Oatlands Enews – Friday 19th April 2024
Content
This week’s Enews covers the following topics:
- From the Course
- Golf Rules – Embedded Ball Relief
- Practice Area – Sharing during Competition Times
- Improve your Short Game and lower your scores with Jeremy Ward’s Short Game Clinic!
- The Bettington Restaurant April – Menu Available
- Titleist Ball Education Day – Saturday 11th May (postponed from 23rd March)
-
PING Fitting Day – 20th May 2024 – Limited Space Available
- Pennant Update
- Upcoming Member Events: April and May
- Recent Trophy Event Winners
- Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
- Members Only Facebook Group
From the Course
Rainfall for the Week: 2.5mm, Rainfall for 2024: 560.5.0mm, Dam: 100%, Green Speed: Renovations
The course team did a great job to get the bunkers on the front 11 holes back into play for last weekend, and then repaired the remaining back 7 bunkers on Monday morning before the 9am shotgun start. Well done team! This is a labour intensive task with any silt washed into the bunker having to be removed by hand/shovel so that the sand doesn’t become contaminated which will lead to poor drainage problems like we see on the older bunkers on holes 12, 17, and 18. Once the silt is removed, team members then have to repair any washed out/ eroded areas in the bunker by pushing sand back into these areas, also by hand. This is all hard work on the staff members backs, and work that we don’t really look forward to performing too often.
The first cut of the greens following renovations took place on Monday morning at a height of 5mm. All greens were sprayed with fungicide on Tuesday morning with the remaining renovation fertilised also applied, with irrigation used to wash these two applications into the soil profile. Greens were rolled on Thursday morning to level out any unevenness in the putting surfaces, with the height of cut to be at 4mm for the weekend. The height of cut will then be lowered to our usual height of 3mm by next weekend.
Putting surfaces are returning well after renovations but we please ask all players to remember to repair pitch marks on the greens when they see them, fill divots after shots, and rake bunkers after play. This attention to care helps course staff and our playing surfaces, but it will also make the round enjoyable for you and your fellow members.
The aerating of fairways continued this week with the 2nd and 15th fairways completed on Tuesday. The 15th hole was closed for the day to speed up the process on this fairway, as it took two staff members the best part of 6 hours to complete. This now leaves only the 6th, 10th, 11th, and 18th fairways to be finished.
The aerator in the 13th pond was removed this week to have repairs performed to it but is now back in place and operating correctly. Work on the track marks across the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 17th will resume next week with hopefully turf being available from the flood affected turf farms the following week.
Our volunteers had the week off to either watch the final round of The Masters or participate in the Club’s Masters event.
Greens will be cut on Saturday and Sunday.
Happy Golfing
The Course Team.
Golf Rules – Embedded Ball Relief
With recent rainfall, there are areas of the course that remain wet and where golf balls can plug. Rule 16.3 allows relief from Embedded Balls in the General Area:
RULE 16.3 – Embedded Ball
- There is no relief under this Rule if the ball is embedded anywhere except in the general area.
- But if the ball is embedded on the putting green, the player may mark the spot of the ball and lift and clean the ball, repair the damage caused by the ball’s impact, and replace the ball on its original spot (see Rule 13.1c(2)).
Exceptions – When Relief Not Allowed for Ball Embedded in General Area: There is no relief under Rule 16.3b:
- When the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less, or
- When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).
(2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. A player’s ball is embedded only if:
- It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke, and
- Part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark. A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when:
- The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
- The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
- The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.
The following video provides additional explanation of this Rule.
Practice Area – Sharing during Competition Times
During competition times, the Club’s practice areas and in-particular the practice nets, chipping green, and nursery green, are in high demand.
The Match Committee would like to remind all members that the use of these areas is to be shared, and therefore ask that golfers using these areas to practice and / or warm up are mindful of others waiting and limit both the time and number of balls being used so that all golfers get a equitable chance to warm up prior to play.
Ideally no more than 6 balls should be used on the greens during competition tee times.
Improve your Short Game and lower your scores with Jeremy Ward’s Short Game Clinic!
Join Jeremy on either Tuesday 7th May or Friday 10th May for a 1.5-hour class focusing on chipping, pitching, and bunker play.
Here are the details:
- Date: Tuesday 7th May or Friday 10th May (Or both)
- Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
- Cost: $70 per person
- Spots: Limited to just 8 participants
- Focus: Improve your chipping, pitching, and bunker skills
This clinic is perfect for golfers of all skill levels looking to enhance their short game technique under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
To secure your spot:
– Use the “Jeremy Ward Lesson” booking sheet through the members website
– Email Jeremy at golfoperations@oatlandsgolf.com.au
– Contact Jeremy directly at 0434 574 660
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your short game to the next level. Book your spot now and start shaving strokes off your game!
Good Golfing
Jeremy Ward
Head Teaching Professional
The Bettington Restaurant April – Menu Available
Members and guests are invited to our a la carte Bettington Restaurant on Wednesday 24th April 2024.
Bookings are available for 2 to 10 diners, with a two course menu for $55 or three course for $69.
Seating times are available at 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm and 7:30pm, so grab some friends and join us for another great night of food and friendship.
Bar account credit and Birthday vouchers redeemable.
