Eclectic and Consistency competitions for 2012 have commenced.

ECLECTIC - MEN & WOMEN: in grades - any individual Club event played from the Blue Blocks.

Based on gross score achieved on each individual hole over the competition "year".  Points are awarded for par, birdie, eagle and better on each hole, depending on your grade.

You must register, and circle any score you wish to be recorded.  Only circle scores that are better than a previously recorded score for a hole.

CONSISTENCY: All single stroke Club events (from the Blue Blocks for men) are automatically recorded.  Points from 10 to 1 are awarded for the leading 10 gross and nett scores for each event, the best 15 rounds determining a players score for the year in each category.

The year's competitions end on Saturday 10 November 2012.

The ProSkills Challenge is a new competition in 2012 for Men and Women, sponsored by ProSkills.

Up to 12 normal Saturday Single Stableford Club Events run between February and the end of November will be designated as ProSkills Challenge events.

Players must play in a minimum of 7 of these ProSkills Challenge events to qualify for the challenge.

The best 7 scores of each player that qualifies for the ProSkills events will be averaged and the Challenge Yearly Winners will be the best averaged scores (for Men and for Women).  The last round will be scheduled before the Club's Presentation Night, where the winners will be announced.

AVOID DOWNHILL LIES LIKE IN THE FOREGROUND:

To avoid the bunker rakes causing difficult downhill lies, the Match Committee has recommended that all rakes be placed in the bunkers as shown below.

The end of the rake handle should be placed out of the bunker with the rake head on the level sand.

Try to pick a spot where you can leave enough space under the rake handle for the ball to run under without being stopped.

For bunkers in front of the green, place the handle facing the direction of play, or if feasible, on the side of the bunker away from the apron to the green.

The principle behind this method is to avoid having to walk through the bunker to retrieve a rake, avoid any part of the rake stopping a ball on a downhill lie and minimising the likelihood that the rake will interfere with the rolling ball.

PREFERRED LIES:

When the Committee declares a Local Rule which allows "Preferred Lies", it means that you may lift your ball after marking it's position, clean it and place it within one card length no nearer the hole.

Unless it is specified "on the closely mown areas of the course", this applies to anywhere "through the green" (ie anywhere except on the teeing ground or green of the hole being played or in any hazard).

WHOLE BUNKER DECLARED GUR:

When the Committee declares a Local Rule which declares ALL of a  Bunker as GUR, this automatically declares the Bunker as an integral part of the course (ie the Bunker is no longer a Bunker).

Therefore the general rule for GUR applies - You may play the ball as it lies, or take complete relief from the GUR without penalty (ie drop outside the GUR within one club length - see rule 25).

If Preferred Lies are also in force, and you choose to "play from the GUR", you may lift, clean and place the ball as above.

If the bunker is declared "Compulsory GUR" you MUST take relief from the GUR and must not play from the areas declared Compulsory GUR.

PART OF A BUNKER DECLARED GUR:

Note that when only a part of a Bunker is declared GUR, relief can only be taken by dropping in the Bunker without penalty, or else outside the bunker under a one-stroke penalty.

Members are reminded of the dangers of being on the golf course when a thunder storm is approaching.  It is the player's responsibility to ensure their own safety when severe weather events are approaching or in progress.

When the Match Committee of the day or Club Management sees a severe weather event developing, they may direct immediate cessation of play by sounding 3 short blasts of a siren, which may be repeated a number of times.

On hearing this signal, all players MUST immediately cease play and seek the safety of the Clubhouse.  At the player's discretion, the ball may be marked in case play in the event recommences.

DO NOT SHELTER UNDER TREES.

Recommencement of play after such a weather event will be at the discretion of the Match Committee of the Day.

Note that a single blast of the siren indicates a siren test only, and no immediate action is necessary.

Bulletins are published on the GA website - refer to our GolfLink page to link to the GA web site.