Latest News 2020-21
28/10/2021 Annual Dinner - Final Call
Dear Braids United members,
There are still spaces available for the annual dinner and prizegiving on Friday 12th November. So far, the following members have signed up to attend:
Wilf Mitchell
Doug Aitken
Graeme Thomson
Chris Wixon
Sandy Myles
Tam Bourhill
Sanjoy Das
Brian Donkin
Chris Donkin
Neil Porter
Mick Ahern
Glenn Marsters
Les Cranston
Mark Munro
Stef Oliver
George Letham
Jim Fish
Roger Lockhart
Gordon Brown
Mark Robertson
Ross Dewar
Lewis Crofts
We can extend the deadline by a few days, so if you want your name added to the list please let me know by Tuesday 2nd November. Also, if you have any dietary restrictions, I will need to know by that date, since final numbers and dietary requests have to be passed to the caterer well in advance of the event.
As already announced, the cost will be £30 per head (drinks are extra!). We traditionally hold a raffle as part of the proceedings and with the aim of reducing the need to handle cash any more than is necessary, we will collect your £5 entry beforehand. Entry to the raffle is not optional, so you will be expected to pay £35. Several prizes will be on offer, but there can never be too many so donations will be gratefully accepted! The treasurer will circulate payment details in the coming days.
As usual there will be a cash collection on the night for the waiting staff, so be sure to bring some change with you. Also, Chris Donkin will be auctioning off a fourball at Glencorse in aid of the Baby Hope Appeal, so please be prepared to bid for this.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
28/10/2021 Competitions Update
Dear Braids United members,
As we move towards the winter season, here is a summary of upcoming competitions and relevant arrangements:
Saturday 30th October : Two-Man Scramble
Assuming it stops raining (course is closed today), a good size field will contest the scramble. Mark Robertson will send out details relating to tee times and score entry tomorrow.
Saturday 6th November : Team competition
This will take the form of a match between teams led by the Captain and Vice-Captain. Please sign up with EL in the normal club times, and then sign up on VMS using the SG app. Dougie and I will select the teams based on who has signed up by Thursday 4th November, and details of tee times will be sent out on Friday. Format will be fourball match play (90% handicap allowance off the lowest in the group) and play all 18 holes to a finish. Match results will be added up to determine the winning team. £3 sweep, with prize(s) for the pair(s) winning by the biggest margin(s) – number of prizes depending on the size of the field. There may also be nearest the hole prizes on offer.
Sunday 7th November 7th : 3-Club Challenge
The popular annual competition in which you can only use three clubs (INCLUDING a putter if you decide to bring one). Tee times from 10.00 - sign up with EL in the first available time from 10.00 onwards (booking will open on tomorrow evening), and then enter on VMS using the SG app. Stableford competition off the yellow tees.
Saturday 13th November : Sweep
The day after the dinner – informal sweep for those who want to play.
Sunday 14th November : November Medal
In accordance with SG guidelines and unless otherwise announced (due to course conditions/configuration) the winter monthly medals – November to March – and the two seasonal competitions – Hind Cup and Currie Bowl - will be qualifying competitions for handicap played off white tees. Strokeplay for medals, stableford for the seasonal competitions. Tee times for the medal from 10.00 – sign up procedure as described above for the 3-club challenge.
Winter League and Winter Eclectic
These competitions will begin on Saturday 20th November and run through to March. EL has announced that the main course will remain open this winter, so no composite course in operation. Mark Munro will send out full details of these competitions in the coming days.
So, lots to look forward to. Hope the weather and Covid aren’t quite so disruptive as they were last year!
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
28/10/2021 Clubhouse Update
Dear Braids United members,
As you will be aware, a number of club members have tested positive for Covid-19 over the last couple of weeks. While there is no evidence that person to person transmission has occurred within the clubroom, the Council has taken the decision to have a ‘circuit breaker’ as a precaution. Therefore, the clubroom will not be in use this Saturday, 30th October, either before or after golf. Normal service will be resumed next weekend.
Covid-19 is still very much with us, so can I remind you all of the basic rules to be followed within the club:
● Sanitise hands on entry and departure
● One way system in operation
● Wear face coverings unless seated
On another matter, we have noticed that a considerable amount of mud/grass is being deposited on the stairs. This can only be coming from shoes worn on the course. Please therefore ensure that you change your shoes before coming upstairs to the clubroom.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
21/10/2021 Annual Dinner and Prize Giving
Dear Braids United members,
You will have seen from Scott's newsletters that the annual dinner is scheduled to take place in the club on Friday 12th November, 7.00 for 7.30. Catering will once again be by Food Creations and our guest speaker, known to many of you, will be Bill Rutherford - brother of Martin. Since we didn't have a dinner last year, I hope it will be a special occasion. Customary dress code is smart, but not formal.
Cost is £30. There is a sign up.sheet on the noticeboard, or let me know by reply that you want to attend. First come, first served if capacity is exceeded. Since the caterers require final numbers in advance, please sign up.by next Saturday, 30th October, at the latest. It is also important to let me know by then that you require a vegetarian meal, or have other dietary restrictions.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
6/10/2021 Temporary and Local Rules
Dear Braids United members,
At its recent meeting, the Council felt that it would be appropriate to remind members of temporary arrangements and local rules that are relevant to club competitions.
Preferred lies
As from 1st October, and throughout the winter season, preferred lies are now in operation for club competitions. Preferred lies will normally remain in place until 30th April, but this will be confirmed by the Council in the spring.
Covid guidelines
Following the gradual easing of Covid restrictions over the past few months, the current guidelines issued by Scottish Golf and Edinburgh Leisure allow for the following:
● Flagsticks may be removed from the hole when attempting to hole out.
● Relief may be taken from unraked areas in bunkers – place within six inches, no nearer the hole. As is normally the case, stones and loose impediments in bunkers may be removed.
Local rules
As a result of moving to the VMS system with its facility for electronic score submission, the Council has decided not to re-order club scorecards for the time being but instead to rely on Edinburgh Leisure scorecards. Local rules as printed on these scorecards will be adopted for club competitions. However, please note the following:
Rule 2: Immovable Obstructions
In addition to those listed on the card, relief may be taken from tractor marks, horse hoof prints and animal droppings.
