Oatlands Enews – Friday 3rd January 2020

Content

This Enews Newsletter covers the following topics:

  • Fundraising Golf Day for the Rural Fire Service – Save the Date: Friday 13th March 2020
  • From the Course
  • Saturday Morning BBQ – To Resume Saturday 25th January 2020
  • Advice from Golf NSW on Air Quality
  • Pro Shop – Callaway and Srixon Club Clearance
  • Adopt a Bunker Programme
  • Oatlands Golf Club Dress Standard
  • World Handicapping System – January 2020
  • Getting Started Programme 2020
  • Upcoming Events

Fundraising Golf Day for the Rural Fire Service – Save the Date: Friday 13th March

Oatlands Golf Club will be hosting a fundraising golf day on Friday 13th March 2020 to assist in raising funds to support the NSW Rural Fire Service in light of recent devastating fires in NSW. This fundraiser was suggested by Club member and RFS volunteer Geoff Hinchcliffe, who with the assistance of the Clubs General Manager (Sam Howe) whose father is a former Assistant Commissioner of the NSW RFS, are in communication with the NSW RFS to ascertain the best direction for raised funds to go. It is expected that the money raised will either go to the families of the volunteers who recently lost their lives, and/or to assist the RFS in providing the volunteers with increased resources going forward.

Further details of the event will be made available over the coming weeks as discussion with the RFS continue, however the event will be an 8am shotgun start followed by lunch and fundraising activities. The day will open to members and guests, with the entry fee $80pp for members and $110pp for non-members. Early reservations can be made by emailing the General Manager, gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au.

To further support this cause, any member wishing to donate items for raffle or auction are encouraged to do so. This can also be done by contacting the Club General Manager.

We hope as many members and guests will get involved in this event and help to support the heroic effort of all those involved in fighting the unprecedented bushfires, along with those who have been tragically impacted.


From the Course

Rainfall for the Week: 0.0mm  Rainfall for 2020: 0mm   Dam: 25%   Green Speed: 9ft

With ongoing dry weather and high to extreme temperatures greens have continued to be the main focus for the course team. This is a complex and delicate process involving a combination automated irrigation and hand watering to maintain green health and meet the requirements of Level 2 water restrictions.

Staff members are performing comprehensive moisture probing of all greens when high temperatures are predicted, and thus far the greens have got through well. It’s certainly a balancing act nevertheless, as we want enough moisture in the soil for the plant to cope throughout the day but not too much that would present ideal conditions for disease to develop. This week we have also started needle tyning greens to provide some much needed aeration to our root systems after so much irrigation of late. The 5th, 8th and 9th greens were completed Thursday, and we will continue next week with the intention to complete 4 or 5 greens each morning before play.

The dam level is getting pretty low now with daily inspections required before irrigation is set each day, to ensure that we don’t go too low and damage our pumps. We predict that we may still have another week’s worth of water to go before we have to turn the fairway irrigation off.

Our volunteers are still on their Christmas break, but keeping a close eye on things during their rounds of golf!

It has been brought to our attention that the Peppercorn tree near the starters hut/ putting green has moved and is now leaning or touching the roof of the starters hut. Upon inspection, it most certainly has moved with the branches being much closer to the ground than ever before. An arborist will be engaged to inspect the tree and give us his professional opinion on the health and best approach moving forward. Unfortunately, with a steel rod holding the 2 branches together, the verdict will more than likely be for its removal from a health and safety perspective. In the meantime, the pathway from the putting green to the first tee (which passes under the tree) has been closed for safety reason.

The temperature on Saturday are predicted to be up in the 40’s again, therefore no cutting of greens will take place with thorough moisture probing and hand watering being the primary focus. 

We thank all members for their patience as we manage the golf course as best we can through this very difficult season.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

The Course Team.


Saturday Morning BBQ – To Resume Saturday 25th January

The Clubs regular Saturday morning BBQ breakfast will resume on Saturday 25th January 2020.


