Practise Area Update from Jack

The goal is to support Bruce's 9 Smart Shot, short game coaching and replicate as far as possible some of the short game challenges on the course.

Some maintenance work on greens this week:

• premium weed and feed will both kill the weeds and feed the grass
• regular every 2 day cutting to improve grass density on the greens

Replicating the short game challenges with layered cutting:

• greens at 4mm
• surrounds at 8mm
• semi rough at 47mm
• rough at 89mm

The area is also being revamped with some new signage - these materials will arrive in April.

  P R G C 

February /March Newsletter from The Lady Captain 

We have had a very sad start to the month of February with the passing of our very dear friend Beryl Austin. Her funeral was on Thurs 27th of February. It was attended by a very large number of friends and family. The lady Members, in their club colours, honoured Beryl by lining the entrance to the Crematorium. Beryl was a very special lady here at PRGC and will be sorely missed. 

RIP Beryl. 

Our golfing activities for February were quite sparse due to the wet weather, but we soldiered on and did manage to have some good golf on 2days.  

Wed 5th     This was in the calendar as a morning to participate in the Winter Challenge Competition, but a few ladies wanted to participate in the previous month’s Stableford which had been cancelled due to heavy rain. We ended up having a mixed morning with some ladies playing the Stableford and some the Winter Challenge. The sun came out and a pleasant morning was had by all. Bex Lowrey won the Stableford Competition for January, so well done Bex.  

Wed 12th   Winter Challenge morning. This is proving to be a very popular competition. We had 13 Ladies who entered and what a morning it proved to be for 1 special lady. On the 3rd hole, a par 3, VAL BATE shot a HOLE IN ONE. Fantastic!  As is tradition Val paid for the drinks when we got back to the Clubhouse. So, thank you Val and well done.  

Wed 19th  Again, another Winter Challenge Morning. Not so many Ladies playing as a lot were on holiday as it was half term. Conditions were muddy and wet as we had had a lot of overnight rain. The course was still playable, (thanks to our greenkeepers) and some of us played good golf with good scores which was reflected in our handicap changes. 

Feb 26th   A Winter Challenge Morning, but due to heavy rain this was called off.  We did the draw for the Hutley Cup Competition, which is a mixed competition starting in April. Jill has already sent out all the info so good luck to you all. 

Events in the Calendar for March 

Wed 5th     Winter Challenge 

Wed12th   Winter Challenge 

Wed 19th     Midweek Stableford 

Sat 22nd     Weekend Stableford 

Wed 26th    Ladies Morning 

There are a few events that I need to remind Members of that are on the Calendar for April, as I do not think this will be published until mid March. 

April 9th    Bucks County 9 Hole Competition for Junior Girls 

This is being organised by Sue and if you wish to help on the day with hosting these talented young ladies, I am sure Sue will be more than grateful. 

 April 12th   Bucks County 9 Hole Competition for Ladies 

Again, this is being organised by Sue. Entry form is on the County website, or if you have a problem contact Sue or any Committee member. The competition is an individual Stableford with 95% handicap. The cost to PRGC lady members is £16. This includes a lunch starting at 12pm and golf starting at 2pm.  

The weather looks sunny for the next week, at least, so let’s hope we get to play good golf and it is reflected in our handicaps. Happy golfing to you all. 

Liz France     The Lady Captain 

PR GC  Captains Monthly Message  -  MARCH 2025

Hello All

With the new golf season nearly upon us and the draw for all our Summer and Club competitions imminent, I thought it would be a good time to mention a few "reminders"!!

The Most Essential Rules that ALL Golfers Need to Know.

1/. How time flies!  -  3 minutes only to look for a lost/errant ball (from the moment you start to look!)

2/. If the ball is not found in three minutes, then it is lost. Back to the tee or the spot the shot was taken from. Hence if in doubt, play a "provisional" ball.

3/. Holing Out. In competative medal golf this is a Must, even if your playing partner says "that's good" or similar. A friendly round is a different matter.

4/. Ready Golf. Keep the course moving by always being ready to play. {Don't leave your trolley in front of the green, don't mark your card on the green, and don't admire the scenery!!}

5/. Relief can be taken if a ball rests against a sprinkler head or other man made object, without a penalty shot.