Rule 5: Unusual Ground Conditions
The areas referred to are between the bridle path and the boundary fence/wall to the left of the 10th and 11th holes, to the rear of the 5th and 11th greens and to the rear of the 6th and 12th teeing grounds.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
Edinburgh City Council Quaich, Saturday 25th September
Dear Braids United members,
As those who played in the September medal on Saturday will be aware, we are now using a “single sign up” with "one block" of times from 11:40 onwards, with the goal of getting back to pre-golf gathering which was the norm before the pandemic began and also to mix up our groups which is the BU tradition. The new system has made a promising start.
Order of play will be determined on the day according to a random draw (if enough people arrive early from 11am), or in the order you come into the club. A committee member on duty each week will sort out the groups on VMS so you can score as you go round if you wish and they will play in one of the later groups. Organization/size of the playing groups will depend on how many players are expected, so it is essential that sign up on the app gives an accurate picture. Therefore, as outlined by Neil in an earlier email, can I remind you of the procedure which we are asking you to follow:
Each week, book any space in the times 11:40 onwards with Edinburgh Leisure, ideally in the order they are available (i.e., if there is one space at 11:40, please book that over 4 spaces at 12:00). Then immediately add your name to any slot listed "11:40" on the app, so we know to expect you. Otherwise, we don’t know if spaces on EL are filled by club members or casual players. We understand that late call offs can happen, but if you do withdraw at the last minute and have to cancel your EL booking, please also remove your name from the app signup so that we do not keep an unnecessary space for you.
In the interests of regenerating the club spirit, I would encourage everyone to play in the traditional club times beginning at 11.40; but you can of course still play at other times if you have alternative commitments. If you are playing at a different time of the day, please make sure to indicate this by signing up on the app at the appropriate time.
I look forward to seeing many of you for the Edinburgh City Council Quaich competition on Saturday.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
9/9/2021 September Medal Bookings
Dear all,
Following the trial run at the Ye Monks we have decided to make the sign up "one block" of times from 11:40 onwards.
Please can all member book any space in the times 11:40 onwards with Edinburgh Leisure each week, ideally in the order they are available (i.e., if there is one space at 11:40, please book that over 4 spaces at 12:00). Then add your name to any slot listed "11:40" on the app, so we know to expect you. You can of course still play at other times if you have other commitments.
We will go out on the day according to either a random draw if enough people arrive early (from 11am), or as you come in the door of the club. The goal is to get back to pre-golf meeting as before the pandemic began and also to mix up our groups which is what the BU is all about.
A committee member on duty each week will sort out the groups on VMS so you can score as you go round if you wish and they will play in one of the later groups off.
We hope everyone agrees this is a sensible way forward for the club and look forward to seeing you this weekend on Saturday, Sunday, or both.
Regards
Neil - On behalf of the committee.
29/08/2021 Murray Dunbar Results
A fantastic turnout of 24 pairs graced the fairways of Braid Hills to contest this invitational competition on Saturday past. The best score in was from Andy Goodwin and Les Cranston with a nett 64, but winning the trophy due to actually bringing a guest, was previous winners Micheal Ahern and Mike Collins with a net 64.6. A great turnout and thanks to all who helped with catering and bartending on the day.
Full results can be view here Murray Dunbar 2021
13/8/2021 Murray Dunbar Silloth
The Murray Dunbar Silloth is an invitational event in which members partner with a guest in a pairs competition. It is one of the main social events in the BU calendar, but of course was not held last year because of the pandemic.
The competition will be held on Saturday 28th August. We have ten tee times from 11.30 to 13.00, provided free of charge by EL, so there will be no green fee for guests. What better chance to invite that friend or colleague you are indebted to, for a game at the Braids!
Entry fee will be £10 per pair, which will cover food (pre-golf bacon roll and post-golf pie and beans) and prizes. You can sign up on the sheet on the bar, or email myself or Neil Porter and we will add you to the entry list. Please provide your guest’s name and home club, and make sure that they will know their current handicap index when they arrive to play. A draw will be made and circulated before the event; if you have a strong preference for an early or late tee time, you can indicate this and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Only pairs consisting of a member and guest are eligible to win the trophy. However, if you don’t know any golfers who play elsewhere you can team up with another club member and compete only for the prizes. Either form your own pair, or let us know you are looking for a partner and we will do our best to find you one.
Although the Silloth has been on the fixture list since the start of the season, holding it really only became feasible following the removal of social distancing measures earlier this week. So I apologise for the short notice. Nevertheless, here’s hoping for good weather and a successful return of the competition.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
13/8/2021 Competition and Clubhouse Update
Dear Braids United members,
Following the latest relaxation of Covid restrictions that took effect at the beginning of the week, we can now see some prospect of returning to how we want the club to be; and with everyone’s support I’m sure we can get there sooner rather than later. The Council has discussed some changes which we hope will begin to bring the club back to a pre-pandemic mode of operation and re-establish the social ethos of the club.
An important first step will be the staging of the Murray Dunbar Silloth on 28th August (see separate email). More generally, please note the following;
Tee times and organization of competitions
There is no prospect of a return to a block of club times in the near future. However, EL will now allow us to tee off in any order within the times which have been booked by members. This will allow us to return to the tradition of gathering in the clubhouse before play to mix socially and organise playing groups. While we will continue to recognise the existence of the dawn patrol, we strongly urge all other members to play at our traditional times of between 11.30 and 12.30. It is only by doing this that we can come together and start to operate effectively as a club, something which has obviously been lost during the pandemic
We aim to trial a new process on Saturday 4th September, the final day of the Ye Monks championship on which we generally try to have the competition leaders playing in the last two groups. A further email will be sent out within the next week or so, after leaderboard positions are known.
The revised procedure to sign up to play will be as follows:
1) Book a time with EL when booking opens nine days in advance.
