAPPING SYSTEM
We are all getting used to this new system but many questions are still being asked. For those wanting to learn more we have invited our local England Golf Guru’s, Christine and Ian Bishop, to provide a little workshop Q & A. This will take place on Monday 26th July and all are welcome.
MEN’S MAIN CLUB COMPETITION ENTRY FEES
We are optimistic that we will be able to return to the standard envelope system from 01 August. We will continue with the current BACS for July and all members who have participated in main club competitions in May, June and July will receive an email asking for full payment in early August.
Entry fees for the men’s Seniors competitions will continue to be collected by Al Bowyer.
PROTOCOL REMINDERS
These are still difficult times so I make no apologies for repeating:
- Play Safe: Stay safe: as before this is still in place until we are all notified otherwise by Gary Tubb
- 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. And put it in the appropriate box
- 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.
- Bunkers in development: if your ball lands in the sand it is in play. The newly laid turf is GUR and if your ball is on the new turf you must take full relief away from the bunker. If your ball is in the sand but in such a position you would have to stand on the turf to play it you are permitted to move the ball IN THE SAND to a point where you are also standing in the sand. DO NOT play any shot with your feet in the newly laid turf
- Hole and Holed: the flag still stays in and the ball must be at rest in the hole.
- Stroke and Distances: in all competition golf and where the card is being uploaded to the WHS for handicap adjustment the 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 Stroke and Penalty (two shot penalty from the point where the ball is thought to be lost) only applies in recreational golf where there is no upload for handicap adjustment
- 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
- 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
- Pitch Marks and Divots: Pease repair any pitch marks and divots you make or find on the course. Failure to repair these promptly will result in long term damage to the course so please repair them even if they are not yours
- White Competition Tee on Hole 14: a reminder to one and all that this competition tee comes with a virtual out of bounds. Any TEE shot that finishes on or beyond (including in the ponds!!)) the 15th Fairway will be deemed out of bounds and a second ball must be played off the tee under a penalty of 1 lost shot, so 3 off the tee. This Virtual OOB only applies to the tee shot
Barry Woledge
Competitions Secretary
30 June 2021 V2
