September Newsletter #11

                                                         Newsletter                    No.11
 
The bee and butterfly friendly wildflower area near the 8th tee. What a burst of colour…….
 
As we approach the Autumn months there is still plenty of golf to be played.
The President's Prize, Noel McCartan, takes place this weekend with a front 9 hole playoff for Ladies and a back nine play off for Men on Saturday. The winners of this major prize will be presented with their prizes in the Clubhouse on the night. There will be a Buffet 8:30 to 9:30, followed by the presentation of prizes. To round off the evening there will be music and dancing till late. Come along for what promises to be an evening of fun and banter. Good luck to President Noel and all the competitors.
 
Sunday 28th                        Any Combination Fourball sponsored by D’arcy Sands.
Tuesday 30th,                      Ladies Day Singles, sponsored by 100 Degrees Restaurant.
Wednesday 31st                  Open Men's Singles.
Thursday 1st Sept.               Ladies and Gents Seniors Singles
Friday 2nd                          Open Nine and Dine 9 holes.
Saturday 3rd                        Any Combination Fourball, Sponsored by Staffords Bakery.
Sunday 4th                          Men’s Singles Medal/Ladies Singles, sponsored by Michael    
                                            Doyle & Associates, Gorey.
 
The Gorey Guardian Summer Series Final was held Wednesday 24th. This was a closely contested final with the worthy winner Tommy Kinsella taking home a set of clubs and a golf bag.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors Gorey Guardian. This is a hugely popular competition with over 200 men playing on Wednesdays throughout the Summer.

The Ladies Interclub Trophy was played on Thursday 18th August with 18 clubs taking part in the one day event. The winners on the day were Old Conna followed closely by our own Courtown Ladies.
All credit to Lady Vice Captain Eileen Moriarty and her team in organising the very successful day which was enjoyed by all. The day went so well that clubs have already expressed interest in participating in 2023.

Don’t forget that Courtown has  reciprocal playing rights with Old Conna, Royal Tara, Blainroe and Tullamore. You may play these courses for €20, Sunday to Thursday (excluding Bank Holidays). We also have reciprocal playing rights with New Ross Golf Club for 2022. All members have the courtesy of their course on non competition days. 
 
Junior Captains Andrew Smith and Theodora Lande held their Junior Captains Prize on Monday 22nd August
The Junior boy winner was Darragh O’Toole 41 pts and Junior girl winner was Caroline McGarry 38 pts. Congratulations to the winners and well done to all the competitors.
The President's Prize to Juniors takes place on Thursday August 25th.
This was a very busy year for the Junior club with many organised competitions and coaching throughout the Summer. It’s great to see so many young people enjoying the course, and what talent we have! Well done to our Junior co-ordinators who worked tirelessly with the Juniors.
 
E.B.S. Colman Doyle Finance Ltd. Winter League will be starting in early October.
 
Practice Area
Work on the Practice Area is due to commence at the end of the month. This work will greatly enhance the practice facilities and it will also include a new short game area. The practice ground will be closed while this work is ongoing. Apologies for any inconvenience.
There will be heavy machinery crossing the course, so be extra vigilant at all times.
 
It’s nearly that time of year again for hollow coring and sanding….. This essential part of the course maintenance  program is scheduled to start on Monday 12th September.
 
Club Manager
Our manager, David Colley, has tendered his resignation, and will start his new greenkeepers job in September. David joined us in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 and has worked tirelessly since then. While he fulfilled his role as Club Manager, David could also be seen out on the course, behind the Bar, acting as Course Ranger, acting as handyman and so much more. We would like to thank David for his contribution to the Club and wish him well in his new role.
 
Mossel Bay
Ian and Siobhan are also leaving us after the October Bank Holiday weekend. Many thanks to them for looking after us and our visitors so well during their six years with us. Meanwhile it’s business as usual until then, so if you have a Mossel Bay voucher please ensure that you use it before November.
Opening hours are posted on the notice boards. 

Bobby
There was an evening for Bobby Kinsella in the clubhouse to mark his retirement. Chairperson Vincent Kearney said a few words, recalling Bobby’s love of fun and good humour. His love of signage around the course and clubhouse was also mentioned with the favourite one being “PLEASE READ THE SIGNS”
There was a presentation to Bobby to mark his years of service to the club.
Bobby thanked the members and recalled a few humorous incidents over the years.
He also added that there were more tales to be told and these would be in his book, but as Bobby said, the book is not to be published until he is on his deathbed for fear of court proceedings!!!!
 
Pace of Play Improvement
Ready golf principles apply in Courtown Golf Club for all competitions except Match plays

8 Suggested Strategies

1. Hitting your shot, if it is safe to do so, when a player who is further from the hole faces a more challenging shot and is taking more time to assess their options.
2. Shorter hitters taking their shots first from tee or fairway, if longer hitters have to wait.
3. Hitting a tee shot if the player with the honour is delayed in being ready to play.
4. Hitting a shot before helping someone to look for a lost ball.
5. Putting out, even if it involves standing close to another player’s line.
6. Hitting a shot if a person who has just played from a greenside bunker is still furthest from the hole but is delayed raking the sand.
7. When a player’s ball has gone over the back of the green any player closer to the hole, but chipping from the front of the green, should play while the other person is having to walk to their ball and having to assess their shot.
8. Marking scores on immediate arrival at the next tee – except that the first player to tee off does so, and then marks their card immediately after teeing off.

Saving 30 seconds on each hole will reduce the length of a round time by 9 minutes.

Letting Players Through
If you are holding up players behind you, let them through at the next available tee box.
Play your tee shots, let the group behind play theirs and then walk up with them.
If you lose a ball and players are waiting, wave them through promptly.
If you fall a hole behind the pace of play, you must let the group behind through.  It is a rule of the club that once you lose a hole on the group in front you must let the group behind through.
If there are two consecutive groups playing equally slow, they should both let the field through gradually.
To avoid letting other players through, keep up with the pace of play of the group in front.
It was agreed at our last AGM that the committee would tackle the issue of slow play and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Please remember the 3 “R’s”
Replace and refill your divots on the fairways
Repair your pitch marks on the greens
Rake the bunkers after use….                                                                                              
You all know what it’s like when your ball lands in a huge shoe print in the bunker, or if the ball is in front of, or behind an unraked lump of sand………why leave it like that for the next player behind you?

We have a great club and the course is looking fantastic thanks to James and the greens staff, and volunteers. Let's do our bit by repairing any damage caused by general play. Take pride in our course, it will make a difference.

A Rule of Golf
Rule 19 Unplayable Ball
Purpose of Rule: Rule 19 covers your relief options for an unplayable ball. This allows you  to choose which option to use- normally with one penalty stroke-to get out of a difficult situation anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area)
Rule 19.1 You may decide to take unplayable ball relief anywhere except the penalty area.
You are the only person who may decide to treat your ball as unplayable. Unplayable ball relief is allowed anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area.
See Rule 19.2 for Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in General Area or on Putting Green.
R&A  USGA
Players Edition of the Rules of Golf