2) Immediately enter the competition by signing up on VMS. Unlike now, you will not be able to select a specific time, but rather one of two blocks labelled 11.30 (i.e. 11.30 – 11.50) or 12.00 (12.00 – 12.20 or beyond). Sign up within the block which includes the time you have booked with EL.
3) When you arrive at the course, go straight to the starters’ box and swipe your card.
4) Come to the clubroom where you will be allocated a tee time.
Please arrive early enough to play in the first time within your block.
Clubhouse procedure
There is no longer a requirement for social distancing, but although it may seem anomalous some rules remain in place relating to wearing of face masks and of course it is important to maintain general hygiene. So we would ask you to continue to wear a face mask when entering or leaving the clubhouse and when moving around inside. Also, continue to sanitise your hands on entering and leaving, and use the hand sanitiser and wipes which are available within the clubroom, bar and kitchen. For the time being, we will continue to have a one-way system in place – up the main stair and down the fire escape. Please respect the fact that not all members may be as comfortable as you are with the easing of restrictions, and help us to maintain the clubroom as a safe environment for everyone.
Complementary cold filled rolls will be available in the clubroom, post-golf tomorrow.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
2/8/2021 BU Autumn Outing ( and Fixture change to accommodate)
Dear Braids United members,
We have arranged an outing to Muckhart on Sunday 12th September. The day will include 27 holes of golf and a full catering package, as follows:
● Coffee and bacon roll on arrival
● 9 hole competition for the Willie Drummond Trophy (tee times from 9.30)
● Soup and sandwich lunch
● 18 hole competition for the Balcomie Quaich (tee times from 12.40)
● Two course dinner
Cost will be £50 including sweeps and prizes.
There are 24 places guaranteed. Please sign up on the sheet on the bar (it will be there by the weekend), or let me know you want to go and I will add your name.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
Please note, change to fixture list with September medal moving to 18th and Saturday Sweep to 11th to accommodate the outing.
25/7/2021 Clubhouse Etiquette
Dear Braids United members,
I was disappointed this week to see a significant accumulation of unwashed glasses in the sinks in the bar. Can I remind you all that we have a collective responsibility to keep the club clean and tidy; it is not up to Council members or any other member to clean up after you, and you should not expect them to do so. Please, everyone, do your bit to maintain a pleasant environment within the clubroom that can be enjoyed by all.
I also found that someone (might have been a Western member of course!) had been piling rubbish in the bin in the locker room without inserting a bin liner - despite the fact that the black bags were on the shelf above! Council members will do their best to maintain general housekeeping around the building; but if you notice anything missing e.g. bin liners, paper towels or soap, please let us know so that it can be attended to.
You know it makes sense!
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
8/7/2021 Competitions Update
Dear Braids United members,
As we move towards the second half of the season, we have made a few adjustments to the fixture list; in response to the fact that 20 members are off to Millport next weekend, and the Harrison Open will not be taking place in mid-august. Also, as a result of the cancellation of the BU championships, there will be an additional round of the Leith Links competition on 13th July. The updated fixture list can be seen on the club website and by viewing the competitions list on the SG app.
The Ye Monks championship begins on 24th July. There are five rounds in all, including the final round on 4th September. The championship is decided by lowest aggregate of three net scores INCLUDING THE FINAL ROUND. So you can miss or NR in two of the first four rounds, and still be eligible to win on the final day.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
21/6/2021 Texas scramble Sat 26th July
Dear Braids United members,
The starter has confirmed that the tee is fully occupied from 11.30 to 12.20 inclusive on Saturday by Braids United members, but so far this is not reflected by entries on the SG app. PLEASE remember to add your name on the app BEFORE THURSDAY EVENING. Once the championship finalists are confirmed, we will organise the scramble based on everyone else who has signed up on the app. The starter will give us flexibility to play in any order within the times which our members have booked and this will be extremely helpful, but we can only proceed if we know exactly who will be playing.
There are still three spaces available with EL at 12.30 (Ron is already booked there), and the tee is completely free at 12.40 and 12.50. If anyone wants to play and has still not booked a time, please fill these up in order.
Finally; finalists, please don't cancel your booking until told to do so. You don't have to book for the finals, we have a club booking covering that (but you will still have to swipe your card before you tee off).
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
PS Haven't forgotten the dawn patrol, so we'll see how that works out. Again, we have been promised some flexibility, pre 7.00 if required.
4/6/2021 Sandy Rennie Ties
Dear Braids United members,
In monitoring progress of the Sandy Rennie tournament, the Council noted that a number of first round ties have been played simultaneously with a stroke play round. Under present R & A guidelines, combining match play and stroke play is discouraged, but club committees can allow it in some circumstances. When the formats are combined, the match-play tie must be played under stroke-play rules.
The Sandy Rennie Trophy is a match play competition, and one of the premier events ("majors") in the BU calendar. As such, it is expected that members will make every effort to play ties independently of other forms of competition. With around a month available for each round, there should normally be ample time to make arrangements. However, if you have been unable to arrange a tie you should in the first instance contact the competition organiser (currently Mark Munro) BEFORE the deadline, and a short extension of an additional week will normally be granted. If it helps to get the tie played, you can play independently on any competition day, but should do so as a two-ball if at all possible. But to combine a tie with a stroke-play round, you MUST contact the Match and Competition subcommittee IN ADVANCE, and provide a supporting case for why this is necessary (not simply that it hasn't been possible to arrange the tie). The Council will then rule on this request, and their decision is final.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
4/6/2021 Prizegiving Breakfast
Dear Braids United members,
Following postponement of the annual dinner and prizegiving last November, and with Covid restrictions continuing well into the spring, we are acutely aware that 2020 competition winners have not been suitably acknowledged. We plan to put this right with a “Prizegiving Breakfast” on Saturday 19th June, before the final qualifying round for this year’s club championships.
The prizegiving will commence in the clubroom at 11.00 am, and will last for no more than half an hour. Bacon rolls will be available from 10.30. For catering purposes, and to allow us to plan suitably against the background of a restricted capacity in the clubroom, please can you let me know whether you plan to attend by Saturday 12th June.
