Refreshing balance...
📉 | The Soft Cap is in place to ensure a golfer’s Handicap Index does not experience a significant drop in a short space of time.
📈 | Under WHS, the Hard Cap will ensure your Handicap Index does not experience a significant rise following a bad run of form.
🏌️ | A golfer must have at least 20 scores on their record for both the Soft Cap and Hard Cap to be applied,.
👀 | As of 2nd November, Soft and Hard Caps will be in place to help ensure your Handicap Index represents your demonstrated ability
📊| Exceptional Score Reductions are in place to ensure a golfer’s Handicap Index reflects their demonstrated ability. This will take place when a golfer submits a score that is seven strokes better or more than their Handicap Index.
📊 | Depending on your score, an Exceptional Score Reduction to your Handicap Index will take place. This will either be -1.0 or -2.0
👀 | Ahead of WHS coming into play on 2nd November, find out more about how Exceptional Score Reductions will be applied. For a more detailed overview, click here: http://bit.ly/WHSInScotland
💨 | If playing conditions cause scores to be unusually high or low when playing for handicap, the PCC will adjust score differentials accordingly.
📊 | Playing Conditions Calculations can vary depending on how high, or low scoring is on a given day.
⛳ | There are a number of factors which can influence Playing Conditions Calculations and the system makes these adjustments automatically.
👀 | WHS will use Playing Conditions Calculations depending on how high, or low scoring is on a given day. For a more detailed overview, click here: http://bit.ly/WHSInScotland
⛳ | Under WHS, Course Rating is used to indicate the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal course and weather conditions.
⛳ | Bogey Rating will be used as part of WHS to indicate the difficulty of a golf course for the bogey player under normal course and weather conditions.
⛳ | Slope Rating is part of the new World Handicap System and is in place to assess the relative difficulty of a course for both the bogey and scratch player.
👀 | Course Rating, Bogey Rating and Slope Rating are all key components of the new World Handicap System.
✅ | From 2nd November, general play and competition scores will count towards a player’s Handicap Index. ✅ | There are a number of formats that will be deemed acceptable under WHS and scores can be submitted for 9 or 18-hole rounds.
⏰ | A player’s Handicap Index will be recalculated after every round played. This will take place overnight and it is important players submit their score as soon as their round is complete.
🤝| Under WHS, a single set of Rule of Handicapping will mean every golfer’s handicap is calculated the same way, meaning golfers can compete fairly across the world.
⛳ | Each golfer will obtain and maintain a Handicap Index. This will be calculated automatically using your scoring record from as far back as 2017. For golfers without a current handicap, they can obtain a Handicap Index by submitting scores from a minimum of 54 holes.
Greens Convenor. Tommy McCurdy has had to step down from Greens Convenor due to ill health and I am sure I am speaking for everyone in wishing him a speedy recovery. Bobby Wallace who has been actively involved in bringing the course to its present good condition has taken over as Greens Convenor to see us through the Winter months.
Course Closure. Present plans are for all the Greens to be given Coring treatment on Tuesday 20th October. The Greens will be unplayable while this is happening and while the turf is re-sanded. This will require the Greens to be out of action until Saturday 24th October. Bobby Wallace is reconsidering these plans and any changes will be posted at the Club. Volunteers are needed to help the work on the Greens, if you can spare a few hours during the planned closure please contact Bobby Wallace or myself.
Kitchen Upgrade. We are required by the Council to upgrade the ventilation over the cookers in the kitchen. The equipment to achieve this has now been delivered and Lee Macfarlane has volunteered to do the work. It has long been considered that the club Main Hall needs a “Servery” which John Scott has volunteered to build. The club is very grateful for the Renewable Energy Fund Committee for allowing funds to be used for these essential works.
