High Elms Golf Club
 

Newsletter Sep 2009

Dear Members,

I would like to update you on several things that have happened since January at High Elms Golf Club.

There are now regular monthly meetings between myself, Nigel deGruchy, David Walls, and Jon Dummett. These meetings are concentrating on updating the agreement that exists between the Club and Bromley Mytime. Your section committees have received the first draft and have fed initial comments back to the Exec. Nigel and I have also had a very positive meeting with Steve Price, the Chief Executive of Bromley Mytime, Paul Brivio, Operations Manager of Bromley Mytime and David Walls. It has been agreed that members may book one tee time up to 14 days in advance. There are no block bookings. If times are not used by members then pay and play golfers will be booked in. It is also up to each individual member to cancel any times they do not wish to use and to give as much notice as possible to the Pro shop. This also applies to the use of buggies. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of your co-operation with the booking rules.

You may know that John Featherstone recently tendered his resignation as the Club Treasurer. The Executive has considered the matter and considers it appropriate to co-opt a replacement for John on to the Executive. The position of Treasurer would of course be subject to election in the normal way at the next AGM. Any member wishing to express an interest in being co-opted on to the Executive for this purpose is invited to contact me The Executive has already had informal discussions with one potential volunteer but wishes to extend such opportunity to any other member who might be interested.

A course walk took place with Michael Weekes, Course Manager, and representatives from the Ladies and Senior Sections. Before the walk we held a meeting and Michael presented us with the planned works for the course. The main improvement will be the replacement of all the winter mats. The old bases will be dug out and new astro mats will be put in place, before this happens there will be another course walk to site the new mats. Other improvements have been the cutting back of hedges, the new buggy path from the 12th to 13th. GUR being marked and the out of bounds markers. The course walks take place in the week if there are any members from the men's section who would like to be involved please let Jim Colleary know.

The new score cards have now been printed, and some of the local rules have changed. Please see below changes in red.

High Elms Golf Club Local Rules
Boundaries and Out of Bounds

1. All fences and walls forming clearly definable boundaries to the course.
2. 1st hole -The mown practice area RHS of hole is out of bounds.
3. 2nd hole - behind green onto the practice area.
4. 4th hole - LHS of fairway beyond line of markers is out of bounds
5. 5th & 6th holes - Bridle path is out of bounds, 9th & 10th holes marked area to left of 9th fairway, left of 10th fairway Deleted.
6. 13th Bridle path to RHS and marked area LHS both out of bounds.
7. 14th hole - Fenced bomb hole to left of green - out of bounds.
8. 18th hole - Fenced bomb hole to LHS is out of bounds and forms part of the boundary.

Ground Under Repair

1. All temporary or wintergreens shall be treated as ground under repair and a drop must be taken. Nearest point of relief not nearer the hole.
2. a) Temporary plantations, where marked are to be treated as GUR. The ball should be dropped at the nearest point of relief, without penalty.
3. b) If a ball is lost in a temporary plantation another shall be dropped keeping the GUR between the flag and ball, without penalty.
4. c) In the case of a lost ball, your marker must agree that the ball is in all probability in the plantation. Relief must be taken without penalty and dropped as in (b) above.

Obstructions

1. Staked trees, telephone or electricity poles are deemed immovable obstructions -Rule 24-2 applies.

Other Relief

1. Relief, one club length and drop, may be taken, with your marker's agreement, for balls lying on, man made paths, sprinkler heads.
2. For balls lying in divots on the fairways a finger roll may be used in non qualifying competitions.
3. A ball striking any telegraph wires on the course must be played again.
4. Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions-Rule 24-1 applies.

Etiquette

1. Please do not take practice swings on any tee.
2. Please do not pitch onto the practice green.
3. Rake all bunkers after use, replace divots and repair pitch marks during your round.
4. Golf buggies and carts should not be taken near or on the putting greens, tees or GUR.
5. Please avoid slow play-players searching for balls should signal to the following players to play through.
6. Single players have no standing on the course and should allow matches of any kind to play through.

Lightning

In the event of a thunderstorm one continuous blast from the klaxon will be sounded, signalling the end of play. In our opinion you should place all golf clubs back in your bag steel umbrellas should be put down and you should return to the clubhouse immediately. Two short blasts will be sounded when it is safe to continue.

Green stakes to the side of the fairways are 150 yards to the centre of the green.

I would like to thank all members who took part, and or, helped in making the Festival such a success this year, I do hope we can build on this and make it even better next year. Any suggestions as to how we can involve more players from other clubs would be very helpful. I would also like to thank the Green keepers, the Pro shop and the Catering staff for all their help.

With best wishes and good golfing

Chris Watmough
Chair High Elms Golf Club