If you are attending the prizegiving, please take this into account when booking your tee time for the day.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
PS In case you can’t remember whether you won something last season, click here for the list of prizewinners.
30/5/2021 Championship Qualifier
Dear Braids United members,
Following yesterday's cancellation, the June medal next Saturday (5th June) will now double up as the first championship qualifier. Qualification criteria remain the same - best two scratch scores from the three qualiifying rounds.
Regards,
Wilf
(Captain)
29/5/2021 Competition Cancelled
Dear Braids United members,
Unfortunately, the course was closed this morning due to fog. Therefore, in accordance with our policy on course closure (which you can see on the club information website here ) the championship qualifier scheduled for today is cancelled.
If the fog lifts and the course reopens, you can play and submit a general play score if you want to do so (not compulsory). Scores will not count towards the eclectic competition and there will be no glory hole.
You can check the course status via the link on the club information website.
Regards,
Wilf
(Captain)
17/5/2021 BU Club Championships
Dear Braids United members,
As you will be aware from the fixture list, the highlight of the season – the Club Championships – is almost upon us, with the first qualifying round scheduled for Saturday 29th May. Two further qualifying rounds will be played on Saturdays 12th and 19th June, followed by knockout ties in the week beginning 21st June and the finals on Saturday 26th June.
Under the new WHS, the majority of members have seen their handicap increase (some more than others!). The Council has therefore reviewed the range of player handicaps and, in the interests of ensuring that all three championship sections remain fully viable and competitive, has decided to make some small changes to the handicap bands and qualification system.
The handicap bands will be based on Handicap Index on the date of the first qualifier (29th May), as follows:
A section - up to 9.4
B section - 9.5 to 18.4
C section - 18.5 and above
Qualification for the knockout stages will be based on the best two scratch scores from the three qualifying rounds:
The top 8 qualifiers (irrespective of handicap) will play for the club championship.
The next 8 qualifiers with handicaps within the B or C sections (i.e. 9.5 or above), will play for the B championship.
The next 8 qualifiers with handicaps within the C section (i.e. 18.5 and above) will play for the C championship.
Since only two scores count, you don’t have to return a third score (or even play in all three rounds) in order to qualify.
As always, if you have any questions about the above, please contact either myself or another Council member. Further details of arrangements for the knockout stages and finals day will be circulated after the second qualifying round on 12th June.
Good luck to all.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
17/5/2021 Clubhouse Update
Dear Braids United members,
With Edinburgh having moved to level 2 Covid restrictions today, the good news is that alcohol can now be served and consumed inside the clubhouse until 10.30 pm. In addition, up to eight people can meet outside, so maximum capacity around the garden tables is expanded slightly. I’m sure we are all grateful for this latest step back towards some kind of normality.
Other Covid rules and regulations governing use of the clubhouse (one way system, wearing of masks, seating arrangements, use of hand sanitiser etc) remain unchanged.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
10/5/2021 Leith Links VMS (Venue Management System) Reminder
Hi all,
Just a reminder that you need to use the app to sign up for leith links each week and "book" your tee time as well. The entry page/tee time booking opens at the same time as Edinburgh Leisure booking so you can do both at once.
If you don't have the app and are planning on playing, please visit this page.
https://4100706000.scottish.golf/registration/
Here you can login with your scottish golf email and password and book in to an event. You can't pick a tee time on the website, but it won't matter at this stage if you aren;t using the app to score. If you are using the app to score, you must pick your tee time before you tee off.
If you plan to play with a friend, you can sign them up at the same time on the app and book their time as well, so that makes it easy if anyone is struggling to use it.
If anyone isn't using, or can't use the app, leave your scorecard next to the club computer and I will enter it this week until I have set up score entry on the PC and/or the ipad arrives. You MUST have signed up to play for your score to count as we always used to on the club website pre-pandemic.
Many thanks
Neil - BU Match and Comp sub committee.
5/5/2021 Fixtures, Sweeps and Glory Holes
Dear Braids United members,
May Fixtures
The next two Saturdays (8th and 15th May) will be the David Ramsay Stableford, followed by the February medal which was postponed earlier in the year due to bad weather. On 22nd May we had hoped to hold a club team match, but the current system of tee bookings with EL does not lend itself to organising this easily. So there will just be an informal club sweep. It’s the day before the deadline for first round ties in the Sandy Rennie Trophy, so a good opportunity to get those ties played if they are still outstanding; or indeed, a winter foursomes tie that has been difficult to arrange at any another time.
Don’t forget the Leith Links competition which begins next Tuesday, 11th May – see the email from Mark Robertson for all the details.
Finally, qualifying for the club championships begins on Saturday 29th May. I will send more information about arrangements for the club championships in a couple of weeks’ time.
Sweeps
It is customary that £1 of the £3 weekly sweep goes into club funds. However, with the club currently in a very healthy financial position, we have decided that for the remainder of this season the entire £3 will go into the weekly prize pot for the top three finishers (and for two’s in the monthly medals). Mark Munro will continue to remind us all when our sweep accounts have become depleted and need to be topped up. Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Glory Holes
Similarly, we are aware that over the past year the club has benefitted from sweep contributions to the tune of several hundred pounds; during a period when little or none of this was being returned to members in the form of nearest the hole prizes, etc. We have therefore decided to use these contributions to support a Glory Hole competition.
It will work as follows:
For the next 18 Saturdays when we have a proper competition on (not a sweep), cash prize(s) will be awarded to every player who achieves a nett birdie or better (off Course Handicap) at the “Glory Hole”. There will be around £40 available each week as a prize pot for the Glory Hole. If only one person achieves a nett birdie or better, they will win £40. There is then a sliding scale as more people get a nett birdie or better, down to a minimum win of £2 each if 17 or more players achieve this.
The Glory Hole this Saturday will be the first, then next week the second, and so on through the course. New members who have joined this year are eligible to take part, but you must open a sweep account and have your £3 sweep entry taken. Similarly, members who chose not to pay sweeps last year can take part, but again you must now open a sweep account going forward. If you need help with opening an account, contact Mark Munro.
