Captain’s Report July 2025
All Match Play Championship events are well underway and proceeding without any problems. However some early matches have still to be played and members are requested to contact their opponents to organise their games.
Applications for 2026 Pennants teams have been attached to the noticeboard outside the proshop. Based on a very positive response from members for all Pennants and the White Horse Cup, Mens’ Golf have nominated to have one team in all three Pennants and two teams for the White Horse Cup. There is still time to for members to nominate themselves if they are keen to play. Nominations will be open until the 31st October.
Course improvements and construction of new carts paths are continuing, but regretfully there have been a number of delays due to inclement weather. The new drainage work on the 9th has been clearly marked as GUR. Some players have been observed on the 9th to pick up their ball from the GUR in the rough and take their relief on the fairway. Members are reminded that they are to take their relief at the nearest point of complete relief, and not carry their ball 20 metres to the middle of the fairway to take their relief.
The recent strong winds and heavy rain caused a lot of damage to the course and credit goes to the ground staff who worked hard to have the course returned to a presentable and playable condition. However there is still a lot of rubbish on the course from fallen trees. Members are advised that in the General Area this rubbish can be considered to be “Abnormal Conditions” and penalty free relief (identify nearest point of complete relief and then one club length) can be taken.
The new penalty area to the right of the 12th fairway and the clarification of the service roads on the 12th and 14th being treated as GUR has been well accepted by members. The general consensus is that it will avoid a lot of uncertainty and speed up play.
New guidelines for Wet Cart Rules have been advised and a copy of the guidelines are attached to the noticeboard outside the Proshop. Carts must follow the cart guidelines at all times or the drivers/owners risk a penalty. Note that even when wet cart rules are not in place, cart drivers are requested to not drive their carts down the fairways, but to use the paths where provided and then drive at 90o across the fairway to their ball.
Adverse weather conditions caused the first round of the Mixed Foursomes Championship to be cancelled. Hence the event was reduced from the scheduled two rounds to just one round. The round was played on the 13th July with Daniel Marsden and Elizabeth Cullen winning the scratch event, and David Brown and Jill Varty coming out on top in the handicapped score event.
Ken Brunker
Captain.