With the course starting to again look good and the weather starting to finally dry out and warm up the coming months should see lots of golf back at Echunga. As a result members are reminded that when using the online booking system that they must follow the user policy as outlined on the home page and login page.

Members are reminded that they have a duty to remove their name as soon as they become aware that they will not be playing. Not only is this important in order to allow others the ability to book during the popular early times but also to ensure that any members looking for a game can make a booking safe in the knowledge that the group they are down with will be turning up to play.

The Match Committee will as usual be keeping a close eye on the online booking sheet and warning emails, as well as penalties in line with the booking policy, available on the home page of the website, will be issued where appropriate.

Whilst we are all waiting for that elusive spring weather to come through our friends over at Murray Bridge have a Holden Scramble event coming up this Sunday the 18th. The course over there is in peak condition at the moment so anyone looking to play some golf is recommended to give this event a look. 

The event flyer can be found via the link below with bookings made with the pro shop at Murray Bridge.

Murray Bridge Holden Scramble 2016

Thanks to the recent warmer and windier weather, as well as the tireless efforts of our ground staff, the back nine is now back open for play. Although some further wet weather is forecast for later in the week the back nine is believed to be now passed its saturation point and should be able to handle the rain forecast. As such the ground committee believes it will remain open for the remainder of the winter. 

As with previous weeks all competitions will continue to run, with the type determined by the number of entries. At this stage the mud rule will continue to be on.

With the recent wild weather and heavy rain the course is getting very heavy under foot. However during this time the grounds staff and committee will endeavour to ensure that the course remains open for any members or green fee players who wish to venture out. As such the committee feels it is important to reiterate the following points about the course during winter:

Course:

Unless otherwise mentioned on the website the course is open for play. There may be times where the back nine has been closed due to the extra water that this side of the course often holds however the front nine will generally be accessible for play. If this is not the case and a full course closure is in place this will be shown on the website.

Competition:

Any players wishing to enter the competition may do so at anytime. For Thursday and Saturday competitions entry will be dependant on the number of players on the course. If there are insufficient numbers players will be entered into the weekly competition. As such provided the course remains open players will always be able to have their cards entered into a competition and handicapped accordingly.

Clubhouse:

It is important to note that the clubhouse will only be open when player numbers are expected to warrant it. For Saturday competitions this will be dependant on weather conditions and the numbers in the online booking system and as such members are asked to ensure that their names only appear on the online booking sheet if they intend on playing. For times outside the Saturday competition the weather and course conditions will dictate if the clubhouse is open. However for times where the clubhouse is not open members and guest can still enter the competition by placing their completed cards and competition entry fee into the honesty box.

Competitions Rules – Disqualification when score card is unsigned
 
Over the last few months we have had a number of issues around members being disqualified from the competition for not signing their score card. The basis for why disqualification occurs, the treatment for handicapping purposes and our process behind disqualification for this error is outlined below:
 
Rules:
 
The relevant Rules and Decisions are outlined below. For full details refer to the Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf books.
 

• Rule 6-6b: The player must ensure their marker has signed the card and then sign the card themselves.
• Rule 6-6c: Alterations to the card are not allowed once the card has been returned.
• Decision 6-6c/1: Defines when a card is considered to be returned.

 
Handicapping:
 
We handicap these cards as per the guidelines contained in the “GA Handicap System” booklet available from the Golf Australia website.
 
As per Section 10 (iv) Golf Australia recommend the score should still be counted for handicap purposes. As such the score will count as per normal, with the only variation being that the online golflink score will be shown with a red box around it, which represents being “disqualified with a score”.
 
Our process:
 

• Any player not signing their scorecard will be disqualified (Rule 6-6b).
• Alterations to the card are not allowed once it has been returned (Rule 6-6c).
• A card is considered returned as soon as it is placed in the box (Decision 6-6c/1).
• Any player being disqualified under these Rules and Decisions will be ineligible to win any competition prize with that score.

 
Although Decision 6-6c/1 does have an option which states that if a player remains within the scoring area they can make alterations to the card we use the second option within this decision which does not provide this ability to the player as we feel this is the fairest option for all players.

Generally unsigned cards are not found until the cards are sorted at the end of the day and as such anyone who plays later in the day and may still be in the clubroom when the error is found should not be able to alter their card after play as anyone who plays earlier in the day, and is not in the clubroom when cards are being checked, is not afforded this luxury.
 
Match Committee
Echunga Golf Club 

A new culvert near the first green which is has been cut underneath Dolman Road by the council has resulted in the need for the club to place a new drain for this water down the side of the fence line on the 15th hole. Members would have seen this new drain over the last few months, which in the interim period has been marked as ground under repair.

After considering the various options the match committee have decided to move the out of bounds fence in slightly so that the new drain is OUT OF BOUNDS. This will be marked by white posts and a white string line, matching most other out of bounds fences on the course. There is also out of bounds signage at this area. A diagram of the new markings is provided below.

The match committee made this decision based on trying to ensure the simplest and clearest solution is found. If the area is left as a drain relief would often need to be taken between the old out of bounds fence and the new drain by a right handed golfer, making this very awkward for the player. Whilst marking this area as out of bounds will slightly narrow the hole the match committee believes that the area lost is both (a) minor and (b) sufficiently off the playing line to have minimal impact on anything but a poor tee shot.

However as this area is now marked as out of bounds players are asked that should their ball be heading into this area they should hit a provisional ball off the tee if they are all unsure if their ball is in bounds or not.

Whilst the course has been holding up very well to the cold and inclement weather the match committee has decided to implement a temporary local rule for mud. This rule has been altered from previous years and is as follows:

Mud Rule (as at 26/6/16):

Any ball lying on through the green, with mud adhering to it, may be lifted, cleaned and placed within one card length, without penalty.
 
Process: The player must state to their marker that they intend to use the mud rule. The marker should, where possible, observe the player mark the location of the ball, clean it and replace it on the same spot. Once done so the ball is in play and cannot be lifted again.

Unfortunately due to the recent rains the general committee in line with recommendations from our ground staff have had to decide that carts are no longer to be used on the course by green fee players or members until further notice.

The latest details will be continually updated on the website.

The 2016 Men's Southern Golf Group pennant competition is now under way with week 1 seeing 2 of our 5 teams record victories with some close loses to strong opposition in the other grades.

This year we have teams in the A1, A2, B1, B3 and C1 grades. Unfortunately with only 1 handicap grade and an excess of nominations for this grade some players are unlikely to get a regular game within this team. Some preference towards lower handicap players who may be required in the B3 grade will be given but the club will endeavour to rotate other players through this team during the season.

Information on teams, results, grade standings and the weekly best player awards are all contained on the clubs Pennants webpage.

It is disappointing to see a large number of club members not remove their names from the online booking sheet in recent weeks, in particular for the competition held on Saturday the 28th May. This was despite it being a fine and clear day and the course continuing to stand up very well with the recent first rains.

Members are reminded that they have a duty to remove their name as soon as they become aware that they will not be playing. Not only is this important in order to allow others the ability to book during the popular early times but also to ensure that any members looking for a game can make a booking safe in the knowledge that the group they are down with will be turning up to play.

The Match Committee will as usual be keeping a close eye on the online booking sheet and warning emails, as well as penalties in line with the booking policy, available on the home page of the website, will be issued where appropriate.