A.G.M. The Management Committee are planning as to how the club can conduct its AGM within the present COVID-19 Regulations, that will probably still be in force at the end of January 2021. Considerations are to email/post the Annual Reports along with Nominations for Club Officers. Dickie Scott, Secretary, is working as to how best to achieve this. It is hoped to have more news early in November
World Handicap System. The attention of all members is drawn to the WHS guidance notices and booklets which are placed in the Lobby of the Clubhouse. The system will be effective in Scotland on 2nd November 2020.
Face Coverings in the Clubhouse & Green Keepers Shed. In accordance with recent Scottish Government directives, Scottish Golf have advised that Face Coverings should be used in all workplaces. Please try to comply with this.
Car Parking Area. We will shortly be removing the Sand Storage and piles of rubble and earth from the car park in preparation for work to be carried out to resurface the car park.
Path on the 7th. You will have noticed that we have started building a dry path from the bridge across the burn to the 7th Fairway. This will be progressed as materials become available.
Ladies & Junior Days. The Ladies Day went ahead but was not well supported, but those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the day and benefitted from Ricky Nicol’s tuition. The Junior day was postponed and will be re-scheduled for Spring 2021.
Young Person’s Advisory Panel. We are hoping to create a Panel to give our young golfers a voice on the development of the club. It will be for members aged 12 – 18, anyone interested please contact myself, Jim Smith, Safeguarding Officer.
Jim Smith Club Captain
The month has been a mixture of excellent weather and torrential downpours with only the most determined golfers braving the weather. The course has suffered from the heavy rain and there are many areas which have become waterlogged. However, the determined efforts of our Greenkeeper and Jimmy McGrath has kept the Fairways and Greens in good playing condition. We have had the Greens expertly surveyed by Greentech and significant “Thatch” was found under the grass. Efforts are in hand to address this. Competitions have continued every Sunday and have been well supported. On the Catering front, we now provide Kilmarnock Pie and Beans on a Sunday which have been welcomed by all except Ayr United supporters.
DRAINAGE. Areas of the 4th and 7th still require more drainage work and we have been in touch will Billie Lammie to see when he can visit and discuss how best we an overcome this continuing and troublesome problem. As a temporary measure we will shortly be creating a dry pathway from the bridge on the 7th across the wet area to the Fairway using stones and gravel. This should make it better to traverse the muddy area as a temporary measure.
FAIRWAYS. We have ordered a Spiked Fairway Roller from a company in Germany. It is expected to arrive next month. This equipment will allow us to aerate the Fairways properly to stimulate grass growth and improve the paying surfaces. A Towing Ball has been fitted to the Fairway Mower so it can tow the Roller.
GREENS. Although the Greens have stood up well despite the weather, as previously mentioned there is significant Thatch which is limiting grass growth. Aitkens will shortly be engaged to Core all the Greens and we will follow this up with fertiliser, sand, and seed so they will be in tip top condition for next year. To allow this to happen it is proposed to move on to the Winter Greens for a short period from mid-October. Your forbearance and understanding is requested to allow this essential work to be carried out before the really cold weather arrives and damages the newly sown seed.
LADY GOLFERS. The club has signed up to the “Women in Golf Charter” operated by Scottish Golf on behalf of the R & A. To improve the number of female golfing members of the club we will be holding a “Ladies Come & Try Golf Day” on Saturday 12th September. The event is being organised by Dorothy Smith assisted by 2 of her golfing friends. Tee Off times will be so arranged to allow for normal club play on the day. I know you will all make our visitors welcome.
JUNIOR GOLF FUN DAY. It is proposed to hold a Junior Golf Fun Day on Saturday 3rd October to encourage young people from the surrounding area to take up the game of golf and possibly become part of our Junior membership. Arrangements will be made to minimise any disruption to normal club play. Anyone willing & available to help please contact me at the club or call 07568509811.
AIR HOSE. The Air Hose now has correct hose fitted and is working well. Please do not clean shoes and trolleys in the cark park, please make use of the Air Hose.
Jim Smith Club Captain