AVGC  SENIORS

Update from the Competition Secretary

Foollowing the June Seniors Committee meeting, please see the latest updates affecting future competitions:

1. Suspension of Play Policy

After the thunder and lightening storm which impacted last Wednesday's competition, and the potential for more frquent such occurences in future, we have created a new 'Suspension of Play Policy', which is effective immediately.

POLICY FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER & SUSPENSION OF PLAY

The aim of this policy is to have procedures in place to cope with inclement weather & other situations where play may need to be halted during a competition. This is required so that players and those involved in running a competition, (including members of the golf club’s staff), are able to recognise the signal that means play has been suspended.

The situation where players do not know whether play has been suspended or not, or some players know and others don’t, should be avoided. If a player does not hear the signal to suspend play, this does not count as any mitigation or an exceptional circumstance.

The decision to suspend play will usually be the responsibility of the Club Management.

For the purposes of this policy, it is assumed that the “person responsible for the competition” is, in this order of availability: Competition Secretary, Seniors Captain, Seniors Vice Captain, Competition Starter, any other available Seniors Committee member.

The person responsible for the competition should liaise with Club Management as appropriate.

BEFORE THE COMPETITION HAS STARTED

If, before a competition has started, the weather conditions are dangerous (such as fog or lightning) or course conditions are unplayable, then play will be delayed until the Club Management say it is safe and appropriate to begin.

Suspension from the start of a Competition

If conditions are such that any competition cannot be started on time for any reason, then it is assumed that the “suspension of play” starts from the time of the first planned tee-time. The procedure for “re-starting play” will be defined and communicated by the person responsible for the competition. If there is no improvement in conditions after a period of one hour, then the competition will be abandoned.

DURING THE COMPETITION

SUSPENSION OF PLAY

Players have a duty to protect themselves in Health & Safety matters especially should there be a danger from lightning, when play must stop immediately. The Rules of Golf makes it quite clear that a player is entitled to discontinue play if the player believes there is a danger from lightning. All players must adhere to the following Suspension of Play procedures:

Dangerous Circumstances

A suspension of play for a dangerous situation (e.g. lightning or fog) will be signalled by the klaxon being sounded. During a competition, a member of the Club Management staff will be on duty and it will be their responsibility, having gathered any information deemed necessary, to make the decision to have the klaxon sounded.

However, even if the klaxon is not sounded and the players believe there is a real risk of, or danger from, lightning then the player is entitled to proceed under the provision of the Rules of Golf and discontinue play.

Non-Dangerous circumstances

A competition should not generally be suspended simply on account of rain, unless the rain is so heavy that it would be unfair to require players to continue.

Generally, play should only be suspended when the course has become unplayable. For example, balls are moving frequently on the putting greens due to wind or holes are full of, or TOTALLY surrounded by, casual water or greens are largely flooded.

A suspension of play for a non-dangerous situation will be signalled by the klaxon being sounded.

Once the klaxon has been sounded, a player is not entitled to override that decision and continue play. When the klaxon has been sounded for play to be suspended, players must discontinue play immediately.

Players MUST mark their ball clearly and return to the Clubhouse as safely and quickly as possible.

Every effort will be made to ensure the warning is sounded with sufficient time to allow for all competitors to evacuate the course prior to an electric storm striking the course.

Upon the signal being given, all players must comply with these conditions.

PENALTY for breach of this condition is DISQUALIFICATION.

As soon as the players have returned to the clubhouse, every effort will be made to keep them informed as to what is happening.

It will be the responsibility of the person responsible for the competition to inform the players that the situation will be reviewed.

Approval to restart a competition will come from Club Management in the first instance and be communicated to players by the person responsible for the competition.

After one hour’s delay, and with no improvement in the situation, the person responsible for the competition should declare the competition abandoned and the players notified accordingly.

If more than 75% of the scheduled field has completed a full round, then the competition will stand. Failing this, it will be recorded as abandoned in full. 

• If the competition is abandoned, players will be entitled to a full refund of the entry money and 2’s entries etc (usually by way of a credit to their member’s account).

• If it is a ‘Pound in the Pot’ Stableford, the collected monies will be donated to the Senior Captains Charity.

• If the competition stands, any players not able to complete their rounds will receive a refund unless it’s a ‘Pound in the Pot’ Stableford.

Although we should endeavour not to suspend play unless absolutely necessary, it is the responsibility of the Golf Club Management to do everything possible to protect players from lightning and, therefore care must be taken in this respect to give early warning.

2. Seniors Stableford Wednesday 10th June Charity Donation

Following the abandonment of last Wednesday's Seniors Stableford competition, the overwhelming majority of participants voted to donate the Prize Fund to the Captains Charity.

3. Impact of Disqualification on 'Twos Pot'

It has been decided that, as the 'Twos Pot' is an integral component of most of our £5 entry fee competitions, any players(s) disqualified from a competition will not be eligible for Twos prize.

Hopefully this will encourage people to be more diligent about signing their scorecards, playing all holes to a full conclusion in Medal competitions etc etc.

4. Seniors Club Championship on Monday 20th July

Entries are now openfor the Seniors Club Championship on Monday 15th June and close @ 18:00 on Monday 6th July.

I want to make sure that everyone is aware of the qualifying criteria for this, most pretigious of events so that you have time to fill any outstanding gaps!

"For the Seniors Club Championship (Gross & Nett), all players must have 12 recorded scores with England Golf, of which at least 5 are recorded, in the 12 months prior to the competition, in qualifying competitions at AVGC".

5. Seniors Awayday at Stratford Oaks GC on Friday 24th July

Entry is now open in IG for our second Awayday of the year at Stratford Oaks GC.

The cost is £60 which includes golf, a 2 course dinner (Roast Beef followed by Apple Crumble and Ice Cream) and the Prize Fund. Full details in IG.

6. Future Date For Your Diaries: Seniors Captains Day on Monday 10th August

As previous years, this will be played as a team 1-2-3 Waltz with lots of individual hole prizes, a raffle, halfway house etc etc.

There will also be Best Man, Best Senior, Best Lady, Past Senior Captain and The Bernie Gogan Trophy (Best Veteran 75+) prizes.

Entries will open @ 07:00 on Monday 6th July - it will be great to see you all there supporting our Seniors Captain Adrian Wood and his chosen Charity.

Regards

Adrian King

Seniors Competition Secretary

Seniors Christmas Lunch and 9- Hole Competition.

With the weather on our side 41 Senior members took part in the 9-hole competition with Mark Denne taking the winners spot with 20 points on count back from Steve Malone. Nearest the pin on hole 2 was won by Mike Askew and on Hole 8 by Adrian Wood.

With Christmas jumpers, Christmas crackers in evidence and a quiz to stir the grey cells 50 Senior members enjoyed a Christmas lunch prepared by AVGC.