Greetings golfers,

In this week’s newsletter,

• A change to the handicap system
• Explanation of tree works
• So close in Morocco.
  

A few words from the pro…

With winter really starting to hit us, it is great to see so many golfers still braving it out on the fairways. The weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse over the last couple of weeks but the course has stood up very well and people have been giving the club praise which is always nice to hear.

CONGU Changes 2018

Changes to the CONGU UHS System have recently been announced. In view of the proposed introduction of the World Handicap System (WHS) these changes have been kept to a minimum and take into account some of the options likely to be adopted in the WHS, principal of which is to encourage players to submit more scores to their handicap record.

The changes, which come into effect on the 1st of January 2018, are:

Retirement of Club & Disability Handicaps – As a result of their low impact these have been removed and replaced by a new Category 5 for Men and Category 6 for both Men and Women, providing for a maximum handicap of 54.0 for all golfers. Players will be able to maintain a Competition Handicap in all six categories. Upward adjustment for all categories will remain at 0.1 and downward adjustments for Net Differentials below Buffer Zones will be 0.5 for Category 5 and 0.6 for Category 6.

After 1st January 2018 Handicap Committees can increase handicaps above the current limits of 28.0 and 36.0, and they will also increase above those limits automatically as a result of above Buffer Zone returns in Qualifying Competitions and Supplementary Score submissions.

Supplementary Scores – Relaxation of the rules to allow an unlimited number of score submissions per year and removal of the restriction of one per week. However, the restriction on Category 1 players will remain in place.

Mixed Tee Competitions – Reinforcement of the single CSS Adjustment Calculation. Having a single CSS adjustment for two or more competitions will provide a more equitable value when one of the competitions has a very low number of players. To overcome the technical IT implementation issues, the approach agreed will be to enter all scores into a single competition (and so a single CSS Adjustment Factor is calculated) with a facility within the software to allow the results to be separated for each group of competitors.

Definitions – Confirmation that cards submitted for Initial Handicap Allocation are included in the definition of Qualifying Scores for handicap purposes. Accordingly a player whose handicap is allocated on the basis of such submitted scores under Clause 16 will automatically be allocated a Competition Handicap status.

9 Hole Competitions – Introduce the option of 9-Hole Medal Competitions and 9-Hole Open Competitions. For handicap purposes, the 9-Hole Medal scores will be converted to Stableford and will appear as stableford on the player’s handicap record.

Handicap Adjustments – Confirmation that the adherence to Appendix M (Guidelines for Handicap Reviews) is mandatory, not optional.

There will be no new hard copy of the CONGU® Manual, but an updated online version will be available on the CONGU® website, where a full summary of the changes will also be posted.

This document represents the substantive changes for 2018 – other changes, which are largely for clarification purposes, will be highlighted in the online documentation.

Greenkeeping update

You will have noticed over the last few months plenty of tree work being undertaken. We never like to take any trees down but it is a necessity if we want to improve the greens and surrounding areas.

This video will give you an insight in to the benefits of our tree work.

On a slightly more negative note we have had a few people taking trolleys where they shouldn’t. Can I just remind people to stick to paths if possible and stay off any greens. It seems such a shame to waste all the hard work Ben and his team put in all year just to save your legs. Thank you.

Black Friday has started

Don’t forget that from today, Friday 24th November, until Sunday, 26th November,  we have 10% OFF everything in the shop including all sale items and orders placed over the weekend. 

We still have some great bargains to be had on our shoe rail. Up to 50% OFF some items. Now is the time to buy next summer's shoes at a super low price.

We also now have all of our winter stock in and the shop is starting to look great.

Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot Competition, on Tuesday 28th November, on the Griffin is an 8.30am Shotgun start. The organiser Bill Chaffe has made the draw for hole starting position and the list will be emailed out to you and will be on the vets notice board. The start time for the Phoenix will be from 10.38am and Roger Birchmore will arrange the tee times on the day. The place prizes and special prizes for each course will be given in the Challis Room after golf.

Competition update & upcoming events

With colder and wetter weather beginning to set in, this week sees the start of our 9 hole Winter Aggregate competition which is a one off £3 entry on your first competition day and sees everyone on the Phoenix.

Those ladies who often come up for coffee please note players should be coming in from 11am this week. Also, please remember to check the club website for the course status. As usual, should courses be closed over the winter, we will still meet for coffee from 10.30am on a Thursday.

On Thursday 18th January, Malcolm Wells will be coming to the club to receive the final handover of funds and thank you all for supporting Canine Partners this year. I am hoping he will bring a four legged companion with him and I will confirm timings nearer the day. I hope lots of you will be there.

AGM – is on Sunday 21st January. For those ladies who have not been to one, the AGM is when we re- present trophies to winners; present prizes and trophies for the aggregated competitions and celebrate our successes for the year. Please come along and support the winners and I will have the magnificent SCLGA Presidents Trophy on display.

There is of course some formal business as we summarise the events of last year and look forward to 2018. Liz Baguley will be putting up notices in early December including nomination forms for Committee. If you have never served on Committee, putting yourself forward as a Committee Member is a great way to find out what goes on behind the scenes and to see if there is a role you might like to help with in the future. Please have a word with anyone on the Committee if you would like to know more.