April 2005

Well a month has passed already since the last newsletter. We were finally able to play the February medal in March and the March medal on 12th April concurrently with the Pink Panther competition. Hopefully we should be able to play the April Medal on April 19th!

USEFUL WEBSITES

Our website is now up and running. It has details of forthcoming events, competition results, handicaps and more. CHECK IT OUT AT: www.wexhamparkladies.co.uk You might also like to take a look at the Ladies' Golf Union website - there is all sorts of information that may interest you: www.lgu.org

REMINDERS FROM CAROLINE

1. Will all ladies who belong to more than one club please make sure that the handicap secretary of all those clubs knows about your competitions. Make sure that you notify any changes, particularly any relating to a change in Home Club as a result of joining/leaving a club. This needs to be done as soon as practicable after making a move.
2. Please note that all qualifying competitions should be reported to your Home Club secretary and be warned that OPEN MEETINGS can sometimes fall into this category. Enter them in the Red Book, which hangs in the Locker Room. If an open meeting fulfils the criteria it will count for handicap. Try and find a moment to read that section in the CONGU Handicap Handbook.

Caroline has now put a red binder in the Locker Room with a copy of all qualifying competitions from the beginning of the year for anyone needing to reference their results. They are split into two sections: one for Medals, the other for everything else.

LADY CAPTAINS DAY

Don't forget Lady Captain's day on Monday 2nd May. This is a fun day, mixed competition to include longest drive, nearest the pin etc. If you can come and support our Captain add your name to the list in the ladies locker room.

AWAY MATCH

Our first match of the year is against Haste Hill away. We wish all participants an enjoyable day.

AWAYDAY TO AYLESBURY PARK

There are still places available for the first away day on Tuesday 31st May. Cost is £22, which includes lunch and prizes, to include nearest the Pin, best front 9, best back 9 and best overall. If you are interested please contact either Maureen Bailey or Hilary Linton.

RAISING THE FLAG

This months question on rules.

1. May a player have the flagstick attended if his ball is not on the putting green?
2. What happens on the putting green if the person attending the flag fails to remove it in time and the players' ball hits it? Is there a penalty and if so who gets it?

SLOW PLAY

The one major issue that will guarantee to make you public enemy number one is slow play. When you start playing, it may surprise you how quickly you have to walk round the course. One slow match can ruin the enjoyment of all the groups behind them. Try and keep pace with golfers in front. If you cannot and you lose one clear hole to the players in front, please call the following group through.

A LITTLE POEM TO HELP YOU REMEMBER

Be ready on the first and stand
With ball on tee and club in hand.

On the next saving time is not hard
One tees off while one marks the card.

Lost a ball, not a clue
The following group you must call through.

If in Stableford you cannot score
Pick up your ball and play no more.

If a slow coach you must stay
Please play later in the day.

KEEP SMILING

An alien spaceship hovered over a golf course. Two aliens were watching a solitary golfer practicing on a golf course. This was a new golfer and they watched in amazement.The golfer duffed his tee shot, shanked his second into the rough, took three to get out of the rough onto the fairway, sliced the next shot into the bushes, took a putter to get it out on the fairway again. Meanwhile, one alien told the other that he must be playing some sort of game and they continued to observe the golfer who hit a great shot into a bunker by the green. He took several shots to get out of the bunker and finally on to the green. He putted several times until he finally got it into the hole. At this stage, the other alien told his partner, "Wow, now he is in serious trouble".

Answer to rules question:

1. A player may have the flagstick attended or removed at any point on the course.
2. If the person attending the flag fails to remove it accidentally then the player whose ball strikes the flag receives a 2 shot penalty or in match play loses the hole. However if it is a deliberate attempt to make you incur a penalty then the person attending the flag is disqualified and the shot is replayed without penalty.