On arrival
- Zucchini pinwheel (gf)
- Bread and butter
Entrée
- Roasted Yumba prawns, dashi butter, wattleseed and shiso (gf)
- Pan seared scallops, bone marrow, pickled zucchini and bearnaise (gf)
- Caramelised onion and gruyere tarte fine, salad of confit duck and watercress
Main
- Twice cooked chicken, spiced rice cake, marinated mushroom, fried fish cake and shallot
- Pinnacle MSA beef scotch fillet, rosemary and smoked garlic butter, grilled asparagus, roasted heirloom tomato (gf)
- John Dory, potato rosti, teriyaki glaze, braised fennel and finger lime (gf)
- Cured pork belly, baked apple, celeriac puree, crackling and jus (gf)
Side – $9.00 each
- Crushed fried potatoes, rosemary salt (v, gf)
- Sauteed seasonal vegetables (v, gf)
- Crunchy sesame slaw (v)
Dessert
- Pear and rhubarb cobbler, Canadian maple and vanilla ice cream
- White chocolate mousse, meringue, toasted black sesame and white chocolate (gf)
- Leche flan, caramelised fig, snow tuile and fig leaf Chantilly (gf)
Titleist Ball Education Day – Saturday 11th May (postponed from 23rd March)
We are excited to announce that Titleist will be hosting a ball education day at Oatlands Golf Club on the 11th May after the original event on 23rd March was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. This presents a fantastic opportunity for our members to gain valuable insights into selecting the right golf ball for their game. Additionally, there’s a chance to receive a complimentary ball or two!
Titleist will also be showcasing their latest SM10 wedges for members to demo during the event. This is an excellent chance to try out cutting-edge equipment and improve your game.
The event will run from 7am to midday to ensure that everyone has ample time to participate. We encourage all members to take advantage of this opportunity and join us for what promises to be an informative and enjoyable day.
Best regards,
Jeremy Ward
OGC Head Professional
Pennant Update
Ladies Bronze II
Our Ladies Bronze II side took on Pymble GC at Pennant Hills GC today and came away with a good win 3 matches to 2.
- Pauline Fallance won 6/4
- Jill Vale lost 2/1
- Bella Park won 2/1
- Joy Hawksley lost 1down
- Louise Carlin won 2/1
Their next and final match is scheduled for Friday 26th April at Avondale GC against Pennant Hills GC at 8am.
Upcoming Member Events: April and May
The Club has lots of fantastic events coming up for members and guests, and we encourage members to take part in the Club’s diverse event offering over the coming months:
- Friday 19th April, OGC Trivia Night
- Wednesday 24th April, The Bettington Restaurant
- Sunday 12th May, Mother’s Day Luncheon
- Saturday 18th May, The Bettington Restaurant
- Wednesday 29th May, The Bettington Restaurant
Note: Bar Account Credit and Birthday vouchers can be used for all of these events.
Recent Trophy Event Winners
The annual US Masters Breakfast and Golf was held on Monday 15th April with approximately 60 members and guests taking part.
Allen Clarke joined Scottie Scheffler in donning the OGC Green Jacket with a great score of 43 points while Richard Sorabji won the aggregate with 81 points (Richard 42pts and Min Woo Lee 39pts).
Well done to both winners and thank you to all who joined in at the breakfast and golf!
NB Charlton 4Ball Knockout – Revised draw
With the quarter-finals of the NB Charlton Matchplay washed out on Saturday 6th April, the rounds have been pushed back with quarter-finals now to be played on Saturday 27th April.
Click on the link below for an updated copy of the draw.
Upcoming Golf / Trophy Events
Men’s
- Saturday 27th April – NB Charlton Quarter-final
- Saturday 4th May – NB Charlton Semi-Final
- Wednesday 8th May – Keith Rigelsford Cup and Midweek Club Championships Rd1
- Saturday 11th May – Club Medal
- Saturday 11th May – NB Charlton Final
- Wednesday 15th May – Keith Rigelsford Cup and Midweek Club Championships Rd2
- Saturday 18th May – Men’s Foursomes Championships
- Saturday 25th May – Start of Winter Shotgun Starts on Saturday’s
Ladies
- Sun 21st April – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Qualifying
- Monday 22nd April – Visitors Day
- Sunday 28th April – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Quarter-final
- Thursday 2nd May – Club Medal
- Sunday 5th May – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Semi-finals
- Monday 6th May – OGC vs Pennant Hills GC Interclub at OGC
- Thursday 9th May – Barbara Koch Day
- Thursday 16th May – Ladies Foursomes Championships Rd1
- Sunday 19th May – Ladies Single Hcp Matchplay Trophy Final
- Thursday 23rd May – Ladies Foursomes Championships Rd2
- Monday 27th May – Dorothy Besemers Trophy
Members Only Facebook Group
If you aren’t already part of our Members Only Facebook Group, join up now and join in the conversation.
We now have over 400 members who have joined the group and hope to see this get closer to 700 in the next 12-months.
Importantly, members are advised that this social media platform will not be used for the Club to communicate critical information, which will remain via the Enews, website and direct email however, it is a place that members and the Club can post interesting Club and golf related items to compliment this Enews.
To join the Members Only Facebook Group please click on the link below and then click on the “JOIN GROUP” button. You will be asked a few questions to verify you are a member and then approved by the group administrator shortly thereafter.
www.facebook.com/groups/870087546972166/