As always, if you have any questions then contact myself or another Council member.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
2/5/2021 Leith Links 2021/clubhouse access
Dear all,
Following on from Mark's email about arrangements for the Leith Links competition, I can confirm that the clubroom will be accessible to members on Tuesdays (and indeed on all other days of the week), and keyholders can open the bar for service. This is, of course, subject to the Covid rules of operation and whatever national restrictions are in force at the time.
It was good to have members meeting in the front garden post-golf yesterday, hopefully the first small step back towards something approaching normality.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
30/4/2021 Preferred Lies & Local Rule
Dear Braids United members,
First, can I remind you that since tomorrow is the first of May, preferred lies will no longer be in effect for club competitions.
Second, new members (and perhaps also some members of longer standing) may be unaware of the following local rule. The area between the bridle path to the left of the 10th and 11th holes, to the rear of the 5th and 11th greens and behind the 6th and 12th tees and the boundary of the course is classed as an area of abnormal course conditions, and relief may be taken on the course side of the path, not nearer the hole (see provisions in rule 16).
The Council is aware of this local rule coming into play a number of times recently, perhaps because of the very dry/short grass conditions leading to the ball running further than usual. EL were planning to erect white stakes to declare these areas out of bounds, but then along came Covid. We are attempting to find out what their plans are, and will keep you informed if there is any change to the above.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
30/4/2021 Leith Links 2021
Hi All,
This years Leith Links will commence on Tuesday 11/May and run most Tuesdays up to and including 10/Aug. Please refer to the club website or Scott's weekly newsletter for competition dates.
For those new members, this is a weekly stableford competition played on Tuesday evenings over the summer months. There is an optional £3 weekly sweep (this will be the usual electronic arrangement via Mark Munro). Your best 4 scores will count and the chance to lift the Leith Links trophy.
A few points to note:-
In addition to booking a tee time via Edinburgh Leisure, sign up and score entry will be exclusively via VMS (ScottishGolf app) which we'll be using for all other competitions in the near future, so please familiarise yourself with the new system.
Whilst we would encourage members to play as a group between 430-6pm this is not compulsory. You can play at any time during the day providing you play with a fellow member.
£1 of your sweep will go into a prize pot which will be distributed to the top 3 players at the end of the competition. Please note, in order to receive a payout you will need to pay the sweep each time you play.
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Mark Robertson
30/4/2021 Sivewright trophy
Dear all,
As some of you may or may not be aware, we officially re-constituted Ye Monks of Ye Braids Golfing society in 2019, however, due to the pandemic we have not had any competitions to take part in!
This year, we have entered two teams of 4 players under this society name in the Sivewright trophy which is a Lothian Golf Association event.
I am looking for interested parties to take part in this competition. It is team foursomes v other golf societies, with players whose handicap indexes are between 5.5 and 18.4.
If you would like to be considered, please email or text me at your earliest opportunity. I need a minimum of 8 players, but probably twice that to cover unavailability and late calls offs etc - substitutions are allowed if we make it through any of the rounds. Rules attached.
Many thanks
Neil Porter
Ye Monks of Ye Braids Secretary
30/4/2021 VMS (Venue Management System) Trial Update
Hi all,
Further to yesterdays email, I have added all players on the sign up sheet to the draw sheet on VMS/Scottish Golf App. This will allow a player wishing to score in the app to score for their group, or to encourage fellow players to score for each other also. If you are technologically minded, you will be fine. If you aren't, this is the time to practice!
Have a good round, and as per yesterday, I will be in the clubhouse from 10:45 to provide support, as well as post golf if anyone wants to enter scores after they finish rather than as they go round.
Cheers
Neil Porter
29/4/2021 VMS (Venue Management System) Trial Continuation
Hello all,
We are continuing to run VMS alongside Handicapmaster/Masterscoreboard for the next few weeks. We are definitely switching to this system, so it's worth getting involved.
You can sign up for the May Medal now, and the David Ramsay Stableford at 9pm tonight (the same time as the EL sign up opens - so same process as you would use the sign up sheet for which this will replace.) We are also exclusively running the R&A 9 hole on there, so sign up now if you want to take part.
If you don't have the app and want to get involved, see me at the club this weekend. I will be there from 10:45am before I tee off at 11:40 and then I will also be available after my round for anyone needing help entering scores etc. If you aren't sure about using apps, there will be a way to sign up online when we go fully live.
Make sure you charge your phone battery, and for instructions, see last weeks email.
As always, any questions, email me or drop me a message on the number below.
Cheers
Neil Porter
On Behalf of the Council
07875422749
27/4/2021 Clubhouse Reopening
Dear Braids United members,
Following the change in Covid restrictions that took effect on 26th April, I am pleased to say that we can now resume operations in the clubhouse; subject, of course, to the regulations that are still in place. The clubhouse has undergone both a spring clean and a deep clean this week, in preparation for reopening.
While we are all desperate to get back to some kind of normality, we have up till now adhered to all the rules relating to golf clubs and hospitality and will continue to do so as (hopefully) the restrictions are gradually eased. I must therefore ask for your continued patience at the present time. On Saturdays from this week, 1st May, it will be possible to meet in groups of six outdoors (in the front garden) and alcohol can be served. We have two outdoor tables, which can therefore accommodate 12 people; extra bodies can sit on the wall or elsewhere in the garden, socially distant of course! When in the garden, we are in full view of neighbours and passers-by, so please act sensibly. The indoor area will be open with the seating plan that was in force before the latest lockdown, meaning another 20 seats; for the time being, it will be soft drinks only inside, but hopefully this will change by mid-May. Please do not rearrange the seats – they are deliberately placed to comply with the distancing requirements – and do not sit on the bench areas that are taped off.
It's been a while, so I will remind you of the basic rules of operation within the clubhouse:
● One way system, up by the main stairs and down by the fire escape.
● One person at a time in the bar or kitchen.
● One person at a time in the toilet.
● Sanitise hands on entering the building; sanitiser dispensers are also distributed around the clubroom, and at the fire escape exit route.
● Face masks to be worn on entering and leaving the building and moving around inside, but can be removed when seated.