Advice from Golf NSW on Air Quality

With bush fires across the state impacting the air quality in Sydney for the last month, Golf NSW has this week issued a number of resources to Clubs for distribution to golfers relating to air quality, these being:

NSW Government Health Air Quality Index and Activity Guide – Click Here

NSW Government Air Quality Index Data: Updated Hourly – Click Here

Oatlands Golf Club and Golf NSW encourages golfers to review and consider Air Quality Index readings when making decisions about play. We also understand that conditions may vary, so it is necessary that each golfer make their own assessment of conditions.

Those with respiratory conditions should ensure they take appropriate precautions and ensure medication is available at all times.

Please stay safe and take action as necessary. 


Pro Shop – Callaway and Srixon Club Clearance

The Pro Shop is currently clearing all new and demo Callaway and Srixon equipment (including current models) to allow for an increased focus on PING, Titleist and Mizuno.

The Pro Shop will continue to hold accounts with Callaway and Srixon, and be able to source these clubs on custom order. In the meantime, all Callaway and Srixon clubs in stock are priced to clear, so take a look while stock lasts.

MGI Demo Fleet – Obligation Free Trial

 

Demo the latest MGI Zip Series Lithium buggy – “Oatlands has the Best Prices! in Australia on All MGI Zip Series Lithium buggies”

Are you interested in trying Australia’s best 3-wheeled Electric Golf Buggy?

DEMO THE GAME CHANGER

18 holes with a new MGI ZIP Series Golf Buggy.

Bookings essential. Contact the pro shop on 9630 1423.

 

 


Adopt a Bunker Programme

Oatlands Golf Club has 54 bunkers, and while the golf course, as a whole, is generally in good condition, considering the extreme weather conditions and lack of rain, the Greens Committee acknowledges that the bunkers require attention. Commencing in the Club’s new financial year, it is planned to refurbish two greens and top up all bunkers with sand each year.

In the meantime, the Club would like to implement an Adopt a Bunker Programme. The programme would work as follows:

  • Members nominate a bunker that they would like to take an added responsibility for (we are hoping to get 2-4 members for each bunker)
  • Members then give their adopted bunker a little extra TLC each time they play their respective hole, when pace of play allows
  • The idea is to smooth out the bunker for the next group that plays, not to shift large amounts of sand, which is performed weekly by course staff and volunteers

The video below shows Course Superintendent (Dominic Yates) demonstrating the correct way to rake a bunker so it is ready for play for the next group.

Members wishing to take part in the Adopt a Bunker Programme should inform the General Manager, gm@oatlandsgolf.com.au.

The Club is looking at options for saying thanks to those members who take part in this ongoing programme, with the potential for hosting a complimentary end of year thank you golf event which would also include our regular Monday volunteers.


Oatlands Golf Club Dress Standard

Recent feedback from members with the Board and Management has expressed a desire for the Club’s dress standard to be enforced more diligently. As such, all Pro Shop and Clubhouse staff have been directed to enforce the standard whenever they see a breach.

All members are asked to please advise invited guests of the Club’s dress standards prior to them arriving at the Club.

The main items of focus are as follows:

Short socks must be white and visible

Shirts must be collared and tucked in (ladies blouses without collars are allowed)

No denim is allowed on the golf course (jeans may be worn in the Clubhouse)

Tailored pants of shorts are required (no cargo pants or workgear)

Your assistance with this is appreciated, and if you or your guest/s are approached by a member of staff due to a breach of the dress standard, we kindly ask that you assist them in achieving the standards that all members expect.

 

 

 

 


World Handicap System – January 2020

The World Handicapping System will come into effect in late January 2020. Below is an overview of the main changes in effect with the introduction of the World Handicapping System (WHS):

