Princes Risborough Golf Club
SEPTEMBER UPDATE
CLUB KNOCK OUT COMPETITIONS 2021
These are all up and running with most competitions now at the semi-final stage. Most members are complying with the cut off dates but some are not!! Players MUST get these matches played on time or risk a disqualification.
The first competition to be completed is The Hutley Cup: our mixed pairs foursomes knockout. This final was keenly contested between Barry Woledge/Bex Lowry and Jim Findlay/Jill Peppet with Barry Woledge and Bex Lowry running out as the eventual winners. Congratulations to Barry and Bex whose names go on the board.
THE CHILTERN BREAKFAST LEAGUE
The team managed a brilliant away win at Stocks, 3.5: 2.5, and as result with one match to go we still head our division just ahead of Aldwickbury Park whom we play at home on September 04. Win that and we are in the play offs so fingers crossed Steve and the team can deliver.
SENIORS MATCHES
The seniors have been going a storm this year with away wins at Waterstock and Whiteleaf in the month of August. Both clubs were a little surprised to be beaten on their turf but Seniors Captain Doug Taylor and Club Vice-Captain Al Bowyer have proved inspirational in their team selections and motivational talks. Long may it continue. Doug would still like to hear from any senior members who would like to play in these matches.
MIXED MATCHES
We played a mixed friendly match away at Weston Turville and halved a very tightly fought contest 3:3. Great fun and an excellent result away from home.
NINE HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP
This event was a huge success with 29 players taking part including most of the regular WAGS. We used the new black tees for the competition and the feedback would suggest that all the players found this an excellent course which offered many challenges with little respite.
The Men’s competition was won by Roger Meakes with 23 points closely followed home by Sean Cummins on 22 points. Both men played well below their handicaps on our most difficult course so well done indeed.
The Ladies also opted to play off the black tees which was very brave of them. The Ladies competition was won by Bex Lowry with 16 points chased home by Rosie Brand on 14 points.
MEN’S SUMMER PAIRS
Sixteen pairs participated in this years’ summer pairs and it turned out to be a very close-run thing indeed. In the event 3 pairs all tied on 45 points which given the new 85% handicap allowance ruling was very tidy golf indeed.
The winners were Shane Copcutt and Billy Wagerfield, who managed to squeeze out (uncle) Steve Wagerfield and Sean Cummins and Barry Woledge and Phil Sloan on count back. Having only scored 19 points on the front nine Shane and Billy somehow conspired to produce 26 points on the back nine which certainly meant they won any count back calculations!! Whatever they drank at half way certainly had an effect so hopefully they will share that with others. Well done to Shane and Billy
CLUB COMPETITIONS SEPTEMBER 2021
Thursday 02 Seniors Match Huntswood AWAY
Friday 03 Club Stableford
Saturday 04
Sunday 05
Saturday 04 CBL Match Aldwickbury Park HOME
Tuesday 07 Seniors Medal
Wednesday 15 Seniors Match Chartridge Park AWAY
Friday 17 Club Medal
Saturday 18
Sunday 19
Sunday 19 California Cup: Mixed Greensomes Invitational
Thursday 23 Seniors Match Chartridge Park HOME
Sunday 26 RyderHeim Cup: multi-mode 27 hole team event played in teams of four
Thursday 30 Seniors match Wycombe Heights AWAY
REGULAR SOCIAL GOLF AT PRGC
Every Tuesday Morning: TOFFS (Senior men’s golf for those aged 55 and over)
Every Wednesday Afternoon: WAGS (Wednesday Afternoon Golfing Society)
Every Friday Morning: Mixed Singles Stableford (ladies and gentlemen)
WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM
This has bedded in and most are now familiar with the system.
It has been noted, however, that some members are still not playing in competition golf and not uploading cards to the WHS. The core requirement of the WHS is to upload cards every time you play so as to make sure all players have a current and fair handicap. Please follow through on this requirement by entering competitions and/or uploading casual qualifying cards when needed.
MEN’S BOARD COMPETITIONS 2022
Given the Covid hiatus, for this year 2021, we allowed all members to enter board competitions using their Handicap Index without the need to have played qualifying rounds in the previous year, and without the need for a fully developed handicap index. Next year we will revert to our traditional qualifying requirements:
• Players entering PRGC club competitions must have played a minimum of 6 PRGC qualifying competition rounds in the previous 12 months. A qualifying competition round is any of the monthly medal, monthly stableford, seniors monthly medal/stableford, or a singles board competition played to R&A rules
• Players must also possess a fully developed WHS handicap index where the HI is derived from the best 8 of the last 20 WHS registered rounds played. Only players who are new to golf and have never previously held a golf handicap will receive dispensation from this requirement.
There are two qualifying competitions each month plus the monthly seniors’ event and board competitions so plenty of opportunities to enter the requisite cards between now and March 2022.
If you want to play in the board competitions next year, please make sure you play enough “qualifiers” before 31 March 2022.
NEW 18TH MEN’S TEE
A MESSAGE FROM MARK TUBB / GREENKEEPING TEAM
“This hole has been set up in a way that takes into account the safety of other members. Inter alia the righthand tee markers are being carefully placed adjacent to the fence forcing the hole to be played as a dogleg par 4. It is not safe to allow people to attempt to drive the green and play the hole as a par 3.
It has been noted, that some members have taken it upon themselves to move the tee markers, which breaches a fundamental rule of golf. To be clear golf must be played on the course that is set.
Any golfer that seeks to breach the rules of golf and cheat causing danger to other members by changing the set course for any reason, will be subject to disciplinary action and suspended form the club.” YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
PROTOCOL REMINDERS
• 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 and place the ball IN THE SAND to a point where you are also standing in the sand. DO NOT play any shot with your feet on the newly laid turf
• 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
• 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 potentially ruin the game for players with you or following you and will result in long term damage to the course. Please repair them even if they are not yours and help playing partners who cannot do so for medical reasons
• 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
• White Competition Tees: it has been noted that some members are playing off the White Tees out of competition. The white tees are competition tees and can only be used for club competition play so please do not play off them out of competition. Work is carried out on these tees whilst competition play is not in progress and you will cause damage which is unacceptable
Barry Woledge
Competitions Secretary
31 August 2021