6/. You cannot ground your club in the sand behind your ball in a bunker. You can however remove stones or loose impediments, without fear of penalty.

7/. If your ball finds a divot in the middle of the fairway, you have to play the ball as it lies. (Winter rules allow for "pick and place")

8/. Out of Bounds. If your ball is half in and half out of the demarcation line, it is deemed "in play" but if the entire ball is touching the line, and none of it touching the course, it is "out of bounds".

If in doubt, consult your playing partners or a marshall. The R & A "Player's Edition of the Rules of Golf" is a great bedtime read!!

Forthcoming Events.

The Club's first Pub Games evening on Friday March 7th. Plenty of activities; cost £15.00 per person, to include the first drink and a pie & mash supper. Contact Sarah or Luke for tickets and your choice of pie.

Seniors CBL and Friendlies begin this month - contacts are Steve Sargeant for CBL and Dave Orford for the friendlies.

Saturday 22nd March - Distinguishables vs Incorrutibles, or in plain terms Captains team vs the management team. [we won last year 5 - 4!]

Wednesday 2nd April. WAGs start up and Mens Presentation Evening. (Dave Mackenzie)

Thursday 17th April. On Course Foundation Charity day. Texas scramble with Veteran service personnel. (myself)

Tuesday 22nd April. St. George's Day Golf Event. {All club members welcome} followed by lunch. (sign up in due course)

Plus all the regular ladies, mens and seniors medals and stablefords, including the Mixed Friday competitions run by John White.

Results.

Seniors Club February Stableford was won by Steve Tucker with 36 points, from Bob Carter on count back.

Mens February Stableford was won by Sam Fryer with 39 points, from Tony Taylor on count back.

Other monthly competitions were washed out. Well done to all the winners.

Finally.

Please help out a former player who is retiring from golf, but has his own single seat buggy to sell. I believe it is a BMW and runs well and is currently on charge in one of the club sheds. £400.00 would secure it, but please enquire for further details from Sarah.

An extremly big "thank you" from Ladies Captain, Liz France who is still collecting old and used golf balls, and sending them off to be refurbished etc. All proceeds going to our captains charities.

Shortly, other items will be going on sale, sponsored by Summerhouse Linens/R P Trading, so look out for further details; again all receipts going to the captains charities.

Club Pro Shop.

The usual golf items always on sale, and now including "Sharpie Pens" always very useful/essential for marking ones balls.

Enjoy your golf and thanks for reading;

Dick Pooley, Club Captain.

mob. 07785 996511, land 01494 269615, email "richardpooley5@gmail.com"

We are responding to a comment in our Customer  Service Book with regards to play during times of poor visibility, through fog or bad light.

The R&A do not explicitly cover this but advise that play is suspended if landing zones are no longer visible

The BB&O have said that our approach is consistent with other progressive clubs ie pick an appropriate marker from the first tee and suspend play if there is insufficient visibility to see this marker.

Our rule in terms of poor visibility is that:

• play will be suspended unless the first bunker on the left hand side is visible from the 1st Gold Tee.
• no player should hit a ball knowing that the targeted landing zone of their ball is further than the restricted light / visibility allows [for the avoidance of doubt, any player striking the ball with the intent (or capability with the club used) of landing the ball beyond the point of 'no visibility' may be deemed to be negligent, their insurance void and their play suspended]

We support the position off player safety first.

Also, please remember, whilst everybody playing at the club is covered by Public Liability Insurance, this may not be the case if player negligence is proven.

NB Separate conversations may be had with the clubhouse manager, where known groups of members, with much shorter landing zones may agree a different distance rule,  these will be exceptions to the rule but not to the principle that player safety is paramount, and a signed waiver for exceptions will be required to protect the club and other playing members. The ruling above relating to striking the ball in a negligent fashion beyond visible landing zones will apply.  The clubhouse managers ruling is final and not negotiable.  Please do not apply undue pressure to the management, they will only be following agreed safety rules, which are in everyone's interests.

Thank you