  • Transfer of 0.93 Multiplier (which creates a small change to the formulas for the GA Handicap and Daily Handicap)
    • The 0.93 Multiplier will be transferred out of the GA Handicap calculation and into the Daily Handicap calculation.
    • As a result, a GA Handicap will be calculated simply by averaging the best 8 of a player’s most recent 20 results.
    • Note: Golf Australia statisticians confirm this change will have no overall impact on the handicaps players actually play off (ie Daily Handicaps). This is because the slight increase it will cause to GA Handicaps (by being removed from that formula), will be exactly the same as the decrease it will cause to Daily Handicaps (by being transferred into this formula). As a result there will be no overall impact.
  • Daily Rating System – PCC
    • The WHS will feature a statistical daily rating system.It will be called PCC (Playing Conditions Calculation).
    • The WHS daily rating formulas and regulations have been in full effect in Australia since May 2019.
    • When the WHS comes into effect, the PCC will be displayed on your handicap record as an adjustment value (eg ‘+2’ or ‘-1’) rather than a
    value such as ‘68’ or ‘72’ as happens pre-WHS under the Australian DSR system.
    • PCCs are permitted to range anywhere between -1 (ie easier conditions) and +3 (harder conditions).
  • Maximum Handicaps
    • The maximum GA Handicap under the WHS is 54.0 for both men and women.
    • Your club’s handicap & competition management software can choose default handicap limits lower than 54 for any (or all) competitions. (Decision pending for OGC).
    • For example, your club may choose to set Daily Handicap limits at 36 for men and 45 for women for most competitions and then use a higher limit for beginner competitions or for events for less-skilled players.
  • Soft Cap of 3 Strokes
    • A GA Handicap will continue to increase at the current rate of 100% of the ‘8 of 20 scores’ calculation UNTIL it reaches 3 strokes above its best point from the previous 12 months. Once in this new Soft Cap zone, a player’s GA Handicap will only be allowed to increase by 50% of the calculated amount until it reaches the existing and unchanged Hard Cap of 5 strokes.
  • Bonus Reduction for Exceptional Net Score
    • GOLF Link will apply an automatic additional reduction to a player’s GA Handicap if the player has an ‘exceptional score’.
    • If the player’s score is 7.0-9.9 strokes better than what their GA Handicap was at the time the round was played then GOLF Link will apply an automatic additional reduction of 1.0 stroke to their GA Handicap. If the player’s score is at least 10.0 strokes better than what their GA Handicap was at the time the round was played, then GOLF Link will apply an automatic additional reduction of 2.0 strokes to their GA Handicap.
    • To establish whether a score is exceptional, GOLF Link will compare the player’s GA Handicap at the time the round was played with the number in the ‘Sloped Played To’ column for that round. (The ‘Sloped Played To’ column is one of the columns that is displayed in a player’s handicap record on www.golf.org.au.).

All calculations will be handled by the Club’s website and Golf Link. 

For full detail of the World Handicap System please click here


 

Getting Started 2020

The Club’s  twice annual Getting Started Programme is set to continue in February 2020.

These 8 week programmes are a great way to introduce family and friends to the game of golf and the culture and camaraderie of Oatlands Golf Club.

The 2020 Programme commences in February with a Sunday and Thursday programme, dates and times are listed below:

Three programmes available:

Sunday 8:30am – 9:30am or 9:30am – 10:30am: Starting Sunday 9th February, 8 week programme

Thursday 11:00am – 12:00pm: Starting Thursday 13th February, 8 week programme. 

Cost for the programme is:

$240 for 8 weeks

Participants who join the Club membership, during or at the completion of the programme, will receive a credit equal to the programme cost against their first year of membership if joining in the 6 or 7 day membership category.

Click here to book for the Sunday programme commencing Sunday 9th February

Click here to book for the Thursday programme commencing Thursday 13th February.

For more information please contact the Pro Shop!


 

BISTRO ON BETTINGTON – DATES FOR 2020

A reminder that these events are held on selected Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout each month and are a wonderful way to introduce new people to our Club. Bookings are essential and we ask that you reserve your table at least two (2) days in advance. Dates are shown below:

Jan Saturday 18th & Wednesday 29th
Feb Friday 14th & Wednesday 26th
Mar Saturday 14th & Wednesday 25th
Apr Wednesday 29th
May Wednesday 27th
Jun  Friday 12th & Wednesday 24th
Jul Saturday 18th & Wednesday 29th
Aug Friday 28th & Wednesday 30th
Sep Wednesday 30th 
Oct Friday 9th & Wednesday 28th
Nov Wednesday 18th
Dec Wednesday 9th & Saturday 19th (Christmas Buffet)

 

 

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