● Wipe table when you arrive with the wipes provided, and dispose of wipes in one of the bins.
● Purchases can be paid for using the card reader (step by step instructions are beside the reader and are very easy to follow) or by cash in the till.
Thank you for behaving responsibly and helping to keep us all safe.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
23/4/2021 VMS Test Event
Hi all,
Last update before tomorrow. I have added all players on the sign up sheet to the test event. This is to allow those who have volunteered to try it out to use the "Score for All" function to mark those in their group that don't think they need the pracitce! ;-)
Or to encourage them to pair up and mark someone elses card (even if it's in the car park afterwards.)
I have checked everyone in in advance, so you won't need to do that, but can just start scoring when you arrive at the course.
Best of luck, make sure your phones are charged! (it used 10% battery on my phone for a whole round)
Neil Porter
23/4/2021 VMS at Braids Test Event - Scoring
Dear all,
Thanks to all those who have "entered" the test event. Entry is open until Saturday afternoon for late tee offs. Entry is also open for the R&A 9 hole. (See Mark Munro email)
I will now cover scoring for tomorrow. If you get to the first tee, check if all your playing partners have entered. There are two slightly different methods covered below. I have attached a couple of videos. The Scoring video does not cover option 2 as this is a newer feature.
PLEASE NOTE - You will need to download the videos to view them - links below:
Video 1
Video 2
1. If everyone has the app and has signed up
Log in to your app, and click on "Comps"
Select todays comp you entered and then click "Check-in" (I may have checked you in on the back office already, so you might be able to skip this step)
Click "Scoring"
You then need to confirm your handicap is correct - this is downloaded automatically when you check in so should just need confirmation.
You then choose which card in your group you are marking. Please pair up in 4 balls and split 3 ways in a 3 ball.
Then just enter your score after each hole, followed by your playing partners score. Then hit confirm, and then submit (button changes to submit and gives you 3 seconds to press it)
Repeat for 18 holes.
Click "Finalise"- confirm your score with your partner - and sign under your name, Then sign for your playing partner (I do initials and a smiley face during Covid rules but in normal times, pass them your phone.)
And that's it. Scores entered and verified.
You can also do the above at the end of your round all at once if you prefer keeping a paper card on the way round. THIS MUST BE DONE IN THE VICINITY OF THE COURSE/CARPARK/CLUBHOUSE - IT WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR SCORE FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM.
2. If anyone is missing the app/not signed up/ doesn't know how to use it in your group
At least one person should log in to the app and click on "Comps"
Click on "check-in" (I may have done this in the back office so you might be able to skip this step)
Click "Scoring"
Then Click "Score for all" - this feature lets you score for all players in your group. (Providing they signed up and checked in! (which i will have done tonight if anyone hasn't signed up already))
Enter scores for all players as you go, or at the end of the round if you prefer as players read them out.
That's it. The 2nd option will need scores verified in the back office or, eventually, on the club ipad when we get it.
You can also view the leaderboard at anytime as you go round or after your round by click on "Scores" at the top of the scorecard and you can edit any score by pressing "Card" and clicking on the score to be changed. The scorecards will not submit under option 1 if there are any discrepancies between the marker and player (give it 30 seconds to upload before hitting confirm on the 18th green)
You can also look at past events in the app, under "Comps" and then "Past". There is a test event between the vice captain and myself with 2 NRs but you can get an idea of what you can look at. Click on one of our names under "Results" and you can see our cards.
Any questions, let me know.
Neil
15/4/2021 Competitions Update
Dear Braids United members,
You will have seen in Scott’s newsletter this week that the January medal, postponed due to bad weather, will now be played on Saturday 24th April. The February medal, which suffered the same fate, has been scheduled for Saturday 15th May. Playing of these two medals will bring the fixture list up to date as we move further into the summer season.
I would also like to remind you about the Winter Foursomes and Sandy Rennie Trophy, and encourage you to play ties by the deadlines wherever possible. And don’t forget the R & A 9-hole stableford which kicks off the Tuesday evening schedule on 4th May – see the email from Mark Munro for further details.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
29/3/2021 Summer Season Update
Dear Braids United members,
Single day competitions returning from 10th April
The summer season begins on Saturday with the April medal. As has been the case for the last two weeks, you can play on either Saturday or Sunday. However, from then on, beginning with the Heriots Trophy on 10th April, we will revert to play on Saturday only. EL winter season tickets expire at the end of March (which potentially takes 1000+ players out of the equation), and having monitored the booking system for this coming weekend it is clear that there is consequently much less pressure on tee times. So now it makes sense for everyone to play on the same day.
With the WHS now up and running, the Council has taken the decision to move to the SG VMS (Venue Management System) platform, which will replace our use of Handicap Master. Neil will be leading on this, and will provide full instructions when it is ready to launch. The advantage, apart from the fact that it is free, is that several functions will be brought together on one site. Since this will necessitate a change in our sign up procedure, and also with EL not yet having announced how they are going to deal with club requests for tee times, for the time being we will stay with the sign up procedure which has been operating for the last couple of months; i.e. first secure your tee time with EL and then put your name on the club signup. You can play at any time of the day, but I would encourage you to use the customary club window (from 11.30 to 12.30) as this will maximise your chance of playing with other club members. With increased availability, there may now be more scope for changing your tee time after you see when other members are playing; if you do change your booking with EL, please ensure that you modify the club system so that other members can be kept up to date with who is playing when.
And remember: in order to enter the competition, you must put your name on the club signup before teeing off. And having played, you should post your score before 8.00 pm. Not entering your score is not an option. If you are having problems with the system or with meeting the deadline, let Neil know before time expires.
Tuesday evenings
Our Tuesday evening competitions will begin in May, by which time we expect (hope) that travel restrictions will have eased and all members will therefore be able to take part. On May 4th we will hold a qualifier on the Wee Braids for the R & A 9 hole challenge. The following week will see the start of the Leith Links Stableford competition. More information on these competitions will be circulated in due course.
