Perhaps later than we would have liked, but at least we know that golf is due to resume in England on 29th March 2021. As this affects the scheduling of both our Tuesday competitions and inter-club matches, these matters will be discussed at the next CVGS committee meeting on Tuesday, 2 March. For the last few weeks, Steve Atkins has been working behind the scenes to help CVGS overcome a website problem, which he explains in his progress report below. CVGS Online Information For the 2018 and 2019 seasons, most online information was provided through the CVGS website. This was popular for match sign up and for competitions where sign up was required in advance. 2020 and the pandemic saw a major change in focus. Few matches were played and members were directed to the Cottesmore site to sign up for Tuesday play in a covid secure way. This proved very successful and the overwhelming majority of members became comfortable visiting and using this site. At the end of last year, BT, who host the CVGS site, gave notice that they would cease to provide the free community platform on which the site was mounted. They are not the only provider to discontinue such free facilities. We are therefore unable to continue with this facility. The content on the site has been reduced but hopefully still shows CVGS to be an active vibrant section should a member of the public seeking to join a seniors section come across it. However, no further updates will be done and BT will close the site on 24th May. Going forward the Committee took the decision to instead develop online content on the Cottesmore site which members had become familiar with within 2020. This will provide greater resilience as, with the club and all three sections using it, there is a bigger pool of expertise to call on. So where can you find information about the Vets? Well first log on to the Cottesmore site as you would to book your Tuesday golf. On the menu where you would click on "Competitions/Handicaps" there are three other options that I will direct you to. First "News" which is immediately below "Competitions/Handicaps". Click on here and you will find any current news that has been posted. Currently, there is an article on this year's Seniors Charity Open. Immediately above "Competitions/Handicaps" is "The Club". Click on this and it will take you to a series of further options displayed in blue bands. The two relating to the section are, Vets Committee 2021 where you can find details of who is on the Committee, and Vets Committee Minutes where, as the name suggests, the minutes of committee meetings will be posted. However, the most active area is further down the menu "Notice Board" which is one up from the bottom. Click on this and in the section headed "Vets" you will find links to documents that we hope you will find helpful and relevant. Try clicking on one or two, maybe Your Captain and Your Vice Captain to find out more about them. If you do not login first you will still find News and Noticeboard as menu options. However, this is public-facing and only the information that has been labelled for public access will be displayed. The presentation is very different from the old CVGS site and what can be delivered a little less. But against this must be weighed the resilience and security provided by the Cottesmore site. And the biggest benefit of all, members now only need to visit and become familiar with one site to sign up for Tuesday play, matches and competitions and access information about CVGS. I know that Steve still has some ‘topping and tailing’ to do, but thanks go to him for all his hard work. A gentle reminder from our Treasurer For those members who have yet to pay their £18 playing fees, these need to be paid before the end of March to cover the six months from 1st April to 30th September 2021. Then £9 will be due to cover the period from 1st October to 31st December 2021. Alternatively, you could pay £27 now to go to the end of the year. Also, annual membership fees of £15 need to be paid by the end of April. Payments can be made by bank transfer to CVGS; sorting code 30-91-44, account number 00351077 (please add your name) or by cheque, payable to CVGS c/o the Pro Shop. Some final thoughts courtesy of David Keep No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse. Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts. A good drive on the 18th hole has stopped many a golfer from giving up the game. Golf balls are like eggs; they're white, they're sold by the dozen and you need to buy fresh ones each week. Keep safe and well; the fairways and greens beckon. Erik CVGS Captain 2021 |