A BIG congratulations to Echunga Junior Billy Cawthorne who is the 2013 Golf SA Country Junior Champion after winning the 54 hole championships held at Pt Lincoln Golf Club on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of September with a three round total of 228 (76, 80, 72).

Going into the final round 4 shots behind the leader Billy played a near flawless round of golf to shoot a closing even par 72 to win by 4 shots. 

Congratulations also to fellow Echunga member Elliott Willgoose who along with Billy formed part of the Southern Districts team who took out the boys team event.

Further details and full results can be found on the news section of the Golf SA website.

Members planning on booking online to play in the planned Pinehurst competition to be held on AFL Grand Final Day (Saturday 28th September) should note the following:

1. This competition is a shot gun start from 8:30 am.
2. The online booking system will allow members to book a group of four as per normal. There will be no times or tee blocks associated with these bookings. The tee block you play from will be available at the club on Saturday morning.
3. Pinehurst is a game that requires a partner (the full rules are provided below), you can book a group of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Once the booking sheet closes those players not in a group of four will be moved.
4. Important: As this competition requires a partner it needs to be played in groups of four. As such it is very important that players booking online either attend, or remove their online booking before the booking sheet closes (6 am Saturday morning).

Rules of Pinehurst:


Sometimes called American Foursomes, Pinehurst involves two players both teeing off on a hole and then playing their second 
shots with their partner’s ball. They then chose which ball they prefer and play proceeds as per a normal Foursomes competition so that if Player B hit the second shot of the chosen ball, Player A this the next shot. The team’s handicap is determined by taking 3/8 of the aggregate handicaps of both partners.

Edit: Updated 18th September 2013: Due to the recent heavy rain green staff were not able to get on the course to undertake the planned coring of greens today. The work has now been postponed until Monday and Tuesday 23rd and 24th of September and as such the course will now be closed on those days.

The greens will be cored and sanded on Wednesday 18th September 2013. This process is a necessary part of looking after the greens and there are three main reasons it must be completed:

• Removal of thatch. This helps to stop the greens from becoming soft and spongy.
  
• Levelling the green. Coring and sanding helps to remove holes and damage that has appeared on the greens throughout the year.
  
• Aerating the green. This is vitally important as without doing this the greens will compact due to constant traffic, causing them to harden and potentially die.

Once again it will be a full on day requiring extra hands to assist in the ensuring as even a covering of sand as possible and we would like to thank the army of volunteers that come out each year to help the green staff complete this job.

After enduring late winter rains, some fine (and warm) weather is upon us! Things should be full steam ahead from here as we move towards summer and it is hoped that the course will not have to be closed again.

This week, with a couple of days forecast to hit 30 degrees the course will be back to being fully open and normal competitions will resume. No time for any rusty swings either as Saturday is not only the Monthly Medal but also Medal of Medals for those who have qualified.

At this stage motorised carts are still banned however this ban will be closely monitored and as soon as the committee and ground staff deem the course fit motorised carts will be allowed back on. Check the website for notification.

Also the warmer weather should see demand for tee times increase and that means people must look to use our new online booking system properly. That means if you are not playing your name must be removed as soon as possible. This will be policed in the coming months and those not doing the right thing will be penalised.