Sandy Rennie Trophy
There has been an excellent entry of 45 for the knockout matchplay competition, and the draw has been circulated. Deadline for preliminary round ties is 25th April.
Summer Eclectic
Entries are flowing in for this fun competition, which is based on your best net score on each hole over the entire summer season (Saturday and Tuesday competitions) until 23rd October. Handicap allowance is 75% of your starting Course Handicap. Contrary to what Mark announced, the Council has generously decided that the club will not take a contribution but rather the entire £5 entry fee will go into the prize fund. You can join the competition at any time, but why wait and potentially lose out on a good round before you have entered? The more you play, the better your chances will be.
General Play Scores
Many members are already using the SG app to enter general play scores. For those who haven’t yet done so (and those who have), Walter has put a guide to using the app on the club information site; the page, nested under WHS Guidance (touch the down arrow), is available at:
https://sites.google.com/view/bugc/whs-guidance/record-a-general-play-score?authuser=0
You can submit a GP score anytime and anywhere you play, both at home and abroad, as long as you are on a course that has been officially rated.
Clubhouse
Unfortunately, current Covid restrictions mean that the clubhouse will remain closed for another month or so.
Hoping for an enjoyable and successful season for the club and all members.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
15/3/2021 Summer Season Starting
Dear Braids United members,
Well, the Winter League and Eclectic competitions were finally completed at the weekend, and although Covid 19 and the weather combined to restrict the number of rounds both trophies were keenly contested. Congratulations to Gordon Brown who scored 39 points in the final round and leapfrogged the opposition to win the Winter League. Congratulations also to Fraser Rennie who won the eclectic with a score of 56. Fraser also scooped the multiple rollover two's pot with a two on the first!. Sweepmaster Mark Munro will provide a full breakdown of winnings from the accumulated sweep pot.
March Medal and Currie Bowl
These competitions will be played on the next two weekends, beginning with the medal. The medal is strokeplay and the Currie Bowl, postponed from new year, is a stableford. Both rounds will be off the white tees and are qualifying competitions for handicap. Although the move to fourballs has alleviated pressure on tee times slightly, there is still very high demand; so play is permitted on either Saturday or Sunday - preferably with another club member, but even if that isn't possible you can still submit your score.
Remember having secured your tee time with EL you must enter the competition by signing up on the club signup before you tee off; otherwise your score will be discounted. Scores should be entered on Handicap Master by 8.00pm on the day you play. If you have entered but do not submit a score, it will go in as NR.
Summer season
The summer season begins with the April Medal on 3rd April. Following on from EL collecting details of season ticket holders, we are hoping that we might have an allocation of club tee times by then. I will provide a further update when we know more.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
2/3/2021 Competitions Update
Dear Braids United members,
First a word about sign-ups. Despite numerous reminders. every week we seem to have one or two members who, having booked a tee time with EL, do not then put their names on the club signup. As I have pointed out before, putting your name on the club signup is effectively your means of entering the week’s competition and sweep; if you don’t sign up, we don’t know you are taking part (and remember you should submit your score by 8.00 pm on the same day that you are signed up to play). But there is another important reason to sign up, illustrated by what happened last Saturday. When a slot on the EL booking system became available on Saturday morning, a member switched his booking thinking that he was moving from playing with a member of the public to playing with another BU member. But it turned out he had inadvertently left a BU member, who hadn’t used the club signup, to play on his own; and it was only because of a fortunate turn of events that this member ended up with a playing partner (the only downside for him being that it was me!). So the club signup plays an important additional role in letting us all see exactly when everyone is playing.
I understand that the double sign up is cumbersome, and I apologise for being so repetitive. But for the time being we just have to live with it, so in order to facilitate the running of competitions in the most simple and fair way please always do the following:
After you have booked your time with EL up to nine days in advance, go to the club signup and add your name before you play; it only takes a minute so why not do it right away - otherwise it is easy to forget! If you make a late decision to play and have managed to grab a tee time that has become available, again remember to go to the club signup and add your name before you tee off. The signup is easily accessed from the club information site set up by Walter, but it you have trouble using it then let the committee know in advance (committee@braids-united.co.uk) that you are playing. If you book a time to play on the same day, it would be helpful if you sign up and also email the committee before you tee off. On the other hand, if your name is on the sign up you are by default in the competition. So, if you have signed up in advance and then decide to withdraw at the last minute, both remove your name and email the committee to ensure that you will not be included in the competition/sweep. Of course you can play a casual round independently and that is absolutely fine; but to then submit a good score having not “entered” the competition is unfair to other club members and will not be permitted from now on. Conversely, if you have put your name on the club signup and then play, you should submit your score, good or bad; just as you had to do in the clubhouse pre-pandemic.
Having said all that, there may be some light on the horizon. As you know, we have been asked by EL to provide members’ card details, and thank you to everyone who has already given us this information. Scott will be chasing you if you haven’t done so; we have until 8th March to submit the list. While we don’t know exactly what EL are planning, we hope that this data collection exercise might be in preparation for allocating some club times for the summer season, and the more season ticket holders we can lay claim to the better the “deal” we are likely to get. We will just have to wait and see.
Winter League and Eclectic
As announced earlier, these competitions have been extended for two weeks and will end on the weekend of 13th/14th March. Arrangements remain as notified earlier. Still plenty to play for, including the two’s pot which has remained unclaimed since the competition restarted!
March Medal and Currie Bowl
These competitions will be played on the weekends of 20th/21st and 27th/28th March respectively; both will be qualifying competitions off the white tees (so no need for GP scores). The medal will be strokeplay, while the Currie Bowl is a stableford.
Unlike the Winter League, which is played on various course setups (tees and pins) over the winter months, everyone should play a medal round over the same course. Although we don’t control the course set up, we can be fairly confident that it will not change during the weekend. We will therefore restrict play to two days, Saturday and Sunday. Take up on Thursdays and Fridays has been minimal in any case, and as daylight hours gradually extend there should be enough scope for everyone to get a tee time on the two days even though there is a considerable demand. Play with another club member if possible, but as long as the current restriction to two-balls is in force we will continue to allow flexibility here.
