What's On Special; Playing golf under alert level 3

Last Friday NZ Golf released the rules around playing golf under Alert level 3. Every golfer will read what they want into these rules, but sadly that's not how it works. President Tony, Captain Mike, and Handicaper Stephen, spent time over the weekend preparing white boards etc at the club for golf to restart on Tuesday 28th. However it is not golf as you know it. In brief, if you have been out walking, or taking the dog for a walk, the rules for Alert Level 3 (at least until May11th), mean you can go for a walk with your golf clubs. My thanks to Stephen Paewai who has provided an email that I can copy and paste to you all to inform you whats happening at our Course. 

This follows my discussion with Mike late this afternoon.

The decision has been made and golf will be allowed under Alert Level 3. The Dannevirke Golf Club will be open from Tuesday 28 April. However there are very strict conditions being put in place to ensure we follow the guidelines set out by NZ Golf. The over riding principles are to keep everyone safe and provide an opportunity for further recreation and exercise. On the second point there will be no competitions, cards can't be exchanged and the handicapping system is not operational.

NZ Golf have issued 20 conditions that clubs are to observe under Alert Level 3 and these can be viewed on their website www.golf.co.nz A copy will be displayed in the office window on Tuesday. All clubs are required to have a safety plan in place and we have written a set of rules on a whiteboard, there is a Register by the green fees box which must be filled in prior to play and we have set up a booking system. You must use your own pen and then use the sanitizer that has been made available.

The course will be closed on a Monday From Tuesday to Friday the first tee time will be 9.00am and the last tee time will be 1.00pm. The greenkeeper will lock the gate as they leave and we ask members to vacate the course by 3.30pm. Only one tee is to be used to tee off in order to have minimal contact with greens staff. In the weekend the first tee time will be 9.00am and the last will be at 3.00pm.

The Clubhouse is closed and will not be open under any circumstances and there'll be no ablution facilities available. The expectation is you turn up at your booked time and leave immediately on completion of your round. The club carts are not available for use as this will require them to be sanitised after use. On the course you can only play with someone from your bubble so if you don't have another player in your bubble you must play on your own. Social distancing, 2 metre separation, must be maintained. There will be no rakes in the bunkers and no flags in the holes. The hole will be in the centre of the green except on a Sunday when the hole at the front of the green is to be used. You will notice the cups are placed upside down so your ball can be retrieved without touching the cup. The water fountains are not to be used. Equipment is not to be shared. You keep your own card, they are not to be exchanged and not to be handed in, there'll be no handicapping (NZ Golf is not running the system at this time.

We have set up a booking system that we wish to trial. We have allocated the Vets to look after a Tuesday and Thursday, Ladies to look after a Wednesday, Friday golfers to look after Friday and the Match Committee will do the weekend. We are still organising the roster, Stephen Paewai is responsible for bookings on Tuesday 28 April and he can be contacted by email steveanmoira@xtra.co.nz phone 374 6618 or by text 0211658685. 

Regards

Steve

Below is a second article from Stephen regarding the new World Handicap System and an update on the Sisters Club Event this year: 

World Handicap System. (WHS)

New Zealand Golf has adopted the new WHS from 15 April. For detailed information go to www.golf.co.nz/whs or if you have trouble opening this page go to www.golf.co.nz and go to the foot of the page third column and click on handicapping 2020.I have a couple of posters that Ill put up at the golf club next week that provides a guide to the WHS.

Most members handicap will have dropped because 8 of the last 20 scores are used to calculate your handicap index compared with 10 of 20 in the past.

Handicaps will change daily, however as this is dependent on cards being entered daily, this won't happen. What I intend doing is to have the new handicaps posted on a Friday morning, in my view this will benefit the majority of members and I hope members support and understand this. If we have a tournament, e.g. Southern Hawkes Bay Strokeplay, Ill ensure the latest handicap indexes are available prior to play.

There is a limit on upward movement of the handicap index, the limit is 5.0. Ill try and explain using my handicap. On your golf.nz dashboard you'll have a low index number, this is your lowest handicap index over the last 365 days, my current handicap index is 23.6 and my low handicap index is 23.1 I was on this handicap on 10 March 2020 so if I play badly for the next say 8 months the maximum handicap index I can get to is 28.1 and even if I continue playing badly my handicap index will not go past 28.1 until after 10 March 2021 but then it can only go to 28.6 (5.0 plus my current handicap index 23.6). The reality is not many, if any players go out 5 shots in a year, you might start going out in the winter and then in the summer scores go the other way. In exceptional circumstances, say serious or permanent injury dispensation can be made to NZ Golf.

There is a new method of reduction for exceptional scores, which Ill need to see an example when we get an exceptional score. There'll be a 2 tier system, one for nett scores of 

62 64 who will get a 1 adjustment to their last 20 scores and another tier for nett scores of 61 or better, with a 2 adjustment for their last 20 scores. 

There is no change to the handicapping process, from the members point of view, you complete your card, hand it in, I enter it and the computer determines your handicap.

I'm happy to discuss this with members and it will be on the agenda for the next Match Committee meeting.

Sisters Club

The 2020 Sisters Club tournament has been postponed for one year and will now be held on Queens Birthday Weekend 2021 at the Rarangi Golf Club.

That's it folk. Some of you will be disappointed at the restrictions of the Alert level 3 rules, but sadly that's out of our control. We are not to concerned what other clubs may be doing. Our executive committee have made a call and that is to be respected. Members who flout the rules may well be asked not to return until after May 11th, or if all else fails the gates will be locked again to everyone. Remember three holes can be seen from the main road, so please just play by the rules One last request, can retirees and those able to play mid week, please keep the weekend available to essential workers.

Its not perfect, but a least you can get out there and swing those clubs in the beautiful surrounds of the Dannevirke Golf Course. Enjoy

Bryan Burt

Club Scribe 

Photo credit  https://walnuthillsgolf.com/