BOARD UPDATE

19th Hole

The Board has decided to postpone any changes to the layout of the back nine. Accordingly, the decision to construct a 19th hole has been abandoned for the time being.

Why have we taken this decision? All members have rightfully been fully engaged with the Board's plans in this regard.

Given the strong views advanced by the "yes, it's a good idea" and "no, let's not tinker with the existing layout", the Board has decided that to proceed with the proposed changes could well result in a membership schism, a result that we want to avoid at all costs.

The Board has sought, and will continue to seek additional expert guidance to assist in the longer term course strategy being developed by the Board in conjunction with the Greens Committee.

When significant course works are undertaken, the affected hole will either be temporarily closed or modified to allow play to continue (e.g. temporary greens).

Practice Facilities

The Board is also cognisant of the member's wishes around improved practice facilities. As indicated above, there are no immediate plans for changes to the existing course layout. Therefore, it is clear that we do not have space for a long practice range. The Board would love to grant everyone's wish for this - but we simply do not have land available without a wholesale reduction to the playing area of the front nine - which we are certain, nobody wants.

That said, the Board will devote considerable funds to improve what practice facilities we currently have. We intend:
a) to improve the condition and the functionality of the range between the 2nd fairway and the 7th green and,
b) to improve the practice nets area hopefully with the inclusion of a chipping green in that vicinity. Details of our plans for this are currently being formulated and we will continue to update the members when appropriate.

Car Park

Our decision not to proceed with changes to the back nine and a 19th hole, has freed up funds that now enables us to bring forward the planned car park improvement.

In this regard, we are now in the process of obtaining quotes to have the car park sealed. The removal of the majority of buggy trailer parking has now allowed us to achieve an optimum number of painted parking bays on a sealed tarmac.

There will be parking disruption for about a week while the work is done, but we are confident that everyone will be supportive of this terrific improvement to the Clubhouse environs.

We will keep the members posted on developments.

Board of Management 

MEMBERS DRAW

Save the date! Friday 17th May will be our next members draw. 

On the night there will be two members cash draws. First place will be $750 and second place $300.

The menu will be delicious roast lamb and pork with scallop potatoes, a variety salads and bread rolls. Dessert will be a choice of fruit salad or cake. $25pp for the two course meal. Bookings can be made via the Golf Shop.

GOLF

PIGC vs Flinders GC

The eagerly contested annual golf day at Flinders Golf Club is again approaching and will be held on Tuesday 14th May 2024. Golf will be a shotgun start, 9.30am for 10am tee off. A lunch bag will be provided prior to the start and snack food to each table following the golf.

The cost is $35. All members that wish to participate must register, and pre-pay in the golf shop at the time of booking. It is open to both male and female members.

J. Niven Memorial 4BBB - Saturday 18th May & Sunday 19th May 2024

This is the second year that this event has been played using the mi-club software and the mi-score app. The daily event on Saturday 18th May, being a nett event, will be scored as per any other 4BBB, selecting the player who scores on the hole and adding their stroke score. All the pairs that wish to be eligible for the honour board event must also record their best stroke scores for each hole on a basic score card, having it signed by their markers and leaving in the golf shop. It will be assumed that all cards left will be playing in round 2 on Sunday 19th. Those members not using the phone app and only playing the nett event must use their computer printed card and enter through the scanner as usual.

The J.Niven honour board event comprises the following conditions: Two rounds of totalled gross scores. One from Saturday on basic score card as above. One from Sunday also scored on a basic card. No two 'A' graders as a pair (daily h'cap of 12 or less) are eligible to win the honour board event but can still win the daily handicap event on Saturday.

In the event of a threesome in the field on Saturday, the honour board pair will play in the gross event and the third player will be their marker, for the daily event the marker will be paired with the lowest handicapped player of the pair (this is done automatically via mi-club).

Round 2 will be played on Sunday 19th May, the players that wish to continue will have entered by leaving their Saturday gross card in the golf shop. The start sheet for Sunday will be populated as soon as Saturday golf is finished. The start times are from 8.30am and will be seeded with the leaders playing last.

Single Tee Starts

Please be aware that from Saturday 11th May the Saturday timesheets will revert back to one tee starts from the 1st hole.

Phil Ellard & Match Committee

SOUTH GIPPS VETS

This month will be played at Red Rocks (formerly Aussie Golf Ranch) on Monday 13th May, 9:30am shotgun start. Vets wishing to play should contact Rob Davison on 0407 336 593.