February Newsletter

The Summer Competition has come to an end and Opening Day on February 4^th marks the start of the 2020 golfing year. Thanks as always to Di Beechey for running the ladies golf over December and January.

The biggest change in 2020 is the introduction of the New World handicapping system which comes into effect in Australia on January 30^th.  This will mean that your handicap can be used anywhere in the world and comparisons will be fairer. They want to make it standard across all courses to have 36 points to play to your handicap.  Australia has already adopted most of the changes, including the slope system and the GA and daily handicaps. Fortunately, the computer software will work it all out.

The timesheet for Opening Day on the 4^th of February has been open for a while and we look forward to welcoming both new and existing members back to golf. The event is a 3BBB V Par with a shotgun start at 7.30. A light lunch will be served afterwards. The committee will be collecting Continuous Competition, Veterans fees and entry to the Top Ten Shootout. Liz and I will share some important information about the golfing year ahead.

After comments at the AGM and an analysis of Tuesday’s results for most of last year, it was established that the average number per day was 56 players, with the breakdown as follows:

o   Div I     13

o   Div II     29

o   Div III   14

Given these numbers we have made a decision to play in 2 divisions on a Tuesday. 

 The handicap cut offs will be:

o   Div I     0 – 23. 7 (GA)               0 -26

o   Div II    23.8 – 45.4 (GA)           27-45

This equates to an average of 30 players in each division. We hope to present 3 trophies in each of the 2 divisions every week, bearing in mind that as far as possible 3^rd place will not be less than $20. If there are over 80 players we will play in 3 divisions.

Stroke & medal rounds will still be played in 3 divisions but will be played in groups of 4.

The OPTIONAL Double par will apply to all medal & stroke rounds besides Club Championships and the Gosford Bowl. Tuesday eclectics will still be divided into 3 divisions, so this will not change the trophy allocation at the end of the year.

The Pennant season begins a little earlier this year on the 16^th of March and ends on the 25^th of May. Sharon & I have invited a number of players to consider making themselves available, thanks to those who have replied. The Match committee will choose the team every week and Sharon Anderson will be captaining the team.

Upcoming Events

4^th February                Opening Day

11^th February              Ladies 9-hole competition

17^th February              CCWGA Opening Day at Gosford

20^st February              VW Ladies Scramble at Gosford.

17^th March                  Dice Day (a change from Joker Day)

12^th May                      Open Day
Happy golfing in 2020

Sheena Asken
Ladies Captain

Well in the last newsletter we were talking about  the record hot dry conditions we were experiencing.

During January we had just over 100mm of rain, 40�° days and high humidity and even a mini cyclone, the exact conditions a Golf Course Superintendent does NOT want. Add to that, on one of those 40�° days, due to a power black out we could not water our greens. So, all that said I think the course is performing well.

The rough will now grow out of control until the end of summer. We will have 2 mowers out cutting most of the time and guys staying back a few hours a day to try and keep up with this growth.

Elsewhere around the course we have been busy finishing the bunker on the 11^th green, which is now in play. We have removed a lot of tree roots from the 9^th and 13^th tees. We have also installed another bank of sprinklers on the 18^th fairway.