Score entry for these competitions will be via Handicap Master (think back to last summer). Because under WHS handicap indexes have to be updated following the day of play, the system will have to be configured as two separate competitions (Saturday and Sunday), so you must enter your score by 8.00 pm on the day you play. Neil will combine the scores from the two days to determine the final placings.
Summer season
Finally, the summer fixture list from the beginning of April is now published on the club website; subject to change of course! I will provide a further update nearer the time that will take into account any changes to EL booking procedures and Covid restrictions that will affect how we organise competitions.
Regards,
17/2/2021 Winter League Update
Dear Braids United members,
To say that the Winter League has been beset by problems would be a bit of an understatement. A false start on the composite course, then a restart followed by several cancellations due to the weather has meant that a maximum of three rounds can now be completed by the end of February. Although it was announced last month that the competition would be based on three scores, it was never intended that all returned scores would have to count. As a result, we have decided to extend the competition by two weeks and it will now end on the weekend of 13th-14th March. Weather permitting (and it is beginning to look more promising!), by then there will have been five rounds played. So even if you have not returned a score yet, there is still time to get involved; best three scores to count, and the eclectic competition will run alongside.
These arrangements will still allow for the last two weekends in March to be used for other competitions, more details of which later. Fingers crossed!
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
9/2/2021 Captain's Update
Dear Braids United members,
After a very long wait since the end of last year, the course was finally open for Saturday play at the weekend and a number of members recorded their first score in the Winter League. But the course was closed again on Sunday, and with another fresh fall of snow and predicted low temperatures for the rest of the week, we may be about to go back into cold storage. If nothing else, we can look forward to next week, perhaps more in hope than expectation!
I am sure that like me you are all frustrated with the difficulties associated with securing a tee time with EL. Can I take this opportunity to remind you that, having booked a tee time with EL, you should then sign up on the club signup so that we know you are intending to play and when. In effect, putting your name on the club signup is the mechanism for entering the week’s competition and sweep, so please ensure that you do so. Having completed your round you are required to enter your score, good or bad, via the club website. The Council will continue to monitor the progress of the winter competitions as the month progresses.
Regards,
Wilf (Captain)
15/1/2021 Winter League Update
Due to the course changing back to the summer course the Winter League and Eclectic will be reset and will begin again next weekend - apologies to the winners.
The competitions will run till the end of February with a potential of six rounds and the winner to be decided by the aggregate of the best three scores. Rules as before - click here
A four day window from Thursday to Sunday still applies for the Winter League.
Provided that the course is open for a minimum of half the days when members have actually signed up to play (i.e. two days out of three or four, or one day out of two), returned scores will count towards the competitions; otherwise, that weekend will be void.
6/1/2021 Update due to maximum of 2 players per tee time
Summary points from email
Jan and Feb medals and Currie Bowl postponed till March
Focus now on Winter League which can be played on the Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun of that weeks round
A Sign Up sheet will be created for the four days Thu-Sun and you must enter your name on the relevant sheet before your round
Winter League score must be submitted on the BUGC site as soon as possible after your round
11/12/2020 - Winter League Scores to be entered on the BUGC website and NOT in the clubhouse as previously advised
4/12/2020 - New subpages Added to "Latest News"
2 New pages added to Latest News section relating to
2 Policy for unplayable conditions on the course
2/12/2020 eMails from Captain
Winter League (WL) starts this Saturday the 5th and run on Saturdays during the winter months off yellow tees.
Please note that scores from the WL rounds are to be entered in the club website NOT handicap master. The Winter League winner is decided by best aggregate points score over four rounds from a maximum of 11 rounds possible.
Winter Eclectic is decided by taking the total of the aggregate of your best net scores (NOT points) for every hole across all of the rounds played.
Winter Medals are strokeplay competitions played off white tees on Sundays commencing Sunday 6th December. Medal scores should be entered on Handicap Master and should be submitted by 8pm on the day of the round
Club House
Whether the clubhouse is open, and what can be served, will continue to be dictated by national guidelines. However, we have taken the decision not to hold the traditional “bring a prize – win a prize” in association with the Hind Cup, or the curry lunch following the Currie Bowl, as these are not compatible with current clubhouse capacity and social distancing. We hope to see these festivities return next year.
12/11/2020 eMail from the Captain
"So, in summary, the November medal and subsequent two sweeps (which will be stablefords) will not affect your new handicap index."
12/11/2020 The AGM will be held by Zoom meeting on Saturday 5th December at 5pm
Members should contact scott Neill Scott.Neill@edinburgh.gov.uk if they wish to attend this online meeting.
Any items you want to be raised at the meeting can also be forwarded to Scott at the above address
9/11/2020 EL Golf Courses opening hours for December & January are from 9am to 3pm
Provisional Hill Club tee times yet to be confirmed bythe other clubs
9am : BU (4)
9:10 to 10:00: Western (24)
10:10 to 10:50 Thistle (20)
11:00 to 11:30 Harrison (16)
11:40 to 12:30 BU (24)
NOTE: Be aware that the above is a gentlemans agreement (still to be confirmed) between the hill clubs, however there are still people with council tickets who can/will potentially book in the above times so get your tee time booked as soon as possible
7/11/2020 2-Ball Scramble Results - Well done to Tosh for organising and supplying good prizes for all the winners
Steven and George 65 less 5 = 60
Sandy and Jim 66 less 6 = 60
Rodger and David 70 less 8 = 62
Andy and Martin 67 less 5 = 62
Wilf and Les 75 less 12 = 63
Tosh and Stu 67 less 3 = 64
Walt and Derek 71 less 7 = 64
John and Neil 73 less 8 = 65
S & P Howieson 78 less 12 = 66
Gordy and Graeme 73 less 7 = 66
Mike and Glen 71 less 5 = 66
Dougie and Mike 75 less 8 = 67
Mark and Mike 73 less 6 = 67
Rab and Craig 73 less 6 = 67
Ron and June 82 less 13 = 69
Ross and John 75 less 6 = 69
Mark and David 79 less 9 = 70
Chris and Brian 